Ranger glanced toward the front door. “She stepped outside a few minutes ago. Said she needed air.”
My stomach tightened. “How long?”
“Five… maybe ten minutes.”
I didn’t say another word. I turned and headed straight for the door, each step landing harder than the last. Something wasn’t right. I could feel it.
I shoved the door open so hard it slammed against the outside wall. Cool night air rushed into my lungs. The gravel parking lot stretched out before me, motorcycles lined up in rows, dark fields beyond the lot. Empty. No Emma.
I scanned the area again. Nothing.
“Fuck.”
I stepped back inside the bar, my eyes immediately finding Maya. She was shoved into the corner near the bar with one of my prospects, her mouth locked onto his while his hands roamed like they’d known each other for years. I watched them for a moment before looking away. Emma definitely wasn’t with her.
That made the tight feeling in my gut twist harder.
I walked straight back to my table. The guys immediately saw something was off. Riot sat up straighter. “What’s wrong?”
“She’s gone.”
“Gone where?” Diesel asked, his brow furrowing.
“Outside.”
Knox frowned. “And?”
“She’s not there.”
The table went silent. Ranger slowly pushed his chair back and stood. “You thinking what I’m thinking?”
Yeah. I was.
The road out here was dark and isolated, ten miles from town. Exactly the kind of place something bad could happen if someone was alone. I grabbed my cut from the back of the chair and pulled it on. “We’re leaving.”
Diesel immediately pushed his chair back. Riot drained the rest of his beer. “You want everyone?”
“No.”
I adjusted the cut over my shoulders. “Just officers.”
Ghost stood up, Knox cracked his neck, and Ranger was already moving toward the door. Within seconds, we were outside. The night air had cooled even more since earlier, and engines roared to life as we climbed onto our bikes. I swung onto mine and pulled my helmet on.
Riot rolled up beside me. “You think she walked?”
“She doesn’t have a car.”
Diesel frowned from the other side. “And the bar’s ten miles from town.”
Exactly.
My stomach twisted again. I kicked the bike into gear. “Let’s move.”
Our engines thundered as we peeled out of the gravel lot and onto the empty country road. Headlights sliced through the darkness as we sped down the road, wind tearing past my helmet. We spread out slightly as we rode, scanning the road ahead and the fields on both sides.
Minutes passed before Ranger’s voice crackled through the comms. “Up ahead.”
My pulse spiked. A small figure walked along the side of the road, arms wrapped tightly around herself, head down. I slowed, and the others slowed with me. As we rode past her, the headlights illuminated her face. Tears streaked down her cheeks, mascara smeared everywhere, and she clutched her arm tightly against her chest. Even from the bike, I could see the swelling in her wrist.
