Page 32 of Fang (Lotus MC: San Antonio #2)

L ooking in the mirror of the bathroom, I think I look okay. Presentable enough to give a statement to the press, at least.

I could have worn my hoodie and jeans, but I wanted to look more classy. I wanted them to take me seriously.

Too many times stories like this come around, but the woman gets all the blame. She acted a certain way or dressed provocatively to get attention. She asked for it.

Add in my stripping job, and well, I’m sure they will try to spin this once it gets out, but I’m doing it anyway. Put my best foot forward and work from there.

I grab my purse and keys and walk through the empty clubhouse. Most of the guys I’ve found have jobs, so they aren’t here during the day a lot. Viv only really works nights here, so she does her own thing during the day. It’s only eight in the morning, so I’m sure she is still sleeping.

I’m almost to the door when I hear my name.

“Cami, can I talk to you for a second?” Biggy calls out.

I turn, reluctant to speak with him, especially alone.

“I’m in a hurry,” I tell him.

He nods. “It’ll only take a second. I want to apologize for my behavior.

It was wrong of me to act the way I did.

I guess you can say I have a chip on my shoulder.

I didn’t have the best home, which is no excuse, but I hope it tells you where my mind was at.

I realize I fucked up, and I hope you will forgive me. ”

My heart softens a little. I understand having a shitty childhood. Look at how it shaped my life. I can see why he would have issues connecting with others.

“You don’t owe me an apology. I understand. You might want to talk to some of your brothers, though. They didn’t like the way you acted either.”

“I know, but they will all tell me to apologize to you first, so here I am.” He actually looks like he might be telling the truth.

Sighing, I tell him, “Then you have my forgiveness.”

“Thank you. Let me walk you to your car.”

Reluctantly, I agree.

He holds the door open for me, following me down the steps. I still feel on edge around him, but at least out here, there is a prospect at the gate. We are no longer alone. He walks me all the way over to my car, opening the door for me.

“Thank you again, Cami. I’m hoping I can find my home here so I hope we can move forward as friends.”

I force a smile. “Of course.”

He shuts the door for me, stepping back as he waves. I wave back, feeling weird.

That was awkward.

I don’t think he will ever get into this chapter of the Lotus.

He’s caused too much damage in the little bit of time he has been here.

While I am empathetic to his childhood, having experienced it for myself, it would be better if he moves on.

I hope the guys see that too and send him on his way.

If they do, I wonder if this newfound humility will disappear.

Pushing it out of my head, I focus back on the task at hand.

The interview.

Bailey and Viv went over it with me last night. I don’t want to seem too innocent because then people will think it’s a part I’m playing, especially when they find out about my stripping background. I also want to be conservative, though.

We also discussed the possibility of me telling the reporter about my stripping to get ahead of it. I’m playing it by ear based on how the reporter acts. I don’t know if it will be for the best or not.

So many things to consider.

I’m about a mile away from the clubhouse when I hear a motorcycle in the distance. The sound brings me comfort now. I know it’s not Fang. He’s on the other side of town, but maybe it’s one of the others I have grown to love as brothers.

I glance in my rearview as the sound gets closer. That’s when a pit forms in my stomach.

This bike is flying. It has to be going more than one hundred miles an hour. None of the guys would be driving that recklessly unless something happened.

I try to remind myself that they might not even be Lotus. There is more than one club around here, but this deep into Lotus territory is unlikely. This is a desolate road that leads out to the clubhouse. We don’t see too many people on this road.

An eerie feeling settles in as the bike gets closer, slowing down behind me.

The man is wearing a mask over his face, but it doesn’t matter. I recognize the bike.

It’s Biggy.

Grabbing for my phone, I attempt to dial Fang’s number.

Biggy speeds up next to me and swerves over. My phone flies to the floorboard as I attempt to get my car back on the road.

He is trying to kill me.

So much for the apologetic man from before.

My heart is in my throat as I think about my options. There’s only really one. I need to run him off the road.

Swerving over his way, he slows, falling in behind me.

I try to take deep breaths to keep my panic down.

It’s going to be okay.

He repeats his actions, driving me off the road again. I move back toward him, trying to force him off the other side.

He yells something, but I can’t hear it. My ears are thundering with the sound of my own rapid heartbeat.

The third time’s the charm for him. This time he forces me off of the road so far that I hit a small hill, my car going flying. At first, I think I’m going to be okay. Then it hits the ground, my car flipping several times.

I grow dizzy as the car comes to a stop upside down. I feel like I am going to puke.

I can see Biggy walking my way.

“No. Don’t. Please,” I mumble, but it’s no use.

My vision grows dark.

That’s the last thing I see.

I didn’t want to wake up early in the morning to go to a meeting with Savage, but when duty calls, you go. I would have rather been cuddled up with Cami until she had to leave for her interview.

