Peak
The phone vibrated in his pocket, but he never took his eyes off Mercer as he answered. "Yeah."
Captain's voice came through, rough from smoke and exhaustion. "Give me a status update."
"We've got one alive. His name is Mercer, and he’s government."
A low curse came across the call from Captain. "So Maeve was right."
"Yeah, looks that way,” Peak said.
Captain didn't waste time. "Leave him."
Peak frowned. "What?"
"You heard me,” Captain said.
"He knows who took Wren,” Maeve insisted.
"He also knows who ordered the hit,” Peak added.
Captain's voice hardened. "And he's exactly where they expect him to be."
Peak looked down at the mercenary. If they just left him there for his people to find, what would stop him from coming after them again?
Plus, he had to figure out what they wanted with him.
The whole time, he thought that this raid against his club was because of Maeve, but if Mercer was right, Peak’s past was quickly catching up to him, and that put everyone in the Grave Prowlers at risk.
"You want us to walk away?" Peak asked.
"I want you alive,” Captain said. “That asshole will want the same thing because you’re valuable to the government, so leaving him there is the only option.
” It wasn’t their only option. He could kill the son of a bitch, but that wasn’t really something that Peak wanted to do either—especially if Mercer knew where Wren was.
“If we leave now, we might never find out what happened to my sister,” Maeve said.
“But you’ll live to fight another day, and that’s what matters right now,” Captain insisted. His Prez was right, as much as he hated the plan. If they did things Captain’s way, they’d live to fight another day, and right now, that was what mattered.
“Fine, we will leave him here,” Peak said. Peak glanced toward Maeve and noticed her disappointment. He hated the way that she was looking at him, but this might be the only way that he could save them all.
Her shoulders stiffened. "No." She shook her head. "He knows where Wren is."
Captain heard her through the phone. "I know, sweetheart. But if Mercer doesn't check in, they’ll know something is wrong.” He was right.
Professional teams lived on schedules. Miss one check-in, and someone would notice.
"Listen carefully," Captain continued. "I've got three brothers sweeping the tunnel from our side.
They're ten minutes out. You and Maeve are leaving. "
Peak looked around the underground chamber. "What about this place?"
"We'll secure it,” Captain promised.
"What about Mercer?" Peak asked.
Captain's answer came without hesitation. "Warden will deal with him." Peak knew exactly what that meant—Mercer wasn't leaving Maryland. At least, not breathing.
"No." Maeve's voice cut through the chamber. Mercer and Peak both looked at her. She stared at Peak. "He stays alive."
Peak arched an eyebrow. "You sure that’s a good idea?"
She nodded. "If he dies, so does every lead to Wren.
" Captain stayed quiet on the call. Maeve stepped closer to Peak and took the phone from his hand. "Please, Captain, give me your word that you’ll keep him alive until I can find my sister.” It was the first time Peak had heard her ask anyone for anything.
The woman who carried flash bangs in her jacket and was able to hack military-grade security in two minutes.
Hell, the woman who'd spent eighteen months hunting monsters alone. She looked tired.
Peak looked back at Mercer and then at his phone. "Captain."
"What,” his Prez asked.
"We're bringing him with us,” Peak said.
"No,” Captain shouted. “You need to get the fuck out of there, Peak.”
"He talks, or he dies,” Peak said. “It’s the only way to find Wren.”
Captain exhaled. "Peak—"
"No.” Peak surprised himself with how firm his voice sounded. "If Maeve's right, then he's our only witness."
Silence filled the other end of the call until Captain muttered, "You've got exactly one hour to get him here. After that, I want both of you gone." The call ended, and Peak slid his phone back into his pocket.
Maeve looked at him. "You didn't have to do that. He sounded pretty pissed off that you were going against his orders.”
"I know,” Peak said.
"Why did you do it?” she asked.
He shrugged. "I don't like loose ends."
She smiled faintly. "Liar."
Peak laughed. "Okay." He looked at Mercer. "I don't like the look on your face every time somebody mentions your sister."
Her smile disappeared. "That's closer to the truth.” She was right. It was the most truthful thing he’d said in a damn long time now. He’d do just about anything to help Maeve, and why that was, he had no clue. But he planned on figuring it out.
Mercer sat in the center of the Grave Prowler’s clubhouse with his wrists zip-tied to the steel chair.
Warden hadn't bothered being gentle. The mercenary's face was bruised from where he'd hit the concrete in the tunnel, and dried blood streaked down the side of his neck.
Even beaten and restrained, he looked far too comfortable. Peak hated comfortable prisoners.
