Page 16

Logan

The tension in the room was palpable, like a taut wire ready to snap. We were all on edge, waiting for any news about Akira. I couldn’t help but steal glances at Wraith, his imposing figure a stark reminder that even once Akira was out of danger, I still had to win him over if I wanted a life with her. I had a feeling that was now even more difficult than before.

Suddenly, Wraith’s phone shattered the silence with a shrill ring. He answered swiftly, his face hardening as he listened. Without a word, he stepped out of the room. My gut said it was about Akira, but I couldn’t say for sure.

I turned to Wire, hoping for good news. “Any luck with that IP address?”

Wire’s fingers flew over the keyboard, his brow furrowed in concentration. “It’s bouncing all over the place. This isn’t normal for security cameras. I’m trying to narrow it down, but whoever’s behind this knows their tech. I want to know what the hell this business is really doing. For this kind of tech, it tells me they have something to hide, as well as something to protect. More than regular merchandise.”

“That’s a problem for another day,” Dawson said. “We need to find Akira. Now.”

“We will,” I assured him, even as doubt gnawed at my insides. “You said Wire’s the best at what he does. If he can’t find her, then we’re screwed.”

“No pressure,” Wire muttered. “I’m going to die of a heart attack or stroke before I’m seventy. Then where will all of you be?”

“Asking Atlas for help,” Dawson said with a grin. “Let’s face it. Your kid was already wreaking havoc with a keyboard not long after he could walk.”

Wire paused long enough to flip him off, then got back to work. The minutes crawled by, each second feeling like an eternity. I couldn’t shake the image of Akira in danger, alone and scared. My heart ached, and I wanted nothing more than to hold her, to know she was safe.

“I think I’ve got something!” Wire exclaimed, his eyes lighting up. “An address --”

Before he could finish, Wraith stormed back into the room, his face unreadable. He went straight to Venom, whispering to him, then whatever he’d said was passed along to Savior. What the fuck?

My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I answered quickly.

“Logan, it’s Captain Reyes at Station 7 in Midland,” the man on the other line said. “Akira’s safe. She’s at the fire station with us, but I think she’s ready to go home.”

Relief flooded through me, but it was quickly tempered by suspicion as I watched Wraith still huddled with Venom, Savior, and Wire, speaking in hushed tones.

“Thank you, Captain,” I said, my mind racing. Had the kidnappers let her go? Wire had been watching the camera and hadn’t seen her leave the building. Maybe they’d taken her, then left through a back door? “We’ll head there right away.”

As I ended the call, I couldn’t help but wonder: did Wraith already know? Had he been the captain’s first call?

I cleared my throat, drawing everyone’s attention. “That was Captain Reyes. Akira’s safe at a fire station two towns over.”

Wraith glowered, which told me enough. Yeah, he’d gotten the call first and planned to act without even telling me. Fucker. He might be Akira’s dad, but right now he was an asshole and I wanted to hit him.

“I’m obviously going,” I said. “Who’s riding with me?”

“We’ll go,” Justin said, pointing to himself, Dawson, and Evan, who had joined us while Wire had been trying to locate Akira.

“The Dixie Reapers are coming too,” Wraith said, leaving no room for argument. “She’s my daughter.”

I nodded, trying to keep the peace. “Of course. We should bring her a change of clothes. She might need them. We have no idea what she’s been through.”

Wraith grunted in agreement, pulling out his phone. “Rin, bring some of Akira’s things. We’ve found her.”

While we waited, I couldn’t help but think about Akira. Was she really okay? What happened to her? The paramedic in me was itching to check her over, make sure she was truly unharmed. Even if she hadn’t been physically hurt, this situation could have caused emotional or mental stress.

Rin arrived in record time, a duffle bag in hand. To my surprise, she walked straight up to me and handed it over. “Here. Take care of our girl.”

“You know who I am?” I asked.

“You think I haven’t checked out my daughter’s phone? She doesn’t give a second thought to handing it over to me if I ask to borrow it. I assumed you knew she had pictures of you on there.”

I nodded, touched by her trust. As I strapped the bag to my bike, I heard Wraith grumbling behind me.

“Why’d you give it to him?” he muttered to Rin.

I pressed my lips together so I wouldn’t smile. She patted his arm, a hint of amusement in her voice. “Oh, honey. Just deal with it. Your daughter loves him, and that boy will be part of our lives whether you like it or not.”

I finished securing the bag, realizing at least Akira’s mom was on our side. Maybe there was hope for Wraith accepting me after all. But right now, all that mattered was getting to Akira. I swung my leg over my bike, heart pounding with anticipation and worry.

