“Then why are your boys here at the ass crack of dawn?” I wish I were a better liar. I wish the crack in my voice didn’t give away all my insecurities.
“This is the world I live in, one I want to share with you.” He pauses like he’s reflecting, and my stomach twists while I wonder if he’s going to give up on something we haven’t really started yet. That’s what I want, yet as I sit here, waiting on his next sentence, why does it feel so wrong to let him go?
“Time,” he says, the one word carrying so much weight. “We both know time can be cut short. We both know the value of minutes wasted when someone’s missing. I can’t get into details right now, but I promise you an explanation when I can.”
I nod.
“The boys are here because there is word a twelve-year-old girl may be missing. This is my life; this is how it goes. Minute by minute, call to call. That’s all I got, Em. I’m giving you all I can. Question for you is, will you be here when I get back?” With a last, long look into my eyes, he backs off the door jamb and exits my room.
My head throbs as I feel like a ping pong ball is flying around inside my head. A twelve-year-old girl is missing … This is my life … minutes wasted.
Without thinking, I jump up and chase him down just as he hits my back porch.
“Give me ten minutes,” I say as all the guys smile.
Dover looks over his shoulder at me.
“Give me ten minutes,” I repeat. “I’ve gotta shower and put clothes on. I know the area better than you guys. I’ll help.”
I see Dover blink in surprise, but I don’t give him time to deny my request. I take off, and just as I make it into the kitchen, I hear Trapper’s voice.
“I don’t reckon we should tell her this is my hometown.”
“She wants to see what it is we do, and it’s better she finds out now,” Deacon’s voice carries. “Guess we don’t need to wonder if she’s gonna be around when we get back,” he adds with a slight laugh as I keep moving to the bathroom to shower. I’m not going to give up an opportunity to get to know Dover Ragnes, the man.
He may not be Prince Charming, but I would like to think he’s grown into his own brand of knight.
With a quick scrub of the important parts, I shower, get out, and change. After throwing on a pair of jeans, boots, a long sleeve T-shirt, I grab my jacket and tie my hair back. Since I don’t have time to braid it or blow dry it, I wrap a bandana around the long, wet ends, tying it off. For a moment, I think having a car right with the chill in the air might be nice.
Stepping outside, I dismiss the thought when I look to the side of my house where six Harleys of various sizes and colors sit. On each one is a man who is no doubt gruff, rough, and hot as fuck, especially the one closest to me with eyes the deep blue of irises.
I hit the back step and stand beside my bike, only to hear the laughter of the guys behind me. Turning, I look at Dover who crooks his finger at me in a “come here” motion.
With a hand on my hip, I glare at him. “If you want me, you come to me, not the other way around.”
Climbing off his bike, he doesn’t speak as he makes his way to me. He stands toe to toe then lifts my chin with his index finger to make sure I look at him when he speaks. “Make no mistake, Em, I want you, and I’ll come for you any time. Right now, we got work to do. If you’re coming with us, then you ride with me.”
“I have a ride.”
Dover smiles a full-on, genuine grin, giving me a glimpse of the dimples I forgot he had. “Fighting with you is fun, darlin’. Not the best time, though, so let’s go, and we can fight about that toy you call a motorcycle later.”
“Toy?”
“Wish I had time for cute and sassy, but we don’t. Babe, that shit you’re ridin’ is all plastic.”
I raise an eyebrow, challenging him.
He continues, his smile staying bright as he fights back his laughter. “She’s so quiet she’s a Ninja compared to the bike you’re about to be on.”
“Yeah, well, big boy, some might say, with all that racket comin’ outta those pipes of your Harley, you’re overcompensatin’ for something.”
He touches his lips to mine. “Now, now, Em, we both know what I’m packin’. No need to overcompensate as I’m sure your pussy is wet and ready for more right this minute. If I put my hands down those tight-ass jeans, I bet you would clench around me, greedy for more.” As he speaks against my mouth, my body comes alive. “No time for this, so put your lid on and let’s ride.”
