Chapter 22
-Hailey-
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The whiskey in my stomach had turned to lead by the time Logan’s bike roared to a stop a block away from Matt’s house.
I swung my leg off the back, my boots hitting the pavement with a thud. The gun tucked into my waistband felt like a wicked promise cold, unfamiliar, too heavy for someone who’d never wanted to hold one.
–
Logan killed the engine and turned to me, his eyes sharp under the streetlight. “You remember the plan?”
I nodded, my throat too tight to speak.
He leaned in, his gloved hand cupping the back of my neck, forehead pressing to mine.
“Bananas,” he murmured. “That’s all you gotta say.”
I took a deep breath. “Bananas,” I repeated. “Such a stupid fucking word. Why’d you let me pick it?”
He chuckled. His lips brushed my temple, quick and rough, before he pulled away. “Go. We’ll be right behind you.”
I turned before I could second–guess myself and walked toward the house. I felt like I was stepping onto a battlefield.
The porch light was off. The front steps were empty.
I sat down on the top stair, my fingers tapping against my thigh, counting the seconds. It was only 7:32. I had twenty–eight minutes until Matt was supposed to show.
Until I had to look him in the eye and lie through my teeth.
I breathed out, rolling my shoulders back. *You can do this.*
Somewhere in the dark, Logan and the others were moving like shadows.
And I was the bait.
-Logan-
I watched her shrink as she walked toward the house. Her spine was stiff. Like she was marching to the damn gallows.
My fingers twitched at my sides. Every instinct screamed to grab her, throw her back on my bike, ride the hell out of here. But she made hor choice.
And I had to live with it.
River clapped me on the shoulder, jerking his chin toward the alley. “Come on, lover boy.”
I shoved him off and led the way.
The back door was cheap – basic deadbolt, flimsy frame. It took me less than thirty seconds to pick it.
The knob turned with a quiet click.
pushed the door open just enough to see inside – dark, quiet, the faint smell of Matt’s shitty cologne. I pulled it closed again.
13:04 Mon, Dec 22
Chapter 22
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Monty and Link fanned out, checking windows, clearing sightlines. River hovered at my shoulder, his voice a growl. “You really think this idiot’s gonna show?”
I didn’t answer.
“Hailey, you hear me?” I murmured, checking the comms range. Her response came through clear. These tiny earpieces. were almost invisible, but they worked like a charm. “You got this, Acc. Back doors unlocked and ready, but don’t hesitate to put a bullet in him if you need to.”
“I won’t,” she replied. She sounded meek… I didn’t like it.
-Hailey-
The weight of the gun against my back was the only thing keeping me from bolting down the street like a spooked deer.
The neighborhood was quiet… almost too quiet. Just the distant hum of traffic and the occasional flicker of a porch light as it got darker.
At 7:45, Logan’s voice came through the earpiece again. “You good?”
I swallowed hard. “Yeah.”
A lie, of course. My pulse was a jackhammer in my throat, and every deepening shadow made my muscles lock. But I couldn’t back out now.
The sound of an engine cut through the silence, and my stomach dropped. Too early. Matt wasn’t supposed to be here yet.
But when I looked, it wasn’t Matt’s truck rolling down the street.
It was a cop cruiser.
And it was slowing down.
It rolled to a stop at the curb, and my gut twisted. My fingers clenched around my thighs. The window slid down, and I saw the officer female, dark hair pulled back, sharp eyes scanning me.
–
“Evening,” she said, her tone calm but full of suspicion. “We got a call about someone loitering in front of a dark house. You mind telling me what you’re doing here?”
I forced a smile, my chest tight. “Oh, I’m sorry. This is my fiancé’s house. Matt O’Connor? I forgot my keys and got locked out. He’s due home any minute.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Mind if I wait with you?”
My pulse spiked. “Uh, sure. That’s fine.”
I rested my elbows on my knees, letting my hands hide my mouth. I murmured low enough so she wouldn’t hear. “Logan, it’s a cop. She’s staying with me.”
“Shit,” he muttered. “Play it cool, Ace. We’re right here.”
The officer stepped out of the car, her hand resting casually on her belt near her holster. She leaned against the hood, watching me.
“You been waiting long?” she asked, her tone conversational.
“Not too long,” I lied, glancing at the time on my phone. 7:50. Ten minutes until Matt was supposed to show.
13:04 Mon, Dec 22 M
Chapter 22
Her gaze lingered on my hoodie. “You cold?”
I shrugged. “It’s chilly.”
She nodded, but I could feel her suspicion like a weight pressing down on me.
“So, you’re this guy’s fiancée?” she asked casually.
“Yeah,” I said, forcing another smile. “We’re supposed to get married next month.”
She tilted her head slightly. “Supposed to?”
Shit.
“Uh, yeah. October 30th. Day before Halloween.”
Thankfully, she moved on. “So you live here, then?”
“Yep,” I said quickly.
Her eyes narrowed again.
Shit.
She nodded slowly, like she didn’t quite believe me.
