He couldn't hear to use the phone, and the fucking texts took too long to type out.
"No one goes anywhere."He squeezed Annie's hand."Not until I talk to Kodiak."
Annie's fingers clutch his hand tighter.Leigh sank back onto the edge of the couch, hugging her middle and keeping her eyes on the floor.
Eventually, Annie joined her sister on the couch.He moved to the window, keeping watch.
The girls stood and joined him an hour later.Annie tapped his arm and pointed to her ear.He nodded, pressing his hand to his chest.He could feel the Harley's rumble through his body and stepped outside, pulling the door behind him until the latch caught.Gravel spat under Kodiak's tires.
He met his president when the bike shut off.Gazing down the road, he made sure there was nobody else in sight.
Kodiak waved his hand in front of Hunter's face."No one followed."
"He's out there."He shook his head."He knows I took his wife and sister-in-law.Broke into his house."
Kodiak tugged off his shades, studying Hunter's face."The fucker needs to get a search warrant before he can step on Royalla land.I have the members cleaning and hiding everything, but we still have a shipment going out tonight.If I have to choose between my club or those two women, I'll pick my...."Kodiak lit a cigarette and blew smoke as he finished talking.
Hunter didn't need to read his lips to know Royalla came first.
Hunter glanced back at the house."I thought they'd be safe here, but if I'm gone, there are two windows in the living room facing the road, plus a door.If Jason wants a clean shot from a distance without even approaching the house, there are several weak points.It wouldn't take much, a hunting rifle would kill anyone inside, and there would be no witnesses."
Kodiak slapped him on the shoulder, grabbing his attention."You think he's getting close to finding them?"
"I think a man who shows up at a clubhouse in uniform is telling you he's not worried about playing fair."He paused."If the threat of going through three hundred Royalla members didn't stop him from approaching the gate, nothing is going to stop him."He rubbed his jaw, having spoken more than he had in the last several years."The women were beaten.He's still after them.I'm not going to let them go.They need protection.I'll work around the shipment, but I need to find somewhere for them to stay in the meantime."
"They mean anything to you?"Kodiak said.
There was something about Annie that kept him here, refusing to leave her alone, but thinking she'd imagine having anything more than sex with a man like him, who couldn't hear, was delusional.Still, he was going to take all the time he could get with her.
"Yeah, they do."He met Kodiak's gaze.
"Move them to the clubhouse before I change my mind."Prez pulled out his phone."I'll have Cruz bring the truck."He looked up from his cell."I need you to work tonight."
He stuck his hand out, motioning for Kodiak to keep facing him."But what about a raid?"
"We've had raids before and survived.If something happens, get the women down the hole in the garage."
There was no way to hide anyone in the clubhouse.But the attached garage, where they ran their business, had a false concrete floor underneath the service pit.It's where they hid their paperwork, extra weapons, and any hot items they were storing in case a shipment was going out or a raid happened.
Hunter nodded once."I'll tell them."
Kodiak's gaze sharpened."They step onto Royalla property, they listen to you."
Hunter folded his arms, feeling the knot tighten beneath his sternum."Understand."
"Cruz will clean up here, so they don't leave a trail.If Jason has eyes, we don't feed them."Kodiak slid the shades back on.
Hunter looked toward the house again, imagining Jason's silhouette where the trees broke, waiting for him to slip up.
When he walked in, Annie was already standing, reading his face like a language she'd quickly picked up.Leigh's eyes followed him, ready for bad news.
"We're moving you to the clubhouse again."He inhaled."There are more people, more protection.Out here's too open."
Annie glanced at her sister, then put her hand on his arm."We trust you."
Her belief in him landed with weight.He felt it and accepted responsibility for them.He wasn't going to let her down.
"Pack."Hunter placed his hand over her hand."Cruz will be here in a few minutes to take you back in the truck."
