The fork tinged against the plate. Chuck rested the heels of his hands on the edge of the cloth covered table. Halfway through the meal, he realized Erikka had hardly taken a bite, and he'd almost finished.

"Take a few bites, sweetheart." He looked around the room before bringing his gaze back to his left where Erikka sat beside him.

"You eat fast," she whispered, raising her fork.

He put his arm behind her chair and stroked her bare neck with his thumb. She'd worn her hair up, only a few wispy strands hanging down around her face, softening her already beautiful eyes.

"It's good food." He winked. "It also might have to do with the fact I skipped lunch, and I'm starving."

She leaned toward him and laughed softly. "We're doing okay here, right?"

"Oh, yeah." He half turned and whispered in her ear. "You're doing great."

"Any sign of them?"

He went in for the sensitive skin below her ear to take a look around, and whispered, "Not yet."

If Markham were smart, he'd stay in an undisclosed position in the casino watching them by camera, and let them fill their bellies before he made an appearance. The delay would give Markham time to get men in place and be on the offensive.

Fuck, she smelled great. He inhaled deeply, and because he was close and supposed to make the appearance of being on a date, he kissed her neck. She shivered, and it took all his self-control to not take a lick of her skin to see if she tasted as good as she smelled.

"What made you buy a house by your sister?" he asked, trying to keep his mind on the game they were playing.

She finished chewing and wiped her mouth with the napkin before putting the cloth on her lap. Thankfully, he'd grown up in a time where his mom made sure he knew table manners, and he could recall what he was supposed to do when he sat down. Though practicing the steps during Sunday dinner when he was eight years old seemed long ago.

He belonged at more casual places like Vavoom's Bar or at home, not in some fancy restaurant on a fake date.

"We both bought a house during the planning stages of the new neighborhood. Rachel thought it would be cliché to be next door neighbors, so she picked one several doors away." She smiled sadly. "To irritate her, I make sure I wave to her every time she's outside when I drive past. Or, I did."

She was sinking fast into melancholy. He patted her leg under the table.

"What made you decide to move to Kenworth neighborhood?" she asked.

"Glen and Thad each bought a house there and talked me into doing the same." He picked up his fork. "I'm usually not home much, and it's a place with a roof over my head."

"Where are you usually?"

"Work. Wayne's house. Out on a search." He pushed the cooked carrots away from the last bite of steak.

She glanced at him. "No girlfriend taking your time?"

"Honestly?" He set his fork down. "Never had much use for a full-time woman when there's plenty out there willing to waste an hour or two."

"A confirmed bachelor at your age?" Her smile returned as she tilted her head down a little, although she still held his gaze in a way that made him think she was flirting with him.

"What's that look mean?"

She raised her brows. "What look?"

He tapped her nose. "That little nose wrinkle you did when you were smiling."

"It's one thing to be a bachelor in your thirties, but..." She leaned closer. "How old are you?"

"Forty-five."

Her lips quirked before she hid her smile. "Really? That old? Past your prime, mister."

"You're ten years younger than me," he stated.

"Doing your research?"

He nodded once. "I like to know who I'm working with and other things."

"What other things." She took another bite of her green beans.

"If you're married or involved."

"What did you find out?"

He put his hand back on her leg, loving the softness of her thigh and glad tonight's date gave him an excuse to touch her. "Nobody else in your life, besides your sister."

"Hm." She wiped her mouth.

A mouth he'd concentrated on all night because she'd put on red lipstick to match the red shoes that grabbed his attention in her closet. Somehow, through dinner and drinking her water, her lips remained perfectly painted. He rubbed his lips together and looked out across the restaurant and caught the eye of a man standing near the lobby.

That split-second connection gave him insight that Markham was making a move. He had his men set up around the perimeter.

He removed his hand from Erikka's leg and pulled her against him to whisper in her ear. "We've got company. I want you to pay attention to me. Laugh, smile, touch me. Let me take care of everything. Okay, sweetheart?"

During the instructions, she'd shifted. He kissed her cheek, and when she turned to look at him, he kissed the surprised and frightened look away. He pulled away, not giving himself time to wonder what it'd be like to have her kiss him back. She was scared and barely aware of him touching her.

"That's it. You're going to be fine." He winked. "This is what we came here for. You're a strong woman. You're helping your sister, right?"

She nodded and inhaled deeply, setting down the fork in her hand. Her bravery had him second-guessing his decision to let her come tonight. There was more to Erikka than a deep determination to help her sister, which he could understand.

She was a woman.

A beautiful woman who deserved to find love, a family of her own, and the only thing she needed to worry about was which dress to wear on a date. Not some fucked-up date with him where he expected to confront danger, and possibly put her in harm's way.

"Erikka?" He leaned toward her, holding the back of her neck. "I'm going to take you out of here."

Her brows lowered. "No, not yet."

He shifted, taking his phone out of his pocket and sent off one quick text.

Come get her.

"I made a mistake." He put his phone away, looked out in the room, and said, "It's too dangerous."

