Page 123 of With Spite

But not for long.

“We’ll get everything figured out from here,” Eddy, Weaver’s wife, promised. “And I’m sorry about the crumbs in the seat of the truck. I should’ve cleaned it before giving you the keys.”

I waved her off. “We’re grateful that you’re allowing us to borrow it.”

Weaver and Eddy had just come back from a road trip of their own to the Pacific Northwest.

They’d gone to see the Bridge of the Gods on the Oregon state line.

“Gassed up and oil changed,” Weaver said, tossing me the keys. “We’re out of here.”

I’d given him the keys to Bernice’s truck to use while we were gone.

And hopefully, to make it seem like we were still here…

Everyone left shortly after, except for Creed and Birdee.

They waited until the room was completely silent before Creed said, “We’re going to find him.”

I nodded, chest tight. “I hope so. She’s going to keep living in fear until we do.”

Creed slapped me on the shoulder. “Take care of her, man.”

I looked my good friend in the eyes and promised, “I will. With my life.”

He grinned. “I know.”

Then I was alone.

I headed into the bedroom and woke my future wife up.

Though she didn’t know that she was my future wife, yet.

She would when we found a damn diamond.

The moment I found one—which I damn well would—I’d propose.

I just didn’t realize how damn hard it was to dig through the fucking dirt looking for a needle in a haystack—or a diamond in a field of dirt.

Thirty

Do I get bonus points if I act like I care?

—Bernice to Baylee

Bernice

Thirteen Days Later

I was having the time of my life.

I sat on a low stool sifting through dirt, a heater on one side of me and a woman named Baylee on the other drinking a beer.

We were at Crater of Diamonds State Park, and I was surrounded by the Dixie Wardens MC, Benton, Louisiana Chapter.

I’d met Baylee and Sebastian. Kettle and Adeline. Viddy and Trance. Loki and Channing. Torren and Tru. Sawyer and Silas. And, finally, Sterling and Ruthie.

I loved them all to death.