Page 72 of Craving Consequences

“Okay, settle down, we can’t lose our heads right now.

” She turns to Daisy who stands just a little ways away from the group.

Unlike the others, her expression is one of quiet deliberation.

“Daisy, can you run over to the Singh’s next door and ask if they saw Everly come home.

Thelma, call Sheriff Brewer and ask him when he last saw Everly leaving the department.

I will call the phone tree, and we will get more eyes out and about in case she’s taking a little alone time somewhere.

Meanwhile, the rest of you, go home. There is nothing any of us can do at the moment, but I will call you if you’re needed. ”

With only me and Lachlan remaining, she turns her attention to us.

“You both might want to head—”

“No.” Lachlan moves for the first time to stand next to me. The hollow void that had been his features is replaced with a set determination that calms some of the anxiousness in my gut. “Bron is my responsibility. If he caught up with Everly again, it’s my job to stop him.”

Candace seems unaffected by his claim. She studies him with the same steely dispassion before facing her crew.

“Daisy, if you please. ”

Daisy sprints down the driveway, long, thick coils bouncing across her back as she rounds the corner in the direction of the Singh’s house.

“If you two would like to help, maybe you can drive—”

A high roar of a feral beast fills the air, the rumble of something massive that amps in power the closer it gets.

All heads turn as a sleek, black Road King rumbles up the driveway.

A beautiful piece of machinery with gleaming chrome sides and a perfect matte finish.

It’s a thing of dreams — mainly mine. But I’m not given a chance to admire the sweet ride when I’m aware of the two perched on its back.

Close together.

The driver in his dark jeans and black top is neither here nor there, but it’s the long, pale arms clasped around his middle that overrides all the good feelings I had over the bike itself.

The passenger is pressed way too close, way too personal with naked legs splayed wide around the driver’s hips, chest flush against his lean back.

He takes a sharp turn and rolls to a stop next to Lachlan’s truck. The rider straightens and waits for the familiar figure clinging to his back to hop off.

Lauren’s thick, blonde strands tumble around her bare shoulders with the removal of her helmet.

But I’m staring at the driver, my dislike immediate, even before he drags off his covering and turns to watch Lauren — my Lauren — like he’d had this dream before and couldn’t believe his damn luck.

It’s the idiot expression of a puppy deeply in love with the creature standing before him.

Hell. Fucking. No.

Then, as if realizing he has an audience, he turns all that boyish charm on the group like he didn’t just risk my daughter’s life on that death trap.

“Mrs. Ferguson.” His stupid face curls into a charming smile. “Ladies. I apologize for the noise.”

Unlike our cold greeting, Candace gives the kid a warm, but disapproving frown. “You know how I feel about that thing, Teddy.”

His grin is lopsided and boyish. “I do. My sincere apologies, ma’am. I was told it was an emergency, and I can never say no to a lady in distress.”

I have to resist the urge to roll my eyes.

Kiss ass.

Lauren hurries over to us, refocusing my attention. “Is she back?”

I shake my head and start to answer when Daisy returns.

“Mrs. Singh says Everly arrived, but she grabbed a few bags and left almost immediately.”

There’s silence as the crowd peers at each other.

“Well,” Candace begins, visibly contemplating this news, “perhaps she decided she needed space and has gone away for a little while. No one can blame her. I’m sure she will return when she’s ready.” She claps her hands together, the matter corrected in her mind. “I think we can all head home now.”

Better than trained soldiers, each one moves without a whisper of complaint. The group disperses. Murmurs of relief follow them as the women make their way off Everly’s driveway. Everyone, except Candace.

She moves to stand before Lachlan with an almost sadness to her eyes. “I truly hope you meant what you said, Mr. Shaw. Jefferson is not the kind of town where we will allow anyone to hurt one of our own.”

Except yourselves, I think vaguely, but keep my mouth shut.

The hypocrisy does not go unnoticed. Aside from Lachlan, I never had siblings, but I’m guessing it’s one of those things where you can beat on your sibling, but no one else can.

Still, I keep quiet as the woman gives us each a final glance before following the crowd.

“Where would she go?” Lauren sweeps back a lock of hair and faces us.

“Have you tried calling her?” I ask her.

Lauren reaches for her pocket and pulls out her phone.

“Might not work.” Teddy, shiny, black helmet tucked beneath his arm, steps closer a few feet. Too close, but I allow it. “She’s not going to get any reception.”

All three of us turn to him .

“You know where she is?” I snap.

That idiot smile vanishes from his face. His green eyes flick from me to Lauren, wide with panic and confusion.

“I mean, maybe? I think?”

Annoyed by his sputtering, by the way he keeps looking at Lauren like she can somehow save him, I step between them and peer into his stupid face.

