Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 43456 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 217(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43456 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 217(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
King stepped out from the kitchen, his assessing gaze moving between us. He’d clearly overheard. He finally settled on Keegan. “Fill her in. Then let her decide.”
Keegan’s chest expanded, but he didn’t argue with the club’s president. He just nodded and took my hand. “Come on, little dove.”
He led me down the hall to his room—or ours, as he’d taken to calling it. Once inside, he locked the door, then guided me to the bed. I sat on the edge, with my knees drawn up. He knelt in front of me, his hands resting on my ankles.
“What were they talking about?” I asked hesitantly, not really sure I wanted to know.
“The Hounds have a lot of business and endeavors, but our main job is a well-kept secret unless you’re in the right circles. We help people who need to vanish. Give them new identities, make sure nobody can ever track them down. Completely new lives.”
My mouth went dry. “And Blaze thinks that’s what you should do for me. So Aegis can’t find me.”
“He’s just offering the option a-fucking-gain.” His thumbs stroked slow circles on my ankles. “But it’s not happening.”
I searched his face. “Because you don’t want me gone?”
“Because I’m not losing you.” He shook his head. “Not to this. Or anyone.”
The fear I’d been holding back swept over me. With the club’s VP floating the idea of making me disappear, I’d been worried the situation was even worse than I already knew, which was hard to imagine. They’d already killed Carson, tearing my life apart. And now they’d been in my apartment, looking for something so they could get rid of me too. Just when I’d found Keegan.
Tears burned my eyes. “I don’t want to leave you.”
“You won’t.” He pulled me into his arms, tucking my head under his chin. “They ransacked your place, hoping to find something to help them figure out where the hell you’ve disappeared to because I’ve hidden you here so well. I swear, I’m not letting anything touch you. You’re staying right here. With me. Where I can make sure you stay safe.”
I clung to him, shaking. He held me tighter, rocking us gently and murmuring against my hair until I calmed down. Then he helped me get ready for bed again, before cuddling me until my breathing finally evened out, exhaustion pulling me under.
Unfortunately, it didn’t do the same for Keegan.
By the time morning light had just started to stream between the blinds only a few hours later, he was already up and dressed. I woke to his lips brushing my forehead.
“Gonna head to the airfield. Need to work on the test bird. Scheduled maintenance. Can’t skip it.”
He hadn’t mentioned needing to go in today until now, which was odd since he’d been keeping me in the loop on his schedule.
I frowned, propping up on one elbow. “You’re angry about the break-in, so you’re going to poke around, aren’t you?”
He just shrugged. “Got shit to do.”
I started to swing my legs out of bed. “I’m coming with you. I can help—”
“No.” He caught my wrist gently but firmly. “You’re out of this now, Linden. No more risks.”
I wanted to argue. To insist I could watch his back. But the truth was that I had no training. And no way to protect him if things went sideways. I’d only be a distraction.
He’d spend the whole time worried about me instead of focused. That made me a liability.
I sank back against the pillows with a sigh. “Fine.”
He leaned down and kissed me, tasting faintly of mint toothpaste. “Stay inside.”
I nodded, and he left.
It was good that I slept so deeply earlier because I lay there staring at the ceiling until I finally got too restless to stay in bed. I pulled on leggings, a T-shirt, and the spare leather vest Keegan insisted I wear. Then I padded down to the kitchen.
Someone had already brewed coffee, thank goodness. I poured a mug, wrapped my hands around the warmth, and wandered to the lounge.
Hours dragged as people came and went, but no sign of Keegan. I tried to read on my phone, scrolled mindlessly, and helped one of the prospects fold bar towels. Anything to keep my brain from spinning worst-case scenarios.
The front doors finally banged open around three in the afternoon. Keegan stormed in.
His shoulders were strained, a muscle in his jaw was ticking, and his green eyes burned with a fury so cold it stole my breath. Then his gaze found me.
The rage fractured, and his expression softened. He crossed the room in three long strides, cupped my face in both hands, and kissed me like he was desperate for my taste.
I melted into him, my fingers clutching his cut, relieved he was finally back. When he ended the kiss, he rested his forehead against mine, his breathing ragged.