I gave him a one-finger salute, but I committed that information to memory before turning my gaze back to Cinder. He looked tired. No, more than that… it was like a heavy weight was pressing down on him. I hadn’t noticed it yesterday. Had something new happened? Or was there something he’d been holding onto, something we needed to know but he’d been reluctant to tell us?
“As I was saying…” Cinder stared at me a moment before shifting his focus. “We tracked down the men responsible for what happened to Ashes.”
A cough at the end of the table made Havoc place his hand over his mouth to hide the smirk that graced his lips. I wasn’t sure if he was amused over me being a sap for my woman, or because I got scolded like a kid.
“All right. Shade discovered who they are, with some help from Wire and Lavender. After some digging, it seems we weren’t the only club hit that month. While the Dixie Reapers weren’t involved, the Reckless Kings had something similar happen, as did Devil’s Fury and a few other clubs spanning from Missouri to Louisiana, and from the Carolinas to Arkansas. Ashes is just the only one who has memory loss from the situation. Everyone else was knocked out, but came to without anything more than a headache.”
“We’re taking the assholes down, right?” asked Shadow.
“We are, but we’re not doing it alone. Ashes, I’m giving you the option of going. The men responsible aren’t in the area anymore. They’re closer to the Reckless Kings up in Tennessee. I’m going to send three men, and Devil’s Fury is sending a few as well.”
I chewed the inside of my cheek. On the one hand, I’d love to get my hands on whoever fucked me up that day. But on the other… it would mean time away from Nikki and Oliver. Getting revenge wouldn’t change anything. My memories wouldn’t come back just because I beat on the assholes who did this to me. And honestly, I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted them back.
Nik and Oliver were my life. But so was this club. I owed them a lot, especially the Pres, and the last thing I wanted to do was let them down. If Cinder thought I should go, then that’s what I’d do. I drummed my fingers on the table. Ripper and Magnus volunteered to go, and I felt Cinder’s gaze on me. I met and held it a moment before giving him a nod. I only hoped this didn’t come back to bite me on the ass.
“The three of you will need to leave in the morning. You have about a six-hour ride. I’d tell you fuckers not to speed, but I won’t waste my breath. Just don’t get your asses pulled over between here and there. I’d just as soon no one realized we’re in the Reckless Kings’ territory if this goes to shit,” Cinder said.
“You said Devil’s Fury was heading that way too. Are we just meeting there, or are we stopping along the way to ride with them?” I asked.
“As far as I know, they’re leaving tonight. I believe Grizzly planned for his guys to be there before midnight,” Cinder said.
“So we’re going to be late to the party?” asked Ripper.
Cinder shrugged a shoulder.
“Fuck that. I say we leave tonight.” Magnus looked my way. “I know you have a kid now, but the sooner we get this shit settled…”
He didn’t even have to finish. I knew he was right. I gave a nod and only half-listened when the discussion changed to other business. I hoped Nikki would be understanding. It wasn’t like she’d never been around bikers before. She knew how things worked in the club. Then again, the last time I went on a run, I ended up beat to hell and lost every bit of my life up to the moment I came to in the damn warehouse. If she seemed apprehensive when I told her I was leaving, then it was understandable.
Nik didn’t seem like the type to cause a scene, unless club sluts were involved. I smiled a little, remembering the way she handled that woman. Still made me hot. Cinder banged the gavel and I stood, heading for the door. Before anyone had a chance to stop me, I went out and got on my bike. I roared through the compound, flying down the road. My tires spit gravel as I pulled into the driveway. I’d barely cut the engine before Nikki stepped outside.
“What’s wrong?” She worried at her lower lip.
“Why would something be wrong?” I moved closer to her, but stopped a few feet away.
“You came tearing into the driveway like hellhounds were chasing you. Pardon me if I thought I should be concerned.” She placed her hands on her hips, narrowing her eyes. At least she wasn’t worried anymore. Well, not at the moment.
“Maybe I just wanted to see you.”
Nikki pursed her lips and gave me the look that clearly said she thought I was full of shit. I was going to miss the hell out of her while I was gone. I could only hope it wouldn’t take long to wrap shit up and get back to my woman and kid.
“Anything I need to know?” she asked, relaxing her stance and holding out a hand to me.
I grasped it, then pulled her into my arms. I just held her a moment, breathing in her scent. Holding her was fast becoming my favorite pastime. Well, maybe second favorite. Last night I’d tried to make up for lost time, but I still craved her. Even now, I was at least semi-hard. “I have to leave for a little while.”
Nikki tensed and tried to pull away, but I wouldn’t let her.
“Just listen, baby. The men who hurt me are up in Reckless Kings’ territory. They fucked over a few clubs besides Devil’s Boneyard. We’re meeting Devil’s Fury up there, and for all I know, other clubs might show up too. Cinder said this shit happened across multiple states, and he discovered who was involved. I need to go handle business, then I’ll come back to you and Oliver.”
She fisted my shirt and buried her face against me. “You damn well better. Don’t you fucking leave me, Ashes.”
“Nik, you know I can’t control fate. I’ll die when it’s my time, but until then, I’ll do my damnedest to come home to you each and every time I leave the house. It’s the best I can do.”
She sighed and hugged me. “I know. I’m being a whiny bitch, aren’t I? I’m supposed to be some tough ol’ lady, and I feel like a marshmallow.”
I laughed softly. “No. Not a bitch. And maybe I like that you’re not some hard ass ol’ lady. Besides, Meg isn’t all that tough, but she belongs to the Pres. Maybe we need a little softness in our lives.”
Nikki pulled away, a slight smile on her lips. “Not a bitch but maybe a little whiny?”
Yeah, I wasn’t falling into that trap. Instead, I kissed the hell out of her.
“I need to pack.” I caressed her cheek. “Going to miss you, Nik. Both of you.”
“Love you so damn much.”
“Love you too.”
I kissed her again, then headed inside to visit with Oliver before I had to go. Cuddling him close, I wished I didn’t have to leave. I might have told Nik that I’d die when it was my time, but what if that time was now? What if I left and never saw my son grow up? My chest felt tight as I paced the room with Oliver. This kid was making me soft, both him and his mom. I might not remember my life before the incident, but I doubted I’d patched into the club by being a pansy.
There was a knock at the door and I heard Nikki answer it. Seeing Cinder took me a little by surprise. “Pres, everything okay?” I asked.