Chapter 9 Carver
The smell of bacon and fresh coffee fills the common room as I sit at one of the long wooden tables, a plate in front of me loaded with eggs, hash browns, and toast. The place is already buzzing—brothers moving in and out, voices low, boots heavy against the floor—but my focus stays on the food and the caffeine I need to get moving.
I’m halfway through my second cup when Ranch walks in with Athena at his side.
My grip tightens slightly on the mug.
He doesn’t just walk in with her—he guides her, his hand low at her back. Possessive, but in a soft way. When they reach the table, he pulls out a chair for her like some damn gentleman, and Athena gives him a soft smile as she sits.
Yeah. That.
Ranch lifts his chin toward Jenna behind the counter. “Two plates,” he calls.
Jenna glances up, gives him a quick nod, and already moves—no words needed.
Ranch drops into the chair beside Athena, stretching out. Athena smooths her hair back, looking very put-together as she usually does.
“Morning,” she says.
“Morning,” I answer, setting my mug down. I study her for a second, then get right to it. “How’s Raven?”
Athena’s expression softens, but there’s something thoughtful behind it. “She was back at work yesterday.”
That surprises me. “Already?”
“She insisted.” Athena folds her hands loosely on the table. “Said she wanted to be there to welcome my new patient.”
I lean back in my chair. “How was she?”
Athena tilts her head slightly, considering. “Fine in the morning. You wouldn’t have known anything was wrong.”
“But?” I prompt.
Ranch glances between us but stays quiet, just listening.
Athena exhales slowly. “After lunch… something shifted.”
My jaw tightens. “Shifted how?”
“She seemed distracted. Not forgetful, exactly, but… off.” Athena’s brows pull together. “Her energy dropped. She said she was just tired.”
“But you don’t believe that?” I ask.
Athena meets my eyes evenly. “No.”
“She refused to go home,” Athena continues. “I suggested it more than once. She brushed me off.”
Jenna arrives with two plates, setting them in front of Ranch and Athena. Ranch gives her a quick nod of thanks before sliding one of the plates closer to Athena. She murmurs something soft to him, but my mind isn’t on them.
“What happened after?” I ask.
Athena picks up her fork but doesn’t eat yet. “We closed up the office together. I walked out with her. She seemed nervous.”
“She could just be remembering what happened the other night,” Ranch chimes in.
“Maybe.” Athena takes a bite of scrambled eggs and moans.
I smirk at the flash of lust that crosses over Ranch’s features.
If Athena isn’t careful, Ranch will drag her back upstairs instead of letting her finish breakfast. “Jenna?” Athena calls out as the girl passes by our table with a stack of dirty dishes.
“Yes,” Jenna says, stopping at our table and offering Athena a wide smile.
Jenna is a sweet girl who has lived in the clubhouse since she turned eighteen.
Shield found her attempting to rob a convenience store.
He brought her here when he learned her foster parents kicked her out of the house the minute she turned eighteen.
He made it clear to the entire club that she wasn’t to be treated as a Kutte Bunny.
We all assumed he’d eventually claim her, but we soon realized that he saw Jenna more like a little sister.
However, our prospect, Laser, has had his eye on Jenna almost since the day he arrived.
So far, Shield hasn’t noticed Laser’s interest, or if he has, he’s been keeping quiet about it.
I figure Laser won’t make his move until after he’s become a patched member.
“These are amazing. Did you make them? I need the recipe.”
Jenna chuckles. “Not me. Our newest Kutte Bunny made them. She’s working the breakfast and dinner shift now. She’s a godsend. Tamara and I were struggling before she showed up. I don’t know how Kingsley did everything she did. She basically did the work of three Bunnies.”
A growl precedes Shield’s presence at our table. “How many times do I have to tell you that you aren’t a Bunny?” Shield asks Jenna.
Jenna rolls her eyes. “I know I’m not a sex Bunny. Even though I think that’s unfair. Neither is Jinx. She’s a Bunny, but she’s only cooking for you guys.”
I sense Athena stiffen next to me. Ranch must have felt it, too, because he glances at her.
