A subtle moan shifted his attention back to Angie. Soft with sleep, a puff of breath escaped through her parted lips. The urge to slip his tongue inside seized him, but he resisted. Instead, he brushed a finger along her velvety cheek, then pushed up from the bed. He threw her one last look from the doorway before walking out of the room.
After texting Ink, Crow searched for a piece of paper and pen. The small desk in the kitchen had a stack of lavender-scented paper and a cup of various colored pens. He scribbled a quick note to her with a black pen and put it on the kitchen counter, using a coffee mug as a paperweight.
He ensured all the windows and the front door were secured, then pushed in the kitchen door lock, walked into the garage, and pressed the door opener.
When Angie had fallen asleep on the couch, he’d slipped out to move his bike into the garage. He’d rolled it down the driveway to the street, walked back inside to push the button, and then ran under the closing door.
The sky was a blaze of pinks and reds. The neighborhood was quiet except for the hum of cicadas and the occasional barking dog. The grass crunched under Crow’s boots as he walked toward the backyard. He stepped over to the window and checked out the footprints, dropping to his haunches to examine them.Sneakers.Surveying the area, he checked for any cigarette butts, gum wrappers, spent joints, or anything that looked out of the ordinary, but nothing stood out. After snapping a few pictures of the foot impressions, he stood up and inspected the bent screen. A frown tightened across his forehead as he made a mental note to send Tommy, the club’s handyman, to replace the screen. The fact that someone tried to break into Angie’s room, along with the realization that it could’ve been the psycho who killed Abe, turned his blood cold.Why the hell is this jerk after her? Does he know her from the apartments?
A low rumble in the distance diverted his attention away from the yard. Not wanting Angie and half the neighborhood to wake up, Crow hurried toward the street, waving his arms as Ink turned the corner.
“Hey,” Ink said as he switched off the ignition.
Crow lifted his chin in greeting, then pointed to Angie’s house.
“Make sure no one comes near the house on any side. In addition to the front windows, there are several facing the back and the side.”
“Okay.”
“A woman might come out to go to work, and that’s cool. I just want you to make sure no one goesintothe house. Got it?”
“Yeah.”
“If someone tries and messes with you, you got your Glock, right?”
“Yeah.” Ink pulled open his jacket, and the gun shimmered in the early morning light.
“I’ll be back in a few hours.”
Ink nodded and leaned against his bike with his feet crossed at the ankles.
Crow jumped on his motorcycle, put it in neutral, and coasted to the end of the street before switching gears and heading toward the clubhouse.
After taking a shower and throwing on a clean set of clothes, he slipped into the meeting room and grabbed a seat in the back. He timed it so he wouldn’t have to talk to his brothers before church started.
While the club discussed the logistics of co-hosting a motorcycle rally in early September, all Crow could think about was Angie. He figured she’d be a little miffed because he left without waking her, but he’d soften her anger once church was over.
He glanced up and tried to focus on what Steel was saying while Banger stood next to him, marking up some chart leaning against the wall. The way Angie tasted when they’d kissed and how her body had felt pressed against his played havoc with Crow’s mind. Ever since Lauren’s betrayal, he swore he’d never get involved with another woman, not wanting to put his heart in jeopardy again, and he hadn’t—until now. Angie stirred something in him that he hadn’t felt in years, and that protective barrier he’d maintained against any attachment was at risk.
The sound of chairs scraping against concrete echoed off the room’s walls.
“If we can pull this off, the rally’s gonna be awesome,” Brutus said as he stood up.
“Yeah,” Crow replied.
“I’m glad the Insurgents are down for it,” Aztec added as he walked out of the room. “Wheelie told me that Banger and Hawk have been chomping at the bit to throw their own rally. The Insurgents are fucking sick of the fake authorities canceling these events. This could be the start of something big. We could end up being the Sturgis of the West. Who knows?”
“Yeah, that’d be cool,” Crow said as he walked toward the bar.
“You don’t have a fuckin’ clue of what just went on during church, do you?” Eagle said, sidling up to him.
“I do.” Crow picked up the shot of tequila and threw it back.
“Bullshit. You were a million miles away. You also didn’t come home last night.”
He cast a sidelong glance at Eagle. “How’s that your fucking business?”
“Touchy.” Eagle laughed.