Page 72 of Property of Anchor
I tried not to laugh, especially when I noticed Dad watching.His arms were crossed over his chest, but… he wasn’t scowling.In fact, when Anchor met his gaze, Dad gave a small nod.It was the kind of nod that saidI see you.Don’t fuck it up.
I cleared my throat and wiped my palms on my jeans.“We’re on schedule.If we keep up today, we’ll be done by Friday.Ghost bride’s room is almost finished.”
Anchor nodded.“Good.”He glanced toward Lost.“Still keeping eyes on her?”
Lost saluted.“She hasn’t gone anywhere without me.”
“Good.”Anchor looked back at me and lowered his voice.“I know you don’t like it, doll.But you’ve got a psycho out there with a hard-on for chaos.Until we find out who the hell it is, I want you with someone at all times.”
I rolled my eyes.“Yes, I know.Lost has practically become my second skin.”
Anchor’s expression darkened.“This isn’t a joke.”
I sighed.“I’m not joking.I just… don’t like being babysat.”
“And I don’t like the idea of you in a shallow grave, Pearl.”His voice was low, rough, full of heat and fear.“We do this my way.You go home with Lost when you’re done here.I’ll meet you back at the cabin.”
I hesitated, then nodded.“Fine.But you owe me.”
His brow lifted.“Owe you for what?”
“For listening to you and not arguing like I really,reallywant to.”
He laughed and pulled me against his chest.“I’ll keep that in mind, doll.”
He kissed me again, softer this time.A promise in the middle of madness.Then he turned and left, leaving me standing there with my heart hammering in my chest and everyone pretending not to stare.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Anchor
Church wasn’t supposed to feel like a pressure cooker.But as I sat at the head of the table, that’s exactly what it felt like, tight, hot, and ready to fucking blow.
Skull was on my left.Prime next to him.Post leaned back with his arms crossed over his chest.Push and Vin flanked the far end of the table.Piney lit a cigarette with a shaking hand while Cross, Pull, and Bob filled in the rest of the chairs.Wannabe was posted just outside the doors, keeping lookout, and Lost was still at Pearl’s cabin because if anything happened to her, I wouldn’t survive it.None of us would.
I ran a hand over my jaw and let my eyes roam the table.Every man here had my trust.Or at least, they had it yesterday.
But after what Skull found on the footage from the cliffs—someone in a Kings of Anarchy hoodie moving in one of the camera blind spots moments before the last body was found—I couldn’t afford to give blind trust anymore.That was a luxury I didn’t have.
Skull spoke first, keeping his voice level.“We know the figure’s wearing one of our hoodies.Faded patch, probably old.But it’s our cut, our brand.”
Post’s chair creaked as he leaned forward.“We’re sure it’s not Venom?”
“Could be,” Prime said.“But it could also be a fucking ghost.No one’s seen Venom in a year.”
“Hell,” Bob muttered.“He could be dead for all we know.”
“That’s optimistic,” I grunted.
“It could be someone else,” Wannabe said from the open door, half leaning in.“I mean, those hoodies are around.Someone could’ve lifted one off a hanger or got it from a prospect who didn’t give a shit.”
Cross raised his eyebrows.“You’re a prospect, Wannabe.Is that your hoodie?You think this is somewannabeserial killer using our brand to frame us?”
Wannabe shrugged.“I’m just saying it could be a possibility.”
Voices overlapped.Vin was insistent it had to be Venom.Piney was pissed someone might be inside the club feeding info.Push was halfway out of his chair like he was ready to pace.Everyone had something to say, and none of it was worth a damn.
I slammed my fist down on the table.The noise cut through the room like a whipcrack.
