His Loyal Rebel - Debra Kayn Page 0,68

to him from the start, she never fought hard to keep her distance or rebelled against his bossiness. There was something about him that made her feel confident, safe and wanted.

But, could she handle his lifestyle?

Everyone here tonight tried to soften the truth of what was happening away from the club, but she knew whatever Whip was doing was dangerous. She'd seen the way the others bid him goodbye.

Those goodbyes seemed too final for her comfort.

She'd tried to ignore the quiet and depressing mood around the clubhouse. There were no other women around. No music. No hanky panky. No overindulgence. Not even Angie was allowed to stay with Ringtail during a lockdown.

All of Tarkio rallied around each other, drawing their circle tighter.

The way everyone comforted her, she was glad to be here. Alone, she'd be a bubbling mess.

"Riders coming in," yelled one of the men in the other room.

She jolted, heading down the hallway to see who was arriving, and stopped before she joined the others.

What if Whip wasn't with them?

What if they'd come to tell her he'd died?

She backed up, reaching for the wall. Once her hand connected, she turned and fled down the hallway. She sought shelter in Whip's old bedroom.

She couldn't stand out there with everyone else, hoping for a future Whip wanted to give her, and see it all go away.

Grabbing the pillow off the bed, she hugged it to her middle. She'd rather love him for eternity, waiting for Whip to return, than be faced with the knowledge that he wasn't ever coming back.

Voices grew louder in the clubhouse. She held herself and rocked. Alone once again

Nobody came to find her. Nobody called her name.

Chapter 33

Whip

Shrubbery lined the front of the two-story house that Big called home. Whip sprinted to the corner at the back of the house, staying out of view of the kitchen window. He'd already checked to see if Big was home and only found one motorcycle out front in the driveway.

He planned for two other Cusclan members to be in the house with Big. He'd rather be wrong than be taken by surprise when he broke inside and became outnumbered.

Keeping his back against the siding, he inched along the length of the house. There was a sliding glass door off the dining room. He needed to find the easiest way to enter without being discovered first.

With the entrance ahead of him, he peered at the bottom of the glass, trying to see if there was a broom handle or stick in the track. Not seeing one, he put his hand on the handle without stepping in view.

Pushing his luck, he put pressure on the door. The slider gave a little.

He pressed his back against the house and evened his breathing. His dad and mom had, at one time, believed their house would protect them. Until Cusclan broke in and killed them.

He slid the door open and stepped inside in one motion. Raising his pistol with the suppressor screwed onto the end of the barrel, he scanned the room and quickly moved deeper into the house. Aware he'd need to watch his back, he stayed alert. There were two levels. Big could be anywhere.

Clanking came from the other side of the house. He looked both ways in the entryway and followed the noise down a short hallway. Clearing a laundry room, there was only one door at the end.

The garage.

He put his hand around the knob, knowing it would be unlocked. He'd already searched the perimeter of the house. The garage door was down. Big's motorcycle was in the driveway.

Big had to be the one making noise in the garage.

His hand tightened on the pistol grip. He rolled his shoulders, staying loose.

Swinging the door open, he stepped into the garage. Pointing the pistol in a wide sweep as he searched for Big. He found him with his head lowered near the engine of a Firebird.

Whip stepped forward, getting no response. The boombox on the workbench played nearby, covering any of his noise.

Stepping toward the vehicle, Whip reached out and put the end of the pistol at the back of Big's head.

"Drop the wrench, or I'll blow your fucking head off." Whip's index finger pressed on the trigger, and he moved as Big straightened. "The wrench."

Clunk. The tool landed underneath the car.

"Are you going to shoot me with my back turned?" Big kept his hands in front of him.

Whip stepped back, keeping distance between Big and the gun. "Move slowly."

Big pivoted and gazed