Captain sat at the head of the table, fingers steepled beneath his beard. Ruin leaned against the wall beside the door, shotgun resting across his forearms. Every patched member of the Grave Prowlers watched Mercer like a pack of wolves waiting for permission to attack their prey.
Maeve stood beside Peak. She hadn't said a word since they'd ridden back to the clubhouse. Her eyes never left Mercer, but then again, Mercer’s never left her. "You've gotten prettier."
“Go fuck yourself,” Maeve spat. Peak took some sick satisfaction in her response to the guy.
Mercer's smile was slow. "Cancer took your mother, didn't it?" Peak heard Maeve inhale sharply. Without thinking, he stepped half a pace in front of her. Mercer seemed to notice, and he laughed.
“Ahh, the protector,” Mercer drawled. Peak's jaw tightened. Mercer was testing his restraint, and he had to admit he was losing it.
Captain slammed his palm onto the table. "Enough." The room fell silent. "You know why you're here."
Mercer leaned back as far as the zip ties allowed. "I imagine it's because your little hacker here tackled me to the ground." A few brothers chuckled, but Peak didn't.
Captain's voice remained flat. "Where's Wren Carter?"
Mercer's smile faded. "I don't know." Warden crossed the room in three strides and drove a fist into Mercer's ribs.
The crack echoed through the clubhouse, and Mercer grunted.
Peak had seen enough interrogations over the years to recognize trained resistance.
Pain wouldn't break him—not quickly, at least.
Captain knew it too. "It would be in your best interest to answer the question."
Mercer shrugged. "I’ve forgotten what the question even was."
"Where is Wren Carter?” Warden growled.
"No idea,” Mercer said. Warden landed another punch to his ribs, and Mercer grunted. Peak leaned against the wall, watching. Mercer was controlling the pace of the interrogation. He was buying time, and that bothered Peak.
Mercer looked toward the security monitors mounted in the corner, and something felt wrong. His eyes lingered on the front gate camera, and Peak checked for any movement, but saw nothing. Still, something felt off.
Maeve stepped forward. "Can I ask him something?" Captain looked at Peak, and he gave a slight nod. Captain motioned her forward. Maeve stopped inches from Mercer. "So—” Her voice was calm even though Peak knew that she had to be anything but calm. “Is Wren still alive?"
Mercer's eyes met hers, and for the first time since Peak had met him, the man hesitated. It was barely noticeable, less than a second, but Peak caught it. "So you don't know,” Maeve said.
Mercer smiled again. "I didn't say that."
"You didn't have to." Maeve folded her arms over her chest. "You blinked." Mercer's smile disappeared, and Peak's pulse quickened. Maeve had landed a hit to the guy without having to use her fists at all. She was a smart woman, and Mercer’s confidence was beginning to fade.
"You've never been able to lie to me." Maeve continued quietly.
"You remember?" Mercer's jaw flexed. "When you interviewed me after the Richmond operation.
" Peak looked sharply at Maeve. Had Mercer interviewed her?
Maeve acted like she barely knew the guy, but now she was saying that they had a shared past.
Mercer noticed Peak’s surprise. "You haven't told your biker boyfriend everything."
Peak moved before he realized he was moving. His fist slammed into Mercer's jaw hard enough to send the chair skidding across the floor. The room went silent as Peak stood over him. "Watch your mouth."
Mercer spat blood onto the concrete and then smiled up at Peak. "Now I know."
Peak frowned. "Know what?"
"You care about her,” Mercer said. He wanted to tell the guy that he was wrong, but for some reason, he had become invested in Maeve and her story from the start.
Maeve reached for Peak's arm. "Don't." He looked at her like she had lost her mind. "He's trying to make you angry."
"I already am angry,” Peak said.
"I know." Her hand remained on his forearm. "He wants you emotionally compromised." Peak took one slow breath, and then another before stepping back. She was right, and he was better than that.
Mercer chuckled softly. "Good girl."
Maeve's expression never changed. "Tell me where Wren is."
"No,” Mercer said.
"Is she in Maryland?"
"No." Mercer smiled. "You’re not asking the right questions, Maeve. You’re better than this."
Peak's phone vibrated, but he ignored it. It buzzed again, and Captain frowned. "Answer it." Peak glanced at the screen. The caller ID read:
SHOP SECURITY
It was from his motorcycle shop.
Peak answered immediately. "This is Peak." The alarm company's automated voice played.
Warning. Silent alarm activated. Dixon Customs.
Peak's blood ran cold. Nobody should've been at his shop. He had closed down for the day, but if the security system was right, and it usually was, someone was there.