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“Where is she?” I asked.

“Roadhouse Bar. The guys are outside, waiting for her signal. She was really worried about her friend.”

I knew she was. So did Rex. That was the whole fucking point. Dani had been Ivy’s only safe place for years and Rex knew exactly how to use that against her. “Wish me luck,” I said.

“You don’t need luck.” He laughed. “You just need to tell your wife you love her.”

Before I could tell him he was out of his goddamn mind, he ended the call. I could’ve denied it. Should have, maybe, but what would be the point? I loved her and denying it would only be me lying to myself.

I loved her. I fucking loved her.

It had been brewing for some time, but I was too busy, and too fucking scared to listen to my heart. Now though, the threat of losing her made it impossible to ignore. It sat in my chest like a fist, tight and impossible to breathe through.

I was not losing her.

Not today.

Not to Rex Price.

Even with the fucking terror that welled up in me, I forced myself to focus and pulled up to the side of Rook. “Change of plans,” I shouted over the roar of the engines and whipping wind.

He glanced over and read my expression, nodding once. He motioned for me to lead the way, and I did, pushing the throttle down and not looking back.

Kill Rex. That was the only thing that ran through my mind as the bike ate up the highway. Every mile marker that brought me closer to Ivy, slashed another minute off that fucker’s life. He’d spent years grinding Ivy down, turning her into something small and scared, and then he had the nerve to use her best friend as bait. He had kept her mother alive on a leash made from Ivy’s own safety.

Yeah, he wouldn’t see another sunrise.

Not on my watch.

We arrived at the old bar off the highway, and I spotted my brothers as soon as I pulled into the lot. Each of them strained to hear what was happening inside, and that sent a wave of unease through me so fucking visceral I had to lean against my bike to keep myself upright.

Fuck that.

I pushed away from my bike, eyes taking stock of the old bar’s windows and doors, noting which ones worked because there was no fucking way I could wait outside while my woman was in there with her very own boogeyman.

“Knox.” Rook’s voice stopped my feet instantly. “You sure about this?”

“Yeah,” I answered quickly. “I’m sure. I’m no good out here.”

He studied me closely before he took a step back with a gentle nod. “We’re here if you need us.”

“I know.” I pushed through the front door.

The first thing I saw was Ivy staggering to her feet with one hand pressed to the back of her head. Beside her, Dani held her close while Rex stood in the middle of the room with his gun raised. It wasn’t aimed at anyone in particular, yet, which was the only reason he was still alive.

Ivy pulled her hand back and looked at her fingers, stained the color of blood. Her blood. Her face pinched tight with fury and she turned her gaze to Rex, swaying slightly, but angry. She wasn’t backing down and that made me smile. She was hurt but she wasn’t out of this fight.

Something like pride settled in my chest. A moment later Rex noticed me.

“Oh good, you’re just in time, son.” He flashed a wide grin like this really was some fucked up family gathering. “Better to become a widower than divorced, I always say.”

I took a step forward, ready to end this asshole but Ivy held up a hand to stop me. I wasn’t sure why I listened to her instead of putting a bullet in his head then and there, but I did. I gave her the room she needed to end this on her terms. I gave a short, barely visible nod and stayed right where I was.

“Except you’re not a widower, Rex, are you?” Ivy’s words sounded bland, but the edges were sharp enough that Rex noticed.

His laughter faded and his face went ashen. “You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.”

Her expression shifted from anger into a slow, deeply satisfied smile. “Carla. Price.” Just two words and she used them to perfection to knock him off guard.