Hunter smiled faintly.He'd known Roma since she was a child.Children didn't care if he was deaf or not.She used to ramble on, happy as can be, before her dad died, whether he read her lips or not.
She crossed the room and kissed Kodiak's cheek.
Hunter waited until she looked his way again."Do you have any clothes?For the women in my room?"
Roma's brows lifted."I'll check."
Kodiak leaned in, speaking low to his woman.Hunter caught fragments—hurt, nothing, help.
Roma's expression shifted from surprise to concern.She nodded, then left with Alanis trailing behind.
Kodiak turned back to Hunter."She'll get clothes.Food.Enough for a week."
Hunter nodded.
"I want them gone," Kodiak added, voice firm."The men are starting to ask questions.You know how it goes."
Hunter's jaw tightened.Any woman hanging out in the clubhouse was free game to them.The women didn't belong to him.He could only protect them for so long, and the men would wiggle their way in, trying to gain their attention.
"We've got a shipment to prep," Kodiak continued."Parts need to move by Friday.I need you back on the crew."
Hunter nodded again."I'll get them settled.Then I'm yours."
Kodiak gave him a long look, then poured another shot of whiskey."You're a good man, Hunter.Just don't let this mess bleed into club business.It's a bad time...lose..."
He lost the rest of the conversation.Kodiak spoke with the glass in front of his mouth.But no one needed to tell him how to do his job.
Life couldn't stop because the women needed his help.Life moved on.They needed to jack some cars, strip and ship them.It was the only way they'd have money coming into Royalla outside the legal customizing they do in the garage.That money only went so far.They needed enough to support all the members and their families.
Kodiak stood."Watch your ass.I don't need the cops getting you, too."
He left the room.Kodiak had made the situation clear.He couldn't keep Annie and Leigh here much longer.He also needed to watch his back.If Jason Stevens were setting him up, any law enforcement officer would be on the lookout for him.
He stepped into his room and found Annie sitting on the edge of the bed, her hand resting lightly on Leigh's back.He studied them both, trying to assess the situation before approaching them.
Annie looked up, her tired eyes alert, unable to hide her panic, before she smiled.She wasn't at ease here.Maybe she would never be comfortable after living through the abuse.
Hunter walked over slowly, crouched beside her so he could see her face better."I have somewhere you can stay."
"We have to leave?"She looked down at her lap.
Her mouth continued to move, but he couldn't see.He hooked her chin.She flinched, caught herself, and looked at him.He took his hand away.
"I'm sorry."She bit her lip."Of course, we'll go.You've done so much—"
"I'm going to help you."He gave her a few seconds to catch her breath."You'll move to a house the club owns.You can help your sister heal.When you're ready, I'll help you move farther away."
"We don't have any money."She shook her head."We can't pay you anything."
"It's free and temporary."
Annie blinked."Really?"
"Yeah."
She never told him that her sister's husband was a state cop who could track her down if she used her name on any rental agreement, job application, or plane ticket.She needed to go dark, and he'd help her do it.
He nodded."You'll have no neighbors.Privacy."
