“Get dressed.” Jackal dropped his saddlebag onto the bed then watched as Penni opened the bag. It didn’t take long before he got the reaction he was waiting for.

“These are my clothes?” She picked up her clothes, giving him an accusing glare.

“Ice used the key you left for Grace to water your plants and feed the ducks.”

Jackal could tell she was torn between having her privacy invaded or leaving her precious plants and ducks without proper care.

“Is Ice taking care of my things?”

Jackal’s amusement had Penni throwing the empty saddlebag at him.

Dodging the missile, he sat down on the foot of the bed. “Calm down. Grace would kick Ice’s ass if anything happened to your precious plants and ducks. How did you get railroaded into taking care of a pond of ducks, anyway?”

“They’re not ducks. They’re swans. I was elected into the position during the yearly HOA.”

“You were elected? You mean more than one person volunteered to feed them?”

Penni nodded eagerly. “Yes, well, I mean … One other person volunteered to feed them, but nobody liked her.”

“But they liked you?”

“Yes. I offered to pay for their food. The feed had gone up in price, and I offered to pay.”

“Why? You haven’t lived there long.”

“Because they’re beautiful.”

Jackal stared at Penni. Her expression went soft, and her blue eyes looked luminescent. He shifted on the bed.

He had been attracted to her since he had seen her walking out of the hotel lobby in Queen City. In his experience, when women saw the Predators, they either ran the other way or turned into provocative whores. Penni had flipped him off because he was parked in the wrong space. Then, when he had kidnapped her then released her, she had shown her disgust in him by spitting on him.

After Ice had married Grace, he had seen Penni at a couple of the parties that Grace had invited her to. It had only fueled his attraction.

Jackal had discovered she made friends easily, but only kept a few. It was the same with him. And she had dated most of the men in Queen City. They didn’t last long, and if they did, they joined the ranks of her friends.

He’d had no intention of being a friend. Playing the waiting game, he had patiently used any excuse to come into contact with her, only to become the brunt of her insults. Why Jackal had put up with it was uncertain. It was as if a part of her were calling out to him.

It was why he had been so pissed off when she had stood him up. When Penni had said sorry last night, Jackal had believed her, but he had also noticed that her contrition had been brief.

Jackal tilted his head as he studied Penni. King had warned him long ago that there was more to her than showed. Jackal agreed. He didn’t think he would live long enough to figure her out.

His stiff dick was tired of waiting, and he had missed having her in his bed like when they had gone to Treepoint. The Spring Rally was a four-day ride. That gave him four nights to build a fire that Penni would beg for him to put out.

Penni stared at him suspiciously as she headed into the bathroom. “What? Why are you staring at me like that?”

Jackal smoothed out his features as he picked up his saddlebag. “Nothing. Get changed. Hennessy is getting the bikes gassed up.”

“Why can’t we just take off while they’re gone?”

“A guard is outside.”

Disappointed, Penni went inside the bathroom.

Jackal had already considered making a run for it with her. However, they wouldn’t make it out of the clubhouse. The Road Kingz’ fate was in Penni’s hands. If they didn’t find Striker, none of them would come out alive.

When Ice had told him that the Road Kingz had Penni, he had been ready to call Shade and hand the mess over to him. However, it would have been a death warrant for Hennessy, and Jackal hadn’t been able to forget the fact that he had saved his life. Then Ice had further convinced him it was a bad idea.

Ice saw the benefit of having the Road Kingz if they ever needed to join forces. It was a risky move, but Ice had given his approval, letting Jackal face the Road Kingz alone.

Jackal stood when Penni came out of the bathroom. Her jeans looked like an old pair, hugging her slender legs snuggly. The blue, long-sleeved T-shirt was tight with a bright rainbow plastered across the front of her taut breasts. It was going to be a long ride to Riverside, California.

“Ready?” He dug his fingers into his back pockets to keep himself from touching the firm thrust of her breasts.

“Do I have a choice?”

“No.” Jackal knocked on the bedroom door. Hennessy had assigned Core to stay with them until they were ready.

Jackal took Penni’s arm, leading her to the clubroom where Hennessy waited.

As they approached, Hennessy nodded toward Core. “Go on outside. We’ll be there in a minute.”

What he wanted to say, he didn’t want his man to hear. Jackal had a feeling he knew what had his former friend incensed.

