Page 138 of Peaks and Promises

“You used a club resource without permission,” Hammer said. “Stryker ain’t happy about it.”

“I had a beer with the guy,” I said. “And he happened to get me some information. So what?”

“I’d come up with something better than that before you see Stryker,” Hammer said. “He’s not going to like that answer.”

“Look, I’ll explain everything to him when I get back,” I said. “Did he seriously send you guys out here just to tell me he’s pissed about the cop?”

“We came to bring you in and make sure you don’t do anything stupid along the way,” Buzz said. “Like burn down another fucking diner.”

Hammer leveled me with a hard glare. “And we’re leaving. Now.”

Anger rippled through me and my upper lip curled. “I’m not finished here.”

“Yeah, you are,” Hammer said.

“I’m taking my son.”

Hammer shook his head. “Not according to Stryker. You’re coming with us, and we leave tonight.”

Grinding my teeth together, I hesitated while rage seared my veins. I was so fucking angry I wanted to fly across the table and pound both their faces into the floor. Burn down the bar and the rest of the town with it.

“It ain’t worth it,” Buzz said, as if he could read my mind. “Not over some kid. If you want one so bad, get yourself an old lady. Knock her up as many times as you want.”

“Remember where your loyalty lies,” Hammer said.

The haze of fury subsided. Loyalty. My loyalty was to Mayhem. I’d taken an oath.

Without a word, I stood. “Let’s go.”

Still seething, I followed Buzz and Hammer out of the bar. Summer was lucky. For now. I’d go. I couldn’t defy the club.

But I’d be back. And she wouldn’t see me coming.

CHAPTER 33

Summer

Days went by, and once again, Axel disappeared.

I kept working, but never without a Haven bodyguard. If it wasn’t Reese, one of his brothers would sit at the counter, sipping coffee or nibbling fries while I worked. As much as I appreciated what they were doing, it was maddening. I felt like I couldn’t go outside without an escort.

For obvious reasons, Nate was never alone, either. But it didn’t bother him. He was still a kid—used to being watched over by adults. And to him, staying at Paul and Marlene’s was simply an extended sleepover with his pseudo-grandparents.

He was aware that Axel was in town, but he was so confident in Reese, and the rest of the Haven family, in their ability to protect him, he didn’t seem to worry.

I was grateful it was me who was a big ball of stress, not him. But his hero worship of Reese made my heart ache. I’d tried reminding him that Reese and I weren’t really married. That Reese would return to Arizona eventually. He’d shrugged it off, and I wasn’t sure if he thought I was wrong and Reese wouldn’t leave, or if he didn’t want to face the fact that he would.

Either way, it felt like the three of us were heading for a cliff. I had no idea how we were going to get rid of Axel, but it had to happen somehow. And once it did, Reese and I wouldn’t have a reason to pretend to be married anymore.

He wouldn’t need to stay.

He’d been up front about that from the beginning. He’d help us until we were safe. Then, he’d go back to his life, and I’d go on with mine.

But the thought of living without him was getting harder to bear.

Friday night he arrived to pick me up from work, and the flutter in my stomach was tempered by my sinking heart. I’d never known anyone like him—so big and intimidating, yet with such a soft heart beneath his hard exterior. And I was beginning to realize that, even though he hadn’t asked for it, my heart belonged to him.

His brother Josiah got up from the counter—he’d been on Summer duty that afternoon—and they shook hands. I waved to him, and he tipped his chin before heading out the door. Reese sat on his vacated stool.