Knowing he’s right and I’m wasting precious time, I give up my fight, following him to his Harley. I put on my helmet, sliding down my facemask as each of the guys start their bikes and rev the engines.
Dover climbs on, settling in as I grip his shoulder and slide on behind him.
The vibration shoots through me as he cranks the bike. The noise, the feel of the machine under me, and the man in front of me have my senses on overload.
Mentally, I smack myself around, remembering there is a missing girl out there who’s in need of help.
The guys pull out with Deacon in the lead. Behind him, flanking his right side, is Judge. Rowdy files in, lined up with Deacon to the left rear, the flank of Judge. Beside him is X, and following him is Trapper, whom we flank as we take up the rear. The staggered ride of the men two by two with feet between them flows as if they are one single unit, not six individuals.
Arriving at the entrance to a subdivision, I have to fight the churning in my stomach as I see the cars lining the road where people have come to help.
“Raleigh,” I yell out, my throat hurting as I continue to look for my best friend. “Hide and seek is over. It’s late. You gotta come out,” I beg, not understanding why she didn’t make it to my house today.
Cars pull up, lining the road between my house and hers. Every picture we have of Raleigh and me, as well as the ones her family have, are all on display on my front porch and hers. I hear everyone checking in to get a fresh look then head out to search.
With her ribbon from the other day tied to my wrist, I look to the night sky to wish on the stars. “Wherever you are, Raleigh, come home please.” I rub the tattered ribbon in my fingers. “You’re my superhero, Raleigh.”
Getting off the bikes, we make our way to what seems to be a makeshift rally point. Someone has a six-foot white table set up in a front yard with pictures and contact information should we find something. Immediately, Deacon goes to check in and gather intel while the rest of us scope out the scene.
I look at the sky, watching the light filter in as the new day arrives. Raleigh never got a chance at a new day. I can only hope this girl doesn’t suffer the same fate.
Chapter Thirteen
~Dover~
After gathering as much information as we can, we begin to scour the area alongside the friends and family of young Erica Hall. Expanding our search to the surrounding neighborhood, we all stop when we find ourselves at the edge of a campground.
The very campground Randal Jones resides in.
On the very edge of Erica’s neighborhood is the Sunny Oaks RV and Trailer Park. The sign boasts of KOA accreditation, and they are known as a AAA member discount park. Good to know.
What’s not good to see is the old beat up Dodge pickup truck of Randy’s so close to the area this girl has turned up missing.
“We have to account for him being at work when Erica went missing. She either wandered off on her own until he made it home or”—Rowdy pauses, not hiding his frustration—“he’s not our guy.”
“Who’s not your guy?” Emerson asks, and all the guys look at me.
“We need more intel. Head to Old Dog’s so we can regroup,” I order, not wanting to explain to Emerson just how close danger may be to her door.
She looks at me quizzically yet doesn’t push for answers.
The ride to the shop has my chest tightening. I have never let anyone ride with me except Raleigh … until today.
Until Emerson.
> The feel of her against me, the touch of her arms around me, her thighs pressed to mine—it’s all sensation overload. For the last sixteen years, I have closed myself off from feeling. Even when I was with Gretchen, she never rode with me. Yet, today, when Em came out, ready to ride her crotch rocket, I couldn’t let her. The pull between us is once again too strong for me to fight it back.
Stopping in front of the shop, we are all surprised to find Earl already there. As he opens the door wide and welcomes us all inside, there is a charge of emotion in the air, tension even.
“Wanna tell me why y’all were at Sonnie’s at such a strange time?” Old Dog asks, not hiding his glare from me. “I know it wasn’t for breakfast. She don’t cook except mixing some cake batter.”
“How do you know we were at Sonnie’s?” I ask, irritated that he’s questioning me.
Emerson watches quietly as if she can sense something shifting.
“I live down the street.”
The bond they share is evident when Em smiles softly at the old man.
