Page 96 of Bronco

“I like to think I’m all of those things.”

“Good, then pull your finger out of your ass and claim her.”

I fold my arms over my chest. “Amber doesn’t want to be claimed, not yet anyway. Like I said, we’re takin’ things slow.”

His brow furrows like he doesn’t understand. “In that case, you better be pullin’ out all the stops to worship her, brother,because a woman like Amber doesn’t come along twice in one lifetime.”

He’s right. I of all people know that. I just can’t tell Manny, or anyone else, how I really feel because it’ll get back to Amber, and then she’ll run a mile. I want to live in my bubble a little longer.

“You got any pie to go?” I try to change the subject.

Manny scoffs. “If you’re takin’ some to your lady love, then yeah, I might be able to arrange that.”

I grin. “Spoken like a man who knows how to please.”

He wiggles his eyebrows. “You have no idea.”

19

AMBER

The meetingwith Cash went well, and he’s fully supportive if I need the club’s resources to help find Erica. It’s a relief, because although I’ve known Cash for years, I never want to just assume anything. Knowing the twins are working on my case, probably during club hours, felt like the right thing to do.

Bronco, on the other hand, is like a cat on a hot tin roof as I make my way to the bar to begin setting up. “What’s wrong?” I ask him.

“Nothin’, just gotta get to the shop and do some shit.”

I cock a brow. “What shit?”

“Paperwork mainly.”

Somehow, I know that he’s not telling the entire truth. He forgets how well I know him, but I don’t want to pry. “Okay, I’ll see you later on maybe.”

He gives me a chin lift. “You heard anythin’ from Star yet?”

I shake my head. “Nope. God, Bronc, this is tearing me apart every day that she’s missing. I don’t know how much more I can take, and Olive is starting to ask more and more when her mom’s coming back.”

He folds me into his arms. “I know it’s hard, babe, but you gotta try and hold out a little longer. You’ve got the best people working on findin’ her, gotta believe that.”

I try not to let tears fall. I’ve been a strong person for a long time, but it’s taken me eons to get here. Now I feel as if it’s all falling apart. If anything’s happened to Erica, I don’t know what I’ll do.

“I miss her.”

“I know you do, and with all the love she has right here from her family, you know she’s gotta come back. Like you said, she’d never leave Olive unless it was?—”

“Life or death?” I finish when he pauses.

“I wasn’t gonna say that.”

I pull out of his embrace. “But you were thinking it, because that’s the reality. It’s something I need to get a grip on and try to face. If all of this turns to shit and Erica isn’t coming back, then I have to be strong for Olive.”

His face softens, his eyes the most incredible shade of honey today. I swear they change color like one of those mood rings. “Yes, but it’s okay to ask for help, and it’s more than okay to let people help you.”

“I just didn’t want to be a nuisance to the club.”

He strokes a stray tear that rolls down my cheek traitorously. “You’re never a nuisance, babe, so don’t ever say it. We’re a family here, you know that.”

He’s right. The one thing I do know about the NOLA Rebels MC is the brotherhood they have extends to everyone. They really are just one big family.

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