Page 26 of May 11

Wire stepped inside. All three women raised their gaze. Spotting her dad, Skye got up from the table and threw herself at Maverick.

"You, two, are too late. We turned off the makers." Cora glanced at the glass case. "Though, I'll sell you a muffin if you want."

"I'm good," he said.

She raised her brows and then frowned. He should've taken the muffin. Breaking his habit alerted her to something wrong.

Dania walked past him to the door and flipped the sign. Brooke took off her apron. Cora closed the register and then walked around the counter to him.

"What's wrong?"

He gripped the back of her neck and took her to the other side of the room, away from the little one. "Go ahead and close up. We'll talk outside."

"You're okay, though?" She gazed down at his body and back up.

He nodded. Patting her hip, he got her moving.

Sharing a look with Maverick, he left the shop and walked around the building to where Cora had her van parked. He lit a cigarette and leaned against the brick wall. The club would tighten down. He prepared himself mentally for a lockdown.

It'd been years since he'd lived through a lockdown—before the club split into two and the Seaglass Cove Chapter formed. At that time, it was a territory war. Lagsturns Motorcycle Club tried to branch out of California. In the end, Havlin kept them out of the state.

But, it'd been hell.

The lockdown continued for weeks until they moved into keeping everyone close for months. It wasn't something he wanted to repeat.

The door burst open. Cora stepped out of the back of the building, spoke with Dania, who stayed inside, and then came to him.

She grabbed his hand and pulled him toward her van while hitting the button on her key fob. Once inside, she slid the door shut and exhaled loudly.

Cora squeezed past him, leaning between the driver and passenger seats. "Just a minute, and it'll get cooler in here."

A soft hum turned on. Hot air blew behind him. He half-turned, putting his hand in front of the vent, feeling the temperature change.

"A diesel generator?" he asked.

"Yes." She fanned her face. "Now, tell me what's going on. You come storming in, looking all serious. Maverick practically swooped up Brooke and Skye and carried them out of the shop. Dania asked questions I couldn't answer."

"We need to move your van back behind the clubhouse, babe." He cupped her face. "For a little while."

"Why?"

He wasn't used to telling anyone his business, much less what was happening within the club. Cora was linked to the community. He wouldn't want information getting out.

Seaglass Cove was a small coastal town. The bikers had a good relationship with surrounding businesses while living a day-to-day existence among them.

They wouldn't be welcome if it got out what Havlin would and could do in the shadows.

"We found out who is responsible for the shooting."

She gasped. "Did the police catch him?"

That's where things differed between them. In Cora's world, the police kept her safe. In Havlin's world, he trusted no one. Los Li could have people anywhere, even in the police department and federal prisons.

"Not yet." He kissed her forehead. "Because your van was parked where Rush got shot, I'd feel better if you parked behind the clubhouse so I can keep an eye on you."

"You think the person will come after me?" She frowned. "But I didn't see him clearly."

"Just the same. I want you to park over there."

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