“Just asking,” he said, holding up his hands in mock surrender.“Not every day we see you playing house.Must be serious if you’re willing to risk Savior’s wrath.”
I stepped toward him, a growl building in my throat, but Thunder intercepted me, placing a calming hand on my chest.“Easy, brother.He’s just yanking your chain.”
I took a deep breath, forcing down the anger.Sticks wasn’t worth it, and I needed my head clear for the conversation waiting in Savior’s office.
“They’re talking about me,” I said flatly.“About Karoline.”
Thunder shrugged.“You brought in a woman and kid without talking to anyone first.What did you expect?”
Put like that, it did sound serious.But what was I supposed to do?Let Karoline fend for herself against whatever government assassins had killed her brother?Not to mention, it wasn’t like I hadn’t told anyone at all.Wire and Atlas had been helping me, and I’d talked to Tempest.Even still, I understood where he was coming from.
“It’s complicated,” I muttered.
“Always is with women,” Thunder agreed, steering me toward the hallway leading to Savior’s office.He lowered his voice.“For what it’s worth, I think she’s good for you.Got a fire in her eyes.Stands up straight when the other old ladies come around, doesn’t flinch.Kid’s cute too.”
I hadn’t realized Thunder had been paying such close attention.But then, that was his way -- quiet observer, taking everything in.He saw more than most gave him credit for.
“Thanks,” I said, meaning it.
At the end of the hallway, Saint lounged against the wall outside Savior’s door, arms crossed over his broad chest.Our VP straightened as I approached, his gaze assessing.
“He’s waiting,” Saint said, nodding toward the closed door.“Wire’s inside too.”
That was unexpected.Wire rarely got called in for something like this.Savior only pulled him in whenever his computer skills were needed.What the hell was I walking into?My unease deepened.
“How bad is it?”I asked.
Saint’s expression remained carefully neutral.“He wants to hear it from you.”
I nodded, squaring my shoulders.“Then let’s not keep him waiting.”
Saint pushed off from the wall, his hand coming to rest briefly on my shoulder in a gesture that might have been support or warning.“Remember your oath to this club, brother.That comes first.Always.”
The words hit like a punch to the gut.My oath to the club.My promise to Kris.My growing feelings for Karoline and Athena.Three separate loyalties pulling me in directions that might prove impossible to reconcile.
I took a deep breath, steadying myself for what was coming.Then I knocked once on Savior’s door and stepped inside to face the music.
Savior’s office smelled of leather and whiskey.Our President sat behind his massive desk.Wire was perched on the edge of the couch against the wall, his laptop open on his knees, face illuminated by the screen glow.Neither of them spoke as I entered, the silence stretching taut.I’d been in this room hundreds of times -- for club business, for celebrations, for discipline.This time felt different.This time, everything I valued hung in the balance.
“Close the door,” Savior said, his voice deceptively calm.
I did as ordered, then stood and waited, having a feeling I was in deep shit.Savior studied me, his face giving nothing away.Then he reached for a bottle of Jameson on his desk and poured two generous measures into glass tumblers.
“Sit,” he said, pushing one glass toward the empty chair across from him.
“I’ll stand.”The words came out more defiant than I’d intended.
Savior’s eyebrow arched slightly.“Suit yourself.”He knocked back half his whiskey in one swallow, then set the glass down.“Wire, show him what you found.”
Wire turned his laptop toward me.On the screen, satellite imagery showed three black SUVs moving in formation down the highway that led to our town.“Government plates,” Wire said.“They hit town limits twenty minutes ago, checked into the Bluebird Motel.Six men, all armed, all moving with military precision.”
My stomach clenched.“So they’ve definitely found them.”
“And they found us,” Savior countered, his voice hardening.“You’ve had civilians living in your house without permission for days now.I let it slide, thinking you’d come see me, but you didn’t.And now you’re saying trouble is heading our way because of your guests.”He leaned forward, palms flat on the desk.“You know damn well you’ve broken the rules.”
The accusation hung in the air, undeniable.I had broken the rules -- club rules that existed for a reason, rules I’d helped enforce over the years.Even if Wire had said he would tell Savior, I hadn’t made sure the Pres knew.But this was different.This was Kris’s family.
“I didn’t have a choice,” I said, reaching for the letter I kept folded in my pocket “My best friend was killed by these people.He left this letter, telling his sister to find me because they’d be in danger --”
