His Other Half (Patches Tarkio MC, #3) - Debra Kayn Page 0,28

His chest, underneath her cheek, rose and fell steadily, showing no sign of relaxing. It went against her belief to ask someone about their dreams without them volunteering the information. It was a sure way of inviting nightmares into her sleep. But she found herself struggling to keep her mouth shut. She wanted to know what was bothering him.

If she could lighten him of his burden. A burden she'd put on him. He could find some peace.

She lifted her head. Paco looked back at her as if he'd never stopped since getting into bed with her.

"I need to fix what I put you through." She rubbed her lips together. "I owe you."

He smoothed the hair off her forehead. "You don't owe me anything."

The question that kept popping up in her mind sprang out. "How did you know Askook took me?"

"Askook?"

She shook her head, remembering he wouldn't know Askook's tribal name. "Robert Shaw."

His body hardened. "Tarkio has suspected the National Indian Gaming Commission has had their fingers in the rash of missing girls over the years or at least ignored the problem, which meant those in charge of the Blackfoot Casino and Resort were responsible. It was the only explanation on how women could disappear from Missoula without a trace."

"Women on the Rez disappear all the time." She sat up on the bed and faced him. "Most people believe drugs and alcohol are involved, or they left the reservation on their own."

"Do your people search for them?"

She shook her head. "Not once they're off the land."

"They're going to keep doing it," he whispered. "But they're taking a bigger risk of getting caught if they keep stealing white women."

"What about those from the Rez?"

His brows lowered. "The FBI doesn't have any record of those born and living on the reservation. To them, they don't exist. It would be up to the tribal police to coordinate a search."

A shiver ran up her spine. "They don't. Not really. The most I've seen is when they interview the family."

She wasn't confident Askook would forget about her dad's payment. She would have to look over her shoulder until she grew old enough that Askook lost interest in her, and she became useless for his intentions.

She was lucky that Paco had rescued her, even if Askook wasn't the one who was killed during Cami's rescue.

"Lie down." He pulled her back against his chest.

She cuddled, wrapping her arm around his waist. A sigh escaped her. There were many whispers on the reservation when someone went missing. She had believed most of the stories held little truth, and the women had gone away to live on the outside.

To think others were kidnapped and sold for sex in Montana or Mexico sickened her.

She tried to relax. The more answers she received, the more truths floated to the surface.

Tilting her head, she looked at Paco. He stared at the ceiling.

He hadn't answered her question. How had he known she was missing?

Chapter 14

Paco

The club meeting adjourned. Paco left the room as soon as Priest's fist hit the table. He'd asked one thing and got denied.

Going straight to the make-shift bar, he grabbed a whiskey bottle and took it outside with him. At his Harley, he packed the bottle in his duffle.

"Hold on." Curley jogged toward him. "Stick around and drink with us."

"Not in the mood for company." He threw his leg over the seat and toed the kickstand.

Curley looked toward the street. "It was an undivided vote, brother. We can't have you on the run when you're circling."

"Do what you gotta do, man. I'm out of here." Paco started the motorcycle and popped it into first gear, leaving his V.P.

No one needed to explain why Priest left him off the crew going to Northern California to check on the production of the marijuana fields with the others. Understanding and wanting to go were two fucking different things. He needed to get out of Missoula for a little while.

He ran the yellow light and turned at the intersection, shifting as he hit the straightaway as if the devil licked his boots. The only way to escape was to lose himself in the bottle. It was the only way he'd get Josie out of his head.

Riding through his yard, he stopped in the driveway and backed his tire up to the garage door. He wasn't going anywhere for the next forty-eight hours, except to bed after he got wasted.

Chrischris had already informed the club that he'd be out for the weekend. Then, he'd overheard