Chapter 31
Wrath
“ H ave you two decided where you’re living when you get back home?” Papa asks.
“Honestly, we haven’t talked about it yet. I’m sure she’ll love my place at the compound until we can build. She loves log cabins. I want to show her Stormy and Gambit’s place. Maybe Chief’s place too. Her family has a cabin in the woods. It’s a beautiful place. Honestly, I don’t care what the house looks like as long as my woman is happy.”
We’d been working out for about an hour. Papa and I paired off to do some legwork.
“That’s a good attitude. I’m fortunate Nay loved the same house plan I fell in love with.”
“Your house is enormous. Did she agree to fill all those bedrooms?”
“Every last one of them. If we keep this up, the club is going to need a school of its own.”
“Millie wants to adopt and have biological children as well. We want to wait a year or two before we have children. She wants to work at Artemis Outreach. With Nay going on maternity leave this fall, Millie didn’t want the outreach to need two temps.”
“Thoughtful. I’m hoping the extra funding comes in that we have extra nurses on staff. Not to mention another doctor and nurse practitioner.”
“Is Dakota putting together the numbers?”
“He is. We’ll have a meeting once you get back from your honeymoon.”
We spend the rest of the set chatting about our wives. After hitting the showers, we jump on our sleds and head to a local Brazilian style steakhouse. I’ll have to get back to meal prep and clean eating as soon as we get home.
I take a seat next to Gambit after we all hit the salad bar. They have a ton of roasted veggies.
“Hey Prez, when we get back, I’d like to show Millie your cabin.”
“Sure thing. I’ll get with the ol’ lady. I know she’ll want to make a fuss of your visit. With the pregnancy hormones raging through her body, I’m not stupid enough to spring it on her.”
“I’ll take note of that for future use.”
Gambit laughs. “Are you starting a family soon?”
I shake my head. “We plan on waiting a year or two. We’re also going to adopt. I don’t know which we’ll do first.”
“That’s awesome man. As you know, Stormy and I jumped in with both feet, adopting the Lafayette kids’ months before our first child was born. Now, I wouldn’t have it any other way. And the older kids are thrilled Stormy’s pregnant again.”
“When is Bastian starting as a prospect?”
Gambit smiles. I can tell he’s a proud father. Then again, Bastien is an exceptional kid who grew up way before his time. He basically raised his younger siblings until Gambit and Stormy took them all in.
“As soon as we get back home. I’m going to tell him.”
“He’s got to be stoked.”
“It’s all he talks about. He’s even thinking of enlisting in the Marines for a few years. At least one tour to get some experience under his belt.”
My phone rings. I look to see Brian’s number.
“Hey pops,” I say, laughing.
“Wade, Millie’s missing. The horse came back from the stables without her. I have the boys out combing the trails. Lisa's calling the park rangers and some locals in the area we know.”
“I’m on my way.”
“Millie is missing,” Is all I say. I pull out several bills from my wallet and drop it on the table, before racing out to my sled. I hear the stomp of boots behind me. And the rumble of engines shortly after I start mine.
I open the throttle and weave in and out of traffic. Not something I would do at these speeds, but I need to get to my woman. I must find her. My mind races with possibilities. Most of them are pointed toward her estranged family. While we had nothing to do with Felicity’s arrest, I’m sure Aaron didn’t see it that way.
My parents, sister and both prospects are there when I pull into the barn. There are a few dozen other vehicles, including trucks and trailers, in the barn’s parking lot. Lisa waves as soon as she spots me. I pull up to her. She throws her arms around me before I have the kickstand down. I shift to take her weight and balance the bike, so it doesn’t topple on both of us.
She realized the stand wasn’t down when we swayed a bit and let go, like I scalded her.
“I’m sorry,” she says.
I quickly put the stand down and swing my leg over the back before engulfing my mother-in-law in a hug.
“We’ll find her. I’ll leave no stone unturned until my woman is back in my arms.”
Lisa sobs wracked her slight frame. She’s maybe two inches over five feet and slender. Her long blond hair, now liberally laced with silver, hangs down her back in a long braid. I pat her back, trying to soothe her.
She releases my neck and I ease my grip to give her room.
“I know Aaron had something to do with this. I don’t have proof, but I know it. He’s not even supposed to leave the state. That woman must have snuck him down here.”
I nod my head. “I feel the same. Can you tell me what happened?”
“We were out with your parents. Touring the aquarium. One of Danny’s ranch hands called and told him that Rio came back alone. Bobby, the same ranch hand, was in the barn when Millie took Rio out on the trails.”
“Can I talk to him?”
“Yes, he’s in the office along with Danny, his wife Mariea, and your mom. Your dad and Brian are already out on the trails.”