Page 23 of War

Bear presses the button to open the gate, then looks away, disappointment written all over his face.“I’m sorry, Bear.I love you.And this isn’t goodbye to you.”I clutch my hands around my middle, trying to hold myself together.

Tyler strides in my direction, but Bear puts his hand to his chest, halting him.“Be sensible.We can’t win this,” he tells him.

Turmoil storms Tyler’s eyes, his hand so close to his weapon in challenge.“Don’t,” I mouth, shaking my head.“Let me go.”

“Never.I’ll be seeing you real soon, babe.”The chill of his promise chases up my spine, hovering around my neck like a noose.

Moving past the metal gate, tears leak to my cheeks.My chest swells.I want to run into Callan’s arms, but I keep my composure.Monster, Dodger, Daddy, Tim—they’re all here for me.I grab the helmet Callan offers me, and place it on my head like a fucking crown, before I climb onto the back of Callan’s bike.I made my choice.I may have put a bounty on my head, but this is who I am now.

A King.

And Callan’s queen.

* * *

I clutch onto Callan, never wanting to let go.It was reckless to come back to the Devil’s club.Flames lick at my anger.The thought of Tyler forcing me into marriage makes me shudder.Callan’s hand clasps my thigh and I squeeze my arms around him tighter.He would have killed them all to get me out, but I already have enough blood on my hands to haunt me.

Callan slows, pulling into a gas station.The song of bikes growling through the air warms my heart.One by one, they pull in behind us.I dismount the bike, and Callan follows.Turning to me, he lifts the helmet from my head and clasps my face in his palms.“Don’t ever leave like that again, Rogue.”Resting his head against mine, he rumbles.“I about lost my damn mind.”

“I needed to ask him.I had to know if it was true.”

“And?”he asks, those dark eyes boring into me.Absorbing every word, every action.

“He wasn’t interested in sharing the truth.”

“Did he touch you?”

Bringing my hands to his face, I smooth out the frown line marring his forehead, and I say, “No.He thought I’d still go through with the wedding.”I blink, rapidly willing the tears not to fall.I’ve cried an ocean lately, and yet the waves keep coming.

A deadly growl rumbles from his chest.

“I made my choice,” I choke out.“It’s you.”I grip his cut, my hands trembling, then turn my head toward the brothers waiting on their leader.“It’s them.”Swiveling my gaze back to him, I smile.“It’s us.I choose us.”

He crashes his lips to mine, claiming me, owning me, devouring me.His body speaks to me, whispering the promise of what’s to come.Pulling away too soon, he murmurs, “Let’s go home.I have something for you.”

* * *

Relief fills me as we pull up to the gates of the King’s compound.

I’m home.

Callan doesn’t park where he usually does.Instead, he drives to the far end of the lot, around the main structure.Only a couple bikes follow.My nerves jump around inside me like fleas under the skin.

Callan comes to a stop at a separate building detached from the rest, then helps me off, taking my helmet and placing it on the bike.“What’s going on?”I ask, cautious.

“You know I went on a run for a few days.”I jerk my head in confirmation.“Well, it wasn’t a club run.It was to hunt a lead.”Taking my hand in his, he coaxes me to follow him inside with Monster and Dodger, the only two who followed us, bringing up the rear.Apprehension spikes my blood.My muscles clinch.

“Callan, what’s going on, what lead?”

We move through a loading bay into another part of the building before coming to a door.Halting his movements, Callan cups my neck, stroking his thumbs over my cheeks.“If at any time you can’t do this, just tell me and I’ll take you back to the club, okay?”

“You’re scaring me.”My heart is in a vice grip.A cold sweat dampens my skin.

“Don’t ever be scared when you’re with me.I’ll always keep you safe.On my fucking life.”He presses his lips to mine, pouring all his emotions into me.“We got intel on a serial killer who meets his victims as blind dates, strangles them, and takes trophies.”

Thud.

My mind swims, static white noise whooshing through my ears.

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