Hell, I wanted to go with her to it, but she told me I couldn’t go. She had to do this on her own.

Truth be told, I think she is nervous and she thought having me along might have made her nerves worse.

Plus, she is still not quite so used to relying on me. I don’t know if she will ever get used to it. With her having to live so much of her life alone, I can see why she would rather keep her independence.

So with much reluctance, I left her sleeping soundly in bed this morning without me. I didn’t even wake her for a morning orgasm because I knew she wanted to be well rested for this appointment.

Her needs will always come before my own.

“You sure that’s the best route?” Savage asks me, looking over the maps again.

He isn’t trying to question my knowledge. He is confirming that I have no doubts. It’s the way we work together. I tell him my thoughts, and he questions them so that I can look at them from other angles.

Reaper used to be like that too. I think that’s why I didn’t mind leaving my old chapter. I knew I was going to find my own place within this one.

“Absolutely.”

I can feel my phone vibrating, but I ignore it. I want to pull it out and make sure it’s not Cami, but she knows I’m in a meeting and will understand.

Seconds later, Savage’s phone lights up. He frowns.

“It’s Bailey,” he tells me as he answers, “What’s up? What? Hold on. Let me put you on speaker.”

He sets the phone between us. A dark aura surrounds me as he does. This isn’t good if he is putting it on speaker.

“I got a call from my reporter friend. She was wondering if something happened because Cami never showed up. I called her, but she’s not answering.” Bailey’s panicked tone comes through the phone.

My own panic begins to rise. “She was excited about the interview. She wouldn’t bail.”

I want to lose my shit. I feel so out of control right now, but I can’t. I need to keep it together.

For Cami.

My little dancer.

“I know,” Bailey says.

“Call the prospect on the gate. Prospect Two. See if he saw her,” Savage demands.

I open my phone, wincing when I see Bailey is the one who called me. I dial the prospect’s number.

“Yes, sir,” he answers.

“Did you see my girl leave?” I ask him.

“Yeah. About an hour and a half ago,” he tells me.

“Anything weird about her leaving?”

“Nope. She even waved at me,” he tells me.

“Okay. Keep an eye out and call me if she comes back.”

I hang up before he can respond.

“She left an hour and a half ago. You think it could have been an accident?” I ask, hoping not. “She once got a flat and couldn’t change it. Maybe it broke down?”

“Why wouldn’t she call, though?” Savage asks.

He’s right. Something isn’t right.

“Could that guy from the school have found out she was talking to the press?” Bailey asks.

“Maybe. I’ll call Dex and get him on it. Sorry, boss. I need to go look for her,” I tell him as I stand.

He stands with me. “The run can wait. Let’s go find your girl.”

Pulling out my phone, I call Dex.

“Hey, my girl is missing. Can you check the cameras and see where she went? See if you can catch her anywhere?” I ask him as soon as he picks up.

“On it.”

“Oh, and Dex? Zak Brohan from her school. Check into him too. See if you can locate him,” I tell him.

“Will do.”

As I hang up, I see Savage doing the same thing.

“I called in the calvary,” he tells me as he mounts his bike.

I do the same, not even bothering with a helmet. I take off, my bike screaming down the road as I rush across town. I turn down the road she would have taken from the clubhouse into town, hoping for a sign of her. Maybe she doesn’t have a signal. Or her phone died.

I know it’s unlikely, but it’s the best-case scenario.

As we drive, more and more of my brothers fall in behind us. Savage lets me take the lead, doing everything to look for Cami.

About two miles from the clubhouse, I see it. A car on the side of the road on its hood. I’m not close enough yet, but it sure looks like a Corolla.

When I finally get close to the car, I jump off my bike letting it fall to the ground.

“Cami,” I call out, running up to the driver’s side.

Savage and Loyal are behind me. I lean down, peeking into the car. I’m both relieved and scared to death that she’s not there.

Dialing Dex, I wait for his answer.

“She left the clubhouse alone. The guy you asked about has been on campus all morning. I did find something interesting, though. Before she left the clubhouse, she was walking with Biggy. I called and asked the prospect about it. He said it looked like they were friends. He didn’t think anything of it. ”

“Biggy doesn’t do friends with women. Where is he now?”

“See, that’s the thing. He took off out of the clubhouse after she left. I’m tracking his phone now, and he’s in some pay-by-the-hour motel in the next town over. Seems suspicious,” Dex tells me.

Fuck. He has her.

Turning to Savage, I tell him, “He has her. I know he has her. I’m going to get my girl.”

He nods. “I told you whatever you have to do the moment he breaks the rules, I’ve got your back. Lead the way.”

“Dex, send me the address.”

“Already done. I’ll monitor the cameras and tell you if they leave.”

He hangs up, leaving me to do one thing.

I’m going to get my girl.