Chapter 73
Chapter 75
8%熱
55 you hers
-Hailey-
I leaned against the bar, sipping my coffee and trying to ignore the dull ache in my shoulder from last night’s… activities.
Scarlett sat on the stool next to me, scrolling through her phone Abby sat on my other side, unusually quiet. Her fingers tapped absently on her mug, and her gaze was fixed on the liquor bottles behind the bar.
“Abby, what time you heading home today?” I murmured, nudging her with my elbow.
Abby glanced at me, her checks flushing like I’d just pulled her out of a raunchy daydream. “I don’t know,” she said. “I was kind of thinking about playing hooky tomorrow… sticking around for a few more days.”
Scarlett looked up from her phone, raising an eyebrow. “This wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain shaggy–haired cousin of mine, would it?”
Abby blushed even harder. “No! I just—”
“Abigail Conway, you little slut!” I cut in, swiveling my
She stared down at her coffee, and I saw her lips twitch.
to face her. “Did you hook up with River?”
“I did see them disappear upstairs together,” Scarlett said teasingly. “They were both pretty drunk.”
Abby sighed hard. “Fine. Yes, we went upstairs, and… um… things got a little steamy.”
“Details, please,” I almost shouted. I was fully locked in now.
Abby grabbed her ponytail, running her fingers through it. “It wasn’t anything serious. Just… I don’t know. We were talking, and then… we weren’t talking anymore.”
I smirked, finishing my coffee. “Things got pretty steamy between Logan and me, too. Like, X–rate—”
“Alright,” Scarlett groaned, cutting me off and shooting me a look. “Don’t make it weird.”
“Sorry,” I grinned, patting her shoulder as I headed for the kitchen to refill my mug.
I had just sat back down when the guys started filing out of the back room. Their faces were grim, and tension was rolling off of them in waves.
River was the first one out. He was pulling his hair up into a messy ponytail. His eyes locked on Abby for a second, and I swear I saw the ghost of a smirk flicker across his face before he looked away.
Abby’s cheeks flushed again, and she quickly glanced down at her coffee, trying to hide the grin tugging at her lips.
Monty was next. His dark hair was sticking up in every direction like he’d just rolled out of bed. He made a beeline for Scarlett, leaning on the bar and lowering his voice. “So, the Russians-” he started, but Scarlett cleared her throat.
“Not now, Mav,” she muttered. Her eyes darted toward me for a second.
I pretended not to notice, but my stomach twisted anyway.
A couple of minutes later, Logan hobbled out with Talon. His green eyes met mine before he looked away, sinking onto a barstool with a groan. Talon sat down beside him, and they looked like twins, both with pensive looks on their faces.
I couldn’t help but stare at Logan. Last night had been… intense, Passionate Raw. This morning, too. But the moment we left his apartment, he seemed distant again. Like he was already pulling away.
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20 db bal, Jan 1 *D*
204h
Chapter 75
scarlet mulged me Halley, you mind helping me arsick the We’re town
I knew it was a ply to get me out of the man, bit fagreed “Reid, tommy her to the ste
“Alright, she said as she pulled open the door to a ing walk in der What’s wrong on with you two
1 sighed, leaning against the doorframe I don’t know. Last night was amary 1.de, Hexy son per ye But now it seeme like he’s funding walls again?
She nodded, handing me a case of beer to carry and grading only for herself. “Yep Som $5 per
cent.
kicking the freezer door shum behind us. “He sucks at feelings, Haley just him time, day? Ste were you, begeer And he knows it, too. He just can’t articulate it yet?
We headed back out to the bar, and 1 couldn’t help but stare at Eagan. He was staring bently we the wall, has fingers drumming on the bar. Whatever was on his mind, he wasn’t sharing it with me.
Yet
Later when I helped him back upstairs, he was leaning on me more than 1 expected, I condd feel the rain in te be with
er to the lower every step. When we got to the bedroom, he hobbled
“Sit down,” I murmured. “You’re going to hurt yourself more if you keep trying to do everything on your own?
He sighed, leaning against the doorframe. “Talon said there’s a ne in there somewhere he muttered, gesturing vegaby toward the closet.
I nodded and stepped in to look. It was a jumble of jackets, boots and boxes stacked haphazardly, 1 knelt down, peaching aside a big box of motorcycle parts and a dusty leather jacket that looked about 50 years old.
My fingers brushed against something cold and metal, and 1 pulled out the cane.
