Page 53 of Puma's Pride

He puts his arms around her shoulder. I can’t read his expression, but I know what he’s feeling. But now is not the time to get into that discussion.

“Spark.” I shout.

“I’m looking.” I hear him call out from his office. With Spark checking the camera feed, I open my mouth to shout out other orders when Showtime slides back into the room.

“They’re not there. But I found this.” Showtime says, opening her hand to reveal the small bracelet that Elina wears. The one that holds a small GPS tracker.

“Fuck.” I swear. “Ok, Spark is checking the feeds. Everyone else, we have to search outside and in. I want every inch covered until we find them. Got it?”

“On it.” Everyone shouts as they disperse. A few stay inside with the prospects, but most of the club heads outside. The property is vast, with too many places to hide.

“They ran away.” Alisa cries. “They must have heard us talking. But where would they go?”

“They’re here.” I assure her. “They can’t get over the fence and there’s no fucking way Smooth let them out through the gate.”

“He didn’t.” Showtime says as she completes her search of the bar area. “I checked.”

I nod in thanks. I feel Alisa lean into me, so I wrap my arms around her. Closing my eyes, I visualize the clubhouse and the property. I consider every hiding place, dismissing them almost as quickly as I consider each one. I know they can’t get into my office or Church, but the men will check even though they’re locked. We only have a few rooms on the first floor that don’t have locks. Shifting my thoughts to the second floor, where most of the bedrooms are. I know they’ll check each one. I picture each door until my mind lands on one door that doesn’t lead to a room.

“Fuck.” I say as I race toward the stairs.

I hear Alisa and the other shouting my name, but I ignore them. I have a feeling I know where they are and if they’re there, well; I have no one to blame but myself.

I pass behind Mad Max as he enters Wildcard’s room. At the end of the hallway is another door, one you can’t find unless you know it’s there. I push open the door and climb the stairs to the roof. As soon as I open the door, I see them. Relief floods through me when I spot them sitting against the wall. Each bundled in sweatshirts and jeans wearing matching expressions of guilt.

I gesture toward the door without speaking, because I can’t form words.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO: ALISA

“Where did he go?” I demand of Max, but he shakes his head.

“I haven’t seen him. Are you sure he came up here?” He asks.

“Yes, he ran up the stairs and now he’s disappeared, too.” I swallow a scream of frustration, but then let out a yelp of surprise when the far wall opens and three figures emerge.

Corinne and I fall onto our offspring and hug them so tight that we get a stereo of complaints about needing to breathe.

“Where were you?” I ask, but glance up to Puma for an answer.

“On the roof.” He says.

“What?” Corinne snaps. “They could have fallen off.”

Puma shakes his head. “No, they couldn’t. We have a wall around the edge and barbed wire.”

“I didn’t even know you could get to the roof.” I say. “How did you know how to get up there?” I ask Elina because I know she was the one who led them there.

“That would be my fault.” Puma admits. “One night we had a lightning storm in the desert. I took her up there to see it. It offered the best view. I have it on my list to lock up the entry. I just haven’t gotten to it yet.” He turns to Max. “Let everyone know, ok?”

“Sure, boss. And I’ll add that lock tonight.” He says, taking off without waiting for a response.

“I’m hungry.” Elina says and Mal chimes in with a nod.

“Let’s go eat.” Puma says as he lifts each kid up into his arms and leads the way downstairs.

“I should take off.” Trouble says when we reach the first floor.

“You should stay for dinner.” I offer, but then glance quickly at Corinne. I’m happy to see her nod in approval.

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