Page 64 of Dagger

No one argued.

“So here’s where we stand,” Diesel said firmly. “We park it—for now. If Reaper and his men prove themselves over the next few months—we’ll revisit it. Until then, we stick with our people. Is everyone in agreement?”

Just then, the door pushed open and Falcon stepped inside, eyes scanning the room until they landed on me.

“Dagger. You got a minute?”

I nodded, standing.

Falcon stepped in closer, dropping his voice. “Just got off the phone with Minx. She’s at the shop.”

My stomach tightened. “Yeah?”

“She said a blond guy came in about an hour ago. Claimed he had an appointment with you—asked what time you’d be in.”

I frowned. “I don’t have any appointments today. I blocked it out.”

“Exactly,” Falcon said. “She told him you weren’t working. Said he acted cool, left right after. But afterward… shesaid the whole thing felt off. Like he wasn’t there for the ink. Like he was fishing.”

The air shifted.

“Blond?” I asked.

Falcon nodded. “Minx said he was tall, looked clean. Almost too clean. Like he didn’t fit.”

My jaw clenched. “Nick.”

“Probably.”

“Fuck.” I grabbed my vest off the back of the chair. “I have to go check on Sinclair.”

Nobody stopped me. They all just nodded as I stormed out, heart hammering with every step.

Because if he was asking where I was—he might be planning to show up where I wasn’t.

And that meant Sinclair could be next.

As I headed through the main bar area of the clubhouse I stopped at the sight of my little girl staring up at me with tears in her eyes.

“Daddy!” she called out.

“Not now, Dani.” My tone was harsher than I intended. I didn’t want to worry her, but I had to get to my house.

“Something’s happened to Miss Bronson!”

“She’s fine,” I insisted. At least she would be fine if I could get home in time to stop her asshole brother from doing something.

“She’s not,” she shouted back, crying harder. “I called because I left my tablet at home, and I wanted her to bring it if she came here later. A mean man answered the phone, and he said… he said that she was dead! Daddy, she’s gone.” Her little body shook from her sobs and tears streaked her cheeks.

I dropped to my knees and held her. “She’s not dead, baby. I’m going to get her right now. I promise.”

“Why would he say that, Daddy?”

“Because he’s mean and sad. Stay here with Ellie and Peyton, okay?”

She nodded. “Get her, Daddy. Please.”

“I will.” I kissed the top of her head, handed her off to Ellie, and headed out. I had to find Sinclair and save her from her asshole brother.

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