“Huck, I want round-the-clock protection on the saloon and the house. Use brothers, not prospects.”
His favoritism was showing, and I shook my head. He’d play the devoted father while there was a threat and still screw my sister over emotionally. He was leaving out Roxy, Lulu and Francene. I didn’t think any of them were specific targets, but it wouldn’t be unreasonable for the gang to think they could intimidate us through the women.
“What about the rest?” I asked.
“Who?” He raised an eyebrow in fake confusion.
I wanted to smash his smug face into the table until his nose broke. “Francene and Jim live out on the ranch. Their nearest neighbor is over five miles away. No one’s going to hear them scream. Lulu has her mother and sisters. Roxy’s in the motel. They wear fucking name tags. How many Lulus do you think are in a town this size? It’s easy to find them.”
“No.” His voice rang out with finality. I could push, but I wouldn’t get anywhere, and no one else was taking a stand. He didn’t think they were worth protecting because they weren’t Angelica. It was a mistake.
“If we’re not doing overnights, maybe we should do pickups. Make sure they get to and from the saloon safely,” Eights murmured into the stillness of the room. “I’d volunteer to help if we don’t have enough prospects.”
“They were coming after us and probably figured we owned the saloon. I doubt the actual waitresses are targets.” Scorpion leaned back in his chair.
“The gang could use them to attack us. If something happens to them on our watch, are any of you going to live with yourselves? It will be their blood on our hands.” I was hoping the other brothers would back my play, and then Scorpion wouldn’t have a choice but to offer them protection.
The room went silent, each man eyeing the person sitting next to him.
“Something else to consider,” I continued. “We still have runs to complete. They’ve tried to hit us in town and in the desert. If the money isn’t flowing, and we’re under attack, how many of the brothers are going to stick around? Loyalty here is only as good as the pay.”
“It wasn’t always like that.” Aces stared at Scorpion.
“I don’t know what you want me to do about it. We needed able bodies, and that’s what we got. Their loyalty wasn’t in question then.” He shifted in his seat. “It’s not like we can beat them into submission.”
“Why? That’s what you do to Angelica.” The words were out of my mouth before I even knew I’d said them. It’d been a constant thought lately, and I was curious what his response would be.
Scorpion blinked like I’d sucker-punched him, but I didn’t take the bait. I wouldn’t need much to explode, my hands already clenched in fists. I was done with words. They no longer worked on him.
My phone rang. Once. Twice. No one said a word as I finally picked up on the third try. “What?”
“Grant, I can’t find her.”
My back stiffened, a chill creeping down my spine.We were too late.“What’s going on?”
“Roxy’s missing.” Angelica took a shaky breath, and I was already out of my seat, heading for the door. “There’s a gas leak at the motel. When the kid who works in the office didn’t see Roxy, he came running to the saloon. It’s the weekend—she’s off. People are coughing. Fire and police everywhere, but no Roxy.”
“I left her in bed this morning. They searched her room, right?” I didn’t bother with my helmet as I started my bike. I didn’t want to waste any time.
“The motel is a square, and they started the search on the other side. I’ve tried to tell them, but no one’s listening to me, and the fire marshal isn’t here.”
It was a ten-minute drive to the motel. I made it there in five. Pulling into the lot, I scanned the faces. There were people everywhere. Some were on the phone, kids were crying, but I couldn’t find her. No Roxy. Just sirens, lights, and my pounding chest.
“Oh, thank God, you’re here.” Angelica rushed over to me, but her eyes went over my shoulder. The executives and a few of the club members had followed me. I hadn’t realized it, too concerned with finding my woman.
I’d tried to give her space. Tried to be patient. Fuck that shit. For the first time in my life, I had someone who saw me, all of me, and didn’t shy away. She was mine, and I wouldn’t lose her. This was Tombstone. If someone touched her, I wouldn’t ask questions before I shot first.
Chapter twenty-five
Stick the Landing
Cactus
“They’re not sending anyone to search her room.” Angelica stabbed a finger at Roxy’s door. “It’s right there.”
I tuned her out, focusing only on the room. The police had roped off the motel with yellow caution tape, but that wouldn’t hold me back. Planning to jump over it, I ran. However, as I lifted my leg to clear the tape, an officer stepped in front of me. I had to skid to a stop in order to avoid knocking him over.
“No one’s allowed beyond the tape.” He pointed at me, his cheeks red. He appeared to be Roxy’s age, and I wanted to call him son to see if his face would turn as red as a tomato. The kid probably thought the badge gave him swagger, but he hadn’t seen enough life to wear it.
