“Probably.” Poker rubs his hands together. “Let’s go fill in Pres, and then we?—”
“Fuck!” I shout, stopping in my tracks.
“What?” he asks, turning around to face me.
I hold up my cell. “Ember’s called four times and texted me that there’s a problem,” I explain as I tap the screen to return her call. She answers on the first ring as if she was sitting there, waiting for me to call. “What’s wrong?” I growl, putting the call on speaker.
“Where have you been?” she demands, but there’s more fear in her tone than anger.
“I’m sorry, Em. I had my phone off while Poker and I handled something.”
“Someone came to the house, Ghost,” she says. “They left a note, and it, well, it scared me. I’m sure I’m overreacting, but I thought you should know.”
“I’m on my way.” I glance at Poker, and he nods, somehow knowing what I need without me asking. “Poker’s gonna come with me. We’ll be there as soon as we can.”
“Okay. Um, thanks, Ghost.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her she has nothing to thank me for. I’ll always come when she needs me. Always. But I don’t say that. I can’t say that. Iwon’tsay that.
“Keep the doors locked, and I’ll see you soon.”
After she agrees, I disconnect the call and take the steps up to the main level of the clubhouse two at a time. Poker follows, calling Crow to fill him in so we don’t have to stop and chat before leaving. By the time we reach our Harleys outside, we’re both ready for whatever awaits us at my mom’s house.
The ride seems to take twice as long as usual, and only when we pull into the driveway does my heart no longer feel like it’s going to pound out of my chest. I unlock the front door and burst inside, Poker hot on my heels. When I spot my mom sitting on the couch, knitting and watching something on TV, I skid to a halt.
“Parker West,” she chides. “What are you doing running in here like your pants are on fire?”
Poker tries and fails to stifle a laugh, and I glare at him before responding. “I,uh, wanted to?—”
“I asked him to come, Mrs. West,” Ember says as she enters the living room. “You were wondering why he hadn’t been by so I thought you might like to see him.”
Mom seems to consider that for a moment. “It’s a little late for a visit, sweetheart,” she tells me. “I wish you’d have come earlier. I was about to go to bed.”
“Sorry, Mom,” I say. “I couldn’t get here any earlier.”
“We were helping out at the clinic,” Poker lies. “Jackyl was offering flu shots tonight and needed our assistance with crowd control.”
Mom laughs lightly. “I’m so proud of you boys, always doing what you can to help out the community.”
“Thank you, Mrs. West,” Poker says. “Hey, would you mind if I watch the end of this show with you? It’s been so long since I’ve been able to just sit with a pretty lady.”
Mom blushes. “Oh, stop it.”
Ember smothers a smile. “I’m going to go fix the guys a plate of spaghetti,” she says to my mom. “I’m sure they’re both hungry.”
“I’ll help,” I say, crossing the room toward her.
“Okay, dear,” Mom says, her attention on Poker and the TV.
“Show me the note,” I demand the moment Ember and I are out of earshot of the others.
She reaches into her back pocket and pulls out a piece of paper to hand me. I open it, read the words, and fury slithers beneath my skin. Unsigned, it would be easy for my mind to race with possibilities about the sender, but only one name comes to mind after what Poker and I learned: Miguel Cruz.
“Who left this?” I ask her, hoping like hell I’m wrong.
Ember shrugs. “I have no clue. There was a knock on the door while we were eating dinner, but by the time I answered it, no one was there. That was taped to the door.”
I snap a picture of the note and send it to Crow, giving him a heads-up on what I’m dealing with. He quickly responds.
