Thenoise cuts out the second my boot hits the main floor.Silencecrashes into the room.Everyhead turns our way.
IspotKevinimmediately at a long wooden table, a plate of roast beef in front of him.Athick bandage wraps his head, and his arm rests in a sling.Hewaves a fork at me with a full mouth and a wide smile.
Blake, theProspectfrom the dossierIhacked, sits next to him.Helistens to my brother with an amused grin.
Thereal weight of the room centers around the pool table.
LoganGunnarstands there, dominating the space with nothing but a cue stick in his grip.Besidehim,Austinwatches us with sharp, calculating eyes.Shane, theSergeantatArms, cracks his knuckles like he needs a target to hit.
Daniel’shand slides from my neck to the small of my back.Heguides me forward one step, staying glued to my side.Amassive human shield.Aliving declaration.
"Tracker,"Loganrumbles, setting the cue stick down. "Youdecided to join the living."
"Nomadtab is closed,Prez.I’mgrounding,"Danielannounces.Hisdeep voice carries easily across the quiet space.Thewords land with the heavy, final weight of a gavel.
Aphysical ripple of shock rolls through the assembled men.Moneychanges hands between two guys in the far corner.
Loganshifts his heavy, assessing gaze to me. "Andthis?"
Danieltightens his arm around my waist, yanking me flush against his hard side. "ThisisKaila.She’snot a guest, and she's not a job."
Mypulse hammers violently against my ribs.Iknow what he accomplished digitally and what he claimed upstairs in the loft.Hearinghim declare it down here, in front of the men he bleeds for, shifts the very foundation of my world.
"She’smyOldLady,"Danielgrowls, the deep vibration transferring through his chest straight into my shoulder. "Anyonehas a problem with her, they take it up with me.Shetouches a keyboard becauseIsaid so.Shewalks through these doors because she lives here."
Silencefills the room, heavy and expectant.Ihold my breath, waiting for the inevitable objection.Surelysomeone will argue that a hacker who infiltrated their secure servers doesn't belong.
Logandips his chin, a sharp, final movement that seals the deal. "Welcomehome,Kaila."
ThePresidentspoke, shifting the undeniable laws of physics within theClubhousewalls.Novote required.
"Abouttime,"Austincalls out with a wide grin. "Thoughthe was going to keep you locked up in that server room forever.Weneed someone who actually knows how to work theWi-Fi.Nickspent three days trying to fix the router and only managed to break it worse."
Roughlaughter shatters the tension, letting the room breathe again.
Mylungs finally drag in oxygen.Daniellooks down at me, a rare smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.Theexpression transforms his rugged face, smoothing out the harsh lines of the hunter into something devastatingly handsome.
"Toldyou," he rumbles near my ear.
"You’resmug,"Icounter softly. "It’sa terrible look."
"It’smy best look."
Kevinscrambles up from the table and crosses the floor, wincing with the effort.Ipull away fromDaniel.Hisheavy hand drags along my hip, lingering until the last possible second beforeIwrap my arms around my brother.Theharsh scents of antiseptic and woodsmoke cling to his clothes, but his body feels solid and warm.
"Theyhave arcade games in the basement,Kai,"Kevinmutters into my hair, sounding exactly like a twelve-year-old kid. "Blakesaid he’d show me theForge."
"Don'tget used to the vacation, kid,"Danielwarns, stepping flush against my back again. "Youheal up, then you earn your keep.Butfor tonight..."Hisdark gaze drops to me, burning with a feral, possessive heat. "We’regoing out."
"Out?"Istare up at him. "Like, into the actual world?Theone where the feds might be hunting a ghost who doesn't exist anymore?"
"Theworld where everyone knows theGunnarskeep what belongs to them,"Danielorders. "Grabyour coat.TheoneIdidn't slice off your body like that hoodie."
Bloodrushes to my cheeks at the visceral memory.Aloud wolf-whistle cuts through the air from somewhere near the club bar.Iscowl at the general vicinity, entirely unable to hide my smile.
Thedrive into town flies by.Thesnow finally stopped falling, leavingPineValleyburied beneath a thick, pristine blanket of white under the moonlight.Thesleepy mountain town looks like an abandoned, shattered snow globe.
Danielthrows his massive black truck into park directly in front of theTimberTrailTavern.Theneon sign buzzes and flickers above the door.Thered 'T' sputters through a slow, electrical death.