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Clenching his jaw, he forced the tight fist open and then he tugged his helmet back on. He mounted the bike, shifted into gear and pulled back onto the road and shot the bike into a turn, sending the engine howling through the trees. The wind lashed at his face, his hair flying wildly, but the rage wouldn’t subside. The deep, gnawing feeling was eating him alive from the inside out.

He was just... done. Done with Charlie. Done with Truck. Done with the bullshit. He couldn’t even look at them the same anymore. He didn’t care how theyexplainedit. The truth was, no explanation could or would fix this.

Hemlock turned off the main road, his eyes scanning the streets, searching for something to numb the pain, anything. His thoughts were too loud, too damn overwhelming. He needed to get away. Away from the house, away from them, away from the ache in his chest that felt like it was tearing him apart. Away from everyone and everything.

As the bike revved beneath him, he didn’t know where he was headed. But he didn’t care. He just wanted to leave everything behind… the betrayal, the pain, the goddamn memories of Charlie’s smile and the way she’d looked at him like she cared.

The road stretched out in front of him, but Hemlock no longer saw it. All he saw was the image of Charlie smiling at him with a look that now felt like a lie. She was good, he’d give her that. She had him believing that not only had she cared, but that she was different from the other women he’d dealt with.

Instead all he felt was the overwhelming need to drive until the pain was gone. Until everything that hadbeenwas lost to the wind.

Chapter Fifteen

Their first stop was at the condo and they found nothing out of place. Hemlock’s work truck for the detailing business was in the drive, but his bike wasn’t. Which didn’t surprise Truck. Hemlock rarely didn’t ride his bike. Knowing the kid would come home sooner than later, Truck took Charlie back to his place so she could pick up Hemlock’s car.

But by the next day, neither of them had heard from him and Truck was beginning to get worried. It wasn’t like Hemlock to stay gone. Not over a girl. Picking up the phone he called the hospital and asked to speak with nurse Durand. When they said he wasn’t at work that was the first red flag for Truck.

His second call was to Razor at the clinic. Razor told him Hemlock hadn’t shown up at the clinic, which was unlike him. That was the second red flag. Completely freaking out, Truck got on his bike and started riding all through town and the surrounding areas searching for any signs of the brother.

Exhausted, he stopped by Hemlock’s condo to check one more time. Seeing the truck and car in the driveway, he parked, got off his bike, and knocked on the door. When Charlie answered,Truck wasn’t ready for the girl to launch herself at him. Wrapping his arms around her, he listened to Charlie tell him between sobs that Hemlock hadn’t come home.

“Let’s head to the clubhouse and see if anyone’s seen or heard from him.”

“Okay.” She sniffled, trying to gain some control over her emotions. Grabbing her purse and the house key, Charlie locked up, then followed Truck.

“Shit. I can’t put you on the back of my sled.”

Charlie didn’t see the problem, she’d ridden before. “I’ve ridden with Hemlock.”

Sighing, Truck faced Charlie when he realized she had no clue. “I can’t put you on the back of my bike because you’re my brother’s woman.”

Staring at Truck, Charlie tried wrapping her mind around the words coming out of Truck’s mouth. “I’m what?”

“Charlie. You’re his cinnamon girl.” He saw the shocked look on her face. “Don’t you see that. I mean you’re living in his house. Driving his car. He’s crazy about you.”

She was shocked. Hemlock… Hemlock crazy about her. It was news to her. Did she want it to be true? Yes, damn it, she did. “He hasn’t said anything. Hell, he hasn’t made a move.”

Scrubbing a hand over his face, Truck told Charlie something his brother should have already shared with her. “Hemlock’s got baggage. Like damaged baggage that’s held together by duct tape. And he hasn’t had the best track record with the ladies.”

Charlie didn’t understand why it mattered that Hemlock had a past. She had a past, it hadn’t stopped her… yet. “And?”

“And he’s slow to make a move,” Truck said with an over amount of frustration. The entire situation had spiraled out of control and he for one, could not figure out how or why.

With her hands on her hips, Charlie stared at Truck. “Then what do you propose we do.”

“Take his car. Better yet the truck, I own that bitch.” Pointing toward the driveway, he waited for her to walk before he took a step.

Driving towards the clubhouse, Truck passed a row of abandoned buildings and thought, could it be that simple. Pulling over, he parked the work truck and told Charlie to lock the doors as he climbed out. It didn’t surprise him when she got out and jogged up next to him.

“Why are we heading into an abandoned building, Truck?” Charlie asked as she shielded her eyes from the sun.

Honesty was a bitch, he thought. “Hemlock lived here when he was a kid.”

Charlie looked at the building and then at Truck. Surely the place hadn’t been abandoned when Hemlock lived there. Had it? “Truck, was Hemlock homeless was as

a child?”

“I think you should ask him that.” He was done digging a bigger hole for himself. He didn’t know what had triggered the kid to lose his shit the night before, but Truck did not want to add fuel to the fire by telling Charlie everything about Hemlock.