Page 10 of Jake's Angel

“Nope. I checked the live feed at Mack’s place in Baron’s Edge and her new place. She’s not been to either. Hasn’t been any movement recorded for several days,” he tells me. I roll my eyes because I know he’s serious. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t starting to wonder what she’s up to myself.

“Maybe she doesn’t wantyouto know what she’s doing,” I offer, thinking it’s a viable possibility. “Why are you looking for her? What’d she do now?”

“Mack’s been looking for her. Pres called me to locate her when she wouldn’t answer Mack’s calls. He wasn’t worried until I told them she never picked up her car and her phone was left behind.”

“Maybe she’s doing it on purpose to piss you both off. You know, she’s eighteen and out of high school now. You two can’t keep trying to control the girl.”

Sadie lives to drive Pop crazy and give him shit. Almost as much as she loves fucking with Hawk and their “who’s smarter with a computer” game that they’ve got going on.

“I wouldn’t put it past her to be fucking with you both for shits and giggles.”

“Maybe. If she wants me to redden her ass,” he says quietly, but not quiet enough because I heard him. I smile to myself.

“Why does Pres want her? She in trouble or something?” I ask, standing to put my clothes on.

“I don’t know the specifics, but something’s going on with Mack’s boss in Baron’s Edge and Pres said they want Sadie up here where we can keep an eye on her. In case shit isn’t as simple as they think it is.”

“The fuck does that even mean?” I toss my shirt over my head and slide on my cut. Once my boots are on, I’m headed for the kitchen to give Mom a kiss goodbye.

“I don’t know, brother. You know what I know. I was told to call the brothers to church and find out where Sadie is. Those are my orders,” he gripes.

We hang up and I try Jayde’s number.

“What?” she whines when she answers.

“Why are you still in bed? Get your lazy ass up,” I tease. I wouldn’t be a good big brother if I didn’t give her shit every once in a while.

“The fuck do you want, Jake? I was up late studying last night. Didn’t go to bed until almost four in the morning. I want to sleep.” I almost feel bad, knowing how hard the girl studies, but it’s a fleeting thought.

“Is Sadie with you? Pop’s looking for her, and she doesn’t have her phone on her.”

“No,” she’s quick to respond. She sounds wide awake now. “She, uh, borrowed Jinx’s truck to go pick up some stuff from Baron’s Edge. Said she was going to her place afterward. Ihaven’t seen her since I dropped her off to get the truck two days ago.”

None of what she just said makes any sense. Hawk said there was no movement at Pop’s place in Baron’s Edge or at Sadie’s place. If she was moving her shit, surely, she would be on one, if not both, cameras. Even if she deactivated them, Hawk or Pop should’ve been notified.

“Fuck.” I growl. “All right. Go back to sleep. I’ll find out what Sadie’s up to. Love you, brat.”

“Love you too, asshat.”

I hang up with Jayde and go in search of Mom. She’s sitting at the table in the kitchen, her coffee cup in hand and another one already waiting for me in front of the seat across from her. I take a sip and kiss her on the forehead in appreciation.

She’s got her long blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail wrapped in a black bandanna. She’s wearing her club tank top with the Kings’ logo on the front and her property cut over it. Short, tight-fitting, and ripped at the edges, her shorts cover just enough of her legs and ass to be considered modest by club standards.

I can see her hand is trembling as she lifts her mug. Her blue eyes are weary, and red-rimmed from crying, but her pupils are normal. I brush my hand to her forehead. She reaches up to grab it, giving me a slight squeeze. No fever, and I don’t see any other signs of sickness. I watch her carefully as she wipes her eyes, straightening her shoulders.

“There’s trouble, isn’t there?” She asks.“Your father?”Is that why she’s crying? Is she worried about him? Worried he won’t come home?It wouldn’t be the first time he broke his word to come home, but Sadie wouldn’t care if he missed her graduation party. She’d probably prefer it.

“No trouble.” I squeeze her hand. She raises her brow at me and gives me the signature,don’t bullshit your mother facethey all have. The corner of my mouth lifts in a smirk at her sassiness.

“You wouldn’t tell me.” Mom sighs and her eyes roll when she says, “I know. Club business and all the other boys' club bullshit.” I laugh at her exasperation.

“If you want to know, the call was about Sadie Jay.” I shake my head, hiding my smile behind the rim of the coffee mug.

As I suspected, her eyes widen, a long sigh of relief leaves her lips, then her shoulders start to shake. She tries to hide her laughter, dropping her head, but fails miserably.

“She’s up to her usual bullshit. She left her car at the clubhouse two days ago to get looked at and left her phone in the floorboard, so Hawk and Pop can’t keep tabs on her.” I raise my brows at Mom, who’s smiling over her coffee mug.

Mom’s eyebrows shoot up. “She didn’twantto be found,” she says, sipping her coffee, looking at me over the rim of her mug with a knowing smirk. “Let me guess. Hawk and your dad are losing their shit?”

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