38. Kate
Kate
The police car pulled into the clubhouse lot, headlights cutting across the bikes lined up outside.
My hands twisted together in my lap, my chest aching, every breath shallow.
Noah.
That was all I could think about. The second the officer opened the back door of the car for me, I was out.
Before they even had a chance to say anything, my eyes were already scanning the area for Finn.
He was there, he had to be. I’d told the police what happened.
They’d seen the bruises on my face. Self-defence.
He’d saved Noah and me, but nobody in the station would tell me where he was.
They wouldn’t keep him, would they?
The officers stepped out behind me, their eyes flicking towards Reaper and the brothers waiting outside. Tension hung heavy across the space between them, but then another man stepped forward.
“All right, that’s enough,” he said calmly, flashing his badge. “I’ll take it from here.”
The officers hesitated then nodded, stepping back.
The plainclothes officer’s gaze softened slightly when it landed on me. “I’m Marc. I work with Reaper. Go on. Your baby is inside.”
I didn’t wait. I ran.
The doors slammed open under my hands as I rushed inside, my eyes darting wildly until I saw Lucy standing near the bar, and in her arms was Noah.
A broken sound left me as I rushed forward, my legs almost giving out when I reached them. “Noah.”
Lucy didn’t hesitate, placing him straight into my arms.
The second I felt him against me, warm and safe, everything inside me cracked. I dropped my face into his hair, my body shaking as sobs tore out of me.
“I’ve got you,” I whispered over and over, holding him closer. “I’ve got you, baby. I’ve got you.”
My hands moved over him without thinking, checking, needing to know.
“Is he okay? Did they hurt him?” My voice broke on the words.
“He’s okay,” Lucy assured me. “He missed you, but he’s okay.”
Relief hit me so hard, it almost made me dizzy, but it didn’t last. My eyes lifted again, searching.
“Where’s Finn?” I looked around the bar but couldn’t see him.
Lucy hesitated, and that was enough.
My stomach dropped.
“He’s still with the police,” Maria said gently.
“Still?” I repeated, my voice quieter now, uncertainty creeping in. “They took my statement. They saw what happened. It was self-defence . . . he saved Noah.”
“They said they just needed to ask a few questions.” A cold knot formed in my chest. “They’ll let him go,” I said quickly, more to myself than anyone else. “They have to.” But doubt had already crept in, poisoning the edges of that thought.
“He’ll be okay,” Lucy said, stepping closer. “Reaper and the others are handling it.”
The lump in my throat grew larger. “He was covered in blood,” I whispered. “He lost control. What if they don’t see it the way we do?”
What if they only saw violence and didn’t see why? Fear wrapped around my chest, my breaths growing thinner. I pressed Noah closer, grounding myself in his warmth.
“He won’t be alone,” Lucy said firmly. “Not ever. He’s one of ours, and so are you.”
“Come on. Let’s get Noah into bed,” Maria suggested softly, placing her hand on my arm and giving it a little squeeze.”
I nodded, but it didn’t settle the storm inside me. I forced myself to move, carrying Noah upstairs, needing to see him somewhere safe, somewhere untouched by everything that had happened.
I’d refused the hospital. I wanted to get back to Noah, and honestly, I’d had worse. My stepfather had made sure of that over the years. A bruise and a split lip didn’t matter. Not tonight. Not when Noah needed me and I needed him.
I laid him down gently, hovering over him, watching his chest rise and fall like it was the only thing keeping me standing.
“You’re okay,” I whispered. “Mama’s right here.”
I brushed my fingers over his tiny hand. “Your daddy . . . he was a good man,” I murmured. “He didn’t get enough time with us, but he loved you. I know he did.”
I swallowed, trying to dislodge the lump in my throat. “And Finn . . .” My voice wavered. “He came for us. He didn’t have to, but he did.” I shook my head slightly, like I could push the fear away.
“They’re going to let him go. He’s going to come back.” I had to believe that.
I pressed a soft kiss to Noah’s head before stepping away, grabbing the baby monitor, and heading back downstairs.
The clubhouse buzzed around me, quieter than usual, like everyone was holding their breath.
I sank onto the sofa beside Lucy, Maria, and Honey, my eyes flicking to the monitor every few seconds, needing that constant reassurance.
“I still can’t believe it,” I said.
Lucy glanced at me. “Believe what?”
“That I’m here,” I replied. “That I feel at home here. Like I belong, even just a little.”
“You do,” Lucy said without hesitation.
Maria nodded. “More than you think.”
I let out a slow breath, but my gaze drifted, landing on the wall behind the bar.
The framed photo.
Caleb.
I’d walked past it so many times and never really seen it. Now, I couldn’t look away. He looked . . . happy.
“You just noticed him?” Lucy asked.
I nodded. “I didn’t see it before.”
“You weren’t ready to,” Maria said gently.
“I thought I’d lost everything,” I whispered, “but maybe you were his last gift.” My hand curled slightly around the baby monitor. “He didn’t just leave me somewhere to run to,” I added. “He left me people.”
My voice softened. “He left me . . . Finn.” Saying his name made my chest ache all over again.
Suddenly, the door opened and the shift in the room was instant. I looked up as a man in a dark suit stepped inside, followed by Keno. I didn’t recognise him.
He walked straight towards Reaper, like he knew exactly where he was going.
“Moretti,” Reaper said in way of acknowledgement.
I noticed how Riot took a few steps and stood tall behind Reaper.
“We need to talk.”
Reaper didn’t move. “About?”
“Your man,” the man said. “Finn.”
My heart stuttered painfully in my chest.
“What about him?” Reaper asked, his voice calm but sharp.
“I can help you get him out of this.” The room went quiet. I was scared to move, scared to breathe in case he changed his mind.
“What’s in it for you?” Reaper asked.
The man gave a small, predatory smile. “You used to do good business. You know how this works.”
I didn’t understand what that meant, but I didn’t like the way it sounded.
“If my people handle this,” he continued, “the Dead Knights owe us.”
The words settled heavily in the room.
My fingers curled around the baby monitor as my heart started to pound. Owe them? What did that mean for Finn?
Reaper didn’t answer straight away. His attention moved across the room, calculating, then back to the man.
“I’ll take it to church.”
Not yes, but not a refusal either. All I could think was, please, whatever it takes, just let him come home.