He puts his hands up in mock surrender. “That’s going to make it really hard to tell you what I came here for.”
My finger is on the trigger, and I’m more than ready to pull it. “Tread carefully.”
“Got a big bounty out for your woman, Saint. Bigger than any we’ve had before, and they don’t much care what condition they get her in.” His hands are still up to placate me, but his eyes have gone hard and serious.
My men’s guns shift to aim at him, and the man doesn’t so much as flinch.
“If someone put a hit like that out on my old lady, I’d burn the world down before I let them get close. Thought I’d do the courtesy of letting you know. And just because it’s not something I would approve of for my men, doesn’t mean there aren’t any out there who wouldn’t jump at the chance.”
Julio nods to his crew, and their revving engines have the added bonus of their bikes retreating, then disappearing down the road.
A hit. They’ve graduated to putting a wide bounty on Wren. One that didn’t protect her in the least. If all they needed was her breathing…
My rage turns cold at what someone would do to her if they got their hands on her—all the things that would kill her inside but leave her breathing.
I storm back inside, finding Wren at the window and trapping her against it before I can think better of it.
Those pretty eyes go wide, and her hands meet my chest. Thank god, she doesn’t push me away. I’m not sure how I’d react to that right now.
We stare at each other for long moments before I come to the only conclusion I can. “I need to send you somewhere safe.”
Hurt flashes in her eyes, and she pulls back, wrapping her arms around herself when they should be touching me.
That makes me fume even harder.
“I don’t want to hide somewhere else.”
“You might not have a choice.”
She blinks a few times. Fast, face turning away from me until I grab her chin and force to meet my gaze again.
And there are…tears in her eyes.
Fuck, it breaks my heart.
“I can’t let anything happen to you. I won’t survive it.” It’s as much a declaration of my feelings as anything else. And I know my men hear it.
We shouldn’t be having this talk here, but I’m done trying to pretend she’s not my wife in every way that matters.
“How can I be safe when I’m not with you?”
Agony. Complete and utter agony slams into my chest because I know that’s true. But I also can’t be the reason harm comes to her.
I cup the back of her head and pull her into my body. She doesn’t resist me, and for that I’ll thank god every day.
20
SIN
Word comes down fast and quiet, the way bad news always does when it’s meant to spread without panic.
JP doesn’t raise his voice. He doesn’t need to. The look on his face does the work. “Knox pulled a judge. Warrant’s in motion. Forty-five minutes, maybe less.”
Knox doesn’t move without posturing first. He doesn’t rush paperwork unless he’s already been paid or already been promised something better. A warrant issued before sunset means he’s either scared…or confident.
The clubhouse shifts immediately, like a body bracing before impact. Men peel off in different directions, boots pounding, voices low and sharp. We don’t keep anything here that’ll hang us outright, but timing’s a cruel bitch. The new shipment rolled in late last night, still stacked and tagged, waiting on routes and riders.
Weapons don’t bother me. I know how to move them. Hide them. Make them disappear.