I revved my engine, eager to hit the road. Wraith, Venom, Tempest, and Viking got onto their bikes, all four deciding they were coming with us. The rumble of our bikes echoed through the streets as we rolled down the highway and out of town. It took us about an hour to reach Midland. Everyone stopped to stare at eight bikers riding through town. My heart raced as we pulled up to the fire station.

I was off my bike and striding through the doors, ready to have Akira back in my arms. The moment I saw her, my breath caught in my throat.

“Logan!” she cried, launching herself at me.

I wrapped my arms around her, breathing in her scent, feeling her warmth. “I’ve got you,” I murmured into her hair. “You’re safe now.”

Behind me, I hear Wraith’s distinctive grumble. “Sure, run to the paramedic first. It’s not like your old man rode all this way or anything.”

In any other situation, I would have found this funny as hell. But right now, I was just so damn glad she was okay. It had scared the hell out of me when she’d gone missing.

Akira pulled back, giving me a quick, reassuring squeeze before turning to her father. She planted a kiss on his cheek. “Thanks for coming, Dad. I knew you would.”

I couldn’t help but notice how Wraith’s gruff exterior softened, just a fraction, at his daughter’s touch. It was a reminder that no matter how much he might yell at her, she was his little girl and he’d go to hell and back for her.

Akira came back to me and I cupped her face gently in my hands, searching her eyes. “Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”

She shook her head. “I’m fine, Logan. Really. Just a few bruises.”

“What happened?” I pressed. “Can you tell us?”

She glanced at all of us, probably making sure we’d all hear so she wouldn’t have to repeat it. “It was so fast. One minute I was trying to unlock the door to the bar, and the next…”

As she recounted her ordeal, I kept my arm around her, offering silent support. I could feel the tension radiating from Wraith and the others, their protective instincts on high alert. But right now, all I cared about was the woman in my arms, and making sure she knew she was safe.

“So, I managed to get the pocketknife they’d overlooked and cut myself free. Once I knew it was safe to leave, I climbed out a window and ran like hell,” she said, wrapping up her tale. I stared at her in amazement. I’d always known she was strong, but I hadn’t expected her to keep a level head and free herself.

* * *

Akira

I watched as Dad’s expression shifted from concern to pride. His usual scowl softened into a grin, and he shoved his hands into his pockets, rocking back on his heels. It was a rare sight -- my tough-as-nails father looking genuinely pleased.

“That’s my girl,” he said. “Knew you had it in you.”

I felt a warmth spread through my chest. It wasn’t often that I saw this side of Dad, and I cherished every moment of it. Not that he hadn’t praised me over the years, but I knew this time was different.

Evan, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, chuckled. “Hell, sounds like we weren’t even needed. If you’d had a way to get home, you’d have been back before we even hit the road.”

I raised an eyebrow at him, a smirk playing on my lips. “What’s the matter, Evan? Bothered by the fact that I can take care of myself?”

His green eyes widened, and he held up his hands in surrender. “Whoa now, that’s not what I meant. Impressed, is all. Remind me never to get on your bad side.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, the tension of the past few hours finally starting to ease. “Smart man. I’ve picked up a few things growing up around these guys,” I said, gesturing to Dad and the other Reapers.

Dad’s grin widened, and I caught a glimpse of the man behind the tough biker exterior -- the father who’d always been there for me, in his own way.

Captain Reyes cleared his throat, drawing our attention. “The local police have searched the location where Akira was held. They’ve gathered evidence, but unfortunately, the perpetrators had already fled the scene.”

My stomach clenched at the thought of those men still out there. Dad’s jaw tightened, his earlier pride replaced by a look of fierce determination. I knew without a doubt if the Reapers found those men before Justin or the law did, then they’d end up disappearing without a trace.

Justin stepped forward, his broad frame radiating tension. “I’m heading to the station. I want to see what they’ve found, get a sense of where we stand.”

As he turned to leave, I reached out and grabbed his arm. “Wait. There’s something you need to know. They… they mentioned you specifically. I think if you ride off on your own, you may be in danger. Especially if those men are still nearby.”

Justin froze, his gaze locking onto mine. I could see the gears turning in his head, trying to piece together what this might mean.

Evan pushed off the wall, his earlier levity gone. “I’ll go with you, man. Safety in numbers and all that.”

From the corner, Tempest nodded. “Count me in too. No offense, but if shit hits the fan, you two can get the hell out of there and pretend you never saw me. I’ll take care of the rest.”

Great. Now the Reapers were just openly admitting they were going to off someone. I wasn’t sure how the clubs were supposed to work together, but at least this seemed to be a step in the right direction. I hoped.

