Desolation

“There’s a guy outside wanting to talk with you. He says his name is Raide Knox.”

Maddox looks to Mack and Krypt, as if to see if they know the name. Both of them shrug, and Maddox leans in, saying something to them. Then he reaches around and feels to make sure his gun is still tucked in his jeans before striding outside. A warm hand curls around my arm, and I turn to see Jaylah standing beside me.

“What was that about?”

“There’s a guy out there wanting to see Maddox.” I shrug. “Now I have to use the bathroom.”

I rush down the hall to give the inside bathroom another try. This time it’s empty. I use it and just as I’m stepping out, I run into Tyke. He’s exiting Maddox’s office, Andi following close behind. His eyes fall on me and his body straightens. It’s now or never.

“Can we talk?” I ask him.

Andi curls her fingers possessively around his arm.

“Busy, sorry,” Tyke mutters, stepping past me as if I don’t exist. Pain radiates through my heart and I’m tired of it. Tired of acting as if we don’t care about each other. Tired of pretending that I don’t want more from him. Tired of being so insanely jealous of Andi that I can’t breathe. I just want him to either decide if he wants me or to let me go. I don’t know if Tyke and I can just be friends anymore. I’m in too deep.

I gather myself and walk out after a few more minutes, not wanting to show any of them the pain in my face. The mysterious Raide is standing in the clubhouse now, talking to Maddox and Krypt. He’s even more dominating up close. His eyes flick to me when I walk in and he gives me a lazy half-smile that is swoon-worthy.

“Who is that dude and why did he just smile at you?” Ash says, taking my arm and pulling me to her side.

“I just met him outside,” I say, my voice small.

“He’s so fucking hot,” Jaylah whispers, coming up to my other side. “God, have you seen his eyes?”

They’re hard to miss.

“Stop checking out the new meat, you girls.” Santana laughs. “You’re terrible. Have you seen your own husbands lately?”

Jaylah scoffs. “Mack is divine, but that doesn’t mean that guy is not some serious eye candy. You should go and ask him if he’s single, Pip.”

“Why me?” I croak.

“Because you’re single.” She giggles.

“No, I don’t think he’s my type. He’s so . . .”

“Massive,” Ash sighs. “Imagine how big his—”

“Ash!” Santana chastises and they all giggle.

My cheeks burn.

The men turn around and study us, and we quickly turn away. After about ten minutes huddled together, Maddox walks over to the group of us. “Girls, find your men to get the lowdown on what’s going down. We’re going on a ride, not sure for how long. Business calls.”

Santana frowns and Maddox steps up close to her, wrapping his arms around her body. I watch them for a moment, noticing Santana studying me with a serious face, so I turn, seeing Ash and Jaylah find their respective men. I’m left alone, watching Tyke stare at me with a tight face. Pain radiates through my heart again as Andi sidles up to him and takes hold of him. Pain burns my heart.

“So you’re not taken.”

I jerk and turn to see Raide staring down at me. My heart starts pounding and I stammer, “A . . . a . . . a . . . ah, no. Santana is my sister.”

His brows go up. “Santana?”

“Maddox’s wife.”

Raide grins. “That so? You’re too pretty to have no one.”

I flush. “Um, thanks.”

“So if you’re not with anyone, who is going to inform you of the goings on?”

“Club business isn’t really mine,” I say, shrugging.

“You don’t wanna know?”

I shrug again. “I guess I do, but no one is going to tell me.”

“I’ll tell you.”

“But,” I squirm. “I don’t even know you.”

“What do you want to know?”

He steps closer and my heart pounds.

“Ah, I don’t know. Why are you here?”

Lame, Pippa.

“I need Maddox’s help, for what I can’t tell you, but I guess you could say I’m on the run.”

My eyes widen. “You’re on the run? From who?”

He grins. “The law.”

“What did you do?”

He shrugs. “I skipped bail. If I’m caught, I go to prison.”

“Why did you skip bail?” I gasp.

He grins again. “I have business to take care of before I go down.”

“What did you do to get arrested?”

His eyes flash and I see a deep pain behind his eyes. “That doesn’t matter now, but would it help if I said I did it for someone I loved, who was killed?”

My heart breaks.

“Yes,” I whisper.

He stares down at me. “You have damaged eyes there, pretty girl. I’m guessing you understand my kind of pain.”

I nod.

He smiles, this time warmly. “Well, I hope you can find a way to get your peace. We all deserve that.”

“We do,” I agree.

“Raide,” Maddox says, stepping up beside me and putting his hand on my shoulder. “We’re good to go. We’ll meet at eight tomorrow morning and head out. You got a bike or some kind of transport?”