Ruby steps back. “Amelia?” She sounds like that’s the most unbelievable thing she’s ever heard.
I stare her down until she drops her gaze to my chest.
“You don’t have a problem with her, do you?” It’s not really a question, because if she does have a problem, she’s no longer welcome at Odin’s.
She shrugs. “No. It’s just the thought of you being serious about anyone. Kind of weird.”
That’s an understatement, but there’s no way I’m discussing Amelia with Ruby. “Gotta go.”
There’s another shop just around the corner, not that I’m holding out much hope. Maybe I’ll just have to take Amelia out tomorrow and find something together. That’s not such a bad idea.
This last stop is a small corner shop that does piercings and tats, and in the window, I see exactly what I’ve been looking for. My cell rings, and it’s Zach. Any other time I’d answer stat, but he can wait five minutes. I stroll inside to get a better look, and he sends a text. He wants to meet at the club ASAP. Must be urgent then.
Not that I’m leaving until I’ve bought what I’ve spent half the day searching for.
…
It’s early afternoon before I stroll into the club. When I spoke to Zach earlier, he was evasive and just said there was a problem that needed sorting, which didn’t sound urgent enough for both a call and text. The only others there are Ty and Hawk, and all three of them are leaning against the bar like they’re in a bad western.
I smother my grin, since by the expressions on their faces there’s some serious shit going down.
“Heard there was some trouble with Rex Abbot last night,” Ty says as he hands me a beer.
That’s enough to wipe the amusement from my mind. “Fucking prick took aim at Amelia. If he comes near her again, I don’t care what alliance we’ve got with the Wolves. I’m dealing with him.”
The three of them exchange a glance, that does nothing to improve my temper.
“Spoke to Tanner and Zane earlier,” Ty says, referring to the Wolves who were at his club last night. “Turns out they knew Abbott was back before Zach saw him outside Odin’s the other week. He’d been stirring shit with their club, trying to infiltrate with a couple of hang-arounds.”
“Why weren’t we told?” Far as I know, after Zach passed his suspicion on to Jett, the Wolves said they’d keep an eye out, and that was it. I glance at Zach, who shrugs.
“That’s what I’d like to know.” He sounds almost as pissed off as me.
“They didn’t think there was any need,” Ty says. “He’s so wrecked they were going to let him self-destruct. There’s no way he can bring them down the way he seems to think.”
“He should’ve been put out of his misery ten years ago, same as his old man.” But instead, the Wolves banished him, since he hadn’t been directly involved in his father’s final crazy plans to wipe out the Bastards.
“Too right.” Zach finishes his beer.
Hawk places his bottle on the bar and folds his arms. “You’re not going to like this, Gage.”
Amelia’s face flashes into my mind, and an ice-cold fear stabs through my chest. “If he’s touched Amelia…” I don’t bother finishing. There’s no need. Christ, he couldn’t have gotten hold of her. I was with her just a few hours ago, but it only takes a second for a life to end.
Don’t even think it.
“No.” Zach’s voice is rough, but when I transfer my glare to him, he glances away. “She’s fine. But Tanner recognized her from ten years ago.”
He’s not making any sense. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“She’s Hank Crane’s daughter.” Ty’s voice is flat, and it takes a moment for his words to fully penetrate. “When they were tailing Abbott last month, they saw him meeting her, did some digging, and discovered who she was. She’s working with Abbott.”
I give a harsh laugh, and white-hot fury burns my guts at what they’re daring to suggest—that my Amelia’s been lying to me. “No, she fucking isn’t.”
“I know it’s hard to hear, bro.” Ty takes a step toward me but stops dead when I round on him.
“Shut the fuck up.”
For the first time, I understand how a silence can be deafening. All I can hear is the thud of my heart in my ears as my brothers face me, all convinced my girl isn’t who she says she is.
