Page 23 of Magnetic Temptations

I choose Hydro since he and Ella will be together and I’ll hit up my boss at the same time as the local MC president. Looking over at the clock I’m relieved to see it’s not too late but we’ve all had a hard day so I’m sure they’ve already settled for the night. I have a temporary case of guilt but then Myles’ face flashes through my mind and that angst about disturbing them vanishes. Whatever’s happening has everything to do with getting me back to Trucktown, of that I have no doubt whatsoever. The issue is, whoever’s driving that bus no longer knows me. There’s no way in the world I’m going to let my little brother suffer an ounce of pain because someone has a problem with me and my actions.

“Mason?” Hydro answers. “Something wrong?”

“You could say that,” I huff. “I have a family emergency.”

“Lay it on me,” Hydro demands.

“Mav called me back. Cotton’s okay, Laura’s acting a little sketchy but there’s nothing new there. Unfortunately, when he got back home he discovered Myles is missing but all of his stuff is still there. His phone, wallet, boots, hat, it’s all hung up and charging for the night. Even his truck is sitting where he parks it, keys hanging on the wall hanger our mom got for them when they moved in.”

“I’m taking it those are all things he never leaves home without?” Hydro inquires.

“Put it on speaker,” I hear Ella request from the background. After I hear some rumbling over the receiver, Ella begins speaking. “I caught nine-tenths of that, Mason. What do we know and what do we need to dig through?”

“Laura made a few texts, supposedly, it’s an assumption at this point. But Mav saw her with her phone out and fingers flying while he was talking to Cotton. It may be my imagination, but what if she was letting someone know that one of my brothers was home alone and easy pickings?”

“I’ll message Jagger now and get him to break into her phone. Maybe we’ll get lucky and he can intercept her outgoing texts. If so, it’ll lead us to where he’s been taken if that’s the case,” Ella informs me.

“I’m going to send a mass text out to our group and have them come back in. Meet you in an hour, Mason,” Hydro states before disconnecting.

My gut drops as I consider all of the ramifications that we could be facing. This entire thing lays on my shoulders. It was me and my bad decisions that put us on this path, and it’s dug its way into the club. One piercing claw at a time. They already had a run in with Julia, and as a result, we’re now dealing with her sidekick.

CHAPTER

THIRTEEN

MANE

Ella’s flyby call of, “get to the club now,” had me discombobulated as I wiped the sleep from my eyes. She’s not known to do a quick hang up before I have the chance to ask any questions, the main ones were “why,” and “what’s happened”.

I dug into my easiest outfit of leggings and a loose T-shirt to slip on and rushed out the door after slipping my feet into a pair of sliders. As I drove, I brushed out my hair since it was tangled from my tossing and turning before sleep took me.

As I pull into the clubhouse lot, I dig through my armrest and find a scrunchie to tie my hair up with. Once I’ve wrapped my locks into a messy bun, I wind the fabric around it to hold it in place and quickly exit my vehicle.

When I stroll through the doors, the aromatic smell of coffee has me rushing toward it as I grab a throwaway cup and begin to fill it up before doctoring it to my liking. Once that first sip flows through me, I become more alert to my surroundings and notice that it’s a madhouse.

Finding my mom off to the side, I rush to her and ask, “What’s going on?”

“What I’ve heard through rumblings is that it has something to do with one of Mason’s brothers, but I don’t have any facts. Everyone’s been hush-hush about that,” Mom tells me as she passes me the bag of sugar donuts she had been munching on.

I take two from the package and pass it back to her. “I’m going to see if I can track him down and get first-hand information.” Leaning over, I give her a peck on the cheek, and head toward the back hallway.

When I locate Mason, he’s in the room the club holds church in, his head is bent over as he, Gunner, Hydro, and Ella talk. Kruger, Tex, and Master are standing back but listening to everything they’re discussing. I shove my last donut into my mouth as I walk to their huddle. Mason lifts his head and a crooked smile greets me. He lifts his thumb up and wipes away the remnants of the powder from my lips.

“You okay?” I ask him, even though by the saddened look in his eyes I know he isn’t.

“No. Not really,” he tells me, his voice sounding choked up.

“What’s going on, Mason?” I query.

“My brother, Myles, is missing, Mav can’t find him anywhere, and the circumstances behind his disappearance are questionable.”

“Deputy Dickface?” I ask, my suspicion automatically heading in that direction.

“That’s what we’re thinking but we haven’t been able to confirm that yet,” he responds.

“Everyone take your chair,” Hydro commands. “We have to make a change to our previous thoughts.” The room goes silent as we all sit down. When I glance over at my dad, I notice how dark and luminous his eyes look. He’s in what I refer to as his soldier mode, he’s ready for battle. Then I take in Hydro and notice he’s wearing the same look and I instantly know that things are far more serious than I was thinking they were.

“Jagger, what have you been able to uncover?” Ella questions, giving him the floor. This must’ve been previously discussed, the power play in the room, because neither Hydro nor Dad squirm as she starts the meeting.

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