Chapter 11
The sun broke through the off-white curtains, casting the living room in light. Hunter turned his head, stretching his neck. He hadn't slept more than five minutes at a stretch.
Annie curled up against him sometime after midnight, her warm breath on his chest, her trembling body relaxing the longer she cuddled with him. He held her through the worst of her night terrors, and she stayed long after her breathing evened out.
It had been a long time since he'd held someone like that through the night.
It's been a long time since holding a woman meant anything to him.
Living at the clubhouse gave him access to women, but belonging to Royalla offered little chance to find someone to add to his life.
Some of the other guys had settled down and seemed happy.
He was different. He'd never had the drive to bring someone into his messed-up life.
Living each day, shut off from the hearing world, was hard enough.
He was getting too old to want to complicate his life more by adding an old lady.
His cock pounded. He shifted in the chair. Soon, he'd need to stand and ease the agony. Though it felt nice holding on to Annie.
Now, in the pale light of morning, she stirred. He braced for her reaction. Things always looked different in the daylight than in the dark.
Her lashes fluttered, and then her eyes opened. She blinked up at him, reality waking her up.
A flush crept into her cheeks. She sat up quickly, arms crossing her chest, hugging herself as if to protect herself from him.
Her cheeks flushed as she met his gaze. "Sorry."
He rubbed her back. There was nothing to be sorry for. After the shitshow she'd lived through, she would have bad dreams. He still dreamed about his dad putting the barrel of the shotgun against his forehead.
Across the room, Leigh tried to sit up, wincing as she shifted.
Annie was at her side instantly, crouching beside her sister, helping her up.
Leigh waved her off, stepping away from her.
Annie hesitated, glancing at Hunter. He could see it in her eyes—she didn't want to let Leigh out of her sight. But there were improvements. Today, Leigh walked without assistance.
"She's getting stronger," he said. "Now, take care of yourself."
Annie nodded, but her eyes stayed on the hallway until Leigh disappeared into it.
He needed to leave. Kodiak wanted him back at the clubhouse to pack the shipment.
Hunter was halfway to the door when he paused, reached into his pocket, and pulled out the charging cord for the burner phone.
He turned back and held it out. "For the cell."
Annie took it, her fingers brushing his. "Thanks."
"You gonna be okay?" he asked.
She inhaled deeply, then met his gaze. "I feel better..."
He cupped her chin, tilting her head so he could read her lips. "Again."
"I feel better in the day. The nights are bad."
Hunter hesitated. "I'll come back."
He should stay away. The club needed him. The girls would be fine. They were safe.
Relief softened her face. He cupped her cheek, still warm from his chest. She looked at him, waiting, longing. He stepped away, lowered his chin, and went out the door. If he stayed any longer, he'd pull her into his arms again.
He surveyed the street before getting on his bike. He didn't take the shortest route home. Instead, he rode around the block twice. He frequently checked his mirrors to make sure no one was tailing him and that there were no parked cars with drivers hanging around.
The precautions were necessary. Annie hadn't spoken about her brother-in-law and his connection with the police. But thanks to Kodiak, he now knew who he was dealing with. Jason Stevens was a powerful threat.
Baddy saw him approaching the clubhouse and pushed the gate open. He rode through and parked in the long line of motorcycles. It wasn't even eight o'clock yet, and the place was packed with members. Most of the time, they didn't roll in until the afternoon.
Inside the clubhouse, the air was thick with grease, coffee, and tension. He stepped forward, needing a shower and a change of clothes before he checked in with Kodiak.
Baker pushed through the kitchen door and set down a platter of pancakes. By his facial expression, he yelled something to the crowd.
Rusty waved at Hunter, motioning to the plate and his mouth. He shook his head. If he ate now, he'd be asleep for the rest of the day. He had shit to do.
Spotting Kodiak on the other side of the room near the pool table with Cruz, Rocco, and Duke, he cut a path through the room and approached his president.
Kodiak turned toward him. "We're behind on shipment."
Hunter said, "I'll shower and be ready."
"No time." Kodiak motioned him to follow. "We..."
Everything else that was said was lost on him. They all talked, but he couldn't read their lips.
He followed them to the garage, already bracing for the long day ahead. But even as he stepped into the grind of club life, his mind stayed back at the house with Annie.
With the girl who'd fallen asleep in his arms.