My fingers twitched at my side. The gun felt like it was burning into my skin.
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“You know,” she said after a minute, “we’ve had some reports of suspicious activity around here lately. You haven’t noticed anything strange, have you?”
“Nope,” I said. “Everything’s been pretty quiet.”
She studied me, her hand still resting near her holster.
The sound of an engine cut through the silence, and I froze.
It was Matt’s truck.
He pulled into the driveway and got out.
“Evening, sir,” the officer said, pushing off her cruiser. “I’m Officer Andrews. You the homeowner?”
Matt froze mid–step, his eyes darting between me and the cop. For a second, I saw panic flash across his face before he smoothed it into a smile. “Yeah, that’s me. Everything okay here?”
“Mind if I see some ID?” she asked. “Just protocol.”
“Uh… sure thing, Officer.” He dug his wallet out of his back pocket and handed her his driver’s license.
Officer Andrews pulled out her flashlight, tilting her head as she looked it over. “Looks good… I’m just checking in. Your fiancée here says she got locked out.”
His gaze
locked onto me, and I saw the moment he realized what game we were playing. His jaw tightened, but he forced a laugh. “Oh, Hailey. Always forgetting her keys.” He reached into his pocket and jingled them. “Lucky I came home early,
huh?”
My fingers twitched toward my waistband. The gun felt heavier now that he was standing so close, smelling like cheap whiskey and that godawful cologne I used to love.
13:04 Mon, Dec 22 M
Chapter 22
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“Everything good between you two?” Andrews asked, her tone casual but her eyes sharp. She was looking directly at me.
Matt slung an arm around my shoulders before I could dodge him. The weight of it made my skin crawl. “Perfect. Right,
babe?”
I forced a nod, my throat too tight to speak. His fingers dug into my arm hard enough to bruise.
Andrews didn’t miss it. Her hand shifted subtly toward her belt. “Ma’am, you okay?”
Matt laughed again, too loud. “She’s just embarrassed about the whole locked–out thing. Right, sweetheart?”
I nodded, forcing a laugh. “Yeah.”
“Okay,” Andrews said, backing toward her cruiser. “You two have a nice evening.” Her eyes were still on me.
Matt’s fingers dug into my elbow, guiding me toward the door. “Thanks, Officer. We will.”
The second the cruiser pulled away, his grip turned vicious. He unlocked the door and yanked me inside, slamming it behind us.
“You stupid bitch,” he hissed, shoving me against the wall. “What the hell are you playing at?”
The cold press of metal against my spine grounded me. Bananas. The word sat on my tongue, ready. But not yet.
“I told you I was coming,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “I didn’t know a cop was gonna roll by.”
His breath was hot against my face, reeking of whiskey. “You bring them here?”
“No.” I swallowed hard. “Matt, I just–I wanted to talk. Like I said.”
His grip loosened slightly, but his eyes stayed wild. “Talk. After everything. After you let that biker trash fuck you. Yeah… I
can tell.”
The words hit me like a slap. My pulse roared in my ears.
Logan’s voice crackled in my ear, low and urgent. “Ace, say the word.”
Not yet.
I forced myself to meet Matt’s gaze. “I didn’t come here to fight. I came because…” I let my voice break, just a little. “Because I’m scared, Matt. Logan’s not who I thought he was.”
His nostrils flared. “Oh, now you see it?”
“I see it,” I whispered.
His grip on my arm eased just a little more.
I pressed on. “I don’t know what to do. He’s… dangerous, Matt. More than I realized.”
Matt’s chest rose and fell hard. I could see the war in his eyes.
“Prove it, then,” he said finally. “Tell me where he is right now.”
Ice slid down my spine.
Logan’s voice was a growl in my ear. “Ace.”
I wet my lips. “He’s at the clubhouse. They all are. They’re planning something.”
13:04 Mon, Dec 22 M
Chapter 22
Matt’s
eyes
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narrowed, and then the world slowed down. I saw his free hand twitch toward his waistband, and I didn’t think –
I just reacted.
I ducked out of his grip and yanked the Glock from my jeans in one smooth motion, backing up until I hit the wall.
Matt’s face twisted with rage. “You bitch,” o
A gunshot cracked out.
snarled at me. Then he moved
–
too fast.
I didn’t realize I’d pulled the trigger until I smelled the gunpowder.
The echo tore through the house, sharp enough to make my teeth buzz.
Matt stumbled back, clutching his chest. Blood seeped between his fingers as he stumbled over the glass coffee table, nearly crashing into it.
“You shot me,” he gasped, staring at me like I’d grown a second head. “You-”
He collapsed to the floor.
When my ears stopped ringing, Logan’s voice was loud in my ear. “Hailey? Hailey, talk to me. What the fuck just happened?”
I couldn’t answer. All I could see was the blood spreading across Matt’s shirt, his face pale with shock.
Somewhere down the street, a dog started barking.
“Bananas,” I whispered, sliding down the wall behind me. “Bananas, bananas, bananas-
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
