Chapter 27
The bitter coffee woke Hunter and steadied his hands.
He sat at the table. The steaming mug was warming his palms. Occasionally, he flicked his gaze toward the clock on the wall.
He hesitated on leaving, hoping Annie would wake up before he left.
Just one look at her, one moment, would bring him enough pleasure to get through the ugliest part of his day.
But the minutes ticked by, and the silence stretched. He couldn't wait any longer.
He swallowed the last of the coffee, set the mug in the sink, and reached for his helmet.
It took him all week, dogging Jason's every step, to learn his schedule and pick up on his habits.
He'd mapped it all in his head. The neighbors coming and going, the times their cars pulled out and returned, the fucking garbage truck making its round each Thursday.
He knew where the cameras were pointed on the house three doors down, the blind spots, and the elderly neighbor who had never left her house all week but watched for the mail carrier through the front window between one and three in the afternoon.
Every detail mattered.
He couldn't afford to make one mistake.
With his helmet under his arm, he stepped toward the door. Jason thought he was untouchable, but Hunter had learned the truth.
Everyone had a weakness.
Outside, he nodded at Duke, Rocco, and Cannon gathered by the motorcycles, ready to ride out. He went to his Harley and followed the others out of the gate. Kodiak had given him a week off to see if he could find his way into Jason's world. He wasn't going to waste a second.
The motorcycle hummed with vibrations beneath him as he rolled slowly down the street. He'd spent the week memorizing every detail, and tonight was about confirmation.
Hunter parked in the shadows, helmet still on, and waited.
Minutes ticked by. Then Jason appeared, stepping out of his car, glancing once at the street before heading inside. No one else was around. No curious neighbors, no cars pulling in. Perfect.
Hunter checked the time. He watched the door.
Ten minutes.
Fifteen.
Twenty.
Jason stayed inside the house. Not a car went down the street. It was too early for the mail. Hunter's pulse stayed steady, his mind recording every second.
Satisfied, he started the bike and rode away from the curb. He had all the information he needed. Only the occasional schedule change, an emergency, or bad timing could mess up his plan.
After tomorrow, the past won't hurt them anymore. Then, all they needed was time to heal.
Leigh could stop looking over her shoulder.
Annie could move on with her life. He checked his side mirror, making sure he wasn't being followed.
As much as he wanted to make Annie part of his life, it was unfair to ask her to stay.
She confused gratitude with attraction, without considering the consequences of being involved with someone who was deaf.
Outside the clubhouse, he had a handicap.
It wasn't something he dwelled on or let stop him, but he had already spent some time in prison that he probably wouldn't have if he had his hearing.
Being taken in for questioning while trying to protect Annie served as a blunt reminder that anyone in his life would be at a disadvantage around him.
He'd had years to get used to living in a silent world. Annie had no idea what it was like.
Back at the clubhouse, he parked, stripped off his helmet, and walked inside. The familiar smell of smoke and leather wrapped around him, but his thoughts were elsewhere.
Tomorrow.
Tomorrow, between ten and ten-thirty, when the street was empty, and Jason was inside the house, it would all be over.
Hunter stayed in the main room, sitting at a table in the corner by the pool table. He stretched his fingers. He had to stay calm and cool.
Every detail was in place.
And Jason Stevens had no idea his clock was running out.
Kodiak and Cruz walked into the building. He motioned them over. This was a good time to tell them what he planned to do while the main room in the clubhouse was empty.
He'd already mentioned what needed to be done, but none of them took him seriously. They assumed he'd ask for help just like all the times Prez ordered someone else to go with him to cover his back when he couldn't hear danger coming.
He pointed at the empty chairs. "I need to talk."
Kodiak nodded.
He leaned forward and planted his elbows on the table. "I'm going after Jason Stevens tomorrow."
"No." Kodiak crossed his arms. "No fucking way."
He was ready for that reaction. "I'm doing this on my own time.
I'm telling you because I'm wearing the patch.
If you want me to take it off, I will." He studied their faces, trying to tell if he was speaking too loudly.
"I've spent every day following that fucker around.
I have a shot at him, and I want to take it. "
Cruz tapped the table, getting his attention. "Who do you plan on taking with you?"
"No one."
Cruz shook his head. "Too..."
"What?" He studied his mouth.
"Too risky." Cruz paused. "It's dangerous."
"Would it be for you?" He turned to Kodiak. "Or you?"
Kodiak spoke, but the words weren't clear until he leaned closer. "...after a cop."
He patted the air, telling him to slow down. His frustration level was sky high. It was hard to understand the emotion behind the words he was receiving without hearing their voices.
"This is my responsibility," he said.
Kodiak's gaze intensified. "You're involved with...?"
"Annie."
Kodiak pushed back his chair and stood, turning his back to him, literally putting a stop to the conversation. It was rude—not that any of the Royalla members ever lived by the proper rules of conversation with someone who was legally deaf.
Cruz approached Prez. The two men talked privately. Hunter leaned back in the chair and crossed his arms. They had to understand that he told them out of respect for the patch. But they wouldn't change his mind. He was going after Jason whether they approved or not.
Kodiak returned to the table, turned the chair, and sat down straddling the seat. "We've got a shipment going out next Friday."
"I'll be done by tomorrow at eleven o'clock in the morning."
Kodiak shook his head. "I can't ask my members to go up against a cop."
He dipped his chin, acknowledging the truth. If he wasn't involved with Annie, he wouldn't go against law enforcement. He also knew the consequences because everyone wearing a badge knew Jason Stevens had an APB out on him. Even if he gets away with the crime, they'll come after him.
"That's why I'm going alone." He inhaled deeply. "I'll need you to do me a favor."
Kodiak mumbled incoherently.
"They'll come after me, and I don't want the girls to see that happen." He looked Kodiak and Cruz in the eyes. "Can you make sure they get to Seattle? Annie has an apartment up there."
After several long seconds, Kodiak said, "Can you wait? Let's think of something else—"
"No." He stood. "I'm going to kill Jason Stevens tomorrow at ten-fifteen in the morning."
He stood, digging in his pocket for an old pack of smokes.
Needing to relax, he went outside. The decision was made.
Regardless of what he faced, he wasn't going to back down.
Annie had her whole life in front of her.
She needed to live without worry with her sister by her side.
Heal from the abuse and know there were good people out there willing to help her.