Ice (Regulators MC 1)

“I was wrong about you. All of it. Everything. I’m an ass of epic proportions,” he states easily.

“And…” I know I am playing with fire. I see it dance in his eyes.

Suddenly, he is in my personal space, and I am backing up against the wall. His hands come up to on either side of my face. “What are you looking for exactly, Morgan? Let’s stop the bullshit and cut to the chase.”

My chest rises and falls in rapid succession at his close proximity. “An apology. Some respect. I need to find my sister, but I don’t need to feel like crap doing it. I won’t beg you.” I drop my eyes, unable to handle the intensity of his stare.

“You’re cute, Morgan. Understand this, I make no apologies. Ever. I am who I am. I’m all man. I’m also man enough to admit when I’m wrong. I did that. Sorry--I’m not sorry. Everything I do, right or wrong, serves a purpose.” He tips my chin up, forcing me to look at him again. “My word is solid, and I give you my word I will find your sister somehow, someway. Morgan, you get me—my help—but, sweetheart, what you don’t get is my apology. We clear?”

At my nod, he pushes off the wall, giving us both space. Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I make my way over to open the door. Once inside, I watch as Ice takes in my space. Inside, I feel slightly invaded having him unexpectedly in my personal area.

“What do you know?” he questions, bringing me out of my insecurities.

“Nothing really. She stayed home from school because she was having cramps.” His eyes blink in what I could assume to be a cringe at my honesty before he quickly hides behind the mask of meanness once again. “Old lady Hanover said she saw her leave around ten a.m. Madyson apparently greeted her and offered to pick her up some milk from the drug store on the corner. She was going to get some pain meds and chocolate. That was the last anyone has seen or heard from her.”

“That’s a starting point. Does she have any enemies at school? A boyfriend?”

I shake my head at his questions. “Believe it or not, other than my parents’ issues with her, my sister is well liked.”

“What do you know of your parents’ financial situation?”

“They’re fine. What do they have to do with this?” The hair on the back of my neck stands up. The look in Ice’s eyes shows he knows more than he is letting on. It is not my place to divulge my parent’s financial situation to anyone. I can’t help but wonder if he already knows. They aren’t rolling in money. They have quite a bit of debt, but they are getting by.

“Do you trust me?” He locks his gaze with mine so he can gage my answer.

“No,” I answer with complete honesty. This he returns with that breathtaking smile of his.

“Cute and smart. I could possibly like you after all, Morgan Powell.”

“I don’t need you to like me. I need to find my sister, you can help or you can move on.”

“What if I told you your parents are in some serious debt?”

“I would say my dad has a good job, but my mom likes to spend. They’re fine, though. What does that have to do with my sister?”

“Your parents aren’t fine. They’re on the verge of losing everything.” His words rock me. I stumble to get to my couch to sit down.

“What are you saying, Ice?” I knew they overspent and had some debt, but is it that bad?

“I’m not saying anything for sure. What I’m doing is gathering information so I can sort out the facts and follow the leads to get your sister. This means I have to keep an open mind. Desperate people do desperate things.”

“They wouldn’t,” I whisper, not really knowing if I am right or not.

Would they do something crazy to Madyson to pay off a debt? Are they worse off than I know? I have even more questions than answers now and more concerns than ever before.

Chapter

10

Ice

“Where are we now?”

The room is packed. Every patched member of the Regulators MC is present. Every man in this room is deadly and has some sort of special skill set: sniper, explosives, hand to hand combat. We are not exactly a group of men you want to fuck with.

“From what we gathered on nearby cameras, Madyson Powell was walking to the drug store. She was approached at the right side of the building. The guy was in dark and torn clothing. For an unknown reason, she followed him to the back corner where there is no angle on a camera. Beyond that moment, there is no further visual of her anywhere,” Rocks informs the group.