Page 35

Kingsley

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A coffee mug sailed out the clubhouse door and shattered against the wall. Kingsley stuck his head in the doorway, checking if it was safe to enter.

Zane stood with his back toward him and his hands planted on hips. His broad shoulders set in that stubborn pose he recognized. He'd seen his brother like that many times, but things were going okay lately. River was in his brother's bed. Valdones Motorcycle Club had backed off on threatening Gem Haven. Big John put the cap on the whiskey. The tourist season was almost over.

"Trouble?" he asked.

Zane turned around. "Mom's missing."

"Since when?" His mom had walked to the house last week, bringing flowers for the girls and enough to decorate the bar.

"Big John went over to the cabin yesterday to check on her and again earlier today. The door is locked, and there's no sign of her around." Zane ran his hands through his hair. "The water cistern for the nearby spring is full, with no sign she's watered her flowers."

"Maybe she went walking and twisted her ankle again. Has he—?"

"Yeah." Zane exhaled heavily. "I went out after him and looked around. There's no sign of her."

Heaviness settled on his shoulders. His mom continued taking her medicine after the last episode, when she turned up at the bar, yelling for Ridge. She seemed to want a relationship with him and Zane, which motivated her to keep taking the prescription.

"Big John takes her to her doctor's appointment once a year. He says she has refills every three months until November." Zane shook his head. "I guess that doesn't mean she takes the medicine."

"I'll grab one of the UTVs and go out looking for her." Kingsley stopped from leaving the office when Zane continued to frown. "Is that all that's going on?"

"I wish." Zane met his gaze. "I called the prison to see if Dad's name was back on the list for family visitations, and apparently, Ridge Stafford has no more allowed visits on the schedule."

"Are you shitting me?" Frustration filled him, and he scoffed. "He fucked up again."

"He was close to getting parole, too." Zane motioned with his chin. "That's why I threw the mug. I hoped Dad would be back this winter, and we could have a seamless transition during the slow season."

"It looks like you'll be Prez for a little longer." He crossed his arms.

"Yeah, not what I wanted. Everyone knows Dad will return someday and step right back into the role of president." He clicked his tongue. "I never wanted the role."

Kingsley strode to his brother and clasped his hand. "You've done more than was required while keeping everyone alive."

"Thanks, brother," he murmured.

He backed away, heading toward the door. "I'll grab Kenna and go look for Mom."

"I'll get some groups ready and send them out to walk the perimeter around the cabin, " Zane said as he walked through the clubhouse with him.

In the main room of the clubhouse, Zane slapped him in the chest, stopping him. "Look."

Big John stood with Kenna and River near the couch on the side of the room. He had the attention of both girls. Kingsley couldn't tell what they were talking about, but Big John's hands were pointing and moving.

"I bet River's about to piss her pants with happiness," murmured Zane. "She can't understand why Big John didn't welcome her to the family with open arms. I finally told her that he was locked up in the cabin, drinking his problems away. Of course, she wanted to go there and try to talk some sense into him. That was the last thing Big John needed."

He'd gone through the same thing with Kenna when she'd heard about Big John closing himself off by everyone.

Suddenly, Kenna grabbed Big John's arm. Her whole posture changed. Kingsley strode over with Zane right beside him.

"Don't worry. She must be around here somewhere." Kenna patted Big John. "I'll get Kingsley, and he can—"

"I'm here." He slowed to a stop. "What's wrong?"

"Big John told us Zora's missing. She's not at the cabin." She moved to him. "Can we ride over there?"

"That's what I planned to do." He rubbed Kenna's back. "We'll find her.

"I want to look for her, too." River took the sweatshirt she had in her hands and tied the arms around her waist. "Where should we start?"

"Stay with me. I'm going to get the men put into groups and scout the area." Zane motioned for Big John. "Tell me where you've looked."

"I'll keep calling when we have cell service." Kingsley grabbed Kenna's hand and stepped away, leading her toward the door.

"I hope she's okay." Kenna hurried beside him.

There were many hidden dangers on the mountain, both four-legged and two-legged, not to mention his mom's mental health was in question.

