Page 51 of My Hotshot

Yarder’s jaw flexed. “I’ve never said you need to ask for permission. I just want to fucking know where you are so I know where to pick up your body when Gibbs and Boone get to you.”

I rolled my eyes. “Pretty sure you’re being dramatic.”

Yarder tipped his beer toward the far wall like he could point to the exact spot the explosion had rattled the clubhouse. “Yeah. Real dramatic when they tried to blow Poppy and me up.”

That shut me up for a beat.

“I get it,” I said finally. “But there’s no way Boone and Gibbs know about Lainey. With Leo and Brynn keeping eyes on them, we’d know if they were making moves,” I added. “They’d know if Boone and Gibbs caught wind of Lainey before they had a chance to do anything.”

Smoke held up a hand and rotated his finger like he was trying to untangle my logic. “I think I follow.”

Yarder chuckled, but his eyes were sharp. “Let’s just hope you’re right, Dice.”

Smoke leaned back in his chair. “So, you and Lainey a thing now?”

I took another sip of beer. “Still some shit we need to figure out, but… yeah. It’s looking that way.”

“What kind of shit?” Yarder asked, his tone cautious now.

“She’s got a kid,” I said and tried to sound casual about it. It didn’t bother me—not one damn bit. But I knew it would raise some flags.

Yarder groaned and closed his eyes like he was adding tally marks in his head. “You’re shitting me.”

“That a problem for you?” I laughed. “Doesn’t bother me. Anything that’s part of Lainey, I’m good with.”

“That rounds us out to eleven people I need to worry about outside the guys. Nine ol’ ladies. Two kids. Fuck.”

“You don’t need to worry about Lainey or Lottie,” I said. “Nothing’s going to happen to them.”

Before anyone could reply, my phone buzzed. I pulled it out and saw Lainey’s name on the screen. Lottie must have gone to bed already.

“We’ll finish this later,” I muttered and stood, answering as I walked toward the door. “Hey, babe—”

“Duane!” Lainey screamed in my ear.

I froze. “Lainey?!”

“Lottie was supposed to be home at six, and she isn’t here. I’ve been calling her phone, but it’s going straight to voicemail—”

I looked at the clock on the wall. 9:32.

“What?” My voice dropped into something closer to a growl. “She’s not home?”

“I drove to her friend’s house, but no one’s there. Even the friend who lives next door is gone. I—I don’t know what to do.” Her voice cracked, then broke into sobs.

My stomach bottomed out. Every ounce of calm left me.

I turned and locked eyes with Yarder. He was already standing.

“We’re on the way right now. Get inside, lock the doors, and don’t open it for anyone but me. Got it?”

“Wait—what? I have to go find her—”

“Lainey.” I thundered her name, trying to rein in my panic. “Please. Justdo it. Stay put.”

There was silence on the other end of the line.

“Okay,” she whispered, but I could hear the confusion and fear in every syllable. “But I don’t understand—”

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