Hard Ride (Men of Valor MC)

“I’ll show you what I think of girls who think they can say whatever they want to men.” I should technically be scared of him, except I have no respect for this dickless man, and I know the longer I can keep him talking, the more time it will give Gage to get to my dad’s house, figure out that I’m not there, and then he’ll be on the hunt. That man will tear down the whole damn state to find me, that I have no doubt. Once Gage and I became rock solid during the past few days, that man made sure everyone in town knew just what we were to each other. Even my regulars knew and spread the word to other patrons.

“I’m so fucking sure.” I move my arms to the side. My hands are still surrounded by duct tape, but it will help, and I’m ready to attack. Once he’s close enough, I go for it. My fists hit him hard. Unfortunately, he uses the butt of the gun and hits me in the temple at the same time. I see stars before the lights go out, taking me to a dream land I want no part of.

11

Gage

I pull up to Nova’s dad’s place, my engine already off, kickstand down, and I’m climbing off my bike when he’s already running out the door. “Is Nova with you?” I’ve never seen Jim look so frazzled.

“No, it’s why I’m here. Fuck, she didn’t come home last night?”

“I thought she just got busy with you and forgot to text. Nothing. I’m going to head to the bar and see if maybe she fell asleep in her car.” He fists his hair at the nape of his neck.

“She didn’t call or text me. Let me call the club, have them meet us there, and then we’ll head over.” Nova told me they have a system—if either one of them don’t come home, they call or text, so for her not to do that, it’s seriously fucking bad, and that sinking feeling in my gut only intensifies. He runs back inside to grab his keys. I pull out my phone and call Nova. It still doesn’t ring, only going to voicemail, so I leave a message. “Baby, not sure what’s going on, but you’re worrying me. If you’re asleep or passed out in the back room of the bar, I’ll smack your ass red, but God forbid it’s something else, know that I’m coming for you. The whole fucking club will, I promise you, Nova. You’ll be home come sundown. I won’t fail you on this.”

“I’m ready. You?” Jim hurries down the porch steps again, a shirt thrown on, jeans and boots, his jeans stuffed inside his boots. He was rushing, thank fuck, because this is not how I envisioned my Saturday going.

“Yep,” I reply, climb back on my bike, start it, and roll the fuck out. Jim stays behind me, both of our engines vying for attention in my ears while I keep my eyes peeled for Nova in the odd case she’s walking home for some fucking reason.

I hear other motorcycles gather behind us, causing me to look over my shoulder, seeing my boys behind Jim in his Nova. Fuck, I’ve got a good family. A few more turns, and we’re at the Midnight Oil Bar. Place is like a ghost town. Which it should be at eight o’clock in the morning. I swing around the back side of the bar, and my fucking heart stops beating in its chest.

Nova’s car is still there, but that’s not what has me off my bike, barely putting the peg down. It’s the fact her car door is wide open, keys lying on the seat, and nothing else.

“Fuck!” I scream out. Jim is by my side looking at the same thing I am.

“Oh God, no. Gage, what the fuck?” Jim’s pacing back and forth. My brothers come closer to me.

“I’m gonna pull the video feeds and see what they have on them.” Rough, our Sergeant at Arms, states. I take everything in, not seeing any blood or a sign of struggle. There’s nothing on the ground. Not even so much as a shoe is left behind.

“Thanks, man, I’m gonna look around, then I’ll be in.” He slaps my shoulder, nods, and then leaves.

“Jim, you know I’m going to find her.” The pacing stops, and he says, “I do, but that doesn’t mean I’m not thinking of every wrong thing that could be happening to my baby girl. I should have stayed my ass up until Nova got home. We wouldn’t be hours too goddamn late, and she wouldn’t be fuck knows where.”

“Why don’t you go inside. I’ll look around and follow you.” I reach for my cigarettes, needing the nicotine in my lungs to calm my ass down.