“When?” A pause. “Yeah. We’re on our way.”
He ended the call and sat up, the sheet pooling around his waist before he swung his legs over the side of the bed. “We gotta go, little dove. Your apartment got hit tonight.”
My stomach twisted. “What?”
“Neighbor just got back from out of town. Door was jimmied. Sheriff’s there now. Nothing obvious taken, but they tossed the place.”
I sat up too fast, the room tilting for a second. Keegan’s hand found my knee, steadying me. “Breathe, baby. We’re going to check it out. Get dressed.”
Twenty minutes later, we pulled up to my building in his blacked-out truck. Yellow crime scene tape fluttered across the front door. The sheriff met us on the sidewalk.
“Tomcat,” he greeted, dipping his chin. His gaze slid to me, softening. “Miss Holbrook. Sorry you had to see this.”
Inside, the apartment looked like a disaster. Drawers had been yanked out, cushions slashed, and books were scattered across the floor. The deliberate destruction made my stomach churn.
Nothing was missing. The TV was still on the wall, and the few pieces of jewelry I owned were on top of my dresser. Whoever had broken in had been there to create chaos, not for quick cash.
Keegan stayed close, one hand on the small of my back as we walked through the wreckage. I didn’t know what I would’ve done without him. He was the only reason I didn’t fall apart.
Returning to the clubhouse a couple of hours later, a few brothers were nursing beers at the bar, clearly waiting for us to get back.
Blaze looked up as we walked in, his usual easy grin nowhere in sight. “How bad?”
Keegan shook his head. “Nothing taken. Just gone through.”
Blaze leaned back against the bar, arms crossed. His eyes flicked to me, then back to Keegan. “Brother, I know you want to keep Linden close, but maybe it’s time we consider giving her a fresh start. Somewhere off the grid. Just till this blows over.”
I wasn’t sure what he meant, but Keegan seemed to be completely against the idea. “No.”
“Tomcat—”
“I said no.” His arm tightened around my back. “She’s not running.”
King stepped out from the kitchen, his assessing gaze moving between us. He’d clearly overheard. He finally settled on Keegan. “Fill her in. Then let her decide.”
Keegan’s chest expanded, but he didn’t argue with the club’s president. He just nodded and took my hand. “Come on, little dove.”
He led me down the hall to his room—or ours, as he’d taken to calling it. Once inside, he locked the door, then guided me to the bed. I sat on the edge, with my knees drawn up. He knelt in front of me, his hands resting on my ankles.
“What were they talking about?” I asked hesitantly, not really sure I wanted to know.
“The Hounds have a lot of business and endeavors, but our main job is a well-kept secret unless you’re in the right circles. We help people who need to vanish. Give them new identities, make sure nobody can ever track them down. Completely new lives.”
My mouth went dry. “And Blaze thinks that’s what you should do for me. So Aegis can’t find me.”
“He’s just offering the option a-fucking-gain.” His thumbs stroked slow circles on my ankles. “But it’s not happening.”
I searched his face. “Because you don’t want me gone?”
“Because I’m not losing you.” He shook his head. “Not to this. Or anyone.”
The fear I’d been holding back swept over me. With the club’s VP floating the idea of making me disappear, I’d been worried the situation was even worse than I already knew, which was hard to imagine. They’d already killed Carson, tearing my life apart. And now they’d been in my apartment, looking for something so they could get rid of me too. Just when I’d found Keegan.
Tears burned my eyes. “I don’t want to leave you.”
“You won’t.” He pulled me into his arms, tucking my head under his chin. “They ransacked your place, hoping to find something to help them figure out where the hell you’ve disappeared to because I’ve hidden you here so well. I swear, I’m not letting anything touch you. You’re staying right here. With me. Where I can make sure you stay safe.”
I clung to him, shaking. He held me tighter, rocking us gently and murmuring against my hair until I calmed down. Then he helped me get ready for bed again, before cuddling me until my breathing finally evened out, exhaustion pulling me under.
