“They don’t get to grab women from our world and disappear,” I continued.“They don’t get to hurt Clove and Star and just vanish.”I lifted my gaze.“They’re going to pay.”
Brinks barked out a laugh.“Easy there, Joker.You don’t need to lose your mind on us.”
Jude grinned.“Think that’s the first time I’ve heard him sound unhinged enough to earn a road name.”
I shrugged.
Wrecker studied me for a long moment.Then the corner of his mouth twitched.“Joker, huh?”He nodded once.“About time one of you earned a road name.”
“Shit,” Slayer said.“Should’ve happened years ago.”
“Guy’s been coiled tight since he learned to ride,” Pipe added.
“Now it’s just official,” Kingston said.
Wrecker knocked his knuckles on the table.“Enough.Back to business.”
He ran through the rules again.No woman alone.Ever.We wait for intel before making a move on the Northbound Reapers.
Everyone agreed.
I didn’t.
Every hour we waited was another hour those guys had to bury evidence, skip town, or hurt someone else.
Church broke, chairs scraping as the guys stood and filtered out.
I headed straight for the common room.
My eyes found Clove immediately.
She was in the kitchen with Carnie, leaning against the counter, laughing softly.Her shoulders were relaxed.Her posture was loose, like she wasn’t constantly bracing for impact anymore.
She saw me and smiled.Just like that.
She grabbed a plate and walked toward me, holding it out.“Want one?Gingersnaps.Still warm.”
“Always,” I said, taking one.
Our fingers brushed.
She didn’t pull away.
“How’d the meeting go?”she asked.
I shrugged.“Same shit.Different day.We’re getting closer.”
She nodded, like she believed that without question.
We stayed in the common room after that.Talking.Not talking.Just existing in the same space.She sat on the couch with Nikki and Alice, listening more than speaking.I hovered nearby, pretending to be engaged in conversation while tracking her every move.
She was safe, and I wasn’t letting that change again.
Chapter Seventeen
Clove
I lay on my side in the bed, staring at the couch across the room.