“Do you know she keeps the doors unlocked?” The words tumble out of my mouth, making both Em and Earl laugh.
“Yeah, I reckon I do since I’ve begged her for years to stop that or learn to shoot a gun.”
Deacon steps forward. “I get you live down the street, Old Dog, but how do you know we”—he gestures to all of us—“were at Sonnie’s late?”
“Y’all ride some loud machines.” He pauses, and there is something in his eyes when he looks at Sonnie. “I’ve always had eyes on the place. She’s never been alone.”
His tone has me curious, but right now, we have bigger problems to worry about.
“What do you know about Randal Jones?” Judge asks, taking a step forward.
“Came here about three years ago. Always clean cut, good with the clients. He’s quiet and has a problem with keeping a schedule, but he’s been no trouble. He’s a bit—as some would say—eccentric. He has a thing for cleanliness in his station and sanitation.” He looks at Trapper. “Honestly, I’m surprised he fixed your”—he clears his throat—“problem.”
“He said it was only because I manscaped. Dude has serious issues with pubes. I mean, I keep it clean so whoever is sucking me off isn’t getting their teeth flossed at the same time. Gotta be considerate and shit.”
Rowdy smacks Trapper in the chest. “You keep it shaved so women can find it. With a cock your size, it’s easy to get lost in the jungle.”
“Fuck you, Rowdy. Your momma wasn’t complainin’ last night when she was getting her taste.”
Rowdy glares at Trapper for running his mouth.
“Neither did your daddy when he got his turn,” Trapper adds, never backing down.
Before any of us can react, Rowdy has Trapper pinned to the wall. He swings, connecting with his jaw and causing our mouthy friend to spit blood.
“Now is not the time.” Deacon steps in, calmly breaking the two apart.
X looks at me, and I nod. He makes his way to my bike to retrieve the file.
Having a moment, I look at Trapper. He smiles with his teeth pink from his blood.
“Are you fucking suicidal? Will you ever learn when to shut the fuck up?”
“I was being serious,” he says, only riling up Rowdy more. “I’m an equal opportunity cocksucker; Rowdy can have a turn.”
“Brother, if we didn’t know how seriously twisted you are, you would be a dead man already. Can you please, for the sake of lost, little Erica Hall, shut the hell up until we sort out if Randal Jones is or is not involved?”
The weight of Erica’s situation hits Trapper, causing him to drop his head in shame. “Sorry, didn’t mean to stir the pot right now.”
Rowdy slaps him on the back. “One day, I’m gonna fuck you up bad. Stop having a death wish with Trapper; it might just come true.”
“Old Dog, can we go to the back? Maybe we can have a seat and then talk,” I say, feeling the need to sit down as I dredge up my past.
Emerson has been quiet since we got here. Too quiet. I can’t help wondering if she has regrets. Old habits die hard, so I can’t help wondering if she’s doubting me.
The man I am today is nothing like the boy who sat at the end of her driveway just to get a glimpse of the other little girl lost. I had to know Emerson was okay. If Raleigh wasn’t coming home, the least I could do was check up on her best friend. That is, until she moved. I understood it then, and I can understand her need to run from this thing between us now.
Heading to the back room, we all take a seat. I pull Em to me and plant her on my lap. She tries to protest, but I shake my head. I need this connection if I’m going to open this file in front of everyone. Even though they each know the case from front to back since we have been over it a hundred times, the wound still feels fresh on my soul. Talking about it with Em—knowing somehow, in the last twenty-four hours, things between us have changed—makes it all that much heavier. I don’t know what will happen next, but I know I need her by my side as it comes.
“You know my past, Earl. It seems there is a lead in the case,” I begin.
The brown envelope teases me, tortures me as I look at the red tab with the string wound around it, keeping it sealed. The outline is faded, but the words stamped across it are still staring me back in the face.
Cold Case.
My hands want to tremble as I reach to undo the envelope. Opening and closing my fist, I steady myself.
Em tenses on my lap as her eyes land on the victim’s name.
Raleigh Ragnes.
