“Hunter.” He gives me a chin lift.

“Ace.”

“This is my VP, Frog.”

I shake their hands and motion for them to follow me. Inside, I find Raven cuddled up on the couch with Venom. He’s telling her one of his snake stories, and I smile at her disgusted expression. Normally, I’d be livid at seeing another man touch her, but lately I’ve noticed she’s had this need to be close to someone. Whenever I’m not around, she finds one of the guys. Today, though, she also has a beer bottle in her hand. I call Ron over and tell him to show Ace and Frog to my office. I take the bottle from her fingers and pull her to a corner of the room.

“I know that guy. He’s the president from the bike show.”

“Yeah. It’s him,” I confirm.

“Is this about me?” she asks with wide eyes.

“I’ll tell you about it later. Right now, I’m more concerned about that bottle you were holding.”

She rolls her eyes in annoyance. “The big, bad biker has a problem with underage drinking?”

“I have a problem with my woman self-medicating.”

“I’m not –”

“Raven, I don’t want you drinking or smoking, especially if I’m not around.”

“Why?” she persists.

“Because if you’re drunk or high, you’re not in full control.” That got her attention. She drops her gaze to the floor. “No drinking, no smoking. Got it?”

“Yeah. I got it.”

“Good. I’m gonna go talk to these guys and I’ll be back.”

She walks back to the couch and I head to my office. I find Ace and his VP seated, drinking beers.

“Comfortable?” I ask, the sarcasm evident. Ace tosses a thumb drive on my desk as I take a seat. “What’s that?”

“Proof it wasn’t my guys,” Ace answers.

Before I even touch it, I call Tek in. Once he’s all set up, a video begins to play. I watch as a black town car pulls up in front of a courthouse. A crowd of reporters converge on the vehicle, and Ace’s men step out.

“Like I said, I sent my guys to Cali the day after the show. I’m looking to set up a Snakes charter there, so they’ve been scouting properties and prospects.”

Two men in power suits step out of the car, and Ace’s guys start clearing a path for them. Security.

“This was the day before your VP called me, so it’s the day of the attack. That’s Andreas Matteo, mafia boss based in LA. He wanted some extra security for his court appearance. Since Ram and Leather were already there, I put ‘em on the job.”

I look to Tek. He taps away on his keyboard for a few minutes then he nods, confirming the timing and authenticity of the video.

“So, it wasn’t those two. Doesn’t mean it wasn’t you or one of your guys.”

“Look, Gage.” Ace leans forward in his seat. “I’m in a good place right now. My club is doing great, I just got my woman back. I’m not looking to start trouble with anyone. If I did, I wouldn’t prey on an innocent, helpless woman. Not my style.”

“Besides, nothing happens in our club that we don’t know about,” Frog adds.

I may be wrong but looking into their eyes, I believe them. At least about them not knowing anything. Leaning back in my chair, I take a deep breath. This can’t be happening. It can’t be another dead end. I can’t fail. Not again.

“You need our help, you got it,” Ace offers. “The Snakes will do everything we can.”

I don’t know how they can help but at this point, I’ll take anything I can get. Maybe fresh eyes can give me a new perspective. I jerk my head toward Frog. “He the only one you brought with you?”

“I got a few more guys hanging around.”

“Call ‘em in. I’ll have the girls get some food together.”

He nods and pulls out his phone as we head back to the bar. The place smells like cinnamon and sugar. I remember that smell. I remember the taste, too, as Raven fed me her so-called monkey bread. I find her and Chrissy in the kitchen hard at work.

“Are you making monkey bread?” I ask.

“No. Temperature’s supposed to drop tonight, so I’m making buñuelos and Mexican hot chocolate.”

“Oh.” I hope I don’t sound too disappointed. “There are a few other guys coming, so you might wanna make extra.”

I leave them to it and go looking for Ace. We get to talking about Briggs and the list we found on his computer. His other guys arrive and join in on the conversation. When the girls start putting out food, buffet style, I realize we’ve been talking for over two hours. I don’t know how they did it but they made fajitas, too, enough to feed everybody. Food and drinks start flowing, Hounds find guys to hang on, and Allah gets into his zone with the music. By the time E walks in, things are pretty wild.

“I take it things worked out with the Snakes?”

“Now I know why they call you ‘Einstein’.”

“You’re such a sarcastic asshole.”

Super Head brings him a plate, and he sits next to me while we eat. I fill him in on my little meeting with Ace, all while watching Raven. She’s quite the hostess, even telling Chopper to relax because it’s her turn to take care of him.

“How was her appointment?” E asks.

“Okay, I guess. She has another one in a few days.”

“How are you doing?”

I look up from my plate. It makes no sense to lie to E. He knows me better than I know myself sometimes.

“I don’t know what to do, E. Everywhere I turn, I slam into a brick wall. How is that possible? Why can’t we find him?”

“Even I don’t have that answer. Maybe you should focus on Raven for a while. Get her better.”

“Maybe.”

We finish eating in silence until Raven comes over. I put my plate down and pull her to me. She chews on her bottom lip, head down but peeking up at me.

“That’s it. You’re making my dinner from now on. As a matter of fact, all my meals.”

She gives me a bashful smile and raises her face to mine. “Chrissy helped.”

“You cooked?” E asks with raised brows. “For once, I agree with Gage. It was delicious, beautiful.”

“Thanks, Dr. E.”

She starts fiddling with the pendant on my chain then goes still, reaching for her neck.

“My necklace…have you seen it?”

“No, but it’s probably with your things. I had the guys bring everything from Lonnie’s house.”

“No, no, no…”

She dashes to the bedroom so I follow behind and find her digging through her suitcases. She moves to the chest of drawers, frantically searching. I see panic in her expression as she tries the closet next.

“It’s not here…” she cries in desperation. “It’s not here!”

“It’s okay, doll. I’ll send someone to search the house and see if maybe Renley and his boys have it.”

“No…” She sits on her heels, wringing her hands. “It’s gone.”

I kneel in front of her, taking her hands in mine. “I’ll get you a new one then.”

“I don’t want a new one!” She twists her hands out of mine and jumps to her feet, pacing the room. I sit on the edge of the bed, not knowing what to do. I watch her until she turns to me with tears in her eyes. “He took it, didn’t he?”

“You don’t know that. We’ll find it or I’ll buy you another one.”

“What happened with the Snakes?” she asks as if she didn’t hear me.

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?”

“I thought they had some information,” I answer. “They don’t.”

As I stare into her eyes, I see the change. I see the regression. All the progress she’s made the last couple of days disintegrates. I watch her close in on herself once more, her eyes going dead. My helplessness is amplified. Not only can I not find the man who hurt her, but there’s nothing I can do to help her heal. What’s the point? What’s my purpose in her life? She’s wrong. I’m nothing to be thankful for. I’m just…nothing.

She turns and walks out of the room, leaving me without another word. I drop my head into my hands, the urge to throw in the towel threatening to overtake me. Maybe I should let someone else take the lead. Maybe I’m too close to the situation. But how can I look her in the eyes and tell her that not only can I not find the culprit but I’m also having someone else take over? I can’t. I’m a man who keeps his promises and I intend to keep the one I made to her.