Page 39 of Breaker

“Can we go home?” she asked.

“Yeah. We can go home.” I swayed a moment, the adrenaline wearing off. Cotton stepped forward and slid his arm around my shoulders, giving me extra support.

“Are you okay?” Juniper asked, concern in her eyes. “I was so scared that he’d killed you, but I refused to let myself believe that you were dead. The only way I made it this far was to believe you’d come for me.”

“Had to get stitched up. I’ll be fine.”

Freak shook his head. “He has Oxy in his pocket for the pain. Now that he has you back, maybe the stubborn bastard will take one.”

We made our way back to the truck, and I got into the back with Juniper. She searched my pockets and found the pills, then convinced me to take one. I didn’t want to sleep, and I knew the damn things would knock me out for at least an hour or two. But I also didn’t want to see her worry over me.

“What about my uncle’s body?” she asked.

“I’ll let Surge know about it,” Freak said. “He’ll make sure it’s not found and set a paper trail to make anyone searching think the fucker skipped town. Maybe he’ll even make it look like he went over the border into Mexico.”

“Good. I don’t want any of you to get into trouble for this, no matter how grateful I am.”

“We’ve got you, Juni,” I murmured, and closed my eyes. As the pills started to work, I began to doze off, and Juniper cuddled into my side. Now that I had her back, everything would be fine.

Chapter Sixteen

Breaker

As the Hades Abyss compound came into view, I scanned the surroundings with a sharp gaze, looking for any sign of danger. Robert Murray had help before. I didn’t know if my club had taken care of any loose ends while I’d been gone, and I wasn’t about to put Juniper in danger. The metal gate swung open as we approached, and we pulled through. The sun was already up. I didn’t know how Freak and the others hadn’t passed the fuck out by now. More than sixteen hours on the road, plus the confrontation with Robert Murray and all that damn walking in the woods.

The truck slowed as we reached my house, and Freak pulled into the driveway. I got out and took Juniper’s hand. Freak gave me a nod and backed out, then headed back toward the clubhouse. I led Juniper into the house and went straight to the bedroom.

“I think we both need showers, but I’ll let you take one first,” I said. “I’ll get Dread over here. I think he needs to check you over.”

“Only if you let him check your wounds too,” she said.

I nodded, knowing I’d do whatever it took to keep her calm. If she’d feel better if Dread examined me, then I’d go along with it. But the fucker better not say anything that would make her worry or I’d punch him.

Juniper disappeared into the bathroom and shut the door. A moment later, I heard the water running. Pulling out my phone, my fingers flew as I typed out a message to Dread.Need you here now. Juniper needs medical attention.

It wasn’t long before there was a sharp knock at the front door. I moved swiftly and went to let him inside. He entered the house and immediately eyed me up and down, most likely checking to see if my wounds had reopened. Thankfully, they hadn’t, but I’d felt the stitches pulling more than once. He was probably going to give me hell about it.

“Where is she?” he asked, his voice low and steady.

I motioned toward my room. “In the shower. I figured she’d want one after everything she went through, and clean wounds would be easier for you to assess.”

He grunted. “Then you should take one after. But take off your shirt and let me see your stitches. I’ll clean them again, then cover them with waterproof medical tape so you won’t get them wet.”

I didn’t want to but I complied, knowing it was what Juniper would want too. He glowered at me as he poked and prodded at the stitches. “At least you didn’t rip them out. I might have let you suffer if you had.”

“If you did that, Juniper would worry herself to death.”

He flipped me off, then began cleaning my wounds. I didn’t give him the satisfaction of showing it hurt like a bitch. He’d only tell me I deserved to feel pain after running off the way I did. But it wasn’t like I could just let everyone else save my woman. He’d just covered the stitches with the waterproof tape when Juniper came in, freshly scrubbed and wearing something comfortable.

Dread pointed to the chair beside mine. “Sit and let me check you over.”

She followed his orders and patiently let him examine her. Thankfully, she didn’t have any serious wounds. A slight scrape on her wrist, which she claimed to have done while escaping from Robert, was the worst of it. All her bruises would fade with time.

“My work here is done,” Dread said. “Breaker, go shower, then the two of you need to get some rest. I don’t want either of you doing anything more strenuous than eating, watching TV, and sleeping for the next few days. Doctor’s orders!”

“Thank you, Dread,” Juniper said. “I’ll make sure he takes it easy.”

His eyebrow arched. “I meant the both of you. No running around cleaning, cooking, or doing anything else. I’ll let the women know what’s going on. I’m sure you’ll have some meals delivered to your door three times a day until you’re both back on your feet.”

---