“Speak!”

“Dad!” Lauren grabs my arm and jerks. “What is wrong with you?”

Setting aside the very pressing matter of finding Everly, I scowl at the kid staring at me like death itself has come for his soul.

“What the hell were you thinking driving my daughter on that thing?”

“Are you serious right now?” Lauren shrieks.

“Do you have any idea how many deaths are caused on motorcycles?” I snap. “Just how fast were you going?”

He fidgets, poking his glasses higher on his nose. “The respectable amount of speed, sir. I would never put Lauren’s life in danger. I’ve been riding since I was fifteen. I’m very careful, and never had a single accident.”

My eyes narrow. “Get a lot of girls to ride on the back of your bike?”

“Oh my God, Dad! ”

Teddy’s entire face turns crimson in a manner I almost find comical. “No, sir. Lauren was my first ... on my bike.”

“Oh my god,” Lauren groans again, face falling into her hand. “Can you stop?”

“Where’s Everly?” I demand, tucking the rest of my questions away for later.

“I ... it ... she...”

“I think you broke him,” Lachlan mutters when Teddy seems to be having a stroke.

I’m tempted to smack him like my grandpa used to do to our TV back when it had the rabbit ears made out of a twisted, metal hanger. But Lauren squeezes herself between us and shoves me back.

“Can you back up? What’s wrong with you? Jesus.” With a huff and a look that says we’re having a long talk later, she faces the kid actually sweating. “Teddy, where’s Everly?”

The little punk all but melts when Lauren touches his arm. All that beautiful fear I had generated vanishes the moment he drops his gaze to her upturned face.

“She mentioned this morning that she might not get reception where she’s headed.”

“You saw her this morning?” I start, but stop when Lauren shoots me a withering glower.

“She came to my apartment to sign the papers.”

Lauren beats me asking, “What papers? ”

Nervous all over again, Teddy shifts. “To sell the house.”

“Everly’s house?” Lachlan speaks up. “This house?”

Teddy nods. “Said she wanted to travel and needed the money.”

She’d been planning to leave.

That whole time we had her. All the things we carted to the church donation bin. She wasn’t cleaning up. She was removing things she didn’t want taking space.

“Did you guys know?” Lauren faces us.

“She never said,” Lachlan murmurs.

“She seemed upset,” Teddy adds softly. “I haven’t filed them officially yet just in case she changes her mind.”

She’s not going to. I don’t have to say it. I can see in Lachlan’s eyes that he knows it, too.

She’s running.

She’s trying to protect us by cutting herself from our lives. She’s giving up everything to give us a chance in a town that would shun us if they knew.

“The cabin,” Lauren says even as I come to the same conclusion. “It’s the only place. She loves it there. Says all the time she’d live there forever if she could.”

“Then that’s where we’re going,” Lachlan states, already starting towards the truck.

“I’m coming,” Lauren blurts, turning like she’s headed for the bike .

I grab her arm. “Truck’s this way.”

She pulls away and scowls up at me. “You’re acting like a crazy pants. I’m going with Teddy.”

The sharp glower I shoot him wipes his stupid grin. “He’s squirrelly. I don’t trust him.”

“I am not ... you’re right,” he corrects quickly when I narrow my eyes at him.

“Because he’s being confronted by a mentally unhinged nut job,” Lauren snaps. “Look at the size of you. It’s like a giant facing off with a nervous Chihuahua. Who wouldn’t be squirrelly?”

Teddy grimaces. “I wouldn’t say a nervous Chihuahua.”

“You’re not driving three hours on the back of his bike clinging to him.”

“I am a very safe driver,” Teddy pipes in, the hopefulness unmistakable.

“How old are you?” I bark at him. “Are you even done growing?”

His chuckle is awkward. “Uh, twenty-nine and maybe? I mean, I definitely think there is room—”

“Don’t answer anymore of his weirdo questions.” Lauren continues to frown at me even as she takes his arm. “We’re taking Teddy’s bike.”

“Actually,” Teddy clears his throat, “while I love the idea of a three-hour bike ride with you, it’s getting dark, and you’re not dressed properly. I mean I love what you’re wearing. The red really brings out your—”

“Great. It’s settled. Get in the truck.”

“If you like,” the shit stain continues, “I can drive us back to the apartment and we can take my car.”

“Done!” Lauren snaps when I open my mouth. “Let’s go, Teddy.”

I watch with a pinch in my temple as she drags him back to the bike. The turd stain is staring at their joined hands like a teenager with his first crush. I half expect him to start skipping.

I hate him.

But that’s a problem for a later time as I exhale slowly and turn to the truck.