My gaze snaps back to him and I frown, all thoughts of the car forgotten. “What?”
He shifts. “It’s just, we have feelers everywhere, and we usually get results. Your people are supposedly one of the most elite in the world. The cops are involved. The FBI. And nothing? Not a single lead other than finding a pattern of the women they take? How’s that possible?”
Neither of us says a word for what feels like a long time.
“This is some kind of inside job.”
He nods slowly.
“You don’t think Silver?—”
“No! God, no.” He shakes his head. “But…”
“Someone from the club?”
He looks away almost guiltily. “I just…it doesn’t make sense.”
“It doesn’t. I’ve had some of these feelings too, but it’s hard to separate those feelings with how I feel about her. Like, am I too invested to look at things objectively?”
He shakes his head. “No. I feel the same way.”
“I have to think about this.”
“Yeah.” He pulls out some keys. “But there’s no reason we can’t think while we drive. Want to take her out?”
I look at him like he’s nuts. “Is that a serious question?”
He laughs and tosses me the keys.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Allora
It’s a long day. I can’t say it didn’t go well but the whole dynamic makes me nervous. I want my father and Landon to get along but I don’t want him to be brought into the fold, which is what it feels like.
Landon was gone for about an hour but then came back looking happy, talking animatedly with Metal. About his car. Apparently, they both love Mustangs, which is fair. I think they’re pretty cool too. But then Dad got involved. And Thunder. Talking cars and motorcycles and going riding together sometime.
The ladies all went out of their way to be friendly but it felt forced, except for Layla. She’s the only one who made me feel like I genuinely made a friend.
Aunt Fern just wants me to come back, be part of them again, which would never happen anyway but couldn’t happen in any significant way unless Grim patched in—and that’s not going to happen.
So, I don’t understand what they’re trying to do.
And it’s exhausting.
I’m quiet on the drive back to Rage’s apartment, and it takes forever because Grim goes the long way. Taking side roads and smaller highways all the way. Looking for a tail. Making sure it’s safe to get out of the truck. Everything is such an ordeal. I knowwhywe have to do it but that doesn’t make it any less exhausting.
I collapse on the couch and close my eyes.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, sinking down beside me.
“Today was a lot.”
“You didn’t have fun?”
I open my eyes and frown. “Do you think I’m just being stubborn when I say I want to keep a distance from the club? It’s not my life anymore. Maybe I’m bitchy and spoiled, but I love my life, current circumstances notwithstanding. The club stays mostly off the grid; they live simple lives. And I don’t. Maybe we should have talked about this before, but I’m not a simple woman. I like expensive things, fancy hotels, nice clothes. I enjoy the finer things in life. I love to travel and see new places. I drive a convertible. I love designer bags and have so many shoes and purses, it might be excessive.” I pause and meet his eyes. “I don’t know how you feel about a woman like that.”
“I haven’t seen that side of you.,” he admits quietly. “I guess I saw a little of it in Denver but you’ve been pretty chill since we’ve been together.”
