Colson (The Henchmen MC 20)

The road that led out to Reign and Summer's somewhat remote home had no cameras that Hailstorm and its various hackers could hack into to get footage, to figure out who might have picked up Reign, and where they may have headed.

The closest we could get was an intersection right outside of Navesink Bank's main town area where Reign had stopped for gas. But no one had been following him that anyone could see.

Each hour that passed felt more and more hopeless.

We were getting nowhere. Our local allies hadn't heard anything. No one was bragging about taking down a biker president on the dark web.

The men were almost done with the list that Cash, Cam, and Liv had drawn up.

Things weren't looking good.

"Huck," Cash's voice greeted, joining us. "Heard you coming in," he explained, moving over to take Huck's hand. "Thanks for coming. McCoy, Remy, Che."

"What can we do?" Huck asked immediately.

"We have a couple names left on our list to check out. Are you guys sure you're up to it?" Cash asked, taking in the various injuries, taking an extra second on Remy's knuckles and Che's hunched-posture.

"We're fine. Point us in a direction. Tell us how far you want us to take it. We will figure it out from there."

Cash rattled off a name and location, then shrugged. "Take it as far as you need to take it. We're getting desperate for someone to say something. Anything."

"Got it. Che," Huck said, nodding toward his man. "You hang here."

"I can go," Che insisted, pride not wanting him to admit he was hurting, likely more than he had been when he left Florida thanks to the bumpy ride.

"I know that," Huck said, nodding. "But they don't have the kind of manpower here that Reign would want, especially in times like these. Those fucking prospects out there don't count. They need more patched men to hold shit down in case it hits the fan. Cash needs more guards. You're a good shot. If he needs to get out of here, you're a better getaway man than anyone here is. It's not a demotion. It's just a better place for you right now."

With that, and no more coddling, he gave Cash a nod, and led his men out front, their bikes rumbling to life a moment later.

"We appreciate having you here, Che," Cash told him. "There's elastic bandages in the bathroom for your ribs. And whiskey in the bar for them too," he added, trying to smile, but it faltered and fell before it could even be considered a smirk.

The days were weighing hard on him.

Worrying about his brother, what might be happening to him, what would happen if he didn't return.

And on top of that uncertainty, that anxiety, that fear, he had the weight of the club, of the men's expectations on his shoulders.

Cash had what he needed to run the club, but he didn't have the desire to do so. He never did. He was always happy to leave that to his older, more serious brother.

The weight of leadership was weighing on him.

He hadn't been sleeping, judging from the bags under his eyes. And I wasn't sure the last time he had come down from the room to have a full meal when someone stopped bashing heads long enough to cook, or, more often, when I threw something quick together, needing to feel useful in some way.

Sure, I acted as a guard on my shifts. But, so far, there had been no signs that anyone had been around, that anyone was looking to invade. Which left me feeling useless.

But the men had to come back to eat.

So I made sure there was something for them to fuel up on before heading back out.

I made sure the prospects kept the place clean, did the laundry, stocked us up on groceries and first aid supplies.

I did what I could.

And then I did the fucking thinking thing. And as the hours passed, the more those thoughts seemed to drift toward Eva.

And that kiss.

And her open invitation to let me into her life.

It was the worst time.

And I had no business being interested in a woman outside of this world, or possibly dragging her into it, but I also couldn't seem to make myself ignore her text when it rolled in later that night. I couldn't stop myself, when my shift was over, when the food was eaten, when I was alone in my bed, from answering her back.

I was just about to pass out when I got another ding.

But when I looked at the screen, it wasn't Eva's name there. It was Jelena's.- I like her.-- You shouldn't be up this late. Go to bed.- One of the babies is crying. I can't sleep. But I like her. Eva.-- Baby girl, we are not having this discussion.