Page 42 of Double the Dilemma

It gave her a rush, and made her think about all the times that she had done this very thing with her team, though those occasions had been under very different circumstances. She found a sturdy branch and perched there as she pulled out a small pair of binoculars from her backpack. Putting them to her eyes, she took in the three cabins that were spaced evenly throughout the clearing.

It reminded her of a settlement, but they were definitely run down and didn’t look to be in use. She didn’t see any movement in them, and there was no smell of smoke from a fire. She waited another couple moments, just to be sure, and then she climbed down. “They’re empty,” she told them. “And doesn’t look like anyone’s been out here for a while.”

“Could be she used this place temporarily and is moving around,” Ink suggested. “I still say we should check.”

Razor glanced at Karissa who nodded. “If she was here, she would have left something behind. She’s meticulous when she’s tracking me, but she’s sloppy in everything else.”

They made their way to the cabins, but other than some used condoms and needles, and one sketchy looking stained mattress that she was sure had seen things even Sena would be disgusted by, they were empty. She also didn’t see anything that suggested Sena had been here. It was disappointing, but not unexpected.

“On to the next one,” Razor said with a shrug as they started to make their way back.

That was how most of their morning went. They checked out multiple out of the way places with no sign of Sena in any of them. Karissa tried not to feel frustrated after so many dead ends. Finally they returned to the clubhouse, but instead of going inside, she turned and headed for Fury’s house. She needed some time to herself and with her best friend. She could feel Razor eyeing her, but thankfully he didn’t follow. She appreciated he was concerned, but she didn't want to be with him every moment of the day. She still needed her space.

When she walked in, she saw Esme sitting on the couch with a basket of laundry at her feet and another beside her waiting to be folded. Gabe sat braced back against the coffee table, concentrating on whatever game he was currently playing. “Hey, Aunt Rissa,” Gabe said absently.

“How’s it going, buddy?” she asked as she sat on the couch with Esme, on the opposite side of the laundry, and started to fold the last few pieces. They had done this so often when they lived together that it was just routine. Esme gave her a knowing grin.

“Papa bought me a new game,” Gabe said excitedly. “It’s awesome.”

“It looks like it,” Karissa said with a smile, though she had no idea what kind of game it was. It looked like a fantasy one of some kind, but since gaming was never her thing, she didn’t keep up with the latest trends.

“I think he wants to keep me out of his hair when he and Mama are trying to make me a little brother,” Gabe added absently, making Esme gasp in shock. Karissa just laughed, because he was probably right.

“Gabe!” Esme scolded.

Gabe paused his game and said, “I’m eight, Mama, not four. I know how babies are made. And I already told you I’m okay with it as long as you have a boy first.”

“It’s not like I can control that,” she muttered. “And you shouldn’t talk like that, Gabe. It’s not appropriate. How about you go and play that in your room?”

He rolled his eyes. “You just want to talk to Aunt Rissa alone. You know you could just say that.”

She gave him a cool stare. “Don’t sass me,mijo. Now go play in your room so I can talk to Aunt Rissa without your big ears listening in.” Gabe rolled his eyes again, collected his game, came over to give Karissa a hug, and then headed upstairs. “God, he’s going to give me gray hair,” Esme groaned once she heard his door slam shut.

Karissa chuckled. “But it’ll keep things interesting.”

“So how did your hunt go?” Esme asked, pushing the basket aside and curling her feet under her.

Karissa made a frustrated sound low in her throat. “She’s hiding, like she always does. Though I’m not surprised. She’s pissed, but she’s not stupid. She’s probably scheming up a way to lure me out again. Honestly, I expected her to take a shot at me today while we were out, but nothing.”

“Maybe she decided that trying to get to you now with the other MC around wasn’t a smart idea and she moved on,” Esme suggested hopefully.

Karissa gave her a yeah right look. “Babe, we both know that isn’t possible. She can be patient when she wants to be, so I think it’s more likely she’s either biding her time and planning her next move, or she’s finding some friends to help her. Stupid ones that think they can take on the MC and get whatever she’ll promise them.”

“Yeah, probably,” Esme sighed.

Suddenly the door opened, and in poured Scarlett, the girls, Royal, and Harlow. Harlow groaned as she collapsed onto the couch beside Esme. “I am so done being pregnant already,” she whined.

“You?” Royal scoffed. “You have one. I have two doing the jig on my bladder.”

“Wait, you know it’s two?” Esme said in surprise. “I thought your ultrasound wasn’t until mid week.”

“It’s not, but I secretly went and had another ultrasound without Savage and found out for sure. I just made sure that they didn’t tell me anything else.” Royal sighed, pressing a hand to her already large belly. “Now the question is gender, and we’ll find that out in a few days.”

“Is Savage quaking in his boots?” Karissa asked with a wicked grin.

Royal laughed. “I see him glance at me from time to time with a terrified look on his face, especially when I’m pissed or hormonal about something. I think he’s trying to figure out how he’ll handle two more women in the house if they are girls.”

“Steel is pleased as punch we’re having a boy, but I almost wish I could tell him the doctor lied to see what he would do,” Harlow sighed.

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