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Why the hell isn’t he coming back with us?

“I’ll stay behind and collect your prize money.”

Oh, right.

The prize money.

It doesn’t even fucking matter, though. Nothing does until I get to Lennon and check for myself that she is okay. Jumper’s explanation has soothed the thoughts raging through my head slightly. But now knowing that she left because she wasn’t feeling well, it pushes me even more to get back to her.

“Yeah, okay,’ I tell him, grabbing my t-shirt and my cut off the bike and pulling them on. “See you back there.”

I swing my leg over the bike and the engine rumbles to life beneath me. I don’t waste any more time before backing out onto the gravel road behind me and peeling out.

I don’t care if they are keeping up or not.

My mission is clear.

Get to Lennon.

And then, after I make sure she’s okay, we are going to have a serious fucking talk about disappearing on me like this because this shit is not fucking cool.

The ride to the clubhouse passes by in a blur. The roar of the engine, the road in front of me, the vibration of the bike through my body and the wind as it whips through my hair. All of it fades away, bleeding behind the one thought that truly matters.

Get to Lennon.

“Fuck this shit,” I hiss as I hit the button for the front gate and then come to a stop as it slowly begins to open in front of me.

I’ve had it with this piece of shit.

Storm is buying a new fucking motor for this gate whether he fucking likes it or not.

I rev the engine of my bike, almost like I can will this stupid fucking thing to open faster and as soon as there is a big enough gap to fit my bike, I’m barreling through it. The road that passes by the clubhouse is the faster way to my house and I take it, driving like I’m still out on the highway instead of the gravel roads of the compound.

My wheel slips on a rock and I almost lose control of the bike, cursing under my breath as I do everything in my power to control the machine beneath me. And miraculously, I manage to right it.

Finally, the house comes into view and I release a breath.

She’s here.

I’ll have her in my arms as soon as I walk through that door.

I skid to a stop outside the front door and put the kickstand down, killing the engine. Then, I’m off the bike and heading for the door, determination in every step.

“Lennon,” I call as soon as I get the door open.

Nothing.

“Len, baby,” I yell louder, closing the door behind me. “Where are you?”

Silence.

I walk into the living room.

Empty.

I race past the kitchen and take the stairs two at a time to the bedroom.

Nothing.