His Other Half (Patches Tarkio MC, #3) - Debra Kayn Page 0,54

the casino to get to Shaw.

He'd need to put a Tarkio member on Josie and Cami while he dealt with the immediate threat to the club. He started his Harley and followed the others. Josie wasn't going to like the news.

Club business stayed within the members. He couldn't tell her where he'd be and why she had to come second. He probably wouldn't know where Priest would send him until he headed out.

His hands tightened on the handlebar. His lifestyle wasn't fair to her.

She deserved to have him by her side. She had faith that he'd keep it together. Hell, he'd promised her to give up the mind-altering crutches because he knew if he kept going the way he'd dealt with everything before and let himself go, he'd lose her.

Josie coming into his life, gave him the fight he'd needed to walk a narrower path. He revved the engine, accelerating onto the interstate. Sure, he had the club, and until he fell in love with Josie, he would've sworn on his life that Tarkio was all he needed.

But that wasn't true.

Josie gave him life. A last breath that kept him alive.

The simple fact that he was thinking about her after receiving news that would normally strike fire in him to go and take out all of Tarkio's enemies to save all they'd accumulated over the years told him he was in a good place.

He was in the right frame of mind because of Josie.

Life was about priorities.

He would talk to Priest when they got back to the clubhouse. Then, whatever happened, he would make sure he got back to Josie. The most important thing was to keep her safe. Then, the first chance he got, he'd go after Shaw.

Tarkio would always be there for him. He wanted Josie to have that same security. The club needed to remain strong and financially stable to support the families.

And if something happened to him, he'd know Josie was taken care of.

Back at the clubhouse, he walked inside with the others. The officers who represented all the Tarkio members waited for them in the meeting room at the table. He took his chair. While Priest filled in the others, he leaned over to Curley.

"I'm riding out after we're done," he murmured.

"Wait."

"I only need five minutes." He lowered his voice more. "Brother, I have to see her with my own eyes."

Curley caught his gaze. "Take five and then get your ass back here."

He dipped his chin and went back to listening in on the meeting. Tapping his thumb against the arm of the chair, he bided his time.

As much as he watched for any activities surrounding Shaw to filter off the reservation, he would be careless if he ignored that the fucker probably watched his every step and knew someone else was watching over Josie.

He trusted Whip to watch her while he was gone. But he had to see Josie for himself.

Chapter 26

Josie

The car refused to start. Josie turned the key in the ignition again. Nothing.

"What do you think is wrong?" Cami locked the passenger door.

She pressed against the seat and let her hands fall to her lap. "I put gas in it on Friday, so it's not that. Maybe the battery is dead."

"Try starting the engine again."

To make sure she'd given it her best try, she stomped on the accelerator while she turned the key.

"It doesn't even make that rurr-rurr sound." Cami scrunched her nose. "What should we do?"

She looked in the rearview mirror. Kent, a Tarkio member, sat on his motorcycle behind her. Paco had given him instructions to escort her and Cami to the clubhouse.

Hating to cause trouble when she understood the club was busy handling business, drawing Paco away the last couple of weeks, she sighed. "I'll go tell Kent what's going on."

"We can take my car instead," said Cami.

"Okay." Feeling better about the plans.

Paco waited for her at the clubhouse. It was her only chance to see him tonight because he was scheduled to go on a ride at eleven o'clock.

She stepped out of the car and locked her door behind her. Kent got off his motorcycle and approached her.

Kent's piercing blue gaze looked between her and Cami. "What's wrong?"

"My car won't start. We're going to go in her car." She stepped away. "We'll hurry."

"Don't speed."

She nodded and hurried over to the passenger side of the car in front of her. All the bikers were gruff and bossy. She wasn't going to argue with him. If he wanted them to