Chapter 17

Tate

Nothing made a man feel like more of a loser than knocking on a woman’s door in the middle of the day and having her ignore you. Teddy’s car wasn’t in the driveway and her garage was empty, but there were workers in the house, which meant she had to come home regularly. Didn’t she?

I’d been back from Reno for a few days and she hadn’t answered any of my calls, not that I blamed her. I was an ass to her for no reason, and worse, I’d abandoned her when she needed my protection. Now she was determined to do without it, even if it compromised her safety. Stubborn damn woman.

As soon as Max called me in Reno, I hopped on my bike and returned to Mayhem as quickly as I could and found her things gone from my place, and her house vandalized. Again. And Teddy was nowhere to be found.

Not at her office, where a pretty young thing in a tight sweater had greeted me and told me she was in a consultation. An hour later another pretty young thing, this one in a short skirt said she was meeting with a vendor. Finally, a scrawny dude in hipster glasses said she was out to lunch. Yeah, I got the message loud and fucking clear, but that didn’t mean I was giving up.

I sat outside in my car, watching as the three youngsters filed out of the office and locked up at the end of the day. Teddy still hadn’t materialized but I didn’t think she stayed away. There must be another entrance that she used. I could have laughed at the irony of her now using evasive techniques when I needed to find her. I called her again, hoping she would at least pick up and tell me to fuck off.

But she wouldn’t. I knew she wouldn’t, because of how I’d left. She was used to people not wanting her, particularly after her usefulness to them had run out, and I’d shown her that I was no different than countless foster families, social workers, agents, photographers — and men.

The phone rang in my hand and I grinned, thinking it was Teddy. “What’s up?” I tried to sound casual, but the sound of my brother’s voice pissed me off.

“Are you finally off your fucking period, man? Jana is stressing out so whatever the fuck you’ve done, fix it.”

I laughed. “Based on these cramps, I think I might have another day or two of bleeding.”

“Don’t be a smartass, Tate. I’m serious.”

Yeah I knew it. “I was an asshole. There’s nothing to fix because she won’t even answer my damn calls.”

Max sighed but I could hear the frustration and stress he carried. “Mine either and now I know why. Jag sent us this invitation. You know anything about it?”

Jag? I should have known Teddy would let nothing or no one slow her down. I felt a small pang of ego at being replaced so quickly, but I knew it was unjustified. “I do. I know that you both need to be there, which is why I’ll pick you guys up.”

“That sounds good. What about Teddy, will she be there?”

There was no way she would miss this party, not when Jana was the only person she let get close to her. “I assume she will be, since she put it together.” I let that piece of information hang in the air between us, hoping it would give him enough of a clue to understand why they both had to show up. It didn’t matter though. I’d drag them to the clubhouse if I had to.

“Fine. Fix this shit with Teddy. Please.”

Yeah, if only it was that fucking easy.

***

“You’re really not going to tell us what this party is all about?” Jana was practically giddy in the passenger seat as we pulled into the parking lot at the clubhouse. The Reckless Bastards partied so much we rarely went all out except for weddings, funerals and the welcoming of new brothers. Tonight though, was special. While I’d been locked up, they’d worked hard to keep Max on this planet, so for him to find this happiness was reason enough to fucking celebrate.

“I’m really not. We’re here, anyway. Show a little patience, Jana.” I rolled my eyes, laughing when she smacked me in the chest. “Don’t want to knock that baby loose.”

She gasped in outrage, green eyes lit with amusement she tried to hide. “I can’t believe you just said that about your niece or nephew.”

“Yeah, yeah. Come on, Mom.”

She stopped and looked up at me. “It’s kind of creepy to hear you say that. Why do guys like being called ‘daddy?’”

I blinked and then looked over at Max, who only shrugged. “Where does she get this shit?”

“Don’t ask, brother. Just smile and nod.”

I did as my older brother said, holding the door open so they could both enter before me.

“Oh my God! This is …” she looked back at me with a big smile and watery eyes. “Oh, Tate! This is incredible.” She looked around, awe-filled green eyes taking in the decorations that I had to admit, looked spectacular. Everything looked like what could only be called biker princess heaven. Onyx chandeliers hung from above, chrome and black tables and chairs dotted the room and in the front were two bad ass biker thrones, complete with his and hers chalices. “You did this for us?”

I shrugged, uncomfortable with her bubbling emotions. “My idea but Teddy executed it all.” And she’d done a damn good job. Better than I imagined in all the times we’d gone over the details. “She did a good job.”

“A damn good one. Thank you,” Jana wept and wrapped her little arms around me, squeezing tight. “Thank you, Tate.”

