Page 52 of My Hotshot

“I’ll explain when I get there.” I ended the call before I could hear more heartbreak in her voice.

Smoke was already on his feet. “What is it?”

“Her kid’s missing,” I said fast. “Was supposed to be home three hours ago. She’s not answering her phone. She’s not at her friend’s.”

“Son of a bitch,” Yarder snapped.

He turned and stormed toward the door, bellowing, “Compass! Cue Ball! Aero!Let’s fucking go!Everyone else stays in the clubhouse andbarricades the door.No one leaves.”

No one argued.

The room shifted instantly, quiet and focused. They knew this wasn’t a drill.

It washappening.

This was the nightmare I swore wouldn’t happen.

And it was my fault.

I thought Boone and Gibbs wouldn’t go after her. I told myself Lainey and Lottie were off the radar. That Leo and Brynn would see if anything changed.

But I’d underestimated how fast this shit could turn. And now we were running to clean up a mess I’d let get too close.

I shoved my cut on, grabbed my keys, and followed Yarder out into the night.

We had ten minutes to get to Lainey.

And hopefully not a second more before it was too late.

Chapter Eighteen

Lainey

Sitting in the house with the door locked felt like the exact opposite of what I should be doing.

My baby was missing.

Every cell in my body screamed at me to get in my car and drive street to street, knocking on doors, demanding answers—but I hadn’t moved.

Because there’d been something in Duane’s voice that made me pause. That made me listen.

So, I stayed. On the couch. Phone clutched in my hand like it could change something.

I’d called Lottie thirteen more times.

Each one went straight to voicemail.

And I felt like I was going to crawl out of my skin.

Then I heard it.

The low, thunderous growl of engines coming down my street.

Bright lights swept through the living room windows, pierced the dark, and filled me with a dread I didn’t understand.

I shot to my feet just as fists pounded against the door.

“Lainey!” Duane’s voice boomed. “Open up!”

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