Page 65 of Ricochet

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Colin tapped his finger on the edge of the table, worrying about Adelia as the phone rang for the hundredth time. It wasn’t like her to leave him half a dozen phone calls without a voicemail or accompanying text.

“What’s that look?” Luke brushed behind Colin at Javier’s dining room table and took a seat. They’d been wheels down from a job that’d had them in and out ofa hell zone in less than thirteen hours. It would have been easier if they’d been awake for thirty-six because they’d have an excuse to sleep.

“No look.” Colin fidgeted.

“His girlfriend isn’t answering.” Javier threw back a shot.

“Your sister isn’t answering,” Trace jabbed.

Marlena rounded the table and flicked her husband on the back of the head. “What are you? Two?”

Trace locked an armaround her waist, and she easily fell into his lap and tossed a bag of chips on the table. “Maybe.”

“They’re all children.” Sophia placed a platter in the center of the table and flicked Javier’s hand away as he reached for it. “Macho warriors to the world, begging to be pampered at home.”

“You know it.” Javier snagged her hand and pulled her into the chair next to him. “Can we eat now?”

Sherolled her eyes. “You’re not animals.”

“Speak for yourself.” Luke snagged a handful of cold cuts off the platter.

Colin watched his teammates and their wives banter. Nothing was unusual. Not everyone was here. Maddy and Sarah couldn’t swing by, and Brock had gone home to be with his family. Victoria and Ryder were in Iowa.

Adelia was in Iowa… And she wasn’t picking up her damn phone.

The bagof chips smacked the side of his head. “What the—”

“Eat.” Luke laughed. “Then call your girl.”

“Again,” Javier added.

“Stop picking on him.” Sophia nudged her husband. “I think it’s cute.”

Colin grinned, picking the bag of chips from the floor and tearing it open. “Yeah, I’m cute.”

He pretended to kick back. Truth was, something was wrong, and Colin didn’t know what it was, but a no voicemailsand a few unanswered calls from a girl who lived life with a motorcycle club wasn’t going to raise much attention.

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Morning’s first light filtered through Colin’s bedroom window. He’d finally fallen asleep after worrying about Adelia all night. He reached for his phone as if it wouldn’t wake him if she called or messaged. Nothing. His worries grew as he dropped back onto his pillow.

The cell phone rang almost immediately, and he snagged it again, not recognizing the number with an Iowa area, but that had to be her. “Hello?”

“Colin?” Concern marred an already smoke-scratched voice.

“Yeah. Colin here.” He sat upright, pinching the bridge of his nose, and tried to place the distantly familiar voice.

“You’ve got a problem on your hands. Wake up.”

His muscles twitched. “Whois this?”

“Lenora Appleton. Do you know who I am?”

Yeah, he was well aware of who Lenora Appleton was, and she wasn’t the innocent attorney she’d like most people to believe. The lady was Mayhem’s criminal defense attorney and represented god knew who else. But the fact that she was calling him when he couldn’t get ahold of Adelia made his stomach twist. “What’s wrong?” Colin checked his clock.Just after six. “Where is she?”

“I was hoping you were going to tell me in bed with you.”

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