Chapter 33
Hunter swung out. His fist connected with someone's face.
Hands grabbed his vest. He twisted, throwing himself forward and breaking loose.
Ring tackled him. He swung, going down, pushing the arms off him.
Scrambling to his feet again, he pushed past the others and stumbled to the table, grabbing the bottle.
The whiskey no longer burned his throat, and it didn't take away the silence. Nothing ever did.
Hunter clutched the bottle. His raw knuckles pounded with pain. He glared at the others to back off. If he wanted to drink until he passed out, that was his fucking right.
Every Royalla member who came near him—whether to calm him down, to talk, or to challenge—got his fists. He swung hard, again and again, until the ache in his hands matched the ache in his chest.
The silence was his world. No shouts, no curses, no warnings.
Just the dull thud of his fists against flesh and the vibration of bodies hitting the floor.
He couldn't hear the questions or the shouts from the Royalla members, wondering what the fuck was going on, because he refused to look at their faces.
All he saw was a lot of commotion coming at him. Too much. Faces twisted. Hands reaching.
And he hated it.
He fucking hated not hearing.
He hated the silence.
Because in that black silence, he believed he'd lost Annie. The one person he let into his world. The only person who was comfortable being with him and saying nothing at all.
If he could've heard what was happening at Jason's house, he would've known what to do.
If he could've caught the explosions, the cries, the words, he could've fought for her.
He could've stepped in, taken control, and made sure she never left his side.
But instead, he was useless. Watching her ride away with the cop was the lowest point in his life. He was powerless to stop her.
Now he had no idea what the police had done to her and Leigh. No idea where they'd gone. No idea if they were safe.
The bottle slammed against the top of the table, his vision blurring with rage. He wanted to tear his world apart until he could hear something. Anything.
A hand grabbed his shoulder. Hunter spun, swinging hard, but he lost his balance before he could connect.
Kodiak slammed him against the wall. The impact rattled his bones. Hunter's breath ripped through his lungs, and he raised his fists, but Kodiak's iron grip wouldn't let him go. His lips moved. Hunter caught the word on his mouth.
"Enough."
Hunter's chest heaved, his eyes burning. He wanted to fight, wanted to keep swinging until the silence broke. But Kodiak's hold refused to loosen.
Then Kodiak leaned closer, his mouth forming the words slowly, deliberately, so Hunter had no choice but to read them.
"The girls are not at the police station."
Hunter froze. His heart slammed against his ribs. He searched Kodiak's face, desperate for more.
"Where?" he asked.
Kodiak's jaw tightened. He shook his head. "Nobody knows."
The words hit harder than any punch.
Hunter sagged against the wall, the fight draining out of him. He lowered his fists. His shoulders slumped, and he cradled his head in his hands. The silence pressed in, heavier than ever.
He wanted Annie. Needed her. But she was gone.
And he didn't know how to find her.
He couldn't go outside and scream at the top of his lungs for her. Even if she answered, he wouldn't hear her.
The loneliness clawed at him. The silence wrapped around his heart like chains. He thought of her eyes as the patrol cruiser drove past, the way she looked at him—pleading, apologizing, loving.
He squeezed his head. This was all his fault.
Because he was deaf. Because he was useless. Because he couldn't protect her.
Hunter panted for breath. He wanted to scream out in an unfamiliar voice, no matter how loud and ugly he sounded, but he swallowed the pain.
Kodiak's grip finally loosened, but his eyes stayed locked on Hunter's. "We'll find them," his mouth formed.
Hunter nodded once, though the weight in his chest continued to crush him.
He was a fighter. A protector. A man who loved louder than anyone. But he couldn't do it alone. He needed the club. Within the circle of Royalla members, there was safety. He could control the clubhouse's environment.
But would Annie be willing to join him in a lifestyle where he could love her?