Chapter 1
CHAPTER
ONE
LOOT
Flicking my gaze up, I look around the yard. Speed’s party is a fucking hit. Wrath’s woman and her cousin really know how to make an afternoon of it and how to deliver a welcoming, chill environment. I wasn’t sure about them at first, but I have to admit, they’re a welcome addition to the club.
It’s a great party for our friend, and it’s a great fucking atmosphere. Elodie walks toward me, holding out a beer. She’s got a smile playing on her lips, and I know she’s just trying to be a good host, but I think she’s also just a good fucking person.
She’s the perfect old lady for him. It’s been a long time since we had any women as a close-knit part of our world, but it was time, and I’m glad for it.
“Beer?” she asks.
“Hey,” I call out.
“Thanks, but don’t let Wrath catch you serving drinks to another man,” I point out what I believe is pretty fucking obvious, but who the hell knows? Maybe it’s not. Maybe she thinks it’s okay to serve other men. Even if it’s a party, it’s very much not. Hostess or not.
She laughs softly, shaking her head before she continues. “He won’t mind. Just wanted to say thank you.”
My brows snap together. No doubt the expression I wear matches the confusion I feel from her words. “Thank you?” I ask.
“For finding this place. It’s perfect, and I just really appreciate it.”
Lifting my beer to my lips, I take a sip before I give her a smile. She doesn’t need to thank me for fucking shit. She’s family. Wrath’s old lady. Nothing to thank me for, ever. Doing this for them was the least I could do. And it’s not like I even did that much.
“Babe. You deserve it. Putting up with his ass, you deserve it all.”
Wrath walks up behind her. I watch as he wraps his arm around her waist, then touches his mouth to the side of her neck. Deciding I don’t want to watch them make out, I shift my attention away and look out at the men again.
Peace. Calm. Chill.
That usually means that shit is about to get unhinged again. And then my phone rings. I’d rather never answer an Unknown Caller because who the fuck knows what weirdo is calling, but I don’t have that luxury.
I never know whether it’s a telemarketer or something involving my son.
His school, his babysitter, whoever would need to get ahold of me.
And I’ll never not be available to him. Or it could be a landlord issue, and since I’m the landlord of ten residences in Henderson, I have to answer to the issues.
“Yeah?” I growl into the phone.
“Is this Mr. Voss?” a voice on the other end asks.
A chill slides down my spine. This isn’t club shit, and it’s not landlord shit. There is something authoritative in this person's voice. This is professional, and I have a feeling I’m not going to like anything that comes out of this person's mouth.
“This is Shanna. I live next door to Destinee, but I’m standing here with Cade Voss. He said you’re his father.”
“Fuck,” I hiss.
I know what is going to come next, but then she surprises me—though only slightly, because I was partially right.
I knew, but I didn’t know. It’s going to be about Cade’s mom.
I know it is, because it’s always about Destinee and whatever fucked-up shit she’s gotten herself into, and, by proxy, my son.
I’d take him away from her, but no judge is going to hand over custody to an outlaw biker who can’t show any real paper trail on where he’s getting his money from. At least not legally.
So on paper, she looks like the better parent.
In real time, it’s me.
I give her a free place to live, really provide my son a free place to live, and throw her a set amount of cash every week, which she’s always finding a reason to demand more of, and then I get to see my son when I want.
“I wasn’t sure if you wanted me to call someone else…” Her words trail off when I don’t respond immediately.
I don’t bother asking her what’s happened. I’ll find out when I get there. “No, I’ll be right there,” I bite. “Give me thirty minutes.”
“Okay, we’re in my kitchen, and I’m going to make him a snack.”
Ending the call, I close my eyes for a moment, inhaling a deep breath before I let it out slowly.
I need to take a calming breath before I completely lose my shit, and also before I deal with fucking Destinee.
Because anything that involves her is a goddamn disaster and will without a doubt make me want to lose my shit.
“You good?” Wrath calls out.
I can see the concern clearly expressed on his face. “Baby-mama drama,” I grumble before I walk away.
I don’t say goodbye to anyone. My mind is moving about a million miles an hour. I don’t know what the fuck could have happened and how the hell my son ended up at a neighbor’s house. Jesus fucking Christ, there is no telling what that fucking dumb bitch has done now.
Climbing onto my bike, I head straight toward my place.
I own a small house that’s off club property.
It’s where I bring Cade when he comes to stay with me.
It’s also where I keep my car, so that I can drive him back and forth with all his shit, and I don’t have to hear Destinee squawk about my bike being unsafe.
Touching the garage-door button, I ride straight inside and park next to my car. The Dodge Charger is waiting for me, and I’m going to tear out of the garage and this town to get to my son in time.
Backing out, I touch the button to close up the house, grab the wheel, shift into Drive, and get the fuck on the road. It only takes me twenty minutes to get to Henderson.
Pulling over between Destinee’s place and her neighbor’s, I park along the street before I kill the engine and shove the door open. Unfolding from the seat, I march straight for the neighbor’s house.
I don’t even have to knock because the door flies open, and Cade rushes straight toward me, his body slamming into mine, his arms wrapping around me as he holds me close. Closing my eyes, I hold him close as well, wrapping my arms around him, and I swear it feels like he’s trying to absorb me.
What the actual fuck did that bitch do this time?
He tips his head back, and I curl my fingers around the back of his head, holding on to him there before I dip my chin to look down at him. His eyes find mine, and I watch them water almost instantly.
That bitch.
“Wanna tell me what happened?” I grind out.
Cade shakes his head, and when his bottom lip begins to tremble, I have to bite back a curse and tamp down my anger because it’s right there, bubbling against the surface, ready to fucking explode.
And when it does, it’ll all be directed toward Destinee. Because fuck her. Fuck her for being a bitch, fuck her for having my kid, and fuck her to goddamn hell for being a shit mother.
“She’s gone.”
Of course she fucking is.