Tak could scarcely breathe. “You knew?”
“Your packmates like to gossip. They didn’t mention alcohol, only that you got the tattoo after the accident. Why didn’t you just tell me?”
“You were the only one who didn’t see me with tainted eyes. You would have treated me differently.”
Lakota turned his mouth to the side, and they resumed their pace. “I had a feeling there was more to the story; the accident was mentioned in passing one night at the bar. Some men have loose lips when they drink.”
“I’d like to know which man was flapping his gums about my business to outsiders.”
“Outsiders?” Lakota pretended to be insulted.
Tak put his hand on Lakota’s shoulder. “Before we go any further, you should know I’m in love with Hope.”
Lakota’s jaw set. “You better mean hope in the philosophical sense and not my baby sister.”
Tak gave his shoulder a squeeze and mashed his lips together to keep from smiling. “She’s no baby.”
“Let me know when that shoulder of yours is healed so I can kill you.”
Tak let go. “So that’s all it takes for you to hate me again?”
“A good brother doesn’t make it easy for a man to put a claim on his sister.”
“I’m not asking your permission,” Tak said matter-of-factly. “I just want you to know where I stand. Nothing’s decided. She might not even choose me. I already asked her once, and she turned me down.”
Lakota’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
“Don’t look so thrilled.”
“She’s a smart female. Hope isn’t looking for a mate, and she’s not the kind of woman who would accept the first offer.”
When they entered the main room, Lorenzo was pacing back and forth like a windup toy, his eyes fixed on his phone.
“Have you heard from your sister?” he asked Lakota. “Melody said she’s not back.”
Tak glowered. “Back from where? I thought she was at the store?”
Lakota glanced at the message before checking his own phone. He didn’t seem too concerned. “Did anyone call her? Sometimes she takes long walks.”
Lorenzo dialed a number. “It keeps going to voice mail.” Then he looked up at Tak as if searching for an answer.
Perhaps he was wondering if Tak had a sixth sense that Hope was in danger, but Tak didn’t feel anything was amiss. He adjusted his muscle shirt away from his wound and looked at Lakota, who was reading a message. “Well?”
Lakota blanched. “Austin and Jericho searched the route she would have walked and didn’t find anything. The banker said she left.”
“When?” Lorenzo asked.
After a pregnant pause, Lakota lifted his gaze. “An hour ago.”
* * *
“What the hell were you thinking?”a man roared. “Did I tell you to kidnap her? Did I?”
“You didn’t saynotto kidnap her,” I heard Nash reply. “She waltzed out of the bank with a lumpy purse. Look at all that money.”
“Yeah, look at all that money,” the man parroted. I recognized the voice but couldn’t place it. “Do you realize the shitstorm you just opened up?”
“I don’t give a damn,” Nash retorted. “You promised me more money.”
