Hearing him say that broke her heart.
She sniffed, rubbing her palms over her cheeks and climbed off his lap. Standing on the sidewalk, she focused on Jess and Travis getting out of the car, saying thank you, and bounding toward them.
Banks' wife rolled down her window and waved to them. She lifted her hand as if she belonged by Wyatt's side.
Jess came to her and whispered, "I had such a fun time. You won't believe what happened. Tyler asked me out on a date. You have to convince Dad to let me go. Please. Please, Joey."
Her broken heart crumbled. She wanted to be Jess's friend, her confidant, her supporter. But she had no idea what tomorrow would bring. Jess could be full of excitement over the idea of moving into a new house, getting a new room, going to a new school or living closer to Tyler.
"Please, Joey." Jess held on to her, practically bouncing in front of her.
"I'll try." She hugged Wyatt's daughter. "I'm glad you had a good time."
Jess pulled away. "Did you win?"
"Yeah, honey, I won." The logistics of playing a different tournament and only winning half the pot no longer mattered. She won because she got to know the lovely girl in front of her, and she would never feel differently.
"Alright, you two. Into the apartment and go to bed. It's late." Wyatt looped his arm around Joey.
Together, they watched the kids go inside. Her chest, tight and aching, barely hid the emotions bubbling to the surface.
She hugged Wyatt to her side. "I need to go to bed, too."
He turned her and kissed her deeply, taking a little longer, going a little slower. Her eyes burned, and she closed her eyes, trying not to cry.
Wyatt pulled back and smoothed her hair off her face. "We good?"
She mustered a smile and nodded. "Night, Wyatt," she whispered.
"Night, tiger," he whispered back.
She walked away, her chest trembling. Aware of him standing where she'd left him, knowing that something significant happened tonight between them, she failed to understand the deeper meaning. She unlocked her door and shut herself away from everyone.
Chapter 26Wyatt
THE SHARP SHRILL OF the Skilsaw cut out the music playing in the empty house. Wyatt measured the window frame again, marking the measurement on the two by six. He needed to be within a half of an inch for the new window to fit.
"Boss!"
He turned, found Roddy with his arm up, motioning for him, and slipped the tape measure in the pouch on his toolbelt. On the other side of the room, he cupped his ear. "Yeah?"
"Phone call." Roddy put the satellite phone in his hand.
His adrenaline spiked. He stepped out the front door and put the phone to his ear. "Hello?"
"Daddy?"
His body hardened at the sound of his daughter crying. "What's wrong?"
"Travis ran off. We can't find him." Jess sniffled. "I was watching him, and he was in the rec center with me. Then, he was gone."
"Calm down, baby." He paced. "Where's Joey?"
"She's searching for him."
"Where are you?"
"In Joey's apartment. Mrs. Danski and Mr. Baste are here, too."
He inhaled deeply, thankful for Joey looking out for his daughter. "I'm going to take off. I'll be there in fifteen minutes."
"Hurry, Dad."
"We'll find him." He pushed the button, disconnecting the call, looked up, and found Roddy standing by.
"Travis ran off." Giving the phone back, he never hesitated to ask for help. "Are there any Tarkio members around to search for him?"
"Of course." Roddy punched numbers into the phone. "I'll have Darren finish putting in the window, and Matt and Rocky can gather the tools. Where am I sending Tarkio?"
"To the apartment. That's where Travis was last seen," he said, walking backward toward his Harley.
"Go." Roddy lifted his arm.
He swung around and jogged the rest of the way. Travis had stopped running away. He was doing good. His mood had improved over the summer, and he was acting like a normal teenaged boy.
Speeding through the residential area, he hit the main street heading into town and opened the throttle. He'd asked Joey to stay in the apartment and protect the kids if anything happened. Knowing she was outside alone, frantically looking for his son, only made the situation worse. Now he had two people to worry about.
By the time he arrived at the apartments, ten Tarkio members waited in the parking lot for him. He jumped off his Harley and jogged toward them.
"Did someone find my son?" he asked.
"There's a dozen Tarkio members out looking for him." Priest walked with him toward Joey's apartment. "I have four guys on foot around the apartment."
"Is Joey with them?" Sweat rolled down his back.
"She's taking Paco and Curley around to every hiding spot they can find within the complex. My men know not to let her out of their sight as she helps." Priest grabbed Wyatt's arm, stopping him from going into the apartment to check on Jess. "Miller was sighted last night and we lost his trail on Interstate 90 near the Haugan exit. I've notified Ronacks Motorcycle Club and Moroad Motorcycle Club near the Montana/Idaho border to keep their eyes open and let us know if he's sighted."
The only concern he had was finding his son. He reached for the door handle.
Priest stopped him again. He lashed out, his hand going for Priest's throat when hands grabbed him, pulling him away from the president of Tarkio Motorcycle Club.
"Nobody is going to stop me from checking on my daughter and finding my son." His muscles strained against the hold the other members had on him. "Dean Miller can fuck off until then."
He fisted his hands, ready to get through anyone who stopped him from getting to Jess, finding Travis, bringing Joey home.
"Keep your head, my friend. Emotions are high. Don't make a mistake you can't take back." Razor stood between him and the Tarkio president.
"Let him go. The man has a right to worry." Priest turned the