“No problem.” A quick look at Max told me he was just as grateful though not quite as gushy about it.

“Where is she?” Her blonde curls bounced around her shoulders as she scanned the room in search of her best friend, so excited she forgot to be self-conscious about the scar on her face.

Savior and Cross walked over to where we stood, smiling.

“Congratulations, you two.” Cross hugged Jana and then Max. “Your friend is a bit of a whirlwind,” he told Jana with an amused laugh.

Savior barked out a laugh. “That’s an understatement. More like a drill sergeant! We could use her to train the prospects, though. She had them in top shape putting all this shit up.” He shook his head and laughed. “Pissed off a few of the Bitches, too.”

“That’s my girl! So, where is she??” Jana was eager to thank her friend but I knew that some of her unease had to do with Teddy’s recent troubles.

Cross shrugged and scratched his beard. “She left to go pick up the ice, even though I told her one of the prospects could do it. Now, drinks?”

Jana rubbed her belly and he snapped his fingers. “Teddy left some cider for you, plus I’m supposed to show you something if she’s not here, and …” he looked around the room, seeing everything easily with the way he towered over everyone. “She’s not, so follow me.”

We all followed our club prez who ushered Jana to a big ass table filled with food. The centerpiece was a cake, four tiers with little sugary versions of Max and Jana. Her long blonde hair falling down the first two layers as Max tilted her over moments before their lips touched.

“Oh my God! This is so amazing! Babe, look at this, have I ever looked this hot?”

She was so excited she squealed, blowing out both of my eardrums.

“And look at your muscles, I don’t know which of you is hotter.”

She gave Max a heated look that left me a little uncomfortable to witness.

“I have to call her!” Jana walked away with her phone in her hand and a big smile on her face.

“You guys didn’t have to do all this,” Max said calmly as he stood beside me.

“I know, but I wanted to. Jana brought you back to life, gave you a reason to get right. I’ll always love her for that. You deserve it, falling for a great woman doesn’t happen every day.”

He smiled, looking over at his bride to be with more love than I’d ever seen. “I’ve never met anyone like her. I just wish you could see that you deserve it too, no matter what stupid shit you’re trying to convince yourself is true.”

I shrugged, doing my best to look innocent as he slugged my arm. “I have exactly what I deserve.” And I deserve exactly what I don’t have too.

“Teddy, what’s going on?” Jana’s voice rose and the tension in her tone was palpable. “Just pump them. Harder.” She screamed as panic took over her voice. “Teddy, answer me! Teddy!” Jana turned to Max, sucking in shallow breaths as she began to hyperventilate.

“Look at me, Jana!” Hands on her shoulders, I stared into her eyes until she focused on mine. “Do what I do,” I ordered and began breathing in and out slowly. She followed my instructions until she was calm, then I said, “Now tell us what happened.”

“She was in the car and couldn’t stop. It happened while we were talking. Something was wrong with her brakes. She hit them but the car didn’t even slow down! I heard her crash. We have to find her!”

“Do you know where she is?” Max asked, worry and patience warring for priority on his face.

Jana shook her head. “No, she’s hurt. We can’t just leave her bleeding in a ditch somewhere! Come on, that fancy car has to have GPS!” She hung onto Max, her voice and eyes pleading with him to help her find her friend.

But she was right about one thing, we couldn’t just leave Teddy to circumstance. “I’ll go out and look for her along the routes to all the places that sell ice. You call 911, Jana and stay here with Max until we find her, okay? I’ll check in with you guys.”

She nodded absently, already dialing emergency services as tears streamed down her eyes. “Thank you, Tate. Find her, please.”

“I will. I promise.” I just hoped Teddy was in one piece when I found her. And I’d really like to know who in the fuck would have tampered with her brakes. I called Max as soon as I was on the move asking him about it.

“Cutting brakes isn’t what you do to someone you want to be with, that’s for someone you hate, right?”

Max grunted but I could hear the background sounds getting quieter as he moved away from the group. “Yeah. I thought for sure it was a former fan, but now I’m not sure.”

“You think this is my fault? They wouldn’t have been able to mess with her car if she’d been at the house with me.” And that started my mind wandering to all kinds of places, like when had the brakes been fucked with and when?

“No, Tate. You were an asshole but this was going to happen at some point.”

“Yeah, thanks,” I told him and turned my focus to scanning both sides of the road, hoping like hell Teddy’s car wouldn’t be hidden in the dark shadows. I sent a prayer out into the world, pleading that if there was anyone listening, they would make damn sure Teddy was okay.

She had to be.