Page 31 of Just Heartbeats (Royalla Motorcycle Club #1)

Cash opened the gate. Kodiak rode into the compound, expecting chaos, but found no one outside. He simultaneously clamped down on his hand and foot brake, tires skidding against the asphalt. His pulse hammered so hard it felt like a fucking heart attack.

Roma. She was here—she had to be. He wouldn't let himself believe anything differently. The Deception member had to be lying.

He stalked toward the front of the clubhouse and threw open the door. "Where's Roma?"

Baker, too damn calm behind the bar, glanced up. "You must've passed her." He pointed toward the door. "She's outside with Nate. They were playing pool and stepped out for some air about ten minutes ago."

Kodiak stilled.

Everything inside him snapped .

Nate.

Roma was outside with Nate .

No.

His boots were already moving , weaving around the tables. He ripped open the door and ran outside again to where she was supposed to be. He squinted, looking in all the shadows, around the building, by the garage, between the motorcycles, and at the picnic tables.

But she wasn't there.

No Roma. No Nate.

He clenched his hands. His gut gnawed, and he shook his head in denial.

No.

No, no, fuck—no.

Where was she? Where the hell was she?

He returned to the clubhouse and bellowed, "I want a crew put together right now. Roma's missing."

Hunter and Cash stood and moved toward him without question. Loyal and ready without wasting his time by questioning him.

Kodiak stalked into the meeting room, toward the weapons cabinet. The metal screeched open under his grip . He yanked out another pistol, checked the clip, and slammed it back in.

He wasn't coming back without her.

Returning to the main room, he found every man present standing and waiting for orders.

"We're hunting Nate. He took Roma." He raised his gaze. "I want everyone looking."

Baddy shook his head. "Prez, she wouldn't run away with—"

"Nate turned on us." He walked backward to the door. "She's not with him willingly."

He knew Roma better than any of them. He knew without a doubt that she would never leave him.

"Prez. Wait." Baker jogged across the room to the pool table. "Roma's phone is still here."

Kodiak barely registered the words. The phone meant nothing. He wanted Roma back.

Then it hit him.

Her phone.

She would never leave it behind. He rubbed his wrist. How many times had she schooled him on her smartwatch that Chopper had bought her before he was killed?

Her smartwatch was always synced to the app on her phone. She was always connected and religiously checked her damn steps throughout the day and delighted in answering phone calls and texts from her watch.

"Ring?" His head turned sharply, scanning the room until he spotted his MC brother. "Can we track her watch using her phone?"

Ring stepped away from the group. "Maybe. If there's a GPS tracker on it."

Kodiak exhaled slowly , tension a livewire under his skin. They had a chance. They had a lead. Knowing Chopper, he probably bought the watch for Roma to make sure he could always find her.

And if they could find her before Nate handed her over to Deception Motorcycle Club, he might still find her alive and unharmed.

I'm coming, Roma. Hold on, baby girl.