"Looks like you've got what you were looking for." Roddy slapped Wyatt on the shoulder. "I'll see you at work."
"Thanks, Roddy." Wyatt shook the other man's hand. "Thanks, Curley."
When they left, she flung her arm around his neck and stood on her toes to kiss him. "I won."
"I see that." He grabbed her hips and pressed her down, flat on her heels, away from him. "Let's go."
"Whoa..." She hustled to keep up with his stride. "What's wrong?"
His hand pressed on her back, urging her forward. Tension rolled off him. Her worry went to the kids. Had Travis taken off again? Was Jess okay?
The closer they got to the door, the louder the music from the band came over the speakers. She held on to his shirt to keep from falling.
Wyatt busted out of the door and kept going. The ringing in her ears continued outside, and the cool night air shocked her overheated body.
At her car, he swung her around. She panted for breath.
"What the fuck were you thinking?" His gaze bored into her. "I had every member from Tarkio out looking for you."
"What?" She reeled back, and he brought her forward, holding her upper arms. "Why?"
"Because I had no idea where you were." He let go of her. "Jesus Christ, Joey. You could've called and left a message with one of the kids if you had the idea to go out and play pool. Do you even know where you are or what kind of people come to this bar? Anything could've happened to you, and nobody would've known when you disappeared. I wouldn't have known."
He hooked her neck, bringing her forward, and kissed her hard. Shocked at the anger radiating off him, she almost missed the way his hands vibrated against her skin, and his breathing came roughly. She'd scared him.
She cupped his cheeks and pulled out of the kiss, holding him close. "I'm sorry."
"Damnit, Tiger," he muttered. "I thought..."
She swallowed hard. "You thought what?"
"Dean called the house when I got home wanting to swing by and see the kids," said Wyatt.
"Oh, no." She caressed his face, understanding why he'd be in a bad mood.
"We exchanged some words, and he threatened to take everything I cared about away from me." His voice shook. "The kids were with me at home, but you were gone. I looked for you at Riverside Bar and at the Tavern on Sixteenth Street. I made the rounds to the stores in case you went for groceries, and when I couldn't find you—"
"You thought Dean hurt me," she whispered, kissing his face, assuring him that she was right here in front of him. "I'm sorry. I should've called."
"You're mine, Joey. The thought of losing you had me seeing blood."
"I'm here now, and I'm okay." She pressed herself against him. "If I would've known what you were going through, I never would've gone out without you knowing."
A car honked, roaring into the parking lot. Wyatt straightened. "I need to get home. Paco is hanging around the apartment complex, making sure the kids stay in the apartment, and Dean doesn't try to see them. He probably wants to go home."
"Paco?"
"A member of Tarkio." He opened her car door. "You need to make sure you lock your vehicle when you're out."
"I thought I had." She slid behind the steering wheel and set her case in the passenger seat. Starting the engine, she looked at him. "Can we get together tomorrow after you get home from work?"
"Yeah." He squatted down beside her.
She ran her fingers through his wind-blown hair. The desire to hold him, reassure him, would have to wait. He needed to go home to his kids.
"I am so sorry, Wyatt," she whispered.
"Drive straight home." He kissed her and then closed the door.
She started the engine and backed out of the parking spot. Once on the road, she recognized the single headlight following her.
Wiped out from the wide range of emotions she'd experienced tonight, she forced herself to focus on the road and get back in the familiar area where she felt safer.
Chapter 18Wyatt
PACO SAT IN FRONT OF the apartment, his back against the door. Wyatt held out his hand and pulled the Tarkio member to his feet.
"Thanks for sticking around." Physically tired, he unlocked the door. "Anyone come around?"
"Nope. It's been quiet." Paco lit a cigarette. "I'll make a loop around the block, and if everything looks good, head on out of here."
"Appreciate it, man." Anxious to check on his kids, he walked inside.
Travis slept on his stomach, still dressed, the earphones for his Walkman half off his head. Wyatt closed the bedroom door and stepped across the hall to Jess's room.
The covers clear up to the top of Jess's head, he pulled the blanket down and stroked his daughter's cheek.
"Dad?" murmured Jess.
"Go back to sleep." He bent down and kissed her forehead. "Love you."
He walked out, closing the door, and went to the couch. Sitting down, he let his head fall back. No matter how many times he told himself that Joey was an adult and had lived an independent life before getting together with him, he wasn't able to sit at home and wait for her to show back up.
The conversation with Priest and Roddy at the Tarkio clubhouse yesterday sat heavy on his mind. It only added to the worry when he couldn't find Joey earlier.
Like he'd assumed, there was more to the story about Dean dealing tainted crack and possibly being responsible for Claudia's death. That same product had killed a Tarkio member in prison, and the motorcycle club wanted revenge.
Priest wanted help, expecting Wyatt to feel the same desire for justice over his ex being killed, and he couldn't find it in himself to give a shit. Claudia had made
