The plan is set in place. It’s taken a few weeks, but it’s finally ready to go. Our boy is going to drive the car in the compound to get the deal, then he’s going to walk off as though he’s double-checking on the phone and we’re going to blow the entire place. We’ve made sure to follow Hogan’s every move, so we know he’ll be on the inside.

I turn, taking my pack from the ground, and then I walk into the bedroom. Ciara is sitting by the window, smiling out at something. God knows what, the girl is always sunshine, even if she can’t see it.

She turns when she hears me, and she beams. Fuck, I love her. I love her with every beat of my broken fuckin’ heart. I walk over, cupping her face in my hands. I bring my lips down to hers and I kiss her, hard. She tastes like some fuckin’ sweet strawberry lip stuff. It’s nice, whatever it is. She opens her lips and takes my tongue, and fuck, my cock aches. She gets it going every time.

“I don’t want you to go,” she rasps when I pull back.

“I know baby, but I gotta. I’ll only be a day or two.”

She smiles. “I guess it’s me and my hand then.”

I growl at her, and she giggles.

“Don’t you touch that sweet pussy until I’m home, you hear me?”

She grins up at me. “Yes boss.”

“Behave. I’ll call you when I get there yeah?”

“Yeah,” she whispers.

I kiss her again, and when I pull back, my heart is pounding. Fuck, I hate this. I fuckin’ hate it. If it goes wrong...no, I can’t fuckin’ think like that. I will come home to her, and everything will be fine.

I open my mouth and my voice comes out far scratchier than I would usually like. “I love you, Tom Cat. Yeah?”

She beams at me. “Yeah, right back at you, hot stuff.”

I grin, and plant another kiss on her lips.

“Later, Tom Cat.”

She gives me a weak wave, and I turn and walk out. Fuck, I hope this goes to plan, because if it doesn’t, we’re fucked. Royally.

~*~*~*~

PRESENT – CIARA

“Hey Addi, you want to come over for pizza tonight?” I say, skipping into the bar a few hours after Spike left.

That’s when I see Addi. She’s sitting behind the bar, her face a mass of emotions, and she’s twiddling her fingers together so quickly she looks like a mad woman. I rush over, concerned, and stop in front of her. “Hey, are you okay?”

She looks up at me, her eyes glassy. “What? Yeah, sorry.”

“Addi, what’s wrong?”

She bursts out crying, and I know right away that something bad is going down. Addi doesn’t just cry for no reason. She’s not the crying type. I rush around the bar and kneel in front of her, feeling my heart beginning to thump. I take her hands, and I try to soothe her as much as possible. Maybe her and Cade had a fight right before he left, or perhaps Jackson.

“Tell me what’s wrong?” I say gently.

“I’m not supposed to.”

She’s sobbing heavily now, and my heart begins to thump so fast I can hardly hear myself think. I know what’s coming, somewhere deep down, I know what’s coming but I ask anyway. “Is it Spike?”

She nods, and looks up, finally cracking. “The ride they went on. It isn’t an annual run, it’s to kill Hogan.”

I stumble backwards, her words hitting me like a blow to the head. I land on my ass, and my world spins. Spike has gone to kill Hogan. Oh god, Spike has gone to kill Hogan. I tremble violently, and my stomach lurches. No, this can’t be happening, Spike can’t do this. Not now. Not ever. My fear turns into frenzy, and I leap to my feet.

“Where are they? I can stop him.”

“It’s too late,” Addi croaks. “They’re gone.”

“There has to be a way!” I scream at her. “Addison, they will get killed.”

She starts to cry again, and I curse loudly. Keep calm, Ciara. Keep calm. I kneel in front of her again, trying to steady my panting. “Addi, honey, please...tell me there is a way for us to find them?”

She lifts her eyes, and peers out the front door. “Two of the boys were following late, and they’re still here. They’re about to ride.”

I get to my feet quickly and I turn, skidding around the bar. Addison calls my name, and I spin around, trembling “Addi, don’t try and stop me. Nothing you can say right now will stop me from following them. I need to stop those guys, I don’t care what I have to do.”

She nods, understanding, then she reaches under the bar and pulls out a gun. She stretches her hand out, and I walk over, taking it from her. We stare at each other a long moment, then she pulls me into her arms.

“I know I can’t stop you, Ciara, but please...think before you act.”

“I promise,” I whisper, pulling back and tucking the gun into my pants. “Thank you.”

I turn and rush out the front door, and over to my car. I peer around the compound, until I see the two guys just starting up their bikes. God, I was just in time. A minute or two later, and I’d be done for.

I slide into my car and I turn it on. I don’t have a second to think about what I’m doing—I just do.

When the bikes pull out of the compound I follow them. I really hope I don’t lose them, or worse, that they realize they are being followed. I have to get to Spike before he gets to Hogan, there’s just no other option. I can’t let anything happen to him.