“Got it,” I said, turning to hand it to him.
“Thanks,” he murmured warily, testing it out.
“So,” I said, standing up and brushing off my jeans. “Can we talk
He looked like he wanted to roll his eyes. But he didn’t. He moved to sit on the edge of the bed, resting the cane against the nightstand. “About what?”
“The Russians,” I said, refusing to break eye contact. I wasn’t sure what was eating at him this morning, but after the exchange I’d overheard between Scarlett and Monty, I figured this was a good place to start.
I watched his face as I said it. His jaw flexed, and he looked down at his hands. “What about ‘em?” His voice was guarded.
“You guys intercepted their shipment last night, right? They have to be planning some kind of retaliation. And you looked….. off when you came out of church. I just want to know what’s going on.”
He glanced up at me like he was surprised I was being so direct. Then he sighed, running a hand through his hair. “It’s complicated. And dangerous. I don’t want you caught up in it.”
I crossed my arms. “Wouldn’t it be easier for me to stay out of it if I know what’s happening?”
He looked up at me again, his jaw working like he was chewing on the words.
He sighed. Again. So dramatic.
“It was a shipment of military–grade weapons. Serious shit. They don’t know we’re the ones who took it, but when they figure it out-
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20:45 Sat, Jan 3
Chapter 75
“They’ll come after you,” I murmured, sitting next to him on the bed.
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I watched his face carefully, waiting for him to shut me out like he always did. But he just stared at me, narrowing his eyes like he was trying to figure me out.
“It’s not just about coming after us,” he said. “They’re planning something big. Somethin‘ that’ll put the whole city in their pocket. And if we don’t stop them…”
I swallowed hard. My mind was racing, and my shoulder throbbed faintly. A reminder of how close I had already come to losing everything. I thought about Becker, rotting in a cell because of his own stupid choices. Thought about how easily things could go sideways again.
But I didn’t let it show. I squared my shoulders and met Logan’s gaze head–on.
“Okay,” I said. “So, we need a plan. We need to hit them before they hit us, right? Take out their leadership, cut off their resources. You said they don’t know who you are yet… so use that. Set a trap. Make them think they’re walking into an easy win, and then…”
I trailed off, realizing I was practically vibrating with adrenaline.
Logan just stared at me. His eyebrows were high, and I saw a smirk tugging at his lips. He looked…. surprised. Impressed. Turned on?
“Alright, Napoleon,” he muttered finally. “Calm it down. There’s no ‘we‘ here. You are not seein‘ any action this time. You’re hangin‘ out here, with my sister and Ruby. Playin‘ pinochle or some shit. Safe and sound.”
I didn’t hesitate. “I’ve already been through hell, Logan. I’m not afraid of some grubby Russian dudes. And I don’t want to sit on the sidelines while you and your club risk everything. I want to help.”
He was staring again. I held his gaze, refusing to back down. Finally, he closed his eyes, rubbing a hand over his face.
“You’re not gonna let this go, are you?” he muttered.
“Not a chance,” I said, crossing my arms. “If this… whatever it is between us, is gonna work, you don’t get to keep me in the dark. I’m not some porcelain doll you need to protect..I’ve proved that already.”
His jaw flexed, and I could see the struggle in his eyes. He wanted to argue, shut me out like he always did. But something held him back this time.
“Fine,” he said finally, much to my surprise. “But you’re not gettin‘ anywhere near the action. If I let you help, it’s only gonna be behind the scenes. You’re not goin‘ anywhere near the Russians, got it?”
I nodded, though I wasn’t sure I’d be able to stick to that promise if things got bad. “Got it.”
He pulled out his pack of cigarettes, pulling two out and holding one out to me. Then he stood, grabbed his cane, and hobbled down the hall toward the window.
I watched him open the window and light his cigarette, and I grabbed two chairs from the kitchen, dragging them behind me to where he stood.
He nodded gratefully and sat down, handing me his lighter.
“Anatoly,” he muttered, blowing a puff of smoke out the window. “That’s the guy we’re dealing with. Viktor doesn’t even know much about him, but he’s dangerous. Real dangerous.”
“Damn, River’s gonna be pissed,” I murmured, flicking ash out the window.
“Huh?” he said, leaning forward.
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20:45 Sat, Jan 3.
Chapter 75
“Because I’m sending Abby home. Today, I need her faaaar away from this.”
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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.
