Page 43 of Claimed

“Call ‘em in. I’ll have the girls get some food together.”

He nods and pulls out his phone as we head back to the bar. The place smells like cinnamon and sugar. I remember that smell. I remember the taste, too, as Raven fed me her so-called monkey bread. I find her and Chrissy in the kitchen hard at work.

“Are you making monkey bread?” I ask.

“No. Temperature’s supposed to drop tonight, so I’m makingbuñuelosand Mexican hot chocolate.”

“Oh.” I hope I don’t sound too disappointed. “There are a few other guys coming, so you might wanna make extra.”

I leave them to it and go looking for Ace. We get to talking about Briggs and the list we found on his computer. His other guys arrive and join in on the conversation. When the girls start putting out food, buffet style, I realize we’ve been talking for over two hours. I don’t know how they did it but they made fajitas, too, enough to feed everybody. Food and drinks start flowing, Hounds find guys to hang on, and Allah gets into his zone with the music. By the time E walks in, things are pretty wild.

“I take it things worked out with the Snakes?”

“Now I know why they call you ‘Einstein’.”

“You’re such a sarcastic asshole.”

Super Head brings him a plate, and he sits next to me while we eat. I fill him in on my little meeting with Ace, all while watching Raven. She’s quite the hostess, even telling Chopper to relax because it’s her turn to take care of him.

“How was her appointment?” E asks.

“Okay, I guess. She has another one in a few days.”

“How areyoudoing?”

I look up from my plate. It makes no sense to lie to E. He knows me better than I know myself sometimes.

“I don’t know what to do, E. Everywhere I turn, I slam into a brick wall. How is that possible? Why can’t we find him?”

“Even I don’t have that answer. Maybe you should focus on Raven for a while. Get her better.”

“Maybe.”

We finish eating in silence until Raven comes over. I put my plate down and pull her to me. She chews on her bottom lip, head down but peeking up at me.

“That’s it. You’re making my dinner from now on. As a matter of fact, all my meals.”

She gives me a bashful smile and raises her face to mine. “Chrissy helped.”

“You cooked?” E asks with raised brows. “For once, I agree with Gage. It was delicious, beautiful.”

“Thanks, Dr. E.”

She starts fiddling with the pendant on my chain then goes still, reaching for her neck.

“My necklace…have you seen it?”

“No, but it’s probably with your things. I had the guys bring everything from Lonnie’s house.”

“No, no, no…”

She dashes to the bedroom so I follow behind and find her digging through her suitcases. She moves to the chest of drawers, frantically searching. I see panic in her expression as she tries the closet next.

“It’s not here…” she cries in desperation. “It’s not here!”

“It’s okay, doll. I’ll send someone to search the house and see if maybe Renley and his boys have it.”

“No…” She sits on her heels, wringing her hands. “It’s gone.”