Colson (The Henchmen MC #20) - Jessica Gadziala Page 0,18

pairing that unknown crew with me, Reeve, and Lazarus to even everything out.

"Okay. I can do that."

"And keep an eye on the prospects. Fallon, Finn, and Malc will likely be looking for Reign, but I want to keep Brooks and Tyler here."

"Got it. Don't worry about them."

"I'm hoping this is all an overreaction, that Reign just fell off the map for a day. Though, even as I'm saying it, I know that isn't what happened. That isn't how my brother operates."

"No," I agreed, "it's not."

"Fuck," Cash said, raking a hand down the side of his head, looking like he could use a drink.

"I will come and update you every hour," I told him, reaching to grab a bottle of whiskey to hand to him. "I'm sure everyone else will be texting in as they move around."

"Alright. Fuck," he said, turning to walk away, then stopping. "We have to find him."

"We will," I told him, voice firm, because I knew he needed it.

He might have been the temporary president, but his brother was missing; he needed to hear someone tell him everything was going to work out.

And, quite frankly, I needed to hear those words spoken as well.

Reign had, for all of us, been a sort of big brother, if not an outright father figure. He was the stability so many of us were seeking.

Him being gone was like the world was thrown off its axis.

We had to find him to make things right again.

Grabbing a gun, I moved out into the yard, watching as men came and got their orders, got into groups, then headed off again, faces grim, eyes determined.

If anyone had a chance of finding Reign, it was the men whose lives would have been completely different without him, who never would have met their women, never would have had their children.

Left behind, my thoughts roamed.

My life would have been very different without Reign and the family he had created as well.

Freddie might have been back in jail.

Jelena wouldn't have the security I always wanted to give to her.

I would have been toiling away at a job where no one appreciated me.

He'd given a lot to me, even if I couldn't credit him for Jelly, or a woman.

The night dragged on with no answers, my phone beeping constantly with updates that had nothing good to report.

I was reaching for it yet again when I saw a name I hadn't expected on the screen.

Eva.

- Would I be a terrible parent if I chained my child to the bed so I don't have to worry when I go to work? lol

I shouldn't have answered.

I knew what was going on.

I might have been out of practice.

But I knew mutual attraction when I experienced it.

And absolutely everything about this—her proximity, the timing, the complication of both being single parents—spelled out this being a bad idea.

But my fingers moved to respond immediately.

-- Not if no one finds out.

- Shit. I already told you. I guess I have to do the unthinkable. Take him at his word. Oh well. Off to work!

-- Have a good shift, Eva.

- Have a good night :)

Oh, fuck.

That warming feeling in my chest? It had been years since I knew that sensation. And I don't remember it being quite so strong before.

But I knew it for what it was.

Dangerous.

FOUR

Reign

My fucking head was throbbing, the kind of steady pain that made it impossible to think past it even when you knew that was what you needed to do.

All around me was darkness.

No windows.

A basement would have had windows.

Even if they provided no means of escape.

At least they would have given things some context.

Were there trees around like I was in a family-style home, or was it all sidewalks and buildings like I was in a more city-type area?

What time of day was it?

What noises did I hear?

I had none of that. Not a slip of sunlight to suggest that I had been passed out through the night and we were facing a new day.

It wasn't quiet though.

I could hear the familiar whooshing noise of traffic, but from the sounds of it, not in any of the main areas of Navesink Bank where the speed limits were lower.

There was no one here with me.

Yet.

I wasn't stupid enough to think that would continue to be the case for long.

No one kidnapped you and strung you from the ceiling if they planned to leave you there to die of dehydration.

My shoulders decided to compete for the most painful, dulling the screaming in my