Page 18 of The Biker's Forbidden Craving

He narrows his brows, and his eyebrow twitches. “Dad would’ve wanted justice.”

“No, Dad would’ve wanted you to be happy and safe. He would’ve wanted us to be a family. You’re stuck, Duke. Let me help you!”

“Everything okay?” Hank steps into the shop and glances toward me then toward Duke, he hasn’t said anything, but he’s expecting the worst. I can sense it in his shoulders.

“I don’t know, man.Is everything okay?” We both know what my brother means by the inflection, though neither of us cop to it.

“What?” Hank tucks his hand into his pocket. “If you’re talking about the guys who kidnapped Maci, my guys…ourguys, found them. They don’t have the girl.”

My stomach twists into a tight knot, and my heart squeezes so hard the air is sucked out of my lungs. “What? What do you mean they don’t have her? Where would she be? She has to be with them. They took her. She left at the same time.”

I grab my phone out of my back pocket and text her again and again.

Me: Where are you?

Me: Pick up!

My brother groans under his breath and shakes his head. “We’re not here for a fuckin’ kidnapping. We’re here to lie low. This isn’t lying low. I want the guys off the bikers,now! Get your head out of your ass and start fixing those bikes we have piled up in the shop.”

Hank draws in a heavy breath and lets it out slowly before he speaks. “What the hell is your problem, man? You don’t answer your phone, you’re barking out demands, and you’re acting like a lunatic. I thought you wanted to help your sister.”

Duke steps forward, his fists clenched. “You seem to want to help her an awful lot too, don’t you? The two of you locked in a room, making all kinds of noises. Sounded like she was getting all the help she could need.”

“I love him!” I blurt the words out as though they’re going to fix what’s happening. As though the power of love itself would save us all from this argument.

Surprise…the words don’t help. Not one bit. Also, I’m a little embarrassed that I said them. Hank and I only had one night together. We just now confessed our attraction. He never said anything about loving me.

My brother’s face turns dark red and a haze of something dark and sinister waves over him. “I’m sorry… you what?”

“I know it’s not easy to hear,” I shrug and stare at him, “but I love Hank. I’ve loved him for a while now and I know it’s—”

“I’m gonna fuckin’ kill you.” He steps toward Hank, his fists balled, his jaw locked. “You were fuckin’ her last night, weren’t you? My best friend? Some fuckin’ best friend! She’s twenty-five!”

“Stop!” I step between them, desperate for him to calm down, but he’s on fire. “Come on, it’s not that big of a deal. It’s… I’m sorry. I can’t… I don’t want to be without him, Duke.”

My brother stops in his tracks and turns toward me with a clenched jaw. I’m not sure he’s ever looked this scary. “You have a choice, little sister. You want him in your life, or me? You’ve got twenty-four hours.” He glances toward Hank. “I expect your stuff out of the clubhouse by morning. I’ll stay away until then. If I see you again, I’ll fuckin’ kill you.”

My stomach turns as he steps outside into the warm afternoon sun. Who the hell is that guy? I don’t know him.

Hank leans into my side and holds me close to his chest as Nicole returns to the room.

“Hey, darling, why don’t you take your lunch. I’ll see you in a bit.”

I hate making a scene more than anything in the world. Nicole is the nicest person ever, and she doesn’t need this shit in her shop, but here I am, spreading my weird everywhere I go.

I hate my brother.

“Thanks, babe.” I lean into Nicole and hug her tight before heading out the front door with Hank, desperate to figure all this out for real this time.

Chapter Eight

Hank

“What’s going on with the biker thing?” Abby leans in as the waitress delivers two cokes to the table. We ordered a few appetizers as well, though I’m not sure either of us are that hungry.

“Red and Tennessee found them in a hotel room out by the highway. No hideout, no plan, no nothing. One was on a bike, the other in a truck. No sign of the girl on either. The hotel room was clear too. They said they saw you two last night, but didn’t notice you’d left.”

“But they were talking about Duke. I know they were talking about Duke. I heard them. They sounded angry like they had a personal vendetta against him.”

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