Stone crouched near the back door, running a gloved hand over the lock. “They tried to pry it open. Hard. This wasn’t a drunk or a random thief.”
Grim kicked the door, testing the frame. “They weren’t trying to rob the place. They were testing it. Seeing how fast someone would respond.”
Havoc scanned the alley with a flashlight. “Found footprints. Boot treads. Not ours.”
Ledger tapped his phone. “We knew they were circling the county line. What we didn’t know is that they’d cross it. This is their first move into town.”
Rook’s grip tightened around Avery. “They were testingus.”
“Why?” she asked.
Rook didn’t answer.
He didn’t have to.
The look in his eyes said everything.
She was a target.
And he was one breath away from losing his mind over it.
Stone stood. “We’ll sweep the block. Make sure they’re not still nearby.”
Grim cracked his knuckles. “If they are, they’re not walking away.”
Havoc grinned darkly. “I hope they’re still close.”
Ledger adjusted his glasses. “Highly unlikely, but not impossible.”
The men disappeared into the night, spreading out like a silent, deadly net.
Rook turned Avery toward him, hands firm on her shoulders. “Pack a bag.”
She blinked. “What?”
“You’re not staying here.”
“Noah…”
“You heard me.” His voice was low, dangerous. “Pack a bag. You’re staying at the clubhouse tonight.”
“I…Noah, I can’t just…”
“Yes,” he said, stepping closer, eyes burning into hers. “You can.”
She opened her mouth to argue, but he cut her off, voice dropping to something dark and possessive that sent a shiver down her spine.
“You call me,” he said. “Always me.”
She felt something inside her shift.
He wasn’t asking. He wasn’t suggesting. He was claiming.
And God help her, she didn’t want to fight it.
He brushed a thumb over her cheek, gentler than she expected. “Go pack a bag, Aves.”
She nodded, legs still shaky, and headed upstairs.
