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“You good?” He eyes me, hanging back in the kitchen like I am, overseeing this mayhem.

I now understand why Steel was always sitting on that one barstool at the edge of the room and never drinking as much as the rest of the guys. He was keeping his eyes open. Never letting his guard down.

“I’m fine.” I take a sip of my drink, my eyes moving to the doorway for the hundredth time this hour like I might be able to manifest Harloe walking through.

Aiden hums, barely holding back his chuckle.

“What?”

“Nothing. East said everything in Santa Fe was a breeze. But you just seem… preoccupied.”

“Well I’m not,” I lie. “It’s just been a long day and a longer ride.”

That part is true. We’ve been on our bikes since before the sun broke the horizon—something East made sure to complain about every time we stopped. I didn’t give a shit how tired he was. I’ve been itching to get back for days. And no matter how much I tried to deny my reasoning, the second I rode through town and spotted Ransack, the truth punched me in the gut.

Harloe.

The girl who claims we’re just having fun.

The second I get my hands on her, we’re going to work that out because it’s been eating away at me since I left. It took everything in me to avoid that conversation while I was gone, even if it meant she might find her own fun with someone in my absence.

My fingers grip my glass, and I take another sip.

Nope. Don’t like the thought of that at all.

Maybe I should have texted her while I was away. Lawson straight up told me I was being a coward for avoiding her. But I couldn’t trust myself to not mess shit up even further through text, so I resisted.

Besides, Lawson kept me updated on her whereabouts my entire trip. It’s something the guys are already giving me shit about.

I don’t care.

As long as Harloe’s life is in danger, they can tease me for being overprotective and obsessed. Nothing is more important than keeping her safe. Which is why, the moment I rolled into Lanceleaf, I rode through downtown. I needed to get my eyes on her—to see for myself that she was okay.

My fingers gripped the handlebars when I caught a glimpse of her whiskey-brown hair through the smoke-stained front window at Ransack.

I almost stopped, but resisted.

Ransack isn’t my mess.

Just like this isn’t her world.

I glance around.

I’m keyed up, shifting on my feet and drinking to settle my nerves, waiting for Harloe to walk through the door and decide what she’s going to do when she gets a taste of what club life really looks like.

“You’re just tired? Right.” Aiden chuckles, sipping his beer. “So this has nothing to do with the five million texts asking for updates on her every move? East wasn’t joking when he said you were pining after that girl.”

“I don’t pine.” My eyes narrow. “She’s Will’s sister, and he’s helping us out, in case you all forgot. I’m not letting shit happen to her just because I’m gone. I promised she’d be safe.”

“She was.”

“Good.” I down a healthy sip of whiskey and change the subject. “How’s the new contractor?”

“He already got into it with Zander at the hardware store, and he managed to hold his own, so he’ll be fine. Plus, he’s got some ideas for the clubhouse that might be worth considering. It’ll cost more, but it’ll help with noise control between the bar and the bedrooms.”

“It would be worth it,” I say, and Aiden nods. We’ve both lived the clubhouse life long enough to know how noisy it is. “How long until the work is done?”

“End of summer, so long as we don’t run into any further issues with permits. Lawson says he has that under control, but we’ll see.”