Page 3 of The Biker's Forbidden Craving

I draw in a deep breath, letting it out slowly as my heart does something that feels like a flip and a flop in my chest. On one hand, my body is trained to release endorphins when I see him. On the other hand, he’s a part of the biker gang I’m not sure can be trusted. “What… what are you doing here?”

“On my way back from the club meeting, and I saw your truck. I know it’s your birthday, so I wanted to say hi.”

My brows narrow as I stare at him. “Your club meeting?”

“Yeah, we had a meeting tonight. Housekeeping shit.”

“What? Wait… how can you have a club meeting when two members are missing?”

Hank laughs under his breath as he scrubs his hand down over his salt and pepper beard. “We weren’t missing anyone. You keeping track on us?”

I glance into the diner, expecting to see the bikers and Maci right where I left them, but they’re gone.

“Maci.” I straighten, and my tone goes panicked as I say, “She was… we were having milkshakes, there were these bikers, and they were talking about Duke.” I want to say everything as quickly as possible, but air won’t filter through my lungs.

Hank opens the truck door and reaches for me, pulling me down and out of the truck and into his big, inked up arms. “What are you talking about? Calm down.”

“No! I was in the diner, and Maci was right there, and now she’s gone.”

“Maybe she went to the bathroom.”

The bathroom. I guess that’s a reasonable conclusion. “I should check.”

“No, I’ll check. You get on the back of my bike, and be ready to go.” There’s a sternness in his voice as he moves toward the diner that lets me know he’s not playing games.

Maybe he knows these guys, and maybe he’s just being cautious. Dear God, please let Maci be in the bathroom.

A moment later, he returns, climbing up onto the bike in front of me.

“What are you doing? Where’s Maci? Was she there?”

“No.” He reaches for his phone and sends a quick text before tucking it back in the pocket of his cut. “We’ll talk more when we’re back at the clubhouse.”

“What? No, we have to find her. She’s… those guys took her!”

“I just text one of my men. They’ll look into it and get your truck back to the house. You’re my priority right now. I need to get you safe. It’s going to be okay. We’ll find her.” His calloused hand rubs over my bare leg as he kicks up the kickstand and peels out of the parking lot.

I’ve been around biker gangs most of my adult life, thanks to my brother. In my experience, they’re always up to no good. Poor Maci. I highly doubt she meant it when she said she wanted to be kidnapped.

Ugh, why didn’t I make her come with me?

We wind up the mountainside, leaning into the curves as the dark road stretches out ahead of us. I’ve dreamt of being onthe back of Hank’s bike for as long as I can remember, though I didn’t picture it being like this.

What am I doing? I should’ve called the cops. As much as I adore Hank, he’s still part of the same biker group that my brother runs, and they aren’t doing good things…clearly.

I have no idea how Hank got wrapped up in this stuff. He’s not that guy. He’s not like Duke. Hank has a vibe about him. A quiet confidence that’s always drawn me in, even though he’s nearly two decades older. Heck, even that made him cooler. He’s always been more mature, wiser, and more attractive than guys my age.

Exhausted, I lean forward and rest my head on his solid back, wrapping my arms around his waist. His hand slides up the side of my bare leg and rests on my hand in comfort.

A shiver runs through me. I’m not sure if it’s from the cool mountain air, the way his fingers brush against mine, or the fear still lingering over Maci’s disappearance. All I know for sure is that this moment is dangerous in more ways than one.

Chapter Two

Hank

The night sprawls out in front of me as I try to make sense of what’s happening. A missing girl, a rival gang, and my buddy’s kid sister on the back of my bike… holding my waist, leaned against my back. I think the missing girl should be the most shocking, but it’s Abby’s tiny hands wrapped around my waist that have me most unnerved. I’ve thought about moments like this for years, but I never thought I’d ever be this close to her.

God damn, I need to get my priorities straight.

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