Page 168 of Peaks and Promises

Another club member came out of the pole barn. “No one’s in there.”

“Check the other buildings,” Hammer said. “He’s here somewhere.”

“What’s with her?” he asked, nodding toward me.

“I’m just making sure she stays out of our way,” Hammer said, tightening his grip on my arm. “Her boyfriend’s around somewhere. Someone find him.”

Buzz winked at me, then headed toward the house. Hammer turned me around and we followed the others toward the wood building.

Reese versus six armed bikers. Even with the element of surprise, I didn’t like those odds. And the wild card was Axel. I didn’t know what he’d do once they flushed him out. For reasons I couldn’t fathom, he wanted Nate. But would he hurt him—or worse—to get away? As far as I was concerned, he was capable of anything.

I didn’t know how this could end peacefully, but I had to hope the three of us were going to get out alive.

CHAPTER 41

Summer

Hammer’s fingers dug into my arm as we walked toward the shed. If Axel was in there, he had to know he was cornered. What would he do? Knowing him, he was arrogant enough to think he could still get away. That somehow he’d talk Mayhem into letting him go.

Or would he do something worse?

Panic might have overwhelmed me if it wasn’t for the white-hot anger flowing through my veins. I wanted to claw Hammer’s eyes out—him and the rest of Mayhem. More importantly, I wanted to rip Axel to shreds.

Gunshots rang out behind us, and a wave of horror washed over me.

Oh, no. Not Reese. They couldn’t have shot Reese.

Hammer didn’t let go. I was about to lash out to get him to drop my arm, when Buzz hurried out from the other side of the pole barn.

“Fucking rooster,” he shouted and glanced over his shoulder.

“You shot a rooster?” Hammer asked.

“Tried to. Fucker keeps chasing me.”

The rooster crowed. Apparently Buzz had missed.

“You dumbass,” Hammer said. “Stop fucking around.”

“I’m not fucking around. It attacked me.”

Hammer groaned and yanked my arm to turn me around.

With my heart racing, he led me to the shed, flanked by two other club members. Another came up behind us and walked around to the other side of the building. They drew their weapons. Hammer nodded and two of them approached the shed.

I held my breath. One grabbed the handle and threw open the door while the other stepped in and pointed his gun.

Nothing happened.

They disappeared inside, one after the other. My body vibrated with tension.

Don’t hurt my son. Just don’t hurt my son.

A moment later, they came out. No Nate. No Axel.

“Nope,” one of them said. “Not in there.”

“You looked everywhere?” Hammer asked.