Page 14 of Peak’s Code

Peak frowned. "This isn't another motorcycle club."

"No, it ain't." Captain's voice cut across the radio. "Peak, get the girl out.”

"I'm on it."

"Use the back tunnel," Captain said.

Peak blinked. "The old bootlegging tunnel?"

"You remember where it comes out?" Captain asked.

"Marsh behind the machine shed,” Peak said. It had been a while since he had been in those tunnels, though.

"Exactly." Captain's voice hardened. "Get her the hell out of here."

"What about you?" Peak asked.

"We'll handle our house." The transmission ended, and Peak had a sick feeling that his club was going to have quite a fight on its hands. But Captain was right—he needed to get Maeve out, now.

Peak looked at Maeve. "We're moving."

She shook her head. "No."

He stared. "What the hell do you mean by no?"

"If I leave, they'll follow,” she said.

"Exactly, that’s why we’re leaving,” Peak insisted.

"They'll stop attacking if I give myself up."

Peak couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You want to surrender?"

"I want your brothers to live. I don’t want them to die for me,” she said.

"I know Captain, and he wouldn’t want you trading yourself for our club, Maeve. He won’t hand anyone over."

Maeve closed her eyes. "I never wanted this."

Peak grabbed her shoulders. "You listen to me." She looked up at him as tears fell freely down her cheeks. "My brothers made their choice the second they put kuttes on. They protect people because that's who they are. You don't get to sacrifice yourself for them." Something shifted behind her eyes, and she nodded. Peak blew out the breath he didn’t know that he was holding.

Another explosion rocked the room. He could tell that they were getting closer. Dust rained from the ceiling and the hallway lights died. The only lights they had left were the emergency lights.

Peak drew a flashlight from his vest. "Come on." He grabbed the key hanging from Warden's belt hook beside the door and unlocked the chain securing Maeve's cuff to the floor. Her wrists were finally free. She rubbed them briefly and then surprised him by holding out her hands.

"What?" he asked.

"Put the cuffs back," she ordered.

"You want them back on?"

"If someone sees us—” She nodded toward the hallway. "It'll look like you're moving a prisoner." Peak stared at her for a second. She was smart. He clicked one cuff around her left wrist and the other around his own.

Maeve looked down at their joined wrists. "That's not what I meant."

"I know,” he said. "They won’t be able to separate us this way.” He tugged gently on the chain.

She couldn't help smiling. "Creative."