Page 43 of Biker's Enemy

Reasons Tanner could be the intruder – a document of Tanner’s suspicious activities.

But eight days go by and nothing happens. Tanner seems moodier than usual and more withdrawn, but I have no more incidents with the intruder and Tanner acting withdrawn isn’t exactly out of the ordinary.

The light of my life is honestly, Avery. Since our chat in his office, Tanner takes her walking, so I’m barely allowed to leave the house anymore. It’s not an official rule but with cameras everywhere and Tanner’s generally controlling behavior, I don’t even dare to try. I can tell he’s watching me because every time I wander into a room close to the front door, he suddenly appears.

I just tell myself that it’s better than being in federal prison which is where I would be if anyone found out I killed my adopted brother. This prison has delicious food, unlimited television, and a beautiful view of the landscape. Tanner doesn’t have neighbors for a quarter mile on either side, so his plot of land is beautiful, isolated, and entirely under his control.

Doesn’t it make sense that the intruder could only be him, then?

For eight days, avoiding Tanner was pretty easy outside of situations related to Avery. Then, he calls me to his office after lunch and considering our last office conversation – I’m scared out of my mind.

I put Avery down for her nap and the one day I need her to stay up and throw tantrums over Cocomelon, she immediately falls asleep. Since Mr. Hollingsworth has the camera trained on Avery’s bedroom, I can’t waste another thirty minutes in here without him noticing. The best I can do is waste an extra ten minutes tidying the place up before I walk to his office.

Each step is so damn heavy, it’s like I’m wearing platform boots instead of socks. The door of Tanner’s office looks even more cold and uninviting than usual. Maybe that’s just my projection of his feelings and attitude. I knock, although he obviously knows I’m outside because he invites me in when my hand barely grazes the door.

Tanner doesn’t seem like he’s in a bad mood, but he doesn’t exactly seem happy either. Just serious. And handsome. I try not to make it obvious that I’m breathing deeply to see if I can inhale that identifying scent from earlier. I just smell whiskey. Way too much whiskey for this hour.

“I’ve known something for a while that I ought to tell you,” he says. “Sit.”

He has a chair for me this time, which is a lot more comfortable than standing in the middle of Tanner’s office having a cry session, I suppose. He doesn’t take his eyes off me as I sit down and when I’m seated, he still stares.

“I’m not Avery’s father,” he says. Then he stares at me and waits for a response. I don’t know what he expects me to say. The baby certainly looks like his...

“I’m her brother,” he says.

Okay. Is that why he’s been so weird the past eight days?

He sighs and drinks some more whiskey from the bottle. When he sets it down, his face seems even more red than before. Not just from drunkenness.

“Given the news, we should renegotiate your contract.”

“If she’s your sister then–

“My father is dead,” he replies. “My mother can’t know about this.”

We make pointed eye contact and he doesn’t have to say more for me to understand. His father stepped out on his mom and had another kid. Maybe even more. Damn.

“Okay. What does that mean?”

“It means Avery stays here until I sort out a better custody agreement.”

My heart drops into my stomach. He’s going to get rid of her. I knew theoretically I couldn’t spend the rest of my life with Avery. She’s not mine. I logically know that. But when you bond with a kid like that, the love never really goes away. Especially an innocent sweetheart like Avery. All we’ve had for the past few weeks is each other.

It’s not like either of us could rely on Tanner…

I try to ask innocently, “Are there better options?”

There’s a flash of frustration which quickly falls away.

“Not right now. She stays here with you. But given the change in circumstances, I need to update your contract.”

“What about her mother?”

Tanner turns red. “She’s a Nazi whore.”

Okay. That sounds a little extreme. I’m guessing he doesn’t want to tell me the truth because that can’t possibly be the exact truth. When I keep staring at him, Tanner just looks impatient.

“So,” he says. “Are you ready for our new contract?”

---