“Both girls are out like lights,” Hawk smiled as he walked back into the living room. Stone was sitting on the sofa, a beer in his hand as he sifted through the paperwork they were able to get from Lo’s hotel room.
“Well, at least we have a copy of the bogus reports now.” Gunner grunted as he slid a plate of pizza onto the table in front of Stone. “I can see how Laurel would think these were real.”
“This doesn’t make any sense. What is the point of all this?”
Hawk bit into a slice of pizza, talking as he chewed. “I hate to say it, Doc, but I think the point is to destroy you. Not just your credibility, but literally take you out. Was getting shot not enough of a clue for you?”
“The only person who would want to do that is dead.”
“You think. What if someone is avenging Caulleou? Someone’s pissed you took him out of a game we weren’t aware he was playing?”
“I know they burned him on those drug charges after I reported him, but it seems crazy to throw your life away on that. Especially when you don’t have family to go home to. Why work to such an elite position and then throw it all away…”
Before he could ask another question, his cell started ringing. The screen lit up, a cute picture of Mae and Lily laughing together that he’d taken at Sage’s birthday party.
“Your wife is calling me.” Stone swiped the phone off the table and held it up for Gunner to see.
“What the fuck? Hand me the phone.”
“I’ll put it on speaker, but only if you calm down. Mae probably just figured out she left her phone at home.”
“Fine. Answer it. On speaker,” Gunner ordered.
He hit the answer button, flipping immediately to push the volume up so they all could hear her. “Hey, Lily. How’s girls’ night going? Everything okay?”
“Stone, can you come down to Davney’s?”
He sucked a harsh breath in as he pushed off the sofa. “What’s going on?”
“It’s Mae. She’s safe, I promise! We’re all watching after her right now… just… she needs you.”
“We’ll be right there, Lil.” Gunner growled as he picked up the phone.
“Everything’s okay, handsome. Mae just needs Stone rightnow. Nothing dangerous. So take a breath, let Sage and Embrie stay there, and I’ll be home in a little bit.”
“Don’t be stubborn?—”
“Gunner, stay with the girls. Send Stone and Hawk down here, okay? I’ll be home soon.”
“Don’t go anywhere without Gage or Nash,” Gunner growled.
“I know the rules. And I promise, I’ve been a very good girl tonight.”
“I like the sound of that.”
“I knew you would. Hawk, make sure Stone gets here in one piece.”
“Sure thing, Lily.”
The next five minutes were a blur as his heart pounded against his ribs. Hawk drove, while Stone sat in the passenger seat, tapping his fingers against the door. Lily could have told him one-hundred times that Mae was fine, and he still wouldn’t have believed it. He could so clearly hear the concern in her voice that she was trying to hide. And god, did he want to know why it was there in the first place.
As soon as Hawk had the truck in park, Stone was out. His boots hit the ground and he was moving. A whistle from the outdoor patio and some raucous laughter in a very familiar pitch immediately clued him in to where she was.
“You guys!” Mae wobbled as she hopped off her chair and closed the distance between them. “Look who’s here! My baby daddy!”
“How much have you had to drink tonight?” he whispered as she slammed against his chest.
“Hey,daddy.Well, baby daddy… that’s probably not the right title, since there’s no baby anymore.” She brought the glass she was carrying up to her mouth and slammed down the clear liquid.
