Page 22 of Hell & Back

“Should I slap him across the face?” Kylie didn’t appear to be joking.

“Did you hear that? Kylie’s going to slap the shit out of you if you don’t snap out of it. Hell, you’re taking it worse than she did when she first found out she was pregnant and you were living with another woman.”

That did it. Tuck frowned up at him. “Thanks, asshole. You just had to go there, didn’t you?”

Kylie giggled behind her hand. Although she’d forgiven him for his stupidity back then, Tuck still felt true remorse for his actions and absolutely hated it whenever someone brought it up. Which, with their VP, Dagger, around, was often.

Tuck stood and pushed his chair back against the wall. “Was he trying to call me a pussy without actually saying the word?” He slung his arm around her shoulder.

“Yeah, I think he was,” Kylie answered with a hint of a smile on her lips. They stopped at the front desk to schedule the next appointment and settle the bill for this one.

They rode the elevator downstairs and exited at the lobby. The dark sky that had been threatening rain had finally let loose. It was raining fairly heavy now and there was no reason for all three of them to get soaked. “Stay here and I’ll go get the truck.”

Darren might not be the biological father of Kylie’s baby, but he loved the precious little girl as much as if she were his own already. He’d never had the pleasure of being a father yet and was looking forward to figuring out the whole father thing right along with Tuck. He chuckled to himself. Between Tuck and himself, the little girl was going to be a spoiled princess. That’s just what dads did with their daughters. Every one of his brothers in the club became putty in their girls’ hands.

Jogging through the lot, he was quickly drenched in the cold rain. It was a good thing he’d told them he’d pick them up.

The sound of a speeding vehicle drew his attention behind him. A van was barreling down on him and he wondered if they’d see him in time to stop. What the fuck? Before he had time to react to the oncoming vehicle, someone came at him from between two cars. He turned to fend them off, giving his back to the van. Big mistake. He’d kick his own ass for what happened next. Something hard hit his head and it was lights out.

TUCK

Tuck couldn’t believe he was going to be a girl dad. He was aware it was a 50/50 shot, but for some reason he’d never seriously considered it a possibility until Dr. Hartford said the words “it’s a girl.” Then he’d gone and freaked the fuck out. He wasn’t too worried he’d mess things up while she was little. If Jackson could do it, so could he. And he’d have Darren helping him. No,he was more worried about when she was older and boys came sniffing around. He was going to go to prison when he beat the shit out of one. Hell, he might even kill one if the little shit really did something stupid.

Glancing down at Kylie, he found her smiling up at him. She patted his chest. “You’ll be a great dad. In fact, I’m more concerned you’ll let a girl get away with way more than you would a boy. Between you and Darren she’ll be a little princess. I don’t want a spoiled brat for a daughter so you guys need to keep it in check.”

He couldn’t hold back his bark of laughter. “Only you would see right through me.” He took a moment to really look into her eyes, feeling his heart grow fuller, if it were possible. “I love you so much, Kylie Jo. I love the fact that you’re having my baby even more.” He dropped a quick kiss on her lips. It didn’t last long, the sound of squealing tires bringing his head up. He scanned the parking lot and saw a van rocking to a stop near where Darren had parked Tuck’s truck.

“What the fuck?” His arm dropped away as he took a step forward. He watched helplessly as one man ran out from between two cars, drawing Darren’s attention toward him, completely leaving his back exposed. “Inside!” he shouted to Kylie.

“What?”

“Go inside now!” He took off as fast as his leg would allow him to go, which wasn’t fast enough to get to Darren before three guys jumped out of the van. One hit him over the head with something and the other two hoisted him into the van. Darren was so big and heavy the one who distracted him had to pick up his legs and help load him into the vehicle. “Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.” Tuck would never make it in time. He was halfway there when he stumbled and went down. “Awww! Goddamn it!” He used theside of a car and his cane and managed to get himself back on his feet, but it was too late. They were speeding off toward the exit.

“Shit! Shit! Shit!” He finally made it to the truck. He pulled himself up behind the wheel and screamed in agony. His goddamned leg was burning at the site of his bullet wound and the muscle pulled tight. “Fucking shit!” He didn’t have time for this. He threw it in gear and sped for the front of the medical building. He had to get to Kylie. He pulled to a screeching stop and lowered the window, shouting, “Get in!” He prayed she was able to get herself up into the truck on her own. He didn’t think he could get out to help her and still manage to climb back inside again. As it was he could barely make his leg work smooth enough to use the gas and brake pedals.

Thank God she was able to get the door open and pull herself in rather quickly considering how high the truck sat and her growing belly. As soon as her ass hit the seat and she closed the door, he pulled out. He sent up a silent prayer that he didn’t hit anyone in his mad dash to catch up to Darren’s kidnappers. There they were, taking a right out of the parking lot. Good, they weren’t too far ahead yet.

“What’s going on? Where’s Darren?” He chanced a quick look her direction and hated how scared and pale she looked. She’d managed to get her seatbelt on and was holding onto the door handle and the console.

“They took him.” He swerved to miss an old lady in a Cadillac.

“Who took him?”

“Fucking Phantoms.” He swerved back into the right lane, seeing the van make a right turn at the stoplight. “Hang on!” He took the turn too fast and worried his truck just might tip over. “Shit. Shit. Shit. Sorry, baby.” He was gaining on them, but what he thought he could do on his own with Kylie in his truck and no gun, he didn’t know. The light ahead turned red, the van soaringthrough it to the sound of blaring horns. Tuck slammed on his brakes as the two cars in front of them stopped at the light. The sudden jolting movement sent shockwaves of pain throughout his leg. Fucking hell, there was no way to catch up to them now. “Goddamn it!” He hit the steering wheel in frustration.

He hit the button on his steering wheel that could make phone calls for him. “Call Race,” he instructed the voice when asked what he would like to do.

“Hey, Tuck. How’d the baby doctor appointment go?” Race answered happily.

“They took Darren.” Tuck made the necessary turns to head the opposite direction once the lights turned green. There was no point in chasing them farther. He couldn’t put Kylie or his baby girl’s lives in danger no matter how badly he wanted to rescue his friend.

“What? Who took Darren?” Race’s voice changed to serious in a heartbeat. He didn’t take kindly to people fucking with his club brothers, their families or their businesses.

“Fucking Phantoms. I’m headed to the clubhouse. You there?”

“Yeah. We’re all here except for the ones who left for Taos today.”

“Be there in ten.” Tuck hung up and turned his attention on Kylie. “When we get to the clubhouse, can you pull up the cameras on the Phantom properties to see if they take him there?”

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