Before they could leave, the door burst open. Every muscle hardened at the sight in front of him. Kingsley pulled Kenna back and stepped in front of her.

Ridge Stafford stood in the doorway, wearing an old pair of jeans, a black T-shirt, and his Gem Haven Motorcycle Club vest with the President patch over his heart.

His dad's gaze landed on him before sweeping across the room and connecting with Zane. Then all hell broke loose.

"Look whose back, motherfuckers," shouted Ridge Stafford.

"Oh, my God. What's your dad doing here?" Kenna pulled on his arm. "Did he break out of prison?"

It came as no surprise that his dad would've got early parole and not said a word to anyone. "Nope, it looks like he's a free man."

The members rushed the man who'd bought, built, sacrificed and spilled blood to grow Gem Haven Motorcycle Club from the ground up. Kingsley looked away from the celebration and found Zane walking toward him. What made Zane a good president was that he hid his emotions, and the men couldn't tell what was happening in his head. But, as his brother, he could see the relief on Zane's face.

No matter how old and independent he got, there was always relief when his dad was around to keep them safe and protected. To see the club prosper and MC families thrive.

Zane and River stopped beside him. "Let him have his celebration. We'll go out and look for Mom."

He nodded, following his brother out the door. But they didn't get far.

"Where do you think you're going?" bellowed Ridge. "I thought you'd be glad to see me."

Kingsley turned around. " Mom's missing."

His mother was no longer a secret. No one would put her in a cabin and forget about her. He and Kenna welcomed her into the family.

"Nah, she's not missing." Ridge narrowed his eyes. "She's right where she wants to be, sons."

"And where is that?" asked Zane.

"At home. In the cabin." Ridge held up a whiskey bottle. "Safe and happy and smiling."

Behind him, Big John scowled, staring at Ridge. Kingsley waited until his dad went back inside before shaking his head.

"The son of a bitch was with her," muttered Zane.

"Twelve years in the slammer, he walks back into Mom's life like no time had passed." Kingsley held Kenna's hand tighter. "I'll go check on her."

"Stay here. I'll check on her." Big John stormed past him on his way to his motorcycle.

Kenna let go of his hand and jogged after Big John. Kingsley took a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket, lit one, and tossed it to Zane.

"I'm going to see what's going on." River jogged toward her sister and uncle.

Alone with his brother, he blew a stream of smoke into the air. "Did you see that happening?"

"Nope." Zane widened his stance.

There was a look on Big John's face when he realized that Ridge was home and had spent time with Zora before walking into the club. The vice president wasn't happy. And there was only one reason why a man had that dark of look. It always involved a woman.

"The mountain is going to blow," he whispered.

Big John and his dad were best friends. There weren't two more loyal men in the club. But Ridge Stafford had been gone a long time, leaving Zora alone. Big John had stepped up and become Mom's caregiver. He wasn't going to like someone else stepping onto his territory.

Kenna and River returned to them. He spread his arms and brought her to his chest.

"Big John's mad," whispered Kenna. "I think he feels protective of Zora."

He kissed the top of her head. "I think you're right."

"What's your dad going to say?" she asked.

"Probably, a whole hell of a lot." He inhaled deeply. "But that has nothing to do with us. Now that we know Mom is taken care of, let's go home and get back into bed."

"You don't want to celebrate your dad being home?"

"I want to celebrate us." He kissed her hard. "Plus, we have a wedding to talk about."

"Oh, you're still going to marry me, huh?"

"Maybe." He grinned. "Are you going to say yes?"

"Maybe." Kenna smiled.

He chuckled. "Brat."

He led her over to his Harley and sat on his motorcycle. Once she was behind him, he stood the bike up and raised the jiffy stand. But he held off on starting the engine.

"Do you want to go home or up to the mountain peak?" he asked.

She hugged his waist and looked up at the sky. There was not a cloud in the sky.

"Let's go to the peak."

He patted her leg, started the Harley, and drove away from the clubhouse. She had no idea that next weekend, he planned on taking her back to the peak where everyone Kenna wanted at the wedding would share the day with her so he could marry her.

By next Saturday, she was going to be his ol' lady—for always.