Affliction

“Knights Rebels I see.” He nods down at Beau’s cut.

“Yep. Just had an out-of-town engagement. Gonna head out of here soon. If we see your woman, we’ll let you know.”

“You don’t mind if we have a look around do you?” he asks. It’s not like we can say no without looking like we’re hiding something.

“Sure,” Beau steps aside, letting the three officers in.

“Evening.” The sheriff nods, walking into the kitchen and removing his hat. “Just a routine check,” he informs me, looking around the small space.

“No problem,” I reply, playing it cool. He stands in the entry as his officers clear the cabin.

“All clear,” they say, coming out of the room that Mackenzie is hiding in. Internally, I let out a sigh of relief. Thank fuck.

“Okay, well, thank you for your cooperation. You be sure to let us know if you see or hear anything.” He nods, replacing his hat and walking back through the door.

“Of course,” Beau replies, letting them out.

After a few moments of silence and making sure they have gone, Beau races to the back room to let Mackenzie out.

“She’s scared of the dark,” I tell him when we find a hysterical woman cowering in the dark.

“Fuck,” he curses, helping her out of the small space. Her screams fill the room as he moves her to the bed.

“Go get the meds the doc left,” he orders, placing her down on the bed and climbing in behind her. I don’t know what’s happening, but this shit is not normal. I’ve never seen Beau so protective of a woman before. Moving back through the cabin, I pick up the pain meds and pray whatever is happening here is just Beau comforting a broken woman and nothing more, ‘cause if it’s more, the club is about to enter a whole new world of trouble. With the likes of this Morre family, I doubt they’re going to stop until the woman is found, and knowing Beau, he won’t give up until this woman is safe.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Holly

“So, how far along are you?” I ask Kadence, trying my hardest to hold in the tight feeling putting pressure on my chest. I’ve been avoiding her the last week, blowing her off every time she has called. I know she’s been worried, concerned that her news has sent me backward in my recovery, and while the news came as a shock, hearing she is becoming a mom when I’m not, doesn't hurt as much as she thinks. Yes, a small amount of jealousy has stirred in me the last few days, but I think the panic that came over me after her announcement happened because it reminded me of the secret I was hiding from Sy.

“Twelve weeks,” she whispers, unsure.

“Twelve weeks? Wow!”

“Yeah, Nix wanted to try as soon as he put that engagement ring on my finger,” she laughs nervously. "We only found out the day we left for Cancun. I had no time to tell you.”

“Kadence, stop.” I hate she has to try and explain it to me.

“I wanted to tell you in private. I wasn’t sure how you were going to react,” she rushes out like she needs to get it off her chest.

“It’s okay, Kadence. I’m happy for you,” I smile, and I do mean it. It hurts to think that had things been different, I would have been doing this along with her, but I still love her, and knowing she is about to start this journey is amazing.

“Have you spoken to him?” she asks, treading lightly on a subject she knows causes me pain.

“I went to see him yesterday, but Jesse said he was out of town,” I tell her and watch her look sad again.

“Yeah, he's been out a few days.”

“How has he been?” I torture myself with my need to know.

“About as well as you, but like I said, he hasn't been around much, and Nix won't talk about it with me.” I nod, not feeling any better. “I’m so sorry, Holly. I feel like this is all my fault.”

“It's my fault. I should have told him sooner. It would have been kinder to him not to have done it in front of everyone, but that's on me. Now, I just wait.”

“Well, they went out on club business and something happened. I’m not sure ‘cause as you know, my husband won’t let me in on these secret pickups.” She raises her hands up and air quotes pickups.

“I’m sure he has his reasons, Kadence,” I say, not sure what to tell her. I know about what happens. I just don't know if there is a reason Nix won't tell her.

“You know what they’re doing, don’t you,” she accuses, her eyes trying to stare it out of me.

“No,” I lie.

“Holly, don’t bullshit me. What is it?” She comes forward, sliding closer.

“Kadence, if Nix doesn’t want you to know, I’m not going to tell you,” I tell her, deciding a pissed-off Nix is worse than a pissed-off Kadence.

“Oh, my God. You bitch. Tell me, now,” she growls, making me laugh.

“Oh, you really are hormonal, aren’t you?”

“Oh, my God. Am I ever,” she agrees. “Nix is in for a rude shock. Now, tell me,” she demands.

“I really am happy for you, Kadence.” I change the subject, reaching out and taking her hand. “I love you and I can’t wait to see you as a mom.” She wipes at her face before embracing me in a tight hug.

“I love you, too,” she cries into my neck, almost squeezing me to the point of suffocation. I let her hold me, let her comfort fill me. I’m not half the mess I was laying in the hospital, and I know a lot of the reason why is because of her constant love and support.