Page 9 of Riding Free

“Holy fucking shit.”

CHAPTER

SIX

HOUND

I blink. More than once at the sight of Keely carrying a baby just a few feet away from me. It’s been a year since I’ve seen her. I didn’t get her number, didn’t think I’d need it, but the minute our week was over, I discovered that all I wanted was to see her again.

To kiss her.

To feel her.

To be inside her.

But I didn’t know her last name, and she sure as fuck didn’t live in Boulder City. I know because I’ve been looking for her for an entire year. Now she’s standing in front of me… with a baby.

Her spine straightens, and I watch as she turns around. Her eyes widen at the sight of me. She doesn’t move. Her body is frozen. But her nostrils flare at the sight of me. It’s been a year, but the instant our gazes connect, my breath is fucking stolen straight out of my goddamn lungs.

I’m drawn to her. The pull is magnetic.

A woman’s voice calls her name, and the spell is broken. She breaks eye contact with me and turns her head. I take the opportunity of her distraction to walk out of the enclosed pool area and make my way toward her.

A woman is standing in front of her, talking to her animatedly when I finally arrive at her side. Unable to keep my hands off her body, I place my palm against the small of her back. I feel her muscles stiffen, then tremble beneath my touch.

“I’m so sorry. You’re right, I should have told you they would be there. I can’t believe how rude they were,” the woman quickly says to Keely.

“It’s fine,” Keely mutters, but even though I don’t know her that well, I know that it’s not fine.

I can tell by the way she holds her body—she’s not happy. I do know how a completely satisfied Keely holds herself, and it’s not like this. I open my mouth to ask this bitch what the fuck is going on and why the fuck she’s making Keely upset when the woman shifts her focus from Keely to me.

Her eyes widen, and her gaze slides down my throat before landing on my cut patch. My name. And the club’s name. Right fucking there. And the moment she realizes who she’s standing in front of, her face turns white as a sheet and her lips part.

“Keely, what is happening?” she asks.

Keely shakes her head. She doesn’t speak, though. So I decide to speak for her. “Nothin’, babe.”

“Keely, do I need to call the police?”

I almost burst out laughing because that shit is actually fucking laughable—considering the Boulder City cops are on the club’s payroll, even after Officer Lee betrayed us, which doesn’t mean he was the only one. He wasn’t and isn’t. We made sure to lock that shit in as soon as Lee was gone.

“You could try, but it wouldn't be much help,” I mutter.

“No,” Keely cries. “No need to call the police. And it’s okay,” she continues. “Everything is fine. I’ll see you at work tomorrow?”

Work?

Which means she’s living here now. Interesting. The woman crosses her arms over her chest and shakes her head slowly from side to side. “I’m not leaving you here alone with this man.”

Just then, the baby begins to cry. “I’m okay. I promise. I need to get Thea in the car and out of the sun,” Keely says, her words coming out in a rush.

“I’m not comfortable leaving you here like this,” the woman states.

I’m about to step between this bitch and Keely. I haven’t seen her for a year, and this fucking conversation is tedious at best.

I am ready to find out just what the fuck she’s doing here, and start demanding some answers—starting with the baby in the carrier who, if I do my math correctly… nope, I need solid answers.

“I’m fine, Clare. I promise. How about I text you when I get home?”