Page 34 of Hell & Back

“I like it when you sing.”

Kylie’s voice coming from behind him startled him out of his thoughts about baby names. He spun toward her, paint roller in hand, slinging light yellow paint across the floor. Good thing he put down the plastic.

“You gave me a heart attack, babe.” His free hand settled on his pounding chest.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I got up to use the bathroom and saw you were gone. I came looking for you and heard you singing. I haven’t heard you do that in a while.” She pushed off where she was leaning against the door frame. “The room is looking good.” She moved farther into the room, careful not to step in the paint he’d slung.

Tuck didn’t know when he switched from humming to singing or for that matter, what he’d been singing. He took a moment to scan the room much like she had and had to agree, the color she picked out was a good choice.

“Baby, you need to go back to bed and get some sleep.”

“I can’t sleep. I miss Darren.” She absently rubbed her belly.

“I know. I miss him, too.” He bent to load his roller with paint and put it to the wall.

“Do you?”

“What?” He was frowning when he faced her.

“I wasn’t sure since you’re in here painting like there’s nothing wrong.”

Where was this coming from? Was this the hormones Jackson and Trick had warned him and Darren about?

“You’re not worried about what might be happening to Darren right now?”

“Of course, I’m worried.”

She crossed her arms over her chest and cocked a hip. “You don’t act like it.”

“What do you want me to do? Where should I look?” He raised his arms out to his sides, again spilling paint on theplastic. “We have no idea where to look. We don’t know if he’s being held at the Phantom clubhouse or somewhere else. Give me someplace to look and I’ll look.” He watched her eyes fill with tears and her face crumple at his explosion.

“I’m sorry.” She wiped roughly at her cheeks. “I’m just so damn tired of shit happening to us. Why can’t they leave us alone?”

He went and pulled her into his arms. “God, baby. I’m so sorry for being such a jackass. I shouldn’t have yelled at you. The truth is I’m losing my mind not knowing where he is or what they might be doing to him. All I know to do is keep busy until someone comes up with a lead.”

“I’m sorry for being such a bitch. And crying. It’s these stupid hormones. I shouldn’t have lashed out at you.” She wrapped her arms around him, her face buried in his chest as he continued to hold her.

Between everything that had happened over the last several days with first him and now Darren, it was no wonder she was on edge.

They stood together in silence for a while until Kylie said, “Have Lance and Tulsa get me pictures of any Phantoms they see. I’ll run them and see what information I can find. Maybe if I get their addresses they can stake one out.”

Tuck pushed her back so he could see her face. “How do you know where they are or what they’re doing?”

“Duh. They’re not here and haven’t been for several days. It’s only logical they would go to Taos and check things out. It’s what I’d do. And Jed’s been gone, too.” She covered her yawn with her hand, then asked, “You coming to bed?”

“Yeah. Let me clean up this mess and I’ll finish it in the morning.” He watched her waddle out the door and scratched his head. Nothing got by his woman. A smile split his face as he thought once again, what a damn great brother she would make.

KYLIE

Kylie rolled her desk chair as close to the desk and computer monitor as her belly would allow. She’d just peed for the fourth time since Tuck brought her to the clubhouse and they’d only been there an hour and a half. Tuck was hovering and driving her nuts so she told him to go send one of the prospects for doughnuts. “And you probably need to go with him.”

“What? Running errands is what prospects are for.” He rose from the couch and moved toward the door.

“What if he gets one of the doughnuts I don’t like?” She really needed him to go find something to do for a little while so she could get some work done.

“I’ll tell him what kind to get.” Tuck stood in the doorway, half in, half out of her office.

“Really?” She let her eyes tear up just enough to make Tuck squirm. That was the crazy thing about pregnancy hormones; she could cry on demand. She tried not to exploit this ability for fear Darren and Tuck might think she was truly crazy. “You would trust Cutter or Miles to get the right doughnuts for the mother of your child?”

---