Page 56 of Texting the Wrong Bikers

“I heard you talking.” Owen says sleepily before noticing my expression. His smile falters.

My chest aches. Before I can tell him everything’s okay, Shadow steps forward quietly. “We’re just checking the house, kiddo.”

Somehow, the calm steadiness in his voice works, and Owen doesn’t ask a hundred and one questions. Owen nods seriously. “Okay.” He points at Trigger. “I don’t think Trigger wants to. He looks grumpy.”

Dash cackles. Trigger glares at everybody equally, including Owen, which only makes Owen laugh. Owen is the only person I know who isn’t remotely afraid of Trigger. Despite himself, Trigger smiles. The normalness of the moment almost makes me emotional.

“Hey, Owen, how about I tell you a story?” Shadow suggests.

Owen is surprised and delighted by the rare offer that he gladly follows Shadow into the next room. Once they’re out of earshot, Chief unfolds the note again, and my fear comes rushing back. “We’re putting cameras up tonight,” he says calmly.

I blink. “What?”

“Outside the house. Front and back.”

Trigger nods. “And driveway.”

“I don’t know if—”

“You do,” Trigger cuts in flatly.

I bristle. “There’s that bossiness again.”

“Yeah,” he says coldly. “Because somebody’s fucking watching you.”

Fear slithers unpleasantly beneath my ribs again.

Chief steps in before Trigger can completely bulldoze me. “We’re not asking to upset you, sweetheart.”

Dash glances toward the windows before speaking quietly. “A second note changes things. They’re not just gonna go away, Sadie.”

I wrap my arms tightly around myself. Deep down, I know they’re right. Shadow appears beside me, silently holding out a glass of water. I hadn’t even realized my hands were shaking. “Thanks,” I whisper. His fingers brush mine briefly and his touch is warm, steady, and grounding.

Trigger notices, of course, his jaw tightens. I think he’s going to say something, but just as quickly as he appeared, Shadow disappears again, taking a second glass to Owen. Moments later, the sound of his deep, soothing voice drifts into the living room as he begins his story.

Chief unfolds a small toolkit I hadn’t noticed he had on him while Dash starts bringing equipment in from saddlebags outside.

I stare. “You just carry surveillance cameras around?”

Dash grins lazily. “Preparedness is sexy.”

“It’s concerning.” Though in all honesty, I’m glad they thought of it.

“Also true.”

The next hour becomes organized chaos. Dash mounts cameras while talking constant nonsense. Chief handles wiring and positioning with calm efficiency, while he also checks every window and blind twice. Shadow continues to distract Owen, keeping him calm and entertained. Trigger hovers near me like an angry attack dog, trying very hard to pretend he isn’t. Every time I look nervous, his expression darkens. It should annoy me, but instead, it makes me feel terrifyingly safe.

By the time the rain outside turns heavier, the house somehow already feels more secure. Chief finishes checking one of the monitor feeds before calmly turning toward me. “You and Owen should stay at the clubhouse.”

I open my mouth automatically. “No.”

Trigger laughs once humorlessly. “Sweetheart—”

I cross my arms. “No. What was the point in putting up the cameras if we’re not staying here?”

Dash leans against the counter, watching me carefully now. “Sadie…”

“I’m not uprooting Owen over one creepy asshole.”