“Yes, and so was my brother.” We both sit on barstools, and I immediately want to drop my head on the table as exhaustion overwhelms me.
Sonny slides a steaming cup of coffee toward Becky. “Becks, it’s good to see you. How’ve you been? Jack gives us updates, but he’s a typical man. We get very few details.”
Becky takes a sip. “I’m well! Er, will be once I see Jack.” She pauses. “An art gallery in town is highlighting some of my work next week. You should check it out. It’s a perfect excuse to get fancy and have some fun.” She waggles her eyebrows.
Sonny wipes the bar top down. “I don’t do the fancy thing. Maybe next time. Plus, who will look after this place if I’m gone?”
Becky smacks the counter. “I think the club can handle you taking a night off.”
“I’ll think about it,” Sonny says, reorganizing condiments and continuing to clean. “Have you heard from Jack?”
Becky wraps her hands around the mug and brings it to her lips. “I haven’t. I imagine Jessi or Mike will be the first to hear anything.”
“I have his phone,” I tell them. “So maybe none of us will.”
“He could call it,” Sonny suggests.
“Good thinking.” I bring the phone out to check. No new calls.
I swallow the lump of dread in my stomach and force myself to chat to Becky. No one seems as bothered about Jack’s situation as I am. Maybe I’m overreacting. But the fear in Jack’s eyes when the officers cuffed him haunts me. If he was scared, I should be too.
Becky is the polar opposite of Jack on the outside, but she shares his kindness, understanding of others, and good heart. She quickly becomes the sister I never had, and the more we talk, the easier it is to believe her when she says Jack will be fine.
When Mike walks in, everyone’s attention snaps to him. I bet you could hear a pin drop as everyone waits for an update.
He eyes me first, then the rest of the group. “It’s looking like Jack will get out tonight,” he tells us.
My stomach flips.Thank God.
“They don’t really have much to go on except David’s word,” Mike explains. “Our boy Kade here gave Jack an alibi. Therefore, it’s a quick release and drop of charges. Our payroll hard at work.”
The club roars with applause.
I swallow, wishing I couldshare their excitement and optimism.
Mike assesses me, but I doubt he’ll discuss anything here. Regardless of what actually happened to free Jack, I’m grateful to Mike for pulling strings.
Mike claps. “Ah. I need someone to ride with me to grab Jack’s bike so it’s here when he gets back. We know this is a bullshit case. Jack doesn’t deserve this, so let’s give him a warm welcome when we see him.”
Everyone lifts their drinks and cheers in agreement.
Kade steps forward. “I’ll go with you, Mike.”
“Hey,” I say, handing him my key and glancing at Becky. “Can you take Becky’s bags to the house too, please?”
“No problem,” says Kade. Then he steps in to introduce himself. “Hi, I’m Kade. You must be Becky, Jack’s sister.”
Becky’s cheeks pink, and she starts to play with the bracelets on her arms. “I am! Nice to meet you. Thanks for lugging my bags to Jack’s place.”
“No problem. They’re in safe hands.” He clutches her bags and shoots Becky a side smile and a wink before following Mike out.
God, these bikers and their winks. Is that the first lesson they get when they become a prospect or something?
Becky gawks at me. “Who was that!”
“That’s Kade. We actually went on a date, but it’s over now. It’s a long story, and I can fill you in later, but I’m way too tired to get into it now.”
She hesitates. “Are you still into him?”
