After all, my man was the head of the MC.
“Hello?”
“Cain sent me.”
“Oh. But I’m not ready to go.”
“He said you had your fun, and now it’s time to go.”
I shook my head in exasperation. That sounded exactly like Cain. I didn’t like being dictated to.
“I have to say goodbye to everybody.”
I couldn’t leave without wishing them well. I wanted to say goodbye to all the other people I’d met as well. I had half a mind to join the bridge club if I could learn the complicated rules.
“No time. In fact, we should go now.” His voice changed, suddenly sounding harsh and insistent. “Right now.”
It happened so fast it barely registered. The biker grabbed my wrist. At the same time, his eyes widened as he stared over my shoulder. I turned to see what he was looking at. When I turned back, he was gone.
A hand clamped down on my shoulder and spun me around.
Cain had my shoulder in a tight grip. And he looked furious. My stomach sank. I started frantically thinking of excuses, but I knew from one look at his face that it wasn’t going to fly.
Uh-oh. You are in big trouble, you idiot.
I had a feeling things were about to get real.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Cain
She was here. She was safe. She was alive.
I was going to kill her.
I would never actually hurt her, of course. But I was so angry I could barely speak. And she looked at me so innocently . . . she was actually happy to see me.
At first.
She looked a little nervous now. Good. She should be fucking nervous. I’d been scared out of my wits! I looked her over, checking to make sure she was really okay. The thoughts and images that had been circling through my mind since I realized she was missing . . . I didn’t know if I could shake them. I had almost convinced myself that she was hurt, or worse.
But she was whole. More than whole. She was fucking radiant!
Kelly looked incredibly beautiful in her dark blue floral dress. Sweet and desirable, yet innocent. Pure. The blue matched her eyes and the pink of the flowers matched her lips. I squinted at her.
It matched her nipples too. And her—
Do not get distracted, Cain. The woman has been extremely disobedient. There will be consequences.
“Hi.”
I glared at her. She was trying to play this off. Like she hadn’t gone off half-cocked and put herself in danger. Like she hadn’t lied to me.
I was angrier than I’d ever been in my life. Combined with the heart-thudding terror, relief, and love, it was a really fucked-up headspace to be in.
Especially on a sunny afternoon in a park full of wedding guests and screaming children.
“Let’s go.”
She started babbling immediately as I took her arm, locking it in an iron grip.
“One of your men was just here. He was going to take me to you.”
“What?”
“He told me you said I had to go. I thought you had me followed and—”
I let go of her and spun in a circle, seeing no one. I grabbed her shoulders, wanting to shake her but resisting the urge. I was scared enough for both of us.
“Where is he?”
“I don’t see him. That’s weird.”
“He was here? Right here?”
“Yes. Less than a minute ago. I didn’t want to go with him, but he was very insistent. Now he’s gone.”
“What did he look like?”
“Late thirties. Brown hair. Beard. Leather jacket.”
“Kelly.”
“I couldn’t remember his name. I felt bad about that but—”
“Kelly.”
“What?”
“I didn’t send anyone.”
She stared at me, not comprehending. Then it hit her. I saw the moment she realized who he was. That she’d nearly gone off with the killer. She started to sink, and I caught her, carrying her to the car with one arm. I yanked out my cellphone with the other and started barking directions to my security team. I told Hunter to tell Vice.
I was in fight or flight mode. I was ready to fight, of course, but I had to get her out of there first. I couldn’t give in to the emotions swirling beneath the surface. Not yet.
Kelly was in shock and she needed me. I had to keep it together. I had to stay sane.
I loaded her into the car and got in beside her. I put on her seatbelt as she stared uncomprehendingly out the window. I buckled up and turned on the ignition. Every second felt like an hour. And yet I could feel him out there. He was close. I wanted to scour the park for him but I had to get her to safety first.
“Call Connor,” I barked at my phone. He should have been my first call, but I hadn’t been thinking. At least my team could get drones in the air first.
I pulled out into traffic, the tires practically screeching as I pushed the speed limit and then some. I was methodical. Precise.