“Yeah, Rav, I hear you.”

I kick over a trash can, sending rubbish spewing into the air, and drag the doors open, my heart galloping in my chest as acid burns through my veins.

“Meeting a-fucking-journed.” I throw the words over my shoulder as I storm off in the direction of the common room.

My frustration is rolling through me like hot magma. I can barely control my fury. The longer my brother is out there, the longer this shit drags out for. I want it done. I don’t want his murder hanging over my head for weeks. I don’t want him out there, risking my child and woman’s safety. We’re a powerful club. Finding one man shouldn’t be this hard a fucking task.

As I shove into the common room, I find Sasha sitting in a booth talking with Briella, Levi’s little sister. Levi only patched in after Sash was gone, so Sash and Briella can’t know each other, but they’re deep in conversation, as if they’ve been best friends for fucking life.

Sash’s eyes raise to me as I stand in the doorway, huffing like a bull. She murmurs something to Brie then slips out of the booth, coming to me. There’s no fear in her, despite the fact I’m radiating homicidal levels of rage right now. Her hand comes to my arm and I feel the anger start to leech out of me at her touch. She always did have the power to ground me again.

“What’s happened?”

I tear a hand through my hair, which is loose rather than in its usual tie.

“You getting to know Brie?” I avoid the question. I don’t want to tell her I’m failing on my promise to keep her safe.

“Ty…” There’s warning in her voice as she says my name.

I scrub a hand over my face, knowing I need to give her the truth here, as much as I don’t want to. My nerves feel more settled in her presence, as always.

“There’s nothing to worry about.”

She glares at me, her arms folding over her chest. Her expression tells me she doesn’t believe a word coming out of my mouth.

“Don’t keep things from me. I can’t deal with any more half-truths or lies.”

I don’t want to dirty her with my words, but there’s nothing else I can do. I want her trust. I need it if we’re going to move forward.

I blow out a breath and say, “We still can’t find Sin, but we’re looking every second of every day.” I take her hands in mine as I watch her spine stiffen and see the ripple of fear roll through her. “He won’t touch you or Lily-May, baby. I promise.” My words are hard, emphatic.

It’s a promise I fully intend to keep.

I’ll destroy my brother before I let him touch a single hair on her or Lily’s heads.

I lean down and kiss her. She allows it, and I feel her soften in my arms. I love when she does that. I love the trust she places in me to keep her heart safe and protected. Sasha talks sass and puts this hardened front in place, but beneath it she’s got a marshmallow centre. She’s easily hurt by the people she cares about. Always was.

When I pull my mouth from hers, I move back enough to trace her face with my eyes.

“While you’re here, why don’t you take a shower, maybe grab some food?” I tuck a piece of hair behind her ear.

“I want to get back to the hospital.”

“I know, but you need to take care of yourself too. You’re running on fumes.”

I think she’s going to argue with me, but after a moment she nods her head.

“Okay.”

I kiss her head before taking her hand and leading her through the clubhouse and up the stairs at the back of the building. I have a suite of rooms on the first floor. When Sash and I were together, I bought a house, but after she left, I didn’t see the point of keeping it, so I sold it on. I live in the rooms here.

I use the key to open the door and step inside, holding it open for her to follow me. Her eyes are everywhere as she takes in my large king-size bed, the small living area with large screen television and the door off to the en suite bathroom. It’s large, roomy—home.

“You decorated,” she says, glancing around the space.

I did. When I moved in full time, I had the lads paint it a dark metallic grey on one wall, the rest is cream. I move to pick up some clothes from the floor, tossing them into the hamper at the side of the bed. Not that I’ve ever done laundry in my life. The club bunnies collect it once a week and return it the next day.

Her eyes move to the hole in the wall I made when I first learnt about Sin’s betrayal and her brow arches.

I shrug, then say, “Shower's through there. There should be clean towels on the rack.”

She doesn’t move, her eyes still roaming around the space.

“What?” I ask her.

“I’m just remembering the last time I was in this room.” Her voice sounds a little breathy, and I dredge back through my memory banks. “Do you remember?” she asks, her gaze finding mine.

“We snuck upstairs for a quick fuck before I had to leave on a run.” A run that my brother didn’t come on. I left him behind to protect my girl. Some protection he was. “Was it… here… it happened?”

I swallow the bile climbing up my throat, heat licking up my skin. Have I slept for three years in the same room she was brutalised in?

The thought makes me sick.

Her demeanour changes instantly. Her arms wrap around her waist and she takes a step from me. I don’t like that she’s putting distance between us, so I move with her, closing that gap, and take her hand in mine. She doesn’t pull away, which I see as a good sign.

“No. It was at the house.” Sasha ducks her head, and I hate seeing my strong girl deflating before my eyes. “After you left for the run, Sin took me back there.” Her throat works as she speaks and I feel the rage returning, burning through me like fire. I don’t want to know the details. Imagining is bad enough. Having the cold hard facts will destroy me.

“I sold it.”

Her brow cocks and I see the disbelief in her eyes. “You did?”

“About six months after you left. It didn’t feel like home anymore.”

I watch Sasha’s eyes close as she takes this in. “I’m sorry I left how I did.”

My hands come to her face, cupping her cheeks. “You’ve got fuck all to be sorry about. If I’d known—”

I break off, my temper flaring. I grit my teeth to stop from losing my shit.

“It’s in the past, Tyler.” Sasha surprises the fuck out of me by rolling to her toes and pressing her mouth to mine.

My fingers move to tangle in her hair, keeping her mouth locked in place. I tug her head back, deepening the angle and devouring her as I do, tasting every inch of her. As I lick along the seam of her mouth, she opens to me, granting me the access I desperately crave. I don’t waste any time. I suck her tongue into my mouth and caress along its length as I do. Her movements are a little hesitant at first, but it’s like muscle memory kicks in and her arms drape around my neck, pulling me closer.

I want to be inside her now, but I’m aware of the damage my brother might have done to her by taking what wasn’t freely given. For that reason, I need to go slow with her, be gentle.

My eyes search hers and I see no reluctance there, so I hoist her into my arms. Sasha’s ankles lock around my hips, not breaking contact with her lips.