“What the fuck do you think I’ve been trying to do?” The words roared out of me and the room fell silent. I blew out a long breath and swiped a hand over my face. “Look, what I mean is that I’m trying, okay? I want answers too, but I can’t push Zoya too hard. She’s hanging on by a thread and Eliana is the only one she’ll share any of this with. She still isn’t talking.”
They all nodded, understanding in everybody’s eyes. “You’re doing fine,” Diesel assured me. “You’re her dad and you’re here. That counts for a lot.”
I wanted to believe that. “We have to find this asshole and take him out. That’s the plan.” I looked at Diesel and found him nodding in agreement.
Diesel stood, clapping Slate on the back. “Get some sleep and then let’s figure out how to catch this motherfucker.”
“He has to be the supplier who provided the dirty drugs,” I said, thinking out loud. “If I’m the target, then he wanted to hurt the club as well.”
Slate nodded. “I’m on top of it. Seeing all the ways we can connect Dave to our recent issues.”
“Thanks, brother.”
“No thanks needed,” he said. “After a few hours of sleep, I’ll have more answers.”
“Okay.”
As soon as the meeting broke, I headed for the garage, but Eliana was right outside the office waiting for me. “What’s up?” I asked with a frown.
“I hate to bethatperson, but I need to get things from the house. For Zoya and me.”
I nodded, kicking myself for not thinking of it sooner. “Right.” I looked around, brows furrowed when I didn’t see my kid. “Where’s Zoya?”
Eliana’s face lit up. “She’s outside playing with some of the kids and that dog with a farting problem. She was smiling and eager, and I decided that we could take a break so she could be a regular kid for a few hours.”
Her smile was stunning and for a few seconds, I let myself get lost in her joy and her light. I didn’t know what the hell I’d done to deserve this woman in my life, but I was thankful as fuck for her. “Good thinking. I’ll tell her we’re leaving and then we can go.”
“Okay. Thank you, Sledge.”
***
The moment we stepped inside my house, it felt different. It hadn’t even been twenty-four hours but even though the place looked the same with everything exactly where it was supposed to be, it all felt different. The energy was off.
Had someone had been here?
“I’m going to pack up some things.” Eliana sounded nervous. I wasn’t sure if it was due to what happened last night, or the thought of being alone with me.
I smiled at that thought, scanning the room for any signs of change. I went from room to room just making sure nothing had been disturbed and when I returned to the living room, Eliana was there with three bags at her feet, a backpack, and two duffel bags.
“What’s all this?”
She grinned. “Clothes and things for me and Zoya. And my books and research.”
“How long do you think we’re gonna be staying at the clubhouse?”
She looked embarrassed. “I wanted everything to be as normal as possible for Zoya, so I’ve packed her favorite toys and books.”
This woman was perfection. I stared at her a second too long, my pulse kicking up. She was soft and strong at the same time, that perfect mix that drove me crazy for some reason. Before I could think better of it, I crossed the room, cupped her face, and kissed her.
Hard.
She melted against me instantly, fingers sliding up my arms before tangling in my hair. The kiss deepened, intensified, and turned hungry. When she finally pulled back, her smile was small and shocked. “What was that for?”
“Because I just couldn’t fucking help myself.” That was my honest answer and her smile said she thought it was enough.
Eliana laughed softly, shaking her head, but the sound died when I kissed her again. This time slower, deeper, the kind that erased everything else.
Her breath hitched when my hands slid down her hips, thumbs brushing the skin just above her waistband. “Sledge,” she whimpered when I slid my hand into her waistband.
