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)
The eggs were completely ruined.
“Perfect,” I muttered under my breath.
I was halfway through shifting the rest of the bags into one arm when I heard the rumble of an engine entering the lot behind me. I turned just as an unfamiliar truck rolled down the lane and pulled into the space beside mine.
Relief hit when I recognized the driver. Keegan was already here.
He shut off the engine and stepped out, his gaze sweeping the area. Then his eyes found me.
He crossed the short distance between us in a few strides. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.”
He didn’t take my word for it.
His hand came up, his fingers brushing lightly along my jaw before cupping my cheek. He tilted my face slightly, studying me like he was checking for damage I might’ve missed.
“I’m not hurt,” I assured him. “Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for my eggs.”
He picked up the remaining grocery bags without asking and nodded toward the building. “C’mon. Let’s get you inside.”
I hadn’t had any guests inside my apartment since I’d moved to Georgia, but it didn’t occur to me to hesitate now.
Keegan stuck close all the way to my unit. I unlocked my door, stepped inside, and held it open for him.
When the door shut behind us, he murmured, “Pack a bag.”
I blinked. “What?”
“You’re coming with me.”
“Where?”
He turned so I could see what I had somehow missed since he climbed out of his truck, the leather vest he was wearing marked him as a member of the Hounds of Hellfire MC. I didn’t know anything about motorcycle clubs, so I was surprised when he faced me again and announced, “To our compound. It’s the safest place in Riverstone. Even if someone thinks to look for you there, they would never be able to get to you.”
It was risky to agree to go to an MC clubhouse with a man I barely knew, but I’d apparently developed a reckless streak because I just nodded, quickly put away the groceries, and started to pack.
5
TOMCAT
Istood silently in Linden’s living room, my arms crossed loosely over my chest as I watched her dart around her small apartment. It was exactly like her—soft and welcoming, with just enough bright colors and cozy textures to feel lived in. There were neat stacks of books, a fuzzy throw blanket draped over the sofa, and subtle hints of her personality in small touches.
A colorful ceramic mug on the table, a scattering of crystals near the windowsill, and photos of her family smiling warmly from wooden frames. And of course, a couple of sets of shoes that were bright colors, some even “bedazzled” as Elena—the old lady of my club brother Onyx—would say.
It felt like a sanctuary, one that reflected the quiet beauty and warmth of the woman who was quickly slipping past every guard I’d ever placed around my heart.
Her nerves were evident in every jerky movement. But I didn’t rush her. I knew instinctively that this wasn’t the time to press—she was already spooked enough.
My jaw clenched, frustration simmering beneath the surface. When my phone lit up earlier, her trembling, panicked voice coming through the line, every protective instinct in my body snapped into razor-sharp focus. I’d heard the fear, and it had twisted something deep in my chest.
Someone had tried to run her down.
A knot formed in my gut, tightening with each passing second. I knew what this meant. I’d been hoping I was wrong about how much danger she was really in. That the discrepancies she’d found in those flight logs would be chalked up to clerical errors. But tonight’s incident erased any doubt.
Linden wasn’t paranoid; she was perceptive.
Whoever was behind this had escalated quickly, and now they’d moved from observation to threat. Her gut had been right. She’d felt eyes on her because someone had already marked her as a problem.
One they intended to solve by removing it completely. Permanently.
“I don’t even know what to pack.” She sounded overwhelmed, her eyes wide and distracted as she rummaged through her drawers. “I didn’t plan for any of this. What do I need?”
“Just grab essentials.” I kept my voice low and steady, countering the anxious edge of hers. “Anything important. We can always come back later if needed.”
Her head snapped up, and she blinked rapidly at me. “Come back later? How long do you think I’ll be gone?” Her voice rose slightly, her breathing quickening again. “What about my job? I only have the weekend off. Then—”
I crossed the room in two long strides, placing my hands on her shoulders and cutting her off. “Breathe, little dove. Just stop for a second and look at me.”
She did, tilting her face up, those wide green eyes filled with uncertainty and trust. That trust clawed at something raw in my chest, both terrifying and intoxicating.
“We’ll figure that out later. Right now, I just need to get you somewhere safe.” I let her see my determination. “And you’ll stay with me until we figure out exactly what’s going on.”