Page 6 of Breaker

I took my seat, the scrape of the chair against the floor sounding harsh in the stillness. Fox cleared his throat. “We all know why we’re here. The woman Breaker brought home has brought some serious shit to our doorstep, and we need to figure out how to handle it.”

I clenched my jaw, my fingers curling into fists beneath the table. What had they found on her? And what type of storm was heading our way, all because I’d wanted to help a dying woman? I didn’t like the idea of having put my club in harm’s way, but I also couldn’t have turned and walked away from the woman I’d found. It just wasn’t the type of man I was.

Spider leaned forward, his weathered face etched with concern. Even though he was no longer President of the club, I knew Fox still talked to him about issues on occasion, wanting the opinion of someone more experienced with the role. “We need to consider all our options. I know Breaker well enough to know he isn’t going to throw that woman aside. But if she stays here, it could cause trouble for the Hades Abyss.”

Surge spoke up then, his tone measured and calm. “I’ve been digging into her past,” he said, his fingers steepled before him. “And I think I might have found a way to keep her safe, to give her a fresh start. Her name is Juniper Kelley, and she was first a runaway, then a missing person. Seems she chose to live on the streets rather than return home, and I now know why.”

My heart leapt at his words, a flicker of hope igniting in my chest. If there was a way to protect Juniper, to give her the life she deserved, I would make it happen.

I didn’t know what he’d found about her past, but it had to be ugly. No one willingly left home as a teenager and chose to be homeless unless they thought that was better than being in the one place they should be protected. Had someone hurt her? Threatened her? Or had they thrown her out because she had fallen short of their expectations?

I closed my eyes for a moment, having even more questions than before, but until I got a chance to talk to her, all I could do was speculate. Even Surge with his technical skills could only find out so much.

I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up to see Spider standing beside me, his eyes filled with a quiet understanding. “I think you’ll be good for her. You’ve always been a protector.”

I nodded, my throat tight with emotion. My resolve hardened. Maybe I had a hero complex, but I’d do what it took to keep her here behind the closed gates and away from harm, warm and fed. I couldn’t let her leave and chance freezing to death again.

Spider took a seat, and Surge leaned forward, his elbows resting on the worn wooden table. “I’ve uncovered some information that I think you all need to hear.”

I felt a knot form in the pit of my stomach, my heart racing as I braced myself for what was to come. Surge’s analytical demeanor was a stark contrast to the heaviness in the room, the gravity of the situation weighing on us all.

“As I mentioned before, Juniper is a runaway,” Surge continued. “From what I’ve been able to piece together, her uncle, Robert Murray, is the reason she left.”

The name hung in the air like a toxic cloud, the mere mention of it sending a chill down my spine. I’d heard whispers about Robert Murray, a man with a reputation so dark it made even the most hardened criminals shudder. I remembered a trial, and bits of it in the newspapers and on the local news. Wasn’t he currently behind bars?

Surge’s voice remained steady as he pressed on. “Robert Murray is a monster. He’s been involved in everything from human trafficking to drug smuggling, and he’s got a particular fondness for young girls.”

My fists clenched beneath the table, my knuckles turning white as rage boiled in my veins. The thought of Juniper, my sweet, gentle Juniper, in the clutches of a man like that… It was enough to make me see red. If that bastard was the reason she’d nearly died on the streets, I’d personally send him to hell.

“From what I’ve been able to gather, Juniper was next on his list. She ran to escape his twisted plans for her, and she’s been on the move ever since.”

I closed my eyes, my heart aching for the hell Juniper had endured. She’d been through more in her young life than most people could even imagine.

As Surge’s words sank in, I felt a fierce protectiveness rush through me, a silent vow forming in my heart. I would shield Juniper from harm, no matter the cost. I would stand between her and the darkness that threatened to consume her, even if it meant putting my own life on the line.

“Murray is known for selling kiddie porn. It’s still unclear how he got his hands on all the kids he harmed. Some were sold to him. I believe some he found or kidnapped. But one thing remains the same. He’d make them strip down for pictures he’d sell on the dark web, and he even went so far as to take videos of men assaulting the kids. The oldest was about fifteen years old. The youngest no more than eight.”

Bile rose in my throat. With each revelation Surge shared, my determination grew stronger.

“He’s set to be released in the upcoming weeks for good behavior,” Surge said. “But let’s call it what it is… overpopulation issues in our prisons. He hasn’t made waves, so he’s going to get a free pass. He’ll be assigned a parole officer, but do we really think he’s going to follow all the rules? Not likely.”

No. Men like him seldom did. At the very least, he’d do what he could to make itlooklike he was a reformed man. But he’d still find a way to continue his sadistic pastime.

“We need to be smart about this. The club can’t afford to get tangled up in a mess right now. We have our own people to think about,” Fox said. “Having Robert Murray show up on our doorstep could endanger our kids. Especially our daughters.”

I clenched my jaw, fighting to keep my emotions in check. I knew Fox was right, but every fiber of my being screamed to take action, to do whatever it took to keep Juniper safe.

“We can’t just turn our backs on her, Fox. She needs us. She needsme.” My words were low, almost a growl, as I met his gaze across the table. I knew Murray was a monster, and hearing all the things he’d done made it clear why Fox didn’t want the man hanging around our territory. At the same time, it only made it much clearer to me that I needed to keep Juniper with me. I didn’t trust anyone else to keep her safe.

Fox’s eyes softened for a moment, a flicker of understanding passing between us. “I know, brother. But we have to be realistic. The fact he went so long without getting caught, and managed to survive in prison, tells me he isn’t alone. He’s either got friends in high places, or some heavy hitters who want his product, for lack of a better word. We’re not equipped to take on a threat like this. It’s not just about you and Juniper. It’s about the whole club.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but Spider’s slow, deliberate movements caught my eye. He leaned forward, his weathered hands clasped on the table before him.

“There might be another way,” he said, his voice carrying the weight of years of experience. “We have allies, people who owe us favors. If we play our cards right, we might be able to get Juniper the protection she needs without putting the club at risk. Well, no more than usual, at any rate.”

I leaned in, my heart pounding as I listened to Spider’s words. “What are you suggesting, Spider?”

Spider’s eyes met mine, a knowing look passing between us. “We reach out to the other chapters. Hell, even the Dixie Reapers or Reckless Kings. Can’t promise they have people to spare, but never hurts to ask. In addition, there’s the Nighthawk mercenary group. They still owe us. No reason they couldn’t send some men our way. I never did call in that favor from about twenty years ago.”

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