"But—"

"You'll leave, and I'll talk to Markham alone." He scooted back his chair, stood, and pulled her chair out, helping her to her feet. "Grab your purse."

A waiter hurried toward the table. Chuck removed his wallet and handed over two one-hundred bills, knowing it would more than cover the bill. "Keep the change."

"Sir, are you sure you wouldn't like—"

"No. I won big at the tables. Enjoy." He guided Erikka through the restaurant, weaving between the tables.

The man at the entrance spoke into a device on his wrist. Chuck nodded, letting him know he saw him. Once he got Erikka out, he'd deal with everything else.

Two men stepped in front of him. Chuck's tightened his arm around Erikka's waist, stopping her.

Wayne, Thad, and Glen strolled through the door behind the two men. Chuck kept eye contact with the men, highly aware of his MC brothers and Erikka at his side.

"When I pat your ass, sweetheart, I want you to walk straight to the Notus members." He kept his voice low for her ears only. "Don't stop, no matter what is said or done."

Glen walked forward, skirting the two men and stepped in front of them. Chuck patted Erikka's ass, nudging her forward. She walked confidently in her heels until she reached Glen and her hand came out to grab onto his arm, and she glanced over her shoulder. The wrinkles at the bridge of her nose concerned him. He had no time to figure out if she was worried about him or scared for her safety.

Notus members escorted her out of the building. Chuck walked forward and stopped in front of the two men. He kept his body loose. They weren't alone. The restaurant was three-quarters full of customers that would lift their heads from their plates if any noise or ruckus started.

"Please, follow us." The man on the right undid the buttons on his suit coat, flashing the black strap of a holster hidden underneath the cloth.

Chuck dipped his chin and followed. He had no reason to show the nine-millimeter he carried on his ankle underneath his jeans. It was a given for all of them that they'd all came armed.

At the elevators, the men stepped back and motioned for him to get inside. The doors closed. Alone, except for the camera in the black panel, he looked for the controls when the upward momentum gave him a clue at where he was going. Markham had a personal elevator and controlled who went up and down.

He kept his arms at his sides, loose and ready. Secure, despite not being in control of the situation, he was prepped for anyone who would meet him at his destination off the elevator.

He arrived at the top floor of the casino. The doors opened. He stepped out into an empty hallway with two doors to his right. One open. One closed.

A man stepped out of the open doorway. Chuck recognized him as Teegan Markham and walked toward him.

"I'm disappointed that you wouldn't allow your lady friend to join us. I've heard she's rather interesting." Markham loosened the tie at his throat and stepped back into the room. "Come in."

Chuck stopped within three feet of the door, leaving it open. There was no way he'd be able to go down the elevator without Markham pushing the fucking button, but he'd have a wall between him and the bullets meant to take him out of the world if the meeting turned ugly.

"Drink?" Markham held up a bottle of Brandy at the wet bar in the room, and when Chuck remained quiet and unaccepting, he said, "I believe we can work together. You and me."

"How so?" said Chuck.

Markham lifted the tumbler to his mouth. "Your lady's sister is with someone I want to find."

"Stoddard." Chuck gazed around the room looking for anything that would tip him off to what was to come. "How about telling me why you want him?"

Markham chuckled. "Business."

"Then, tell me what you planned to do with Erikka."

"She's only a ticket to Stoddard."

"That's where I have a problem with you." Chuck widened his stance, keeping up the façade that Erikka belonged to him. "Someone threatens or harms my woman and I'm going to stop him, or them."

Markham raised his hands, still holding the glass that remained full and untouched. A detail that wasn't lost on Chuck. Social drinking was only a mirror. Markham was too smart to filter the meeting or slow his movements. "No harm will come to Erikka or Rachel."

His word was no guarantee.

"What do you want from me?" asked Chuck.

Markham stepped closer. "If you find Stoddard, bring him to me instead of the police."

"What makes you think I'd do that?"

"Because I think you care more about keeping Rachel alive than you do the welfare of the man who took her." Markham's gaze narrowed until Chuck could only see the brown of his eyes. "Agree, and I'll take my men off Erikka."

"I don't work alone."

Markham tilted his head side to side. "I understand. Talk with them, let me know."

"How will I contact you?" He already knew the answer he'd receive, but he needed time.

Markham set his drink down on the desk to his right. "I'll contact you and make it simple for us both. In the meantime, to show my appreciation for you not pulling the pistol you're wearing on your ankle at me, I'll give you twenty-four hours to get back to me."

"I've heard enough." Chuck stepped back into the doorway. His phone vibrated in his pocket, giving him the signal that his way out of the building was secure. "Push your button or whatever you do to make the elevator take me back down to the lobby. Then, check your camera. If I don't walk out the door, you'll have fewer men on your team to protect you."

He lifted two fingers in dismissal and walked to the elevator. "Twenty-four hours, my ass," he mumbled.

There was no fucking way he'd hand Stoddard over to Markham. But, he would find Rachel before Markham got close to her. There was nothing trustworthy about the guy.