The pang of missing her mom hit hard.She looked into her sister's eyes.They never had time to mourn their mother together.Leigh had spent three hours with her, dealing with the cremation, and Jason had driven her back to Vancouver.
"I wish..."Leigh shook her head.
"I know."Annie swallowed hard.She missed Mom, too.Especially on days like this, when she had no idea how to fix their situation.
Alanis padded across the floor, tail wagging lazily, before curling up beneath their table.Leigh reached down, fingers brushing the dog's fur, and her gaze softened.Annie's chest tightened at the sight.It had been so long since she'd seen her sister look close to peaceful.
She picked up her spoon, stirring the stew absently."I wonder what Hunter's doing in the garage," she said aloud, unable to hide the note of curiosity.
Leigh shrugged, still petting Alanis."Probably working.Since we returned, he's always been busy out there."She paused, then tilted her head."How did he lose his hearing?Or was he born like that?"
Annie sighed, setting her spoon down.She stared at the steam rising from her bowl before answering."From the little he's said...his father fired a gun near him.Or maybe at him."
"Oh, shit," whispered Leigh.
"It permanently took his hearing.He was young, but that's why he can talk."
Leigh's hand stilled on Alanis's fur.Sadness flickered across her face."That's...devastating.It must be lonely, never hearing anyone talk."
Annie inhaled deeply, her thoughts drifting to Hunter in the garage, to the silence that surrounded him, and to the way he had let her into his world like it was something sacred.
He hadn't said anything about going after Jason anymore.Hopefully, Kodiak or Baddy convinced him otherwise.It was a bad idea.An awful idea.
She picked up her spoon again, but her appetite was gone.
Chapter 24
Hunter had been goneall day, and during his absence, life inside the clubhouse went on as if he weren't missing.There was loud music, shouting, and the scent of smoke drifted in under the door.The hours inside the room dragged.
Annie paced, irritation simmering beneath her skin.She hated not knowing where he was, hated the gnawing worry that came with his absence.Hated that she suspected he was going after Jason.
Leigh sat on the edge of the bed."We should leave," she said suddenly, her voice sharper than it had been since Annie came to her that dreadful night she got the phone call, begging for help.
Annie stopped pacing, turning toward her."No.It's safer here."
Leigh's eyes flashed."Safer?You're only saying that because you think you're in love with Hunter.You're putting your feelings for him first—before me."