“Didn’t hear any of that,” Captain Reyes said. “Pretend I’m not here. Oh wait, you’re apparently already doing that.”

Dad’s hand landed on my shoulder, squeezing gently. “I’m not going anywhere without my girl. I’ll take her home.”

I leaned into his touch, grateful for his presence. “Thanks, Dad.”

Logan went outside and came back holding a duffel bag. “Your mom packed some clothes. I’m not sure what you have on is enough to protect you on the bike. Why don’t you go change?”

I nodded, suddenly aware of how much I wanted to be out of these borrowed clothes. As I turned to leave, the woman who’d lent them to me approached.

“Keep them,” she said with a warm smile before I could even offer them back. “Consider it a souvenir from your unexpected adventure.”

I managed a weak laugh, touched by her kindness. “Thank you. For everything.”

As I headed to the bathroom to change, I could hear the men discussing plans behind me. My mind raced, trying to process everything that had happened. One thing was for sure -- this was far from over.

I emerged from the restroom, feeling more like myself in my own clothes. Not to mention Mom had packed my boots. Dad was waiting, his face a mask of concern barely hidden beneath his usual stoic expression. He reached for the bag containing the borrowed clothes and shoes.

“I’ve got it, sweetheart,” he says gruffly, taking it from my hands. I watched as he shoved everything unceremoniously into his saddlebags.

Then, he turned to me, holding out his hand. “Ready to head home?”

My heart clenched. I knew what he wanted, but I couldn’t give it to him. Not this time. I shook my head. “I’m riding with Logan, Dad.”

His face darkened, brows furrowing. “Akira --”

“I’m a grown woman,” I interrupted, my tone leaving no room for argument. “And I want to ride with my boyfriend.”

Dad’s jaw clenched, and for a moment, I thought he might explode. But then, something shifted in his eyes. He glanced at Logan, who was standing a respectful distance away, and let out a long breath.

“Fine,” he said, and left it at that.

As I walked toward Logan, relief washed over me. Was Dad finally coming around? I couldn’t help but hope.

Logan’s arms encircled me as I reached him. “You okay?” he murmured into my hair.

I nodded against his chest. “Better now.”

As we got on his bike, I caught Dad watching us, his expression unreadable. I gave him a small smile before wrapping my arms around Logan’s waist.

The engine roared to life beneath us, and as we pulled out onto the road, I snuggled closer to Logan’s back. The familiar rumble of motorcycles surrounded us as the group headed home.

I closed my eyes, breathing in Logan’s scent, letting the vibrations of the bike soothe my frayed nerves. The trip home didn’t seem to take long, not compared to what I’d expected.

The roar of engines died down as we pulled into the Dixie Reapers compound. My eyes immediately locked onto Mom, standing there with worry etched across her face. As soon as Logan’s bike came to a stop, I was off and running toward her.

“Akira!” she cried, enveloping me in a tight embrace. Her familiar scent washed over me, and I felt myself truly relax for the first time since this ordeal began.

“I’m okay, Mom,” I murmured into her shoulder, but she just held me tighter. I could only imagine how scared she’d been when I vanished.

Over her shoulder, I saw Dad and the others gathering, their faces grim. Logan caught my eye, giving me a reassuring nod before turning to join the men.

Mom pulled back, cupping my face in her hands. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s get you home.”

As she led me away, I couldn’t help but smirk. “You know, Mom, I’ve got quite a story to tell you.”

Once we’d settled in the kitchen, mugs of steaming tea in hand, I started from the beginning. “So, there I was, minding my own business when these jerks decided to try and grab me…”

I didn’t hold back, recounting every detail of my capture and escape. Mom’s eyes widened at parts, and she gripped her mug tighter, but she didn’t interrupt. I knew Dad wouldn’t tell her all this. He’d consider it club business. But since I’d lived it… I was going to do what the hell I wanted.

Mom shook her head, a mix of worry and admiration in her eyes. “You’re your father’s daughter, all right.”

I leaned in, lowering my voice conspiratorially. “Don’t tell Dad, but I think this might actually work out for the best. He seemed… different on the ride back. Less hostile toward Logan.”

“You really think he’ll come around?” Mom asked. “I was hoping he’d get his head out of his ass, but you know how stubborn he can be.”

I nodded, feeling more confident by the second. “I do. And you know what? I think this whole mess might be exactly what the Swift Angels and Dixie Reapers needed. Nothing like a common enemy to bring people together, right?”

Mom raised an eyebrow. “You’re awfully optimistic for someone who just escaped kidnappers.”

I shrugged, grinning. “What can I say? I’m choosing to look on the bright side. Besides, did you see how Dad and Logan worked together to find me? That’s progress, Mom. Real progress.”