Coyote (Hawks MC Next Generation #1) - Lila Rose Page 0,76
here, she’d try and kick my arse for backwashing. Even when I told her since we were swapping spit, it shouldn’t really matter to her, she’d huffed and puffed and told me it was still gross before storming out into the backyard to play with Coco and Harley. I’d gone out to her, wrapped my arms around her, and knew all was forgiven when she rested back against me.
It was moments like that, and many others, where I just knew.
She was it.
She was my something special.
Christ, I looked forward to each and every damn day we spent together. Yeah, it’d be better if we weren’t so busy, but I wouldn’t give us up because of our schedule. She was worth working my hours around her sleep.
I dropped the carton back in the refrigerator and closed the door when it occurred to me the dogs weren’t under my feet. Usually they were in the room when I woke. I should have realized sooner. I whistled and called, “Harley, Coco?”
Silence.
That wasn’t right
Worry seeped into me. I made my way to the back door. “Coco, Harley,” I tried again as I unlocked and opened the door.
Stepping out, I stilled when a gun was shoved under my chin. “Move, scream, or do anything, and I’ll shoot your head off.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of the old man I’d seen standing opposite the compound the previous day. “Who are you?’ I clipped.
He ignored me, shoving the gun up under my chin more. “Inside, now.”
“No.”
He stepped closer, and I got a whiff of him, regretting the action immediately. Not only did he look homeless, but he smelled like it too. The fucker laughed. “You think you got a choice?”
“What did you do to the dogs?”
“Got rid of them. Enough questions. Get the fuck back inside.”
“Why?”
“Jesus Christ, are you stupid? What’s she see in you?”
Fury burned to life. “So, this is about Channa?”
He shoved the gun deeper. “Shut up.”
But I wouldn’t when he wanted something from Channa. From my woman.
I hit out quickly, jabbing my fist into his gut. He moaned and cursed. I grabbed for the gun and managed to punch him in the face before something hard smacked me in the back of the head.
Stumbling, I blinked rapidly and turned, only to trip and fall on my arse.
Through a haze, I looked up to the person who’d hit me. “Got to be fuckin’ kiddin’ me,” I mumbled before passing out.
Chapter Twenty
Channa
I was mildly aware of Stanley stomping to the doors and barking, “Shop’s shutting. Something’s come up.”
“Stanley?” Denise questioned.
“Close it down, Denise. Now.”
My heart thumped hard, my stomach lurched, and I wanted to throw up, but I fought the bile down by swallowing over and over. I’d never thought I would have to see the man again, but if it meant Cody would be safe, I’d walk through fire for him.
Hands landed on my shoulders. I jolted and looked up through tears to see Stanley. “Lucky Coyote’s mum left, but you’ve got to call Talon.”
“I can’t. He said no one was to come or he’d kill Cody.”
“Channa, you can’t go in there on your own. Not for you and not for your guy.”
Blinking rapidly, my bottom lip wobbled as I stared down at my babies. I had to go by myself because I wouldn’t risk Cody’s life for my own. Even with the nerves, the fear, I wasn’t walking into a situation I didn’t think I could handle. From what I got, there was only one man there. One old man. I’d dealt with worse recently. I could do this. I’d push the terror aside and ride the adrenaline when the time came.
Denise slapped through the doors, causing me to jump. The dogs growled, but as soon as I touched them, they quieted. Denise took us in, her hand shooting to her throat. “What’s happened?”
“Channa’s sperm donor has Coyote captured at her house. Wants her to come home on her own or he’ll kill Coyote.”
“What?” she whispered, the alarm clear in her voice, just like it rolled through my body.
I straightened and swallowed thickly. I started to erect a wall around my panic of running into a situation I knew nothing about. Not that it mattered. I would still head into the unknown for Cody’s sake. “I’m going,” I said, looking to Stanley.
His jaw clenched. “Not alone—”
“Stanley, I have to. I’m not risking Cody’s life. I don’t…. It doesn’t make sense, his hostility. Yes, we left him, but he beat