Chapter 22
The truck rolled through the gate and into the fenced area surrounding the Royalla clubhouse. Hunter parked behind the garage, out of sight from the street. Annie and Leigh climbed out, their faces tight with questions.
"Sleep tonight." He walked them through the door and to the hallway. "I'll find something for you to eat."
The girls shook their heads, but they had to keep up their strength. He wasn't going to budge on that.
"We'll talk later."
They hesitated, but he guided them toward the room, watching until the door shut behind them. Only then did he go looking for Baker. He found the old man in the kitchen, waving a hand at him toward the stove. He'd put on the soup, anticipating their arrival.
He jogged toward the office to catch up with Prez. Inside, Kodiak was already seated, Cruz leaning against the wall, Baddy opening a can of beer. He motioned for them to talk, needing all the information they had from the outside.
Kodiak looked at him. "With the APB out on you, nowhere is safe. Every Washington State Patrol officer and Podunk police officer will be looking for you."
"What happened between them not arresting me and now?" He raked his hands through his hair. "Even the cops admitted Jason's accusations don't fit someone who is deaf."
Kodiak shook his head. "I don't know."
Hunter's jaw tightened. "What do I do?"
"We. You're not alone." Kodiak leaned forward. "Jason isn't going to give up. That's his wife in our clubhouse. Legally, he can claim..."
Hunter waved his hand, stopping him. "Again"
Prez was talking too fast. He couldn't keep up.
"Jason Stevens has more to lose. Annie can point the finger at him. He'll want her gone. Leigh's his wife. He'll never let her walk free. He'll use the police to terrorize you. His word against yours."
"His what?"
"Word." Kodiak slowed and opened his mouth wider as he talked. "I won't let you risk your freedom."
Hunter rocked back on the heels of his boots, the truth sinking like lead. He couldn't keep the girls hidden forever. Jason wasn't going to stop. But he could stop Jason from hurting them again.
"If they go to the police, will someone there help them?" he asked.
No one in the office wanted to say it outright, but he knew. The gas station had been his mistake. He should've been more aware. Should've looked behind him. Should've never left the truck. His deafness had put him at a disadvantage, and it had nearly cost them everything.
His failure burned hot in his chest. If Baddy hadn't been with him, the girls would've been taken to the police station and handed over to Jason the moment he arrived.
Angry at himself for his weakness. Angry at the situation that kept them running. Angry at his father and his fucking shotgun for stealing his hearing in the first place.
And beneath it all, the ache that he hadn't been enough to protect Annie killed him.
She deserved better. A man who could protect her without hesitation. A man who wasn't broken. If he had his hearing, he could better protect her.
But he wasn't one to give up. He always had the idea that if he couldn't adapt, he'd make his own fucking rules. That's what he'd do now.
"Jason has to be removed." He unfolded his arms. "I'll stop him from hurting them."
Kodiak dropped his gaze and shook his head. "He's a cop. It's too risky."
Hunter stood. His decision was already made. "No more running. I'll find the fucker and take him out on my own."
"Hunter." Kodiak stood to stop him.
He walked out of the office and to the kitchen, where Baker had three bowls of soup and crackers spread out on a tray. He nodded his thanks and took the food back to the room as he wrapped his head around his decision.
When he reached the room, he paused at the door. He could hear nothing, but he felt everything. The pull of her presence, the temptation of her trust.
The tray shook. He wasn't worth it. But he'd show her that he could make her world secure.
Hunter kicked the door with the toe of his boot. Annie let him in, and he walked inside and set the food on the counter. Annie and Leigh were watching him with wide, questioning eyes.
"You'll stay here. No more running." He pointed at the food. "Eat."
Annie grabbed his hand and brought his attention back to her. "For how long?"
"Not long. I'll stop Jason." He cupped her face, strumming his thumb against her cheek. "It'll be over soon."
Annie's brows knit together. "How are you stopping him?"
He looked at each girl and shook his head. What he planned to do was best kept to himself. He wasn't going to involve them. They had enough to worry about.
Leigh waved her hand. "You can't stop him."
They had no idea what he was capable of. They didn't realize how he could handle business and hide the evidence so well that no one would ever find it. Men who abused women shouldn't be allowed to breathe.
He wasn't about to let Jason Stevens get another shot at touching either one of them. If he got caught, it would be worth knowing they were no longer in danger.
Her skin was warm beneath his calloused fingers. "Rest."
She appeared ready to argue, but exhaustion held her back. He gently led her to the room and then carried the soup to them, hoping that when they were alone, they'd eat.
Then he returned to the kitchen, skipping the spoon, and lifted the bowl of soup to drink. Dead on his feet, he shut off the light, kicked off his boots, and stretched out on the couch. His mind churned, sharper than any blade.
He needed Jason's schedule. Needed to know when he came and went from the house. Needed to find the cracks in his armor, the weakness that would bring him down.
Every detail mattered. Every move needed to be precise. He wasn't dealing with a regular citizen. He was going up against law enforcement.
Like Royalla, the police had a built-in brotherhood. But like him, Jason would be alone at times. He needed to find that time when no one was there to protect him.
Hunter closed his eyes, the plan forming piece by piece in his head.
Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough.