Chapter One
Zane
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River pushed through the swinging kitchen doors in Gem Haven's bar. She slipped her arms through the straps of her backpack and cast her worried expression at the full room of bikers until she settled her gaze behind the counter and darted forward. Zane set down the full glass of beer he planned on enjoying and braced himself for the energy directed at him.
As a kid, his brother dared him to touch the electric fence behind the house. The same excitement and anticipation filled him now as he prepared for the high-voltage zap of River's attention aimed at him.
She stopped in front of him, holding onto the straps of her backpack. He motioned his chin toward Big John, kicking him off the stool.
River slid onto the empty spot and leaned against the counter. "Did you really tell Taylor no?"
"Yeah."
Her brows lifted until he saw the light blue ring around her pupil. "Why?"
He refused to let her disappointment sway his answer. "If you want to visit Taylor, you can borrow a car, or I can drop you off in town. But she's not driving you into town, not in that beater she owns. Only last week, she had the tow truck called because she landed in a ditch."
"She said it was an accident. Her foot slipped off the brake."
"Well, she's not going to get a chance to have an accident with you in the car." He shrugged. "End of discussion."
Her chin tilted, and he could make out her heart-shaped face better. High cheekbones, dimples, black hair, and striking blue eyes—she had everything to get her way with him, but he held firm.
His attraction to her went beyond physical looks. She was soft-spoken, responsible, and thoughtful. Despite losing her entire family and the state of Idaho shuffling her from one foster family to another, she retained her vulnerability.
When she was seventeen years old, he stole her from the state's care, brought her to Gem Haven, and made sure no one would find her until she became a legal adult.
If he had his way, he wouldn't subject her to the influence of her friend, who he'd caught in bed with Snake two nights ago.
"It'll suck working in the kitchen without Taylor." She crossed her arms. "Maybe I could get a job in town, like her. I can still live here. I could drive the truck back and forth. Taylor says I can make more money in town—"
"You want a different job? I'll give you another one within Gem Haven." He left the beer on the bar and walked down the length of the counter to the exit.
"What kind of job?" River hustled to keep up with him as he left the bar. "I won't entertain the bikers."
He stopped walking and frowned. He'd never allow her within an arm's length of any bikers. Each one of them knew he'd slice their neck if they even looked too long at her.
"What do you know about entertaining men?" he asked.
She shrugged. "I'm not blind."
He exhaled loudly. "The campground is opening up on Memorial Day. You can work in the cabin five days a week. Pick your weekend, and let Phil know. I'll find someone else to replace you in the kitchen. Camping season goes until Labor Day, so it won't be year-round."
She grabbed his arm. "But I need money."
"You'll get money."
"More than in the kitchen?"
He dipped his chin. He could give her a little more if that's what made her happy.
The left side of her nose twitched as it often did when she tried to hide something from him. "I don't have to live at the cabin, do I?"
A designated cabin at the campground's entrance provided a mini store for campers needing items they forgot at home and acted as a central hub for visitors. It also housed those who worked on the grounds. From the greeter to the maintenance crew, those employed to run the campground could stay upstairs in bunkhouse-style lodging.
"You'll work the counter, welcome the guests, and learn how to run the store." He lowered his voice. "You'll sleep at home."
"Thank you."
He cupped her cheek. "If you wanted out of the kitchen, all you had to do was tell me."
He could see through her panic. Instead of complicating her problem by involving Taylor, she could've told him she wanted a different job. Not once since living with him had she asked to go somewhere with someone else. He knew there was another reason for her asking.
She gazed up into his eyes. "It's not that I'm ungrateful—"
"There's no reason to be grateful." He strummed his thumb along her cheekbone. "This is your home. It'll always be your home."
"Will you move back into the house?" She held her breath. "Please."
"I can't do that," he whispered.
"Why not?"
"It's not a good idea."
He'd fucked up. It was best to forget what happened between them. He couldn't have her the way he wanted. She deserved better than what she got from her family and him.
"But I want you with me." She dropped her gaze to the middle of his chest.
Her brows pinched. He'd tried to help her the best he could, but he wasn't cut out to protect someone. His life was filled with responsibilities. Used to finding pleasure to offset the stress he was under, he never wanted that part of his life to touch River.
But it had, and there was no going back.
She wanted him as much as she wanted to find her sister. And nothing would stop her.
She studied him silently. He refused to argue with her. She always took everything he said to heart and tried to change his mind.
Smarter than anyone gave her credit for, she constantly tried to piece together the puzzles of her past, whether they involved him or Kenna.
As much as he'd love to know where River's sister was, he and his brother had lost contact with Kenna soon after she turned eighteen when the state removed her from her foster family. There was no record of where she ended up.
"Yo, Zane." Kingsley jogged toward him. "Hold on a sec."
River threw her arms around Zane's waist. "Thank you."
He stroked her head, pulling her hair out from underneath her backpack. "Go home. You can talk to Phil tomorrow morning, and he can get you set up for your new job."
"Don't forget you'll have to find someone to help Lori in the kitchen. She can't handle all the work herself." She squeezed him.
She skipped away in the other direction, headed toward the house two hundred and fifty yards down the hill. He gazed at her until she walked through the front door.
Kingsley stopped beside him. "What's going on?"
His brother was unaware of what happened between him and River. Sharing the information made no sense because he wasn't planning to repeat the mistake.
"She's going to start working for Phil at the campground."
"Why the change?"
He inhaled deeply. "More money. She thinks the sooner she can save up enough money, the sooner she can hire a private detective to find Kenna."
"I should've known," muttered Kingsley.
"You wanted to talk?" Zane turned his back to the house. "Talk."
"Dad called. He wants us to visit the prison next Sunday," said Kingsley.
"Did he give you any idea about what he needed?" He shoved his hands in the front pockets of his jeans.
Ridge Stafford had six years left of his fifteen-year sentence for felony assault with a deadly weapon. He hadn't killed the guy he beat, but the man probably wished he had died.
"You know Dad as well as I do." Kingsley shrugged. "We'll find out when we get there."
"I'll put the visitation request in." He shoved his hands in his vest. "He needs to keep himself out of trouble so that he can get his parole hearing. He could get out earlier than expected if he doesn't screw up."
"You think he'll stay out of trouble?"
"Who the fuck knows," he said.
They stood in comfortable silence. They had handled running the Gem Haven compound in their dad's absence and kept the motorcycle club profitable.
But they'd disappointed their dad. They'd failed to protect Kenna Pruitt. He and Kingsley searched daily, but Kenna had dropped out of sight.