Gage shook his head at Darian. "No, the bus had left already."
Darian ran a hand through his hair and then wrapped an arm around Larkin when he noticed how upset she was. "It will be okay, baby. I don't want you to worry."
"She said she'd call me when she got back to her apartment."
"You come and find me when she calls. I want to talk to her," Darian said with a growl.
"Okay. May I go inside?"
Darian nodded at Larkin. "I'll come find you in a bit."
Gage waited until Larkin had left and turned to Darian. "I'm going to head back to the city. I'll check on her tonight."
"She'll be working tonight."
Gage nodded. "I know. I can find the place."
"I can have someone check on her. You don't have to do it."
Gage's eyes narrowed. "I'll do it."
Darian crossed his arms. "Why?"
"Because I plan on making her mine," Gage said bluntly.
A smile crossed Darian's face. "I was hoping you'd take a liking to her."
Gage wiped a hand down his face. "Fuck, man, it's more than like her, but I can't tell you exactly what it is. I know it's twisting my guts into knots."
Darian chuckled. "I know that feeling. It was the same way with Larkin."
"God, I hope it's kind of normal because the feeling isn't all that comfortable."
Darian snorted. "Just be good to her. I think she's had it rougher than my Larkin has."
"Why? What do you know?"
"Larkin has mentioned that the two were separated, but Brylee was brought back quickly, and Larkin knew something had happened because she wasn't the same."
"Larkin never found out why?"
"No, Brylee wouldn't tell her."
Gage grimaced. "Shit. That sounds bad."
Darian nodded. "I know. Hopefully, you can get her to talk to you."
"Oh, she'll talk. She may not want to, but I'm not going to give her a choice. I need to know everything, so I don't scare her half to death. I'm surprised she didn't run screaming from the office yesterday when I had my finger up her ass."
Darian chuckled. "She was too aroused to run anywhere. She liked everything you did to her."
"I thought so, or I wouldn't have been able to make her come."
"You're right about that."
"I'm going to head out. I want to be at the strip joint early. The thought of her working there is driving me mad."
"I know. You'll be able to do something about it soon."
"Hell, yes. Unless she doesn't want anything to do with me."
Darian grinned and slapped his friend on his shoulder. "Oh, she wants you. You didn't see the expression on her face when she looked at you."
"Damn, I hope so."
"Go get your girl."
Gage grinned and waved as he walked off. He felt an urgency to get to her. He couldn't explain it, but he always followed his gut.
By the end of that night, he'd have her where he wanted her, or he'd lose it.