Kashton is standing up on the breezeway with Saint. I haven’t seen Haidyn, but I know he’s here too because we rode together. Thankfully, he gave up his argument about how bad of an idea this is.
I can handle myself. I know I wasn’t always like this, but I like to think I’ve come a long way since I was that scared little girl. I kill grown-ass men. Sure, there have been some close calls, but it’s always worked out. This one won’t be any different.
I’m going to play whatever part I have to in order to help them find this missing woman. I hate to tell Hooke, but it’s been weeks. If she’s part of the human trafficking ring, she’s been sold and is long gone. If she’s lucky, she’s dead. But even if that’s the case, she should be laid to rest. Everyone is entitled to peace, and her family deserves to pay their respects.
“Is this seat taken?”
I look over to see a man standing beside me. He looks young. Mid-twenties, dressed in light-wash jeans and a plain white T-shirt. His blond hair is combed over, and it makes him look like a jock.
He’s my guy.
I bite my bottom lip, looking around nervously. “Yeah. My friend is running late as usual.” Reaching out, I go to pull the barstool from his hand, but he doesn’t let go of it.
“How about I sit until she gets here?” he offers. “Promise, I’ll get up the moment she arrives.”
Sure, you will.I nod and he gives me a charming smile. I pick up my drink and take a sip from the thin straw.
“Do you come here a lot?” he asks.
I shake my head. “I used to, but I moved away a couple of years ago with my boyfriend.” I roll my eyes. Kashton wasn’t happy that I had to take my wedding ring off. I told him to keep it in his pocket so I could have it back as soon as we get this piece of shit outside.
“Sounds like there’s a story there.” He laughs, signaling for a bartender.
“He cheated. I left. That’s all there is.” I finish off my drink as the bartender walks over and takes his order. I allow him to get me another one. “How about you?” I look to see if he’s wearing a ring. I’m surprised he isn’t. They use men like him to pick up women—charming and good looking. They lure you into a back alley where they throw you into the trunk of a car, and then the world never sees you again. Your life is gone. Over. And you wish that you’d just die. You’d be surprised how much your body and mind can endure when you wish either one would just give up.
“She also cheated on me,” he answers.
The bartender places our drinks down on the bar, and we both pick them up, turning to face one another, and tap the glasses together. “Fuck them,” I say, and he smiles, tossing his back, and I take a sip of mine.
“Yeah. Fuck them.” He winks, and I want to roll my eyes but instead, I bat my lashes.
Pretty sure that was him telling me he’d rather fuck me, but whatever. That’s not happening, but I can play along.
He stands and motions to the bartender to return. When he does, he orders two shots before he turns to walk away.
I arch a brow. “Leaving me already?”
Smirking, he shakes his head. “Save my seat?”
“Sure.”
He walks away and disappears into the crowd. I keep my eyes on my phone that sits by my drink and have to hide my smile when I see I have a new text from the same number that Hooke had given me earlier.
Can’t make it.
Of course she can’t. The thought sends a chill up my spine. The poor woman is gone, and Hooke will probably never find her. I hope the Lords beat the living shit out of this guy.
He returns to his seat. “Well, fuck,” I sigh, slamming my cell down.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, placing his hand on my thigh. I stiffen, and he removes it just as quickly.
I push my hair off my shoulder, hoping that my husband didn’t see that because he will most definitely blow my cover. “My girlfriend canceled.” I frown. “I was really wanting to see her.”
“Well, no reason for the night to go to waste.” He shrugs.
“What do you have in mind?” I look him over as if I’m interested. Notlike I need to give him that impression. Men don’t care if you want them or not. They don’t ask for permission.
“Let’s have another drink and then take this to a party.”
