I knocked softly, then harder when no one answered.Footsteps approached from the other side, light and quick.Honey's.
The door swung open, spilling warm light into the hallway.Honey stood there in sleep shorts and a tank top, her blonde hair loose around her shoulders.Her eyes widened as they locked on my face.
"Jesus, Wren," she whispered, grabbing my arm and pulling me inside."What happened?"
I opened my mouth to answer, but nothing came out.My throat closed up, the lump there threatening to choke me.The apartment was small but neat, decorated in Honey's simple style.Jack sat on the couch, shirtless and massive, a beer in one hand and the remote in the other.He looked up as we entered, his expression shifting from relaxed to alert in an instant.
"The fuck?"he growled, setting down his beer and standing up.At his full height, Bloody Jack Mason filled the room, his presence making the space seem even smaller.
Honey kept her arm around my shoulders, guiding me toward the couch."Sit down, sweetie.What happened?Are you hurt?"
The genuine concern in her voice broke something inside me.The dam I'd built on the ride over crumbled, and suddenly I was sobbing again, ugly heaving sobs that shook my entire body.I collapsed against Honey, my face pressed against her shoulder.
Jack moved closer, his bulk casting a shadow over us."Who do I need to kill?"His voice was deadly calm, the kind of calm that preceded violence.
Honey shot him a warning look over my head, her arms tightening around me."Give her a minute, Jack."
I pulled back, wiping furiously at my eyes."It's Rocky," I managed to get out between hiccupping breaths."He's a f-fucking C-Copperhead."
Jack's face darkened, his jaw clenching so tight I could see the muscle jumping in his temple."The guy from the Valentine's Ball?The one you've been seeing?"
I nodded miserably."I’m so sorry.I heard him on the phone tonight.Talking to someone called about a meeting at 'The Pit' tomorrow.Aboutmerchandisecoming in early."I spat the word like it tasted bad."We all know what that means."Honey made a small, pained sound.Her hand found mine, squeezing tight."He played me from the start," I continued, my voice still shook but steadied as the initial shock of confession wore off."He approached me because of who I am.Because of Ghost."
"Why the fuck didn't you go to Ghost with this?"Jack demanded, his voice remained steady and calm but he paced the small living room like a caged tiger, his massive frame seeming too big for the space."The second you found that patch, you should have brought it straight to him."
"Jack," Honey warned, her arm still around my shoulders.
He turned to her, eyes narrowing."And you knew about this?"His tone was incredulous as he pointed between us."You knew she was mixed up with a fucking Copperhead?"
Honey didn't flinch under his gaze."I promised her three days to figure things out before going to Ghost.To see if she could find out what his angle was."
"Jesus fucking Christ," Jack muttered, running a hand through his shaggy hair."Three days?You gave her three days to do what?Get herself killed?"
"It wasn't her fault," I cut in, sitting up straighter."I would have done it with or without her knowing.At least this way someone had my back if things went south."
Jack's massive chest expanded as he took a deep breath, visibly trying to rein in his temper.When he spoke again, his voice was gentler but no less intense."Do you understand what kind of danger you put yourself in, right?These men aren't just another MC, Wren.These are fuckin' animals.The shit they do—" He broke off, shaking his head.
"I know what they do," I said quietly.“We all do.And I truly didn’t think Rocky was like that, that he could be a part of something like the Copperheads.Something still doesn’t feel right about the whole situation.”Jack and Honey exchanged a look I couldn't quite interpret."That's why I came here first," I continued."I knew you'd want to know about the meeting tomorrow.About the warehouse they're securing for Saturday."
Jack's eyes sharpened."What warehouse?"
"I don't know.He didn't say.Just that they needed it secured before the main shipment comes in."
Jack nodded slowly.I could practically see his mind calculating his next move.He sat down on the coffee table in front of me, bringing his massive frame down to my level.His hands dwarfed mine as he took them in his grip.
"Listen to me, Wren," he said, his voice surprisingly gentle coming from such an intimidating man."I'm not mad at you.Well, I am, but that ain't important right now.What matters is keeping you safe."
Honey's hand stroked my hair, a soothing gesture that reminded me of when I first came to live with Ghost how gentle he’d been with me when I’d been upset.How he was still gentle with me."We'll figure this out," she said softly."Together."
Jack squeezed my hands once before releasing them."I need to make some calls.This information about tomorrow could be the break we need to get rid of the fuckers for good."He stood, towering over us again."But first, we need to deal with Ghost."
My stomach dropped."Do we have to tell him tonight?"
"He already knows something's up," Jack said."Been pacing the compound looking for you."
"Great," I muttered, slumping back against the couch."So I get to have this conversation twice in one night."
Honey's arm tightened around my shoulders."You want me to come with you when you talk to him?"
