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He shot her an irritated look. “You have a better idea of how to find you if this guy succeeds in taking you?” He hated the scared look in Lyric’s eyes.

She kissed him softly. “I was only teasing. Thank you. This is... sweet.”

“It’s disturbing,” Viper acknowledged. “I know that. But it’s the only way I can go do my thing and know that if something happens, I can find you.”

“You can track my phone,” she pointed out.

Not good enough now that Rick had escalated to attempted murder. “First thing he’s going to do is make you ditch your phone. He won’t want you to have a way to contact help. Put the tag in your sock or somewhere he won’t find easily.”

She put her hand down the front of her shirt and tucked the tag into her bra, under her breast. “Good enough.”

His mind went to a dark place and thought of how Rick could find it there, but he didn’t say anything.“Yeah. That works. Promise me, you’ll never go anywhere without it.”

“I promise.”

“It works like a cell phone’s GPS, so I can find it anywhere.” He didn’t want to think about what would happen if it was underground or the signal was somehow blocked. He pulled out his phone, tapped the screen, then showed Lyric. “See? The tag, and you, are right here with me. When you’re not, it will show me on the map where you are and how far away you are.”

She looked up at him, complete trust in her eyes. “But what if you don’t know I’m gone?”

“I’ve given the lieutenant my number. If anyone reports you missing, he’ll alert me, and I will come for you.”

“Okay.” Lyric’s voice sounded sure and strong, but he knew she was feeling anything but.

He cupped her cheek. “I promise, Lyric, I will come for you.”

“I know. I just don’t want to think about you having to do so.”

“Trust me, Rick does not want me to have to find you. He tries something, you should tell him that. Remind him, you’ve got me and a lot of other people who will scour the earth for you.”

She sighed. “I know that. I hope, after what he did, he realizes that he’s in trouble, and coming for me again is the last thing he needs.”

Viper couldn’t count on Rick to listen to the little voice in his head to save himself, because that voice was playing only one tune. It was telling him Lyric belonged to him.

Viper could relate to how that felt. Everything inhim said she was his. But he’d done things the right way and proved himself to her. She trusted him. She loved him. And that was a gift, not something you could take or force. It just happened.

“Never stop being optimistic and hoping for the best.” He kissed her forehead and brushed his hand down her hair. “You’re a light, Angel. That’s why so many of us want to be near you.”

“Yeah, well even I can’t brighten someone like him. He’s a void that sucks everything in and gives nothing back. He can never be filled or satiated. He thinks I will make everything better in his life, but that’s not my job or responsibility. I can’t be that for someone.”

“No one can,” he added, letting her know he understood. As much as he needed her in his life, he had to be okay on his own, because she couldn’t do that for him. And while his troubles stemmed from being alone and wanting her in his life, it wasn’t that he needed to be fixed, he simply wanted more for himself. A partner. Someone to make memories with. Someone he could talk to and count on and love. Someone who was there for him as well.

Lyric glanced toward the door. “Well, I better get this done. I’ve got lots to do today, including checking on my apartment.” She squeezed his hand. “And you have someplace to be.”

He tilted her head up so he could look her right in the eye. “With you is where I always want to be.” He kissed her, letting her feel how much he meant that, then released her.

“M?”

“Yeah, Angel?”

“If it was you, nothing would stop me from coming for you, too. Be safe.”

Those words, that vow, hit him right in the heart. He kissed her again, wishing he could stay, but knowing he had to go and he had her blessing. “I’ll see you soon.” He kissed her one last time, then left the office and went out the back way like he’d come in without being seen, on a mission to finish his business so he could be with her.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

It was getting harder and harder to be away from Lyric. She was all he thought about. All he wanted. And being tied to his job and away from her when she needed him ate away at Viper’s already-bruised soul.

He parked his truck in the lot at the Wild Wolves clubhouse. A handful of cars were in the lot, including Maria’s. Surprised she wasn’t at work at the hairdresser next door to the diner downtown, he headed inside hoping to get what he needed to end this once and for all.