Page 97 of Hendrix

The relief that flashed across her face cut through me.

“You gotta try and relax, Anna,” I pleaded, my hand going to her stomach. “This isn’t good for Junior.”

“I’ll relax when you bring her back,” she murmured, her hand cupping my cheeks and holding them tight. “I’ve got every faith in you, Jamie.”

For the first time since Addie went missing, my blood warmed.

Anna Bouchard was perfect for me. From the moment I had a real, honest conversation with her in a back road bar in Wyoming, my soul knew she was mine. Shame it took my head so long to catch up.

“Blade’s gonna take you and the other women back to the clubhouse. I need you to do everything he says.”

She jerked a nod.

Leaning down, I touched my mouth to hers. “Won’t be long.”

She smiled encouragingly. “I’ll be waiting.”

Despite everything I was feeling about Ace and Addie, her words meant the world.

With one final stroke across her belly, I disentangled myself and nodded to Blade. My eyes fell on Diablo and Trick, and I made my way out into the street, again with my brethren at my back.

Two black GMCs sped down the street and pulled over outside the shop. Fletcher got out of the driver’s seat of the first one and moved into the vehicle behind.

Trick moved around to the front of the car. As our road captain, he drove. It helped that he was the best driver I’d ever ridden with, no doubt due to his misspent youth, stealing cars. “All aboard,” he called out as he ducked inside, the Irish twang of his accent putting emphasis on the words.

I was about to get into the passenger side when I heard a scuffle behind me and a grunted shout of, “Wait.”

I glanced over my shoulder, my eyebrows furrowing when I saw a guy about my age trying to approach. He wore jeans and a dirty old jacket over his tee, and his hair was unkempt. He kept his beard scruffy, and it looked like he hadn’t showered in a week.

Blade had a hand across his chest to prevent him from moving closer. “Get the fuck back,” he demanded.

“I need to talk to him,” the guy protested, his gnarly finger lifting and pointing toward me.

Curious, I held up a hand to my VP. “It’s okay. Let him through.”

Blade dropped his arm begrudgingly to allow the guy to pass before moving in behind him.

“You okay, man?” I asked, eyes narrowing.

“You looking for the little girl who went missing?” he asked.

“Yeah,” I confirmed. “You know somethin’?”

“I saw her getting into a black Explorer.” He held out a crumpled envelope. “Here’s the registration number. I recognized the guy from a few years back. He used to be one of you. Fucker told the kid he was a friend of yours and you’d sent him to take her for ice cream.”

I took the paper and glanced at the shaky handwriting. “How do you know this? Were you there?”

“Yeah,” he smiled wryly. “But they didn’t see me. I can make myself invisible.”

“We already got the registration, man, but thanks,” I murmured, studying him. It was obvious he was homeless. I knew some of the guys who camped out by the river in the summer months. We often took food down there for them. “What’s your name?” I asked.

“Charlie,” he mumbled.

I clasped his shoulder. “Thanks, Charlie. You’ve seen me around, right? You know I’m in charge down at the hotel?”

He nodded.

My chin dipped, and I stared at him intently. “You need anything, you come see me, okay? A bed for the night, food. Anythin’.”

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