She smiles and tugs on my cut.

“That shit just gets in the way. As a matter of fact, I don’t even want you wearing panties after today.”

“Now who’s the sex fiend?”

“You ain’t seen nothin’, babe.”

“Seriously, though…I don’t need anything else.”

“Nothing I give you will ever measure up to what you’re giving me. I’m the one getting the real gift. The greatest gift on Earth.”

“Oh, Gage…”

I kiss her luscious lips and groan at the loss when she pulls away.

“See you later, babe.”

I call Ellen and make sure she knows the plan then head out to get her real gift. Gunner grins when I walk into his shop. The MC’s been doing business with him for years. Anything you want, Gunner can source it for you. He also handles any custom jobs we need done.

“Look at this handsome motherfucker,” he says to the woman at the counter.

She turns toward me and studies every inch of me. When she finally meets my eyes, she gives me that come-fuck-me look I know all too well. There’s only one pussy on my mind right now, and I get to be all up in it tonight. I wink at her and extend my hand to Gunner.

“You got what I asked for?”

“Of course.” He grins at me, shaking my hand.

He pulls a box from under the counter and lays it on the top. I open it, and its contents makes happiness surge through my body.

“Well?”

“It’s exactly what I wanted. Thanks, Gunner.”

“No problem, my friend. Anytime.”

I leave the shop whistling. I’ve been looking forward to this day for so long. I can’t believe it’s finally here. It’s not even noon yet. Why does the time seem to go so slowly when you need it to go fast? I stop by the Kitty and check in with Aunt Nita then head to Scythe to see how Ellen and the preparations are getting along. It looks nothing like my club. She put in additional lighting, so it’s not so dark. She really took this princess theme and ran with it. It looks like Prince Charming’s castle in here. Or at least what I think it looks like. The main dance floor has been turned into a ballroom, all the decorations in blue and white.

“What do you think?” She says as she bounds up to me.

“What did you do to my club?”

“Nothing that can’t be undone. Well?”

“It looks good. I think she’ll like it.”

I spot Chrissy, Toni, Ron, and Allah hanging balloons on one side, and a few of the other guys running around. I hang around for a while, watching things fall into place. I wonder if Ellen would consider going into event planning. She’s pretty good at this. We leave at the same time and decide to meet up at my place. I get a haircut and shave and head home to get ready. I call Raven, but she doesn’t answer. She’s probably just doing the same. I try a few more times, but still nothing. I leave a voicemail and send her a text. When Ellen shows up, she says Raven was getting in the shower when she left. She should have gotten out a long time ago. I have a bad feeling. She never takes this long to get back to me.

“Stop worrying. She’s fine.”

She’s already dressed and is fussing with my stupid tie. My phone is at my ear and I’m impatiently waiting for Raven to answer.

“Then why isn’t she answering?”

I call Ron and talk to Chrissy. Neither she nor Toni has spoken to Raven in hours. She says they’re leaving the club and heading to Raven’s house, so she’ll have her call me. I hang up and shove Ellen’s hands away. I pull on the knot, giving myself room to breathe. I call again. Nothing.

“Raven, pick up the fucking phone. Call me back.”

“Gage, calm down.”

“Don’t tell me to fucking calm down! This isn’t like her.”

“I just left her a few hours ago. You don’t know how women are. We take forever to get ready.”

“Not Raven.” I sit on the bed, tapping my foot until I can’t take it anymore. “Fuck this shit. I’m going over there.” My phone rings and I think finally. But it’s not her. “Ron?”

“Prez…”

I don’t like the sound of his voice. My heart thumps in my chest and a million bad thoughts run through my mind. “What is it?” I demand.

“I…”

“Fuck! Spit it out.”

“Just…you need to get to St. Johns Hospital. Now.”

CHAPTER 17

***Gage***

Fear.

It’s a hell of a thing. I’ve seen it in people’s eyes when they see me in full biker gear; in the eyes of countless men as they stared down the barrel of my gun. I’ve never experienced it, though, not until today, but I’m getting a fucking quick lesson. Heart-rending, soul-crushing, mind-altering fear. I’m scared shitless that I could lose my baby doll.

I rush to the hospital’s entrance, not really knowing how I made it here. The only sound I hear is the deafening pounding of my heart. I can’t even tell if it’s beating too fast or too slow. My hands shake as I push the door and step inside. I fucking hate hospitals. The smell, the people scurrying about, the anxiety and fear of people waiting around. The injured. And Raven is one of them. Please, God, please let her be okay.

Ron jumps out of his seat when he sees me. Toni and Chrissy are next to him, crying and hugging each other. Chris is on the opposite side.

“What the fuck happened?” I growl.

“I don’t know, Prez. They were putting her in the ambulance when we got there. Neighbor heard her screaming and called the cops.”

“Screaming?”

The room spins. My world tilts on its axis. She was screaming. Someone was hurting her and I wasn’t there. I feel like I’m having a panic attack. I can’t breathe. I lean against the wall and run my hands through my hair. “The doctors…have you heard anything?”

“No. But I called Einstein. He should be here any minute.”

I need to know something now. I march over to the nurse’s station, and the woman there gives me a weak smile.

“Raven Alvarez…can you tell me anything about what’s going on?”

“Are you family?”

“Does it matter?”

“I can’t give out any information unless you’re related to the patient.”

“Look…please. I just need to know if she’s okay.”

She gives me a sympathetic stare and directs me back to the waiting area.

“I’ll see what I can find out.”

“Thank you.” I take the seat next to Ron and drop my head into my hands. “Find Lonnie,” I instruct him.

She’s the only one they’ll talk to. I need to know she’s okay. I need to know what happened. I need to know who hurt her. I need to kill him. I look up and Chris is staring at me. The message in his eyes is clear – this is my fault. Maybe it is. It could be anyone. This could have been payback for something I’ve done. What have they done to her? How badly is she hurt? How long did she suffer before the cops arrived? God…did she cry out for me? Beg for me to save her? I wasn’t there. I wasn’t there.

I jump from the chair and pace the hall. What the fuck is taking so long? I should have heard something by now.

“No-go on the Lonnie situation, boss,” Ron says. “No one’s seen her in days, and she’s not answering her phone.”

“Keep trying. Talk to what’s her name…Gina…Super Head. Raven said she and Lonnie are friends.”

“Got it.”

Finally, I see E heading my way. He stops at the end of the hallway and motions for me to follow him. He leads me to his office and closes the door quietly.

“What’s going on, E?”

“You should sit down.”

I don’t like the look in his eyes. He’s struggling, having a hard time with whatever he’s about to tell me. I don’t even know how to prepare myself. “Just tell me.”

He takes a deep breath and perches on his desk.

“Raven was attacked…assaulted.”

“How bad is she hurt?”

“Gage…”

“Talk to me, damn it!”

Tears gather in his eyes, and I struggle to find something to hold me up. E doesn’t cry. Raven…my baby doll…

“I’m sorry, Gage.”