Page 17

Dice

“You look pretty fucking happy.”

Smoke’s voice cut through the hum of conversation in the common room. I didn’t need to turn around to know he was talking to me.

“I’m sure he is,” Yarder added with a grunt, “after not coming back to the clubhouse last night.”

I took a long swig from my beer and let the cold wash down the stupid grin I didn’t quite manage to hide.

“He didn’t tell you he wasn’t coming back?” Smoke asked and glanced between us.

Yarder nodded. “He did. Just pissed me off that it was a not coming home text.”

Smoke snorted and laughed. “Straight to the point, I guess.”

I gave a one-shouldered shrug. “I wasn’t asking for permission. I wasn’t coming home.”

Yarder’s jaw flexed. “I’ve never said you need to ask for permission. I just want to fucking know where you are so I know where to pick up your body when Gibbs and Boone get to you.”

I rolled my eyes. “Pretty sure you’re being dramatic.”

Yarder tipped his beer toward the far wall like he could point to the exact spot the explosion had rattled the clubhouse. “Yeah. Real dramatic when they tried to blow Poppy and me up.”

That shut me up for a beat.

“I get it,” I said finally. “But there’s no way Boone and Gibbs know about Lainey. With Leo and Brynn keeping eyes on them, we’d know if they were making moves,” I added. “They’d know if Boone and Gibbs caught wind of Lainey before they had a chance to do anything.”

Smoke held up a hand and rotated his finger like he was trying to untangle my logic. “I think I follow.”

Yarder chuckled, but his eyes were sharp. “Let’s just hope you’re right, Dice.”

Smoke leaned back in his chair. “So, you and Lainey a thing now?”

I took another sip of beer. “Still some shit we need to figure out, but… yeah. It’s looking that way.”

“What kind of shit?” Yarder asked, his tone cautious now.

“She’s got a kid,” I said and tried to sound casual about it. It didn’t bother me—not one damn bit. But I knew it would raise some flags.

Yarder groaned and closed his eyes like he was adding tally marks in his head. “You’re shitting me.”

“That a problem for you?” I laughed. “Doesn’t bother me. Anything that’s part of Lainey, I’m good with.”

“That rounds us out to eleven people I need to worry about outside the guys. Nine ol’ ladies. Two kids. Fuck.”

“You don’t need to worry about Lainey or Lottie,” I said. “Nothing’s going to happen to them.”

Before anyone could reply, my phone buzzed. I pulled it out and saw Lainey’s name on the screen. Lottie must have gone to bed already.

“We’ll finish this later,” I muttered and stood, answering as I walked toward the door. “Hey, babe—”

“ Duane! ” Lainey screamed in my ear.

I froze. “Lainey?!”

“Lottie was supposed to be home at six, and she isn’t here. I’ve been calling her phone, but it’s going straight to voicemail—”

I looked at the clock on the wall. 9:32.

“What?” My voice dropped into something closer to a growl. “She’s not home?”

“I drove to her friend’s house, but no one’s there. Even the friend who lives next door is gone. I—I don’t know what to do.” Her voice cracked, then broke into sobs.

My stomach bottomed out. Every ounce of calm left me.

I turned and locked eyes with Yarder. He was already standing.

“We’re on the way right now. Get inside, lock the doors, and don’t open it for anyone but me. Got it?”

“Wait—what? I have to go find her—”

“ Lainey. ” I thundered her name, trying to rein in my panic. “Please. Just do it . Stay put.”

There was silence on the other end of the line.

“Okay,” she whispered, but I could hear the confusion and fear in every syllable. “But I don’t understand—”

“I’ll explain when I get there.” I ended the call before I could hear more heartbreak in her voice.

Smoke was already on his feet. “What is it?”

“Her kid’s missing,” I said fast. “Was supposed to be home three hours ago. She’s not answering her phone. She’s not at her friend’s.”

“Son of a bitch,” Yarder snapped.

He turned and stormed toward the door, bellowing, “Compass! Cue Ball! Aero! Let’s fucking go! Everyone else stays in the clubhouse and barricades the door. No one leaves.”

No one argued.

The room shifted instantly, quiet and focused. They knew this wasn’t a drill.

It was happening.

This was the nightmare I swore wouldn’t happen.

And it was my fault.

I thought Boone and Gibbs wouldn’t go after her. I told myself Lainey and Lottie were off the radar. That Leo and Brynn would see if anything changed.

But I’d underestimated how fast this shit could turn. And now we were running to clean up a mess I’d let get too close.

I shoved my cut on, grabbed my keys, and followed Yarder out into the night.

We had ten minutes to get to Lainey.

And hopefully not a second more before it was too late.