It'd taken her hours to convince her sister that she needed to regain the strength she'd lost.If she planned on making the trip to Seattle, she'd need to stay on her feet longer.The car ride would be at least three hours long.The time to rest and heal was over.She needed to get stronger.Once they were living somewhere new, she could take all the time she needed to face her new reality.
"You have to try, sis."Annie opened the door to the hallway."We can't stay here forever."
Hunter had told them they were free to wander around the clubhouse, but if they wanted to go outside, they needed to stick to the areas behind the fence that were protected from the street.
Leigh blew out her breath and gritted her teeth.Annie understood that moving around still caused Leigh pain, but she worried more about the depression trying to pull her sister under.Leigh couldn't give up hope.
In the hallway, noise from the clubhouse greeted them.Voices carried from the common room, shouts and low conversations, the clink of glass against wood tabletops.The air smelled of smoke, grease, leather, and body odor.Instead of being repulsed, it reminded her that Jason would be a fool to try to get through all the men of the Royalla Motorcycle Club and hurt Leigh.
Annie felt her shoulders loosen as they walked.Beside her, Leigh inhaled deeper.Not only were the bruises fading on her sister's skin, but the constant fear and second-guessing would soon go away, too.It would only take time, but she would ensure her sister received all the support she deserved.
Here, she could breathe.Leigh would discover that, too.
Leigh stayed close, her hand brushing Annie's arm, her eyes darting nervously at the men gathered around the tables.But no one stared.No one whispered.They gave them respectful space.
Annie drifted toward the wall, needing a moment to steady herself.She leaned back, watching the room, feeling out of place.Bikers were something she never wondered about.They were people who rode motorcycles and kept to themselves, avoiding most others.They didn't hang out at the grocery store or walk the pier every morning to get their ten thousand steps in.
These men were rough.Loud.And dangerous but for some reason, they didn't frighten her.Probably because Hunter had shown her nothing but kindness.
She searched for him.He'd brought them dinner earlier but had left the room soon afterward without saying anything.
Then, she saw him.She exhaled swiftly.
Hunter was across the room, listening to Kodiak.All his attention was on his president, catching all the words that silently came to him.She had no idea how he trained himself to read lips, but he did a phenomenal job.
He turned.His gaze collided with hers and locked on.He crossed the room without hesitation.His bootsthunkedagainst the concrete floor, and all the other noise seemed to separate as he approached her.
He stopped in front of her, close enough that she could feel the warmth radiating off him.Annie inhaled and held her breath.He brushed her upper arm with his hand, searching her eyes.
She tilted her head, understanding what he wasn't saying."I'm okay."
He gave a short nod, but his eyes told her he wasn't convinced.
And standing there, pressed against the wall with Hunter in front of her, Annie realized something she hadn't dared admit before.She was afraid of when she'd have to tell Hunter goodbye.
The clubhouse walls seemed to close in.Annie leaned closer to Hunter, waiting until his eyes were on her mouth.
"Would you take us outside?"she asked, speaking slowly."Fresh air would be nice."
His eyes softened, and he gave a short nod.
Leigh hesitated, but when Annie clasped her hand, she willingly came with her.Together, the three of them stepped out into the cool air.The night was quiet compared to the noise inside.In the distance, traffic broke up the night.She looked all around, making sure they were out of view of the street.
Even though there was a six-foot fence, she wouldn't put it past Jason to look over the top of the privacy slats in the Cyclone fence.
Hunter led them around the back of the clubhouse, where there was an attached garage.The metal siding gleamed faintly under the security lights.
Annie tilted her head toward him."Do you work here?"
He pushed the door open, gesturing for them to follow.Inside, the scent of oil and paint hung in the air.Tools lined the walls, neat and orderly.In each bay, a car was in various stages of disassembly.
Hunter pointed toward a motorcycle in the middle.A fresh coat of paint shone on the frame.
Annie's eyes widened."It's beautiful."
Hunter gave a small shrug, but she saw pride in his eyes.
Leigh wandered closer, but soon her shoulders sagged, a yawn escaping before she could hide it.Annie's heart tugged—she didn't want to leave Hunter's side, not yet, when she was finding out more about him.But her sister needed rest.
