Page 20 of Pieces of You

Two minutes later, he scurried out of the kitchen with Master Greer’s breakfast.

I poured a cup for my own Master, knowing I could find him in the club area by now, immersing himself in the news.

How many times had we done this? After a sleepover, it was a ritual for the subs to prepare breakfast for the Owners. Something I knew Shay loved so much. Nobody else—Reese, notwithstanding—was allowed to make coffee for River.

I let out a breath.

I miss you, buddy. Please stay strong. River and Reese will find you.

Lucas Carter

I shook my head and clicked on the next link. What the hell was happening? Yesterday, we’d finally started seeing more sources outside California mention the kidnapping, but it was being completely overshadowed by news of a cartel-related turf war.

I wasn’t leaving our little newsroom in the club area until I found sources that kept Shay’s kidnapping relevant. He couldn’t fucking be old news already. When the media forgot, the world forgot.

“I dropped another article in the chat,” Lucian said, concentrating on his own laptop. “It’s about that cartel guy who escaped prison in Texas.”

I nodded absently, finishing my coffee as well as the article I was reading.

At the same time, Colt was done with his breakfast. “All right, Ty’s pickin’ me up in five.”

I glanced up from my laptop, and I noticed a couple more friends had arrived. Max and Reid had brought their laptops and now occupied one of the sofas, and Walker had come in at some point too. I hoped Macklin was still asleep.

Tate had joined Kingsley in the morning news hunt.

Colt took our breakfast plates back to the kitchen, and I closed my laptop for the moment. Kit was probably out on the patio, so I went out there.

True enough. He and his friends were done eating too, but they hadn’t left the table yet. Everyone was lost in their phones.

“Kit?” I waited until he looked up. “Colt’s leaving for the day.”

“Okay. Be right there.”

I nodded once and returned inside. On my way to the kitchen, I passed Tate and gave his shoulder a squeeze. “Thank you very much for the breakfast, pet.”

“Anytime, Sir.”

I didn’t make it to the kitchen. Colt reappeared in the lobby with a go-cup and asked me to hold it while he went to take a leak, so I accepted the mug and told him I’d wait for him out front.

The shade on the front porch offered a sliver of relief, compared to the patio in the back. It was going to be another hotter-than-hell day, and I had every intention of staying indoors where the AC hummed. Call it my soundtrack for today’s news quest.

When I spotted Ty and Lane’s truck coming in hot, I wasn’t at all surprised they ignored the carport and drove right up on the front lawn. We’d been doing it all week, giving no fucks about tire tracks in the grass.

I’d decided it was going to be my first laugh when Reese came home and exclaimed something along the lines of, “Who the hell fucked up the lawn?”

I missed hearing him bitch about the little things.

Both Ty and Lane climbed out of the truck, and it was nice to see Lane had returned so soon. No bulky hoodie today, just shorts and a tee. How he hadn’t expired from the heat in Ty’s hoodie last evening was beyond me. The nights weren’t exactly cool. They were…muggy and sticky and almost as bad as daytime.

“Mornin’,” Ty said.

“Good morning, you two,” I replied.

I noticed Lane was clutching a notebook, and he glanced hesitantly at me.

“Good morning, sir.” He cleared his throat and came up the porch steps. “Could I ask a favor?”

“Of course.” I tilted my head.