Page 12 of Wild Return (Wild Heart Mountain: Wild Rider’s MC #15)

VIKING

“ T hat’s the last of the pale ales,” Rio shouts over the beeping of the forklift as it reverses away from the truck.

He waves a clipboard at Barrels, who scrutinizes his work before slapping him on the back and giving him a curt nod, which is the highest form of praise anyone’s going to get from the ex-sergeant.

Without being told, Marcus grabs the wooden broom from the corner and sweeps the area where dust has built up where the kegs were aging.

I smile at the boys. They were here before nine this morning to help with the loading of the delivery. They’ve more than paid back the stolen kegs, and I’ll speak to Barrels about a bonus. Enough to get them the shoes they need.

With the boys under Barrels watch, I head up to the office.

I’m thinking about Sydney and wondering what she’ll be wearing today. I hope it’s her leather skirt. And of course it will be the knee-high boots she lives in.

I hum to myself as I stride across the metal walkway to the office. But when I look in, Sydney’s desk is empty. Not only empty, but her computer is also off and her purse isn’t by her desk.

That’s unusual.

Isla is the only other person in the office today. We haven’t announced to the club yet that we’re dating, but you’d have to be blind not to realize something’s going on between us.

Isla looks up from her desk. “She called in sick.”

I frown at her words and reach for my phone, but it’s not in my pocket. I must have left it on my desk this morning.

I find it in my office and send a quick text to Sydney.

Not like you to call in sick. U ok?

I tap the side of my phone, waiting for a reply.

Three little dots appear, but no text comes through.

On the cameras I spy Barrels coming up the walkway stairs, and I head to the corridor to cut him off.

“I heard Sydney called in sick today.”

He keeps walking, and I fall into step beside him. “That’s right. I hope it isn’t catching; I don’t need you going down too.”

His mouth tugs up in a smile, but I’m not in the mood for jokes.

“It’s not like Syd to call in sick.”

Barrels frowns. “She hasn’t had a sick day since she started. Did she seem sick to you?”

I press my lips together. I don’t want to tell the boss that Sydney seemed fine when I drove her up the mountain after work last night and made love to her pressed up against a tree.

“Maybe she needs a mental health day,” I mumble.

“Maybe she needs to get away from you.” Barrels smirks as he claps me on the shoulder, but his words make me uneasy.

“Your boys are working out good.” He pauses outside his office. “They’ve paid off the kegs and I’d love to keep them on, but we just don’t have enough work for two of them full time.”

“I’ve got an idea,” I say. “Something that might interest them.”

“Good. It was a good thing you did, Viking, giving those boys a chance.”

He slaps me on the shoulder and disappears into his office.

I pull out my phone and call Sydney’s number. It goes straight to voicemail, and my jaw tightens.

I leave a message saying I hope she feels better and asking her to call me. But I can’t help the nagging feeling that something isn’t right.

The sunset glows on the wet asphalt as I ride down the mountain and to Sydney’s place. Despite numerous texts and calls throughout the day, I haven’t heard from her.

Uneasiness grips my gut as I park outside the huge cabin that belongs to Sydney’s brother. It’s more like a mansion than a cabin with three stories and a turret room. It sits on a ridge with forest surrounding it on three sides and a dramatic clifftop drop on the other.

This is not the type of cabin I’ll be able to provide for Sydney. My heart sinks. Perhaps she’s realized my limitations. That I’ll never be able to provide for her in this way.

A small cabin in the woods with her and our family is all I need, but maybe Sydney needs more.

As I pull my helmet off, I glance up at the turret windows where Sydney told me she’s staying. The curtains are pulled closed.

It’s with a twisted stomach that I push the smart doorbell. I’m positive Nate’s staring at my face on his on-screen app, so I run a hand through my hair and try not to look anxious.

The door opens, and I’m greeted by Nate. He’s got his hands folded over his chest, showing off his muscular forearms. For a computer geek, he’s one of the buffest guys I know.

“She doesn’t want to see you.”

His words confirms the fear that’s been growing in my stomach all day.

“She’s not sick, is she?”

Nate’s look is thunderous. “Whatever you did, stay away from my sister.”

We might be MC brothers, but blood is thicker when it comes to family.

“I just want to talk to her.”

He steps forward so his bulk takes up the entire door frame. “Sydney might appear tough Viking, but underneath her armor is a big heart. You broke it once; I won’t let you break it again.”

He takes a step inside and closes the door. Before it can shut, I put my hand in the door frame.

“But I don’t know what I’ve done. Just let me talk to her.”

Nate shakes his head. “Just leave, Viking. It’s what you’re good at.”

I release my hand, and the door clicks shut. Panic grips me, and my hands shake. I don’t know what has spooked Sydney. Maybe she’s realized I’ll never give a life like this, but how will I know if I can’t talk to her?

Gathering a handful of pebbles from the gravel drive, I take a step backward until I can see the turret windows.

I throw a pebble, and it makes a loud plunk as it hits glass.

The next one is louder, and if I have to break one of Nate’s windows to see her I damn well will.

I throw another pebble, then another before the curtain pulls back and Sydney’s angry face appears at the glass. She pulls the window open.

“Go away, Chris.”

Her eyebrows draw together, and her eyes flash with anger. It’s like the last few weeks never happened.

“What’s wrong, Syd? What did I do?”

“I know about the job. I know you’re leaving.”

I stare up at her, trying to make sense of what she’s saying. “What job?”

She shakes her head. “Don’t try and deny it. Your transport leaves next Monday. I’ll work from home until then so I don’t have to see you. Just go.”

She must mean the Middle Eastern gig that Paulie’s convinced I’m going to say yes to. But I haven’t said yes.

“I’m not taking the job.”

She shakes her head. “Unbelievable. Still lying to me. I took the call, Chris. I know you’re going. Now just go.”

The window slams shut and the curtain tugs closed and settles into stillness.

I grab my phone and scroll through the missed calls. There’s an unknown international number from this morning, and it says I spoke to them for almost a minute.

“Fuck.”

“It’s not what you think,” I call out.

But the window stays closed and the curtains stay drawn.