For Hunter, the quiet chaos of his world surrounded him.
Since Annie and Leigh stayed in his room for the last several months, it only made sense that Roma planned a going-away party for Leigh.It wasn't an ending, but rather a new beginning for his sister-in-law.
Annie leaned back against his chest, her warmth steady against him.He could feel her excitement and her nerves in the way she shifted, the way her fingers brushed his arm.He tightened his hold.Changes were coming, but they were all good.
Across the room, Leigh kneeled near the door, petting Alanis as the dog's tail lazily swept the floor.Roma leaned close, saying something that made Leigh laugh.Hunter caught the curve of her smile.She seemed lighter, more relaxed these days.For the first time since the fire, she looked free.
Annie turned in his arms, tapping his chest lightly.Her lips moved."Will she be okay by herself?"
Hunter softened.When it was just the two of them, Annie always mouthed the words without saying them out loud.She'd even tested him to see if he could tell when she talked and when she only formed the words with her lips.He found her amusing.For him, it was apparent.
She'd slipped into his world without asking, without complaint.Having to speak only to him, where others couldn't overhear, was private, intimate, something no one else shared with him.He only knew he held her tighter when she joined him in his world, because no one had ever done that for him.
There were times he thought about teaching her American Sign Language.Maybe a few words a week.Things they could share between them when they were alone.But they had the rest of their lives for that.
Besides, her hands were always on him, and he would rather have her touching him than waving them in the air.
He cupped her hips."Your sister will only be three hours away.Seattle isn't far.We'll check on her.If she needs anything, she'll get it."
Annie's shoulders dropped.He felt her relief in the way she leaned into him.Her lips moved again."I'm glad she was able to sell the lot.Now she can—
"Say it again."Hunter turned her face toward him.
She repeated, slower this time so he could catch every word."Now she can use the money to get back on her feet again."
Hunter pressed a kiss to her temple.She slipped her arms around his waist, and he held her close.Leigh had survived hell, and now she was walking into something new.Annie, always the caregiver, worried about her older sister.But she'd be okay.He could see that Leigh wanted her independence.It was part of healing after what she'd lived through.Plus, a new area and new people would help her move on.
Baker shuffled over and clapped Hunter on the shoulder, then looked at Annie.His mouth formed words, Hunter caught carefully, "You two hold on to each other.Life will try to tear you apart.Don't let it."
Hunter met his gaze, the weight of the warning sinking deep.Annie looked up at him, her eyes searching to make sure he'd caught it all.He squeezed her, letting her know he had.
Baker walked away, and Baddy came striding in, grinning.He smacked Hunter hard on the shoulder.Hunter raised his hand in question.
"Prez is looking for you outside," said Baddy.
Hunter kissed Annie."Be back."
He stepped outside.The cooler breeze washed over him.He spotted Kodiak at the front of the line of bikes and approached him.
His president dangled a set of keys from his finger, then tossed them to Hunter."It's ready."
Hunter stared at the keys.The house the club owned, where he'd hidden Annie and Leigh, was no longer a rental.He'd bought it.Over the last two months, he'd upgraded a few things in the house to better accommodate them.
The hardest part was keeping the house purchase a secret from Annie.She was under the impression that they'd stay at the clubhouse.And while she never complained, a woman deserved her own home.A place where she wasn't surrounded by men, smoke, and the rougher side of life.
Because noise never bothered him, it'd taken him a while to figure out that she woke up several times a night because of loud partying in the clubhouse.She never complained, but she deserved more than a single bedroom in the Royalla Clubhouse.
He shook Kodiak's hand."Thanks, Prez."
"Glad to do it for you."Kodiak squeezed Hunter's shoulder.
When he returned to the clubhouse with the keys in his pocket, he got there as Leigh was saying goodbye to everyone.
Annie hugged her sister, tears shining in her eyes.She kissed her sister's cheek, turned to Leigh, and walked outside.He joined the two girls beside the new car Leigh had purchased in her first step toward a new life.
Leigh approached Hunter and pointed at her sister."Take care of her.Love her."
He nodded."Always."
