My eyes flick between the three of them. “Do you know how long Knox is going to be?”
Axle lets out a low whistle. “It could be minutes... it could take hours.”
Viper leans forward so that he can see me fully. “Do you want me to call him?”
I shake my head. I don’t want to distract Knox. “It means a lot that all of you are getting involved.”
“Anything for Bomber,” Viper answers.
Their close bond, fills my heart with warmth. “So... how did all of you meet?”
“Bomber, Reaper, and I are the founders of the War Brothers MC. We met in the special forces,” Viper replies.
I nod. “I remember Knox mentioning that.”
“Me and Cash here were in the army together. We heard about the MC through some other veterans, so we thought we’d come down to check it out,” Axle says, then chuckles. “And we never left.”
“Just like a bad smell,” Viper mutters under his breath. “Hey, Zara, do you know Bomber’s cousin Sophie?” Viper asks.
I suppress a smile at the softness in his voice. “Yes, though we don’t talk much anymore.”
“What’s she like?”
Axle slaps Viper’s shoulder. “Knox said you had no chance man, give it a break.”
Viper’s head falls back. “I can’t,” he groans. “She’s by far the sexiest chick I have ever laid eyes on.”
“She’s really smart. Did well at school, though was also a party animal,” I answer Viper.
“Did you even speak to her at the vigil?” Axle asks Viper with a raised brow.
“I was going to, but...”
Axle laughs out loud. “Fuckin’ pussy!”
Viper’s eyes sharpen. He mock shoves Axle. “If she stays in Crown Village longer, I’m going to get Knox to introduce us.”
Axle rolls his eyes. “What happened to you? Mr. I’m-so-confident.”
“She’s a challenge, but I’m up for it,” Viper answers him, with apparent determination in his eyes.
Hours roll by.I get more and more impatient. I’ve moved from the bar to the living room, where I’m mindlessly watching the ads that play on TV this late. I grab my phone and press the home screen. Still no messages or missed calls.
A car pulls up outside. My heart races. I’m on my feet, rushing to the front of the house. I throw open the door and bolt to the garage, from which Knox and Demon are emerging.
The metallic scent of blood is in the air. My eyes travel all over his body. “Are you hurt?”
Knox pulls away from me. “No... I need a shower.” I stand still, watching as he leaves me to go inside. My stomach churns. Something’s wrong. I stride after him and rush up the stairs. I peek inside his room, but he isn’t in there. The sound of water running draws me to the bathroom.
I knock on the door. “Knox, is that you?”
“Yeah.”
When I open the door, he’s in the shower. His head is bowed to his chest. I can see every hardened ridge of his well-defined muscles. The droplets lick his skin and cascade over each corded muscle in his body. He hurt the retired cop to get information. I’m waiting for the guilt to come for the blood that’s on my hands, but it doesn’t.
Knox is quiet... detached. He knows I’m here but won’t even look at me. I open my mouth to speak, but I don’t know what to say. I’m desperate, but in his current state, I don’t want to push him. I turn and go in search of Demon.
I close the door and pad down the hallway, to what I think is Demon’s room. I tap on his door; he doesn’t answer. I hesitate. He shouldn’t be asleep—he just got home.