“Call them off.” Hennessy’s order wasn’t one that Jackal could follow. Trying to play peacekeeper between the two clubs was going take every skill he had.

Out of the corner of his eye, Jackal saw Penni’s attention go back and forth between him and Hennessy.

“They’ll stay back, but Ice wants to make sure Penni doesn’t end up as a casualty between you and all the shit you’ve got going down.”

A split second was all Jackal had to prepare before Hennessy launched his giant body at him. Planting his feet, he braced for the pain coming his way.

Hennessy barreled into him, and Jackal released Penni’s arm then wrapped his arms around Hennessy’s waist, putting him in a bear hug, trying to stop his momentum and keep himself from crashing to the floor.

He didn’t stand a chance of breaking Hennessy’s hold. Jackal couldn’t match his weight, but he clamped his arms tightly around him, giving himself time to reason with the raging giant.

“Ice will stay back,” Jackal grunted. How much did the fucker weigh? “If anything happens to Penni, King will kill all of us. Think about it! If you can’t find Striker, you’re going to need the Predators.”

Hennessy threw him off, breathing hard. “I don’t need the Predators.”

“Are you sure about that?” Jackal took the time to catch his breath, expecting Hennessy to attack again.

Hennessy rubbed angrily over his bald head.

“There’s going to be over eighteen motorcycle clubs at the rally. You think you’re going to deal with all off them and a cartel that wants their money back?”

“I have it under control!”

“Brother, you lost control when you snatched Penni. I’m trying to keep you and her alive. If she gets hurt, you won’t live to see another day.” He sighed out in frustration. “Let me help you. Ice won’t interfere unless you need back up. When you get your money back, I’ll take Penni, and we’ll disappear. We’ll all get what we want.”

“I don’t know what trouble you’re in, but I would listen to Jackal if I were you.”

Jackal shook his head at Penni. Hennessy would drop down dead before he took any advice a bitch gave him. Surprisingly, however, he stared across the room at him as if he was considering her opinion.

“You’ll keep Jackal’s word and not run to the cops when I let you go?”

Penni narrowed her eyes at him. Jackal expected her to spit at Hennessy for his question.

He tried to silently warn her of the repercussions if she lost her temper. Penni had been too sheltered by Shade. Bikers were notoriously controlling. They expected their bitches to do what they were told and not argue. Penni was the exact opposite.

“Yes.” Penni looked like she was about to choke on her answer.

Hennessy wasn’t convinced.

Jackal moved closer to Penni, laying an arm across her shoulders.

“She’ll do what I tell her.” His arm tightened around her, giving her the only warning he could. He could only do so much.

“That right?” Hennessy didn’t look like he believed him.

She leaned into his side. “Jackal’s the boss.” The nails digging into his back would leave marks, but at least Hennessy’s doubts had been taken away.

“Go make us some sandwiches. If we don’t get on the road, the rally will be over before we even get there.”

“I’ll help,” Jackal spoke up. “It’ll be faster.” Not to mention, he didn’t want to eat anything Penni made while in the mood that was brewing in her eyes.

“Don’t take long.” Hennessy left them, slamming the door to show he wasn’t happy that Ice was nearby.

“When this is all over—”

“You want us to make a sandwich for you?” Jackal addressed the man Penni had forgotten was lying on the couch behind her.

Her eyes widened at Jackal’s reminder that Hennessy wouldn’t be stupid enough to leave them alone.

“No, thanks. I’ll make my own.” Cruz laughed. “If I want to eat food that will kill me, I’ll eat at Chip-n-otle.”

“Be my guest—”

Jackal covered her mouth with his then hastily jerked it back. “What she means is I’ll pay for lunch. It’ll save some time.” He tossed some money at him. “Grab some burgers.”

“What do you want me to grab for you?”

Jackal stared at Penni in confusion as Cruz waited for her answer.

“Get her a burger, too—”

“She doesn’t eat hamburger; she’s a vegetarian.”

He almost burst out laughing at Cruz’s comment. Jackal had seen Penni eating too many chicken wings and hot dogs. He wasn’t going to bail her out of this one. It was going to be a long road trip without the foods she loved.

“Get her a veggie burger,” Jackal said mockingly. “Grab me two burgers. I’m all of a sudden hungry.”