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Maci laughs as she dips another fry into her milkshake.

“Let them. I need some excitement in my life. Last week, I wrote two stories about farm animals, and one about a local woman who lost her wallet at the candle shop, but had it returned to her by another shopper. Do you know how boring that is? A kidnapping might make me feel alive again.”

“Fantastically alive, then wishing you had boring,” I say, pulling a twenty from my purse. “We should go.”

“Why? They aren’t even looking at us anymore.”

“What if they recognize my face? He’s my brother.”

She rolls her eyes and waves a floppy fry at me. “You said you don’t talk to your brother.”

“Yeah, but people still know things.” I stand from the booth.

“I’m going, and you should come too.” I’ve barely stood when the man on the right with the scorpion tattoo fixes his stare at me.

I’m probably drawing attention to myself.

If I’d just sat still and pretended I didn’t hear them, none of this would matter.

Instead, I’m in full panic mode like an idiot.

What was I thinking coming out here? Well, I know what I was thinking.

I was thinking I needed a fresh start, and what better way to start than living in a fantasy land with my brother’s best friend.

We’d be in a new place, we’d both be starting over, and we’d be tempted to talk and spend time together.

I’m delusional.

“I’m heading out. I highly suggest you follow me.” I speak the words to deaf ears. Maci is in full-on journalist mode. That, or she really is desperate for an adventure. Truthfully, I’ve been known to novelty seek myself, so I get the allure, but still.

“Nope!” She grins wide and twists her long, dark hair to the side. “I’m totally good. If they take me, I don’t owe rent this month, right? Silver linings everywhere.”

“Silver linings,” I repeat, shaking my head as I step out into the street. Truthfully, I’m probably being ridiculous. One look doesn’t mean anything. They don’t know me, I don’t know them, and they don’t know I heard anything.

I step out into the street and climb up into the red Ram truck I drove all the way here from Texas.

I couldn’t leave it behind. It’s the one thing my father left for me when he passed.

I think he knew how much I loved the full-length mountain decal he had put on the tail gate.

It’s true, I do, and every time I see it, I think of him and all the cowboy movies he used to love to watch.

If I see one on TV, I leave it on in the background just to feel closer to him.

Letting out a sigh, I turn the engine over, but it doesn’t start. Shit! Of course, it doesn’t start. The lights aren’t automatic. I’ve forgotten that twice now.

Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!

A heavy knock hits the side window, and I do my famous jump-scream duo. I should really work on an attack more menacing. I don’t think the jump-scream move is going to stop anyone.

“Sorry.” Hank’s voice is low and graveled, sending waves of serotonin through every cell. “I know you’re scared of your own shadow. I should’ve thought that through.”

I draw in a deep breath, letting it out slowly as my heart does something that feels like a flip and a flop in my chest. On one hand, my body is trained to release endorphins when I see him.

On the other hand, he’s a part of the biker gang I’m not sure can be trusted. “What… what are you doing here?”

“On my way back from the club meeting, and I saw your truck. I know it’s your birthday, so I wanted to say hi.”

My brows narrow as I stare at him. “Your club meeting?”

“Yeah, we had a meeting tonight. Housekeeping shit.”

“What? Wait… how can you have a club meeting when two members are missing?”

Hank laughs under his breath as he scrubs his hand down over his salt and pepper beard. “We weren’t missing anyone. You keeping track on us?”

I glance into the diner, expecting to see the bikers and Maci right where I left them, but they’re gone.

“Maci.” I straighten, and my tone goes panicked as I say, “She was… we were having milkshakes, there were these bikers, and they were talking about Duke.” I want to say everything as quickly as possible, but air won’t filter through my lungs.

Hank opens the truck door and reaches for me, pulling me down and out of the truck and into his big, inked up arms. “What are you talking about? Calm down.”

“No! I was in the diner, and Maci was right there, and now she’s gone.”

“Maybe she went to the bathroom.”

The bathroom. I guess that’s a reasonable conclusion. “I should check.”

“No, I’ll check. You get on the back of my bike, and be ready to go.” There’s a sternness in his voice as he moves toward the diner that lets me know he’s not playing games.

Maybe he knows these guys, and maybe he’s just being cautious. Dear God, please let Maci be in the bathroom.

A moment later, he returns, climbing up onto the bike in front of me.

“What are you doing? Where’s Maci? Was she there?”

“No.” He reaches for his phone and sends a quick text before tucking it back in the pocket of his cut. “We’ll talk more when we’re back at the clubhouse.”

“What? No, we have to find her. She’s… those guys took her!”

“I just text one of my men. They’ll look into it and get your truck back to the house. You’re my priority right now. I need to get you safe. It’s going to be okay. We’ll find her.” His calloused hand rubs over my bare leg as he kicks up the kickstand and peels out of the parking lot.

I’ve been around biker gangs most of my adult life, thanks to my brother. In my experience, they’re always up to no good. Poor Maci. I highly doubt she meant it when she said she wanted to be kidnapped.

Ugh, why didn’t I make her come with me?

We wind up the mountainside, leaning into the curves as the dark road stretches out ahead of us. I’ve dreamt of being on the back of Hank’s bike for as long as I can remember, though I didn’t picture it being like this.

What am I doing? I should’ve called the cops. As much as I adore Hank, he’s still part of the same biker group that my brother runs, and they aren’t doing good things…clearly.

I have no idea how Hank got wrapped up in this stuff.

He’s not that guy. He’s not like Duke. Hank has a vibe about him.

A quiet confidence that’s always drawn me in, even though he’s nearly two decades older.

Heck, even that made him cooler. He’s always been more mature, wiser, and more attractive than guys my age.

Exhausted, I lean forward and rest my head on his solid back, wrapping my arms around his waist. His hand slides up the side of my bare leg and rests on my hand in comfort.

A shiver runs through me. I’m not sure if it’s from the cool mountain air, the way his fingers brush against mine, or the fear still lingering over Maci’s disappearance. All I know for sure is that this moment is dangerous in more ways than one.