Chapter 25
Nina
My thirty-eighth birthday was the best birthday of my life so far. I’ll never forget it. And that kiss. Wow. He wasn’t wrong. Our first kiss will forever be a core memory. He’s kissed me every day for the past week. Once, in front of my sister. He hasn’t tried in front of Jay yet.
Nanny and Nana needed help tonight, so Lauren and I are helping out in the kitchen at the Den.
Weekends do get loud at the clubhouse, especially where there’s a party.
Tonight, the Vikings are celebrating that JB’s Roadhouse remodel is complete.
Bankz is going all out with a huge re-grand opening party on Thursday night.
Maci and Ember are here tonight. Both girls are sweet and will graduate from college in May.
Maci told her mom tonight that she was behind on class projects and might not be able to come home every weekend for a while.
With all the time she’s spent here helping her family, it’s understandable how she fell behind.
Ember is going to stay with her and help her catch up.
Both ladies are disappointed because Jack wouldn’t let them bartend.
With Bankz’s crew here and the club’s, the Den has enough bartenders tonight.
The Den is packed tonight with members and friends.
Half of the people who would usually hang out at the Roadhouse are here tonight.
Thankfully, Ross isn’t letting outsiders in.
It would be a madhouse out there if that happened.
Jack is here with us. When he’s not making us laugh, he stands behind Lily with his arms around her waist, kissing her neck.
I love seeing my friend happy. I saw how her ex broke her for way too long.
She and I are working across from each other at the prep table.
I’m really glad to have her back in my life.
My face lights up when Darin walks in. He pauses inside the door. His eyes drop to my jeans. I’m wearing the light blue pair tonight. I wink at him. No matter which pair I wear, his reaction is the same. His head falls back. He closes his eyes for a moment and groans.
“Hey, Worley.” Nana pats his back as she walks in to grab another tray of food.
“Ladies, how’s it going?” He speaks to them, but his eyes remain on me.
“We’re working, Worley. Out of the kitchen,” Nanny teases.
He ignores his club Queen and continues to walk toward me.
The ladies giggle. Jack groans and drops his forehead to Lily’s shoulder.
Poor guy. He’ll live, though. It is kinda hard to see the big, broody biker being remotely lovey.
It even shocks me at times, but I’m thoroughly happy with its benefits.
“How are you tonight?” His arm slides around my waist as he presses his lips to my forehead.
He’s getting bolder with showing affection in front of people. Hey, I’m not complaining about that either.
“I’m good.” I lean into him.
“Take her home with you. She’ll be even better.” Lauren grins and continues making sandwiches. The other ladies laugh. Jack groans again.
“That could be arranged,” he whispers in my ear.
“Maybe,” I whisper back. Oh, it definitely can.
Darin straightens and lays his palm flat on the table between Lily and me.
Jack lifts his head. “Something wrong?”
“Ross is complaining about the soda cans being thrown out at the end of the drive.” He pauses. “And Grayson is here.”
Lauren leaves the sandwiches and comes to my other side. “Should we call Harrison?”
Jack sighs. “How drunk is he?”
“He’s not,” Darin replies. “He’s at his spot at the end of the bar with a beer, but he’s not drunk.”
Maci and Ember giggle and slightly push open the door behind the bar to get a peek at the famous musician.
“Hey.” Jack snaps his fingers at them. “The Dawson Boys are famous, but my friend doesn’t need my sister and her friend fan-girling over him.”
“We won’t, Jack.” Ember giggles again.
Maci holds up her hand. “Promise, big brother. We won’t fangirl over Grayson Westbrook.”
“Evan Johnson, maybe,” Ember teases.
Jack jabs his finger at her. “No. Not him either.”
The girls fall into each other, laughing. Ember is Jack’s best friend, Coty’s little sister. Naturally, he’s going to be overprotective of her, too.
Jack turns back to Darin. “Watch him tonight. If he gets drunk, I’ll talk to Jay.