Yes, my sister’s file is about to be opened wide to the woman who lived through it beside me, and now she has to live through it with me again today.
The wrinkled ink on Earl’s hands comes to lay over the clasp of the envelope, stopping me from removing the contents. “I know what’s in that file,” he says with an underlying emotion I can’t pin down. His gray eyes meet mine. “I know who you are, Dover,” the old man says with a pause. “I’ve known all along.”
“Duh, Old Dog, you’ve known us all for years. You’ve scraped my bleeding ass up off your front door more than once,” Trapper says as we all try to follow what Earl is saying.
“Before you boys found yourselves here, I knew you, Dover. I knew your story before you told me.”
I raise my eyebrows, and my body tenses.
“I knew all about you and little Raleigh.”
“How?” Emerson whispers as she sits ramrod straight on my lap.
I can’t help wondering the same damn thing. In all the years we have known Earl, not once has he let on to the fact that he knew me before the night we pulled in. I told him about my sister, but I don’t recall saying Emerson’s name. Why is he acting like there is more he knows than what I shared? Why is he looking at me like he has some dark secret that needs to come to light?
A silence descends on us. His face is solemn; the years have not been kind.
“Your daddy, Sonnie, he didn’t want you all alone after what happened. He knew he couldn’t keep you locked away forever, but he couldn’t get your momma to see reason. Best thing he figured after you took off for good was to send you down here to me.”
She leans back into me as she gasps, trying to make sense of it all.
Gray eyes look at me. “By the time Sonnie grew up and came to me, I had already met you boys. Her daddy and I served in the Corps years ago. We stayed in touch even after he got out and settled in Tennessee. I remember your name from Flint giving me a recount of things when they happened.” He shrugs his shoulders. “Name like Dover Ragnes stays with a man. He told me how your momma named y’all for the cities you were conceived in. Dover, Delaware and Raleigh, North Carolina.”
The low whistle from X has me breaking eye contact with Earl. I never told anyone where my name came from or my sister’s. We don’t have middle names, because my mom really did name us for the cities we were conceived in.
“Over the years, Flint kept me posted on th
e town of Cloverville and the boy down the street who couldn’t get out of the shadow of regrets. When you showed up here, scooping a bloody young man off my stoop to help him, I could see the weight you carried in your eyes. Not long after you boys rode out, taking Trapper with you, Flint called, needing a favor.”
Tears fall down Emerson’s cheeks. “You set me up,” she whispers as emotions sweep over her.
“Not like you think.”
“For years, you have given me every opportunity I never had. You have kept me under your lock and key, only to report back to them!” she fires back, and I rub her back, reminding her I’m here with her. “You came to the diner, knowing I would go there for a job. Day in and day out, you weren’t there for eggs and burnt toast; you were there for me!”
“You were free to leave any time you wanted,” Earl aims to justify.
“I trusted you!”
“Your daddy wanted you safe, but he wanted you to have a life again. He didn’t know how. Children don’t come with instruction manuals. He did the best he could. I did the best I could. Sonnie, this changes nothing between us.”
“This changes everything!” Emerson says firmly.
Chapter Fourteen
~Emerson~
The domino effect of one person’s crime going unpunished is beyond measure. Here I am, sixteen years after Raleigh Ragnes disappeared, still feeling like my world is tipping over. This entire time, I have remained under my parents’ thumb. Everything I ran from has been right here all along.
My vision blurs as I fight back tears. The red letters on the envelope dance in front of me like a snake waiting to strike. Cold Case. There was nothing cold about Raleigh. She was warm sunshine on any rainy day; she still is for me. On a bad day, I can think of her smile and immediately know everything will be okay.
Dover does this to me, too. I never thought about it until now. Even as a young girl, whenever Dover was around, somehow Raleigh and I knew nothing bad would happen. My life is turned completely over, and I can think of those iris eyes and instantly feel okay again.
In The Red: Nomad Bikers (Devil's Due MC Book 1) Page 9