“Something wrong? You know I don’t get together with the Bunnies, right? None of the guys force them to have sex.”
Athena shakes her head. “What? No, of course I know you don’t have sex with the Kutte Bunnies. I wouldn’t be here if I thought you did. I just didn’t know you had a new Bunny.”
“Yeah, she showed up last week. Dante wasn’t sure about bringing her on board, but I guess she talked him into it. She doesn’t want to have sex with anyone, but she offered to cook.”
“You know, I would like to meet her,” Athena says, pushing back from the table.
“I can go get her,” Jenna offers, but Athena just shakes her head as she pats Jenna on the arm.
“No, that’s okay. She’s probably busy. I’ll be right back.”
Watching Athena leave, I turn to Ranch, who is staring at the back of his girlfriend. Rather than question him about Athena’s behavior, I turn to Shield.
“Anything more about the attack on Raven?”
He shakes his head. “No. Maestro followed the car via traffic cams into a residential area and lost it. The only thing interesting about the location is that it is the same subdivision where the man who gave him his alibi lives.”
“You think they’re lying?” I ask.
He shrugs. “Maybe. I don’t like the guy. Raven claims she doesn’t remember who attacked her, but ...”
“But what?”
“I get the feeling she’s not being honest. I think she remembers more than she’s saying and that she has no intention of telling me what she knows.”
“Why would she do that?”
He shrugs.
Maestro slides into the seat next to Shield, his eyes fixed on me.
“Did you learn something more about the attack on Raven?” I ask him.
He shakes his head. “No, but I do have information for you.”
“Did you find out who’s been stealing from me?” I ask him.
Shield frowns. “You got robbed again?”
I nod. “The mini mall got hit the previous night. Whoever it was didn’t get much, just some hand tools. But it’s pissing me off. Tell me you got a look at them.”
“They knew what they were doing.” He props his forearms on the table, lowering his voice slightly. “There were two of them. They kept their hoodies up and their heads down. They avoided the cameras.”
“Faces?” Shield asks.
Maestro shakes his head. “Not a damn one.”
I curse under my breath, dragging a hand over my mouth. “So we’ve got nothing.”
“Not nothing,” Maestro says, then gestures like he’s replaying it in his head. “I think we might be dealing with kids.”
“Kids?”
“One was taller; it might be a guy, but I think the other was either a kid or a woman,” he says. “Both were thin, like really thin.”
Shield frowns. “Teenagers?”
Maestro shrugs. “Maybe.”
I sit back, tension coiling tight in my chest. “You couldn’t tell if they were boys or girls?”
“Nope. Couldn’t tell anything for sure. It was just a feeling I got watching them.”
Silence hangs heavy for a second before I exhale. “We need more cameras. Cover every damn angle so this doesn’t happen again.”
Maestro huffs, not impressed. “Cameras will give us better footage, sure. But they won’t stop the thefts.”
I glance at him. “What’s your play then?”
He leans in slightly, voice turning harder. “Post prospects. Rotate ’em as guards. Let’s put some bodies out there and see if these little ghosts still feel brave enough to try it again.”
Shield nods slowly, but my mind’s already running through the logistics.
“Izzy is out of town, so that leaves Laser, Cole, Simon, and Axel,” I murmur.
“I could help,” Maestro offers.
I shake my head. “With Smoke and Izzy in Chicago, Byte needs you in the clubhouse.”
A dark look passes over Maestro’s features, but I don’t have time to deal with whatever’s bothering him.
“We haven’t had any problems with the construction sites behind the clubhouse, but these bastards have hit the mini mall twice and the hospital near Crossroads.”
“Let’s bring it up in Church and see if any of the members want to help out,” Ranch suggested.
At that moment, Dante lets out a shrill whistle and gestures for everyone to follow him. He’s starting Church. I get up and follow. When we pass the kitchen, the door opens to let Athena out. She looks upset, but she quickly hides her emotions and smiles.
“Have fun in Church, guys,” she says, offering Ranch a kiss. “I’ll see you later.”