” His eyes soften when he looks between Lauren and me.
“I promise, if we need to, we’ll call your nephew to come get his band member.
Gray needs help. Harrison can’t help if he doesn’t know how badly his friend is drowning. ”
“Good.” Lauren leaves it at that and goes back to making sandwiches.
The phone on the wall next to the bar's door rings.
Maci answers it. “Viking Den.” She gasps. Her eyes widen and lock with her mother’s. “Harley, where are you?” Jack and Nanny rush toward Maci. “What? No, Harley. That’s crazy. You belong here.” She’s quiet for a moment. “Don’t, Harley. Please don’t. Mom’s here. Talk to her. No!” Maci yells.
Nanny snatches the phone from her. “Harley? Harley?” Tears fill her eyes. “She’s gone. She hung up.” Maci and Jack throw their arms around their mother.
Darin rushes to the Den and comes back with Mack.
“What happened?” Mack pulls Nanny against his chest.
“Harley called.” Jack points to the phone. “She hung up before Mom could talk to her.” Lily slides under his arm and rubs his back for comfort.
“What did she say?” Ember puts an arm around Maci.
Maci wipes tears from her cheek. “She’s mad because we sent her to rehab.
She said to tell you to call off the jerks you have following her.
” She takes a deep breath. “She thinks she doesn’t fit in here, and nobody wants her around.
She wants to live her life and roam around the country like Jack did. ”
Mack’s eyes widen. He takes a breath so deep it straightens his spine.
Darin clamps a hand down on Mack’s shoulder to keep him from exploding.
He’s fighting to stay in control. Nanny sobs against his chest. The sound reaches through his anger.
He changes instantly. His wife grounds him when no one else can.
He tightens his hold on her and nods to Darin.
“I’m sorry, Mom.” Maci leans forward and rests her forehead against her mom’s. She turns her head slightly to face her dad. “What do we do?”
“I’ll call Nick. See if he can get a trace on that call.” Jack pulls Lily with him to the corner by the back door.
“Speaking of Nick.” Darin’s eyes lock with Mack’s. “If she said to call off the guys following her, then Slone Security is on her trail. That’s a good sign, man. Nick’s brother isn’t as crazy as we thought.”
Mack nods in agreement. “Do you want to go home?” he asks Nanny.
“No. I want to stay busy. She called. She’s alive.” She turns in her husband’s arms to face me. “Did you get anything from all that?”
I want to fix her broken heart so badly, but I have to be honest with her.
“I was an ER medical nurse. I’m not fully trained to diagnose mental and emotional issues.
After working with as many therapists and physiatrists as I have, I’d say she’s obviously hurt beyond what she can mentally handle.
She’s lost and doesn’t know where she belongs.
She’s smart. She’s staying just ahead of Nick and the security team. ”
“How do we help her?” Nanny asks.
“I’m not sure you can. You’re all too close to the situation. She’ll have to figure most of it out for herself. The people who do help her probably won’t be family members. Maybe Nick can help her when he catches up with her.”
“She’ll come home one day, right?” Nany holds her breath, waiting for hope.
Once again, I have to be honest. “I don’t know. I can’t make you that promise, but most wayward children who were raised in a loving home eventually return.”
Jack comes back with his head down. “Nick couldn’t get a location, but they believe they’re close to catching up with her.”
“Okay.” Mack looks at each of us. “Let’s look at this as a good thing. She called. We know she’s not hurt. Nick won’t give up until he finds her. For now, we go back to club business.”
Everyone goes back to their tasks, preparing the food. Nana, Maci, and Ember carry the filled trays out to the Den. Hearing from Harley was a good thing. However, not having her back sucked the happiness out of the night.
Darin cups my cheek in his hand, lifting my face. “You okay?” I nod. He leans down and whispers, “See you later.”
“Are you taking me home with you?” I tease.
“Absolutely.” His lips press against mine for a quick kiss before he follows Mack out of the room.