Page 107 of Peaks and Promises

CHAPTER 24

Summer

I had a lot of practice pretending everything was fine in front of my child. Most parents probably do.

Although most parents don’t have to worry every time they hear a group of motorcycles drive by.

Nate sat on the couch watching TV while I kept myself busy by making dinner. My eyes were drawn like a magnet to the clock on the microwave, and I reflexively checked my phone, hoping to hear from Reese. He hadn’t been gone that long, but every minute felt like an hour.

It couldn’t have been Mayhem. It was too soon. If Axel did find a way to trace where I’d gone, it would take time to find us. Wouldn’t it?

It was probably just a group of guys on Harleys, not even a club. I didn’t need to succumb to fear every time I heard a bike engine.

But if they were harmless, why hadn’t Reese come back yet? Or sent a message?

At least they hadn’t seen us.

The front door opened, and in the split second between hearing the dead bolt and Reese appearing, anger flashed through me. Not at Reese. At Axel. I was furious that he thought he could take my son.

As Reese shut the door, he asked me, “Are you okay?”

Brushing a strand of hair from my forehead, I took a deep breath. “Yeah, fine. Did you find them?”

“They stopped for a drink at the Timberbeast. Nothing to it. They were just passing through.”

“Thanks for making sure.”

“Of course.”

“Are all bikers bad?” Nate asked.

“No, buddy,” I said. “A lot of them are just regular people. Probably most. We just can’t take any chances right now.”

“What are you worried about?” His tone was nonchalant. “If the bad ones come, Reese will take care of it.”

Reese met my eyes, but I couldn’t read his expression. I wanted to believe that, but Reese was only one man. And I knew what Mayhem members—especially Axel—were capable of.

The house was silent. I rolled over and looked at the clock next to the bed. It was after one in the morning, and I couldn’t sleep.

Counting down the hours until my alarm would go off didn’t help. Neither did staring at the ceiling, seething with frustration. Those bikers had been harmless. Just some guys riding through town.

But my heart rate wouldn’t slow. And every time I closed my eyes, I pictured Axel riding away with Nate.

I was angry. At Axel for coming back into our lives. And at myself for being so afraid.

One group of bikers should not have been keeping me up at night. Yet there I was.

Annoyed, I threw off the covers, got up, and put on a robe over my tank top and shorts. I didn’t want to wake Reese, but maybe a glass of water would help. Tossing and turning wasn’t doing me any good.

As quietly as I could, I eased open the bedroom door and crept past the couch where Reese slept. He didn’t make a sound. I went to the kitchen and filled a glass of water, wincing slightly at the noise.

Turning, I gasped, almost dropping the glass. Reese stood just outside the kitchen, his large frame a dark silhouette in the dim room.

“Sorry,” he said, his voice soft. “Didn’t mean to startle you.”

“It’s okay. I didn’t mean to wake you.” I held up the glass. “Water.”

“Can’t sleep?”