Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 63608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 318(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 318(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
“Tomorrow morning,” Ally replies. “And yes, you’re staying with me.”
“She isn’t,” I correct quietly.
Ally opens her mouth, ready to unleash a rant, but Kelly raises a weak hand. “Can we… not fight over me like I’m a lost puppy?”
That shuts both of us up. I clear my throat. “You’re not a puppy. You’re a target. Until we know why, you stay under protection.”
Kelly frowns. “Protection like from the club? I do remember the Kings of Anarchy. Ally’s in love with the president Chux, but I can’t remember how that started.”
“Yes. The Kings will protect you.”
Ally folds her arms. “And by protection, you of course mean spying on her while she sleeps, right?”
Kelly’s cheeks flush, mine heat for a different reason because Kelly and I haven’t spent a ton of time together at her place sleeping. “Jesus Christ,” I mutter. “No.”
Kelly’s lips twitch like she thinks that’s funny.
“No one is spying,” I state firmly. “But she’s not staying alone.”
“How can you be so sure the accident wasn’t just bad luck?” Kelly asks quietly.
“Because nothing about it looks like luck.”
Her breath shakes. “How can you tell?”
I take a long breath, then step closer so she can see my face clearly. “Because I’ve seen people try to intimidate before. And I’ve seen people try to kill before. I don’t want to scare you, but you need to know the risks.”
Her pulse jumps in her throat.
My voice softens. “This wasn’t a scare tactic. They hit you twice. They wanted to make a statement.”
Ally gasps, covering her mouth with both hands.
Kelly stares at me, eyes widening with fear. Not fear of me, but of what happened. What could’ve happened weighs heavy in the air between us all.
“That’s why you’re staying with us,” I finish. “We don’t leave people exposed.”
She’s quiet for a long time. Long enough that I start shifting my weight, unsure what’s going on behind those eyes.
Then she asks, “Us?”
It takes me a beat to realize what she’s asking. She wants to know if I’m part of that us. I thought the answer was obvious. But she’s working from a blank slate.
“Yes,” I share. “Us means my club. The brother and me too. I’ll be with you.”
Her breath catches again. Something flickers across her face not recognition, but instinct. Some echo of the past trying to wake up.
“You don’t have to,” she whispers.
I step closer, careful, like approaching a skittish animal. “I already told you,” I murmur. “I’m not leavin’.”
Her eyes grow shiny. “Why does that make me feel relief? I shouldn’t be relieved that a stranger won’t leave me.”
My voice drops low. “I’m not a stranger.”
Her fingers twitch at the blanket again.
“I believe you,” she whispers.
The room goes still. Those three words, I didn’t expect them.
But God, they crack something inside me wide open.
A knock hits the door a deeper one this time. A brother. I know the knock by instinct. I turn, already bracing.
Chux steps in, half-hidden by the doorway. Ally softens the worry on her face instantly knowing my brother will keep her safe. Kelly’s eyes widen like she senses danger without knowing why.
Chux nods respectfully to her. “Kelly. Glad you’re awake.”
She gives a small nod, unsure.
He turns to me, voice low. “Need a word.”
I glance at Kelly. Her shoulders tense, like the idea of me leaving—even for a minute—sets something off inside her.
“I’ll be right outside,” I tell her.
“Okay,” she says, though her voice is small.
I step into the hallway, pulling the door partially closed behind me.
“What?” I ask, already on edge.
Chux doesn’t waste time. “We found the truck.”
My blood goes cold. “Where?”
“Abandoned lot off Route 9. No prints, no plates, no identifiers. Tires slashed. Burned inside.”
Someone covering their tracks.
“Motherfucker,” I hiss.
Chux nods grimly. “They don’t want it traced. Means they’re smart. Organized.”
“What did the cameras show?”
“Nitro’s still pulling footage. But whoever this is? They know how to avoid being seen.”
A low curse slips out before I can hold it back.
Chux continues, quieter now. “And Riot the angle of impact on her car? Nitro thinks it was meant to take her out, but another car came up on them before they could finish.”
My fingers twitch, itching for violence.
“I already knew that,” I mutter.
Chux studies my face. “You holdin’ it together?”
“Define ‘together.’”
He huffs. “Looks like you’re walking fine. Talking fine. Not punching walls. For you, that counts.”
I drag a hand down my face. “She doesn’t remember me.”
“Doesn’t look like she’s scared of you either.”
I look back into the room. Through the narrow crack, I see her watching the door, chewing her lip nervously. Searching for me.
“She trusts me,” I say quietly.
Chux nods. “Then don’t mess it up.”
“I won’t.”
“Good. Because until we know who’s after her, she’s priority one.”
I nod once, my jaw set. “I’ll stay with her when she’s discharged.”
“Thought you would. Shaft and Mellow will trail. We’ll rotate shifts.”
I look back again Kelly is fiddling with the bed controls, distracted, but her eyes keep darting to the door.