Page 7 of Breaker

He wanted to call in mercenaries? I didn’t see Fox allowing hired guns to stay here at the compound. Was Spider suggesting that I send Juniper away with men like that? I didn’t know enough about the group to trust them with her. No, I much preferred the idea of other clubs coming to help. At least then, I knew Juniper would remain in my house.

“It’s a risk,” Fox said, his tone cautious. “But it might be our best shot. Do you think they’ll honor a debt that’s decades old?”

Spider nodded, and Fox leaned back in his seat, clearly thinking things over. I wasn’t sure I agreed, but the three men at the table with me held more weight with this club than I ever would. Even if I voiced my concerns, it wouldn’t matter. If Fox had made up his mind, I’d have no choice but to follow his orders.

Fox and Surge rose from their seats. As they made their way out of the kitchen, Fox placed a firm hand on my shoulder, a gesture of support and solidarity. Surge followed close behind, his expression a mix of determination and concern.

I didn’t know which way Fox would go. Call in the mercenaries or the other clubs, or both. Until I knew for sure Juniper could stay here, I’d be on edge.

I remained seated, my thoughts a turbulent whirlpool of duty and desire. Spider’s suggestion echoed in my mind. As the sound of Fox and Surge’s footsteps faded, I found myself alone with Spider, his presence a comforting anchor in the chaos of my thoughts. He leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on me, a flicker of understanding in his eyes.

“You know this is the right call,” he said, his voice low and steady. “Juniper needs more protection than we can provide on our own. The Nighthawks are our best chance at keeping her safe. Even better if Fox gets help from other clubs as well. We don’t have the manpower to watch the fence line, the gates, and ensure no one slips past our guard and enters the compound.”

I nodded, my jaw clenching as I fought to keep my emotions in check. “I know. But the thought of involving them, of putting Juniper’s fate in someone else’s hands…”

Spider leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table. “It’s not easy, brother. But sometimes, we have to make the hard choices to protect the ones we love. You’ve got a good head on your shoulders. Trust your instincts.”

That was the problem. My instincts were screaming at me to keep her close, to not let anyone else take care of her. Even now, she was still too sick for us to move her from the house. What did they plan to do with a woman who’d nearly died?

I let out a long, slow breath, the tension in my shoulders easing slightly. I’d risk everything. I would stand by her side, a guardian against the storm. And that included going against my club. The mere thought of going against the people who had given me a home, had become my brothers, sickened me. But at the end of the day, in my gut, I knew I was all Juniper had, and I couldn’t shove her out in the cold.

Rising from my seat, I gave Spider a nod of thanks, my hand resting briefly on his shoulder as I passed. I made my way back to Juniper’s room, the weight of the compound seeming to press in on me.

Pushing open the door, I stepped into the dimly lit room, my eyes immediately drawn to Juniper’s still form. She looked so fragile, so vulnerable, and yet there was a quiet strength about her that took my breath away.

Settling into the chair beside her bed, I reached out, my fingers gently brushing against her hand. The contact sent a jolt through me, a reminder of the connection we shared. I still believed fate had pushed me to walk down that alley, had led me to find her. Nothing else made sense. I leaned in close, my voice a whisper in the stillness of the room. “I’m here, Juniper. I’ll always be here. No matter what happens, no matter what we have to face, I’ll be right by your side. I promise.”

This woman, this beautiful, brave soul, had captured my heart in a way I never thought possible. And I knew, with every fiber of my being, that I would fight for her until my last breath.

The road ahead was uncertain, the dangers looming large, but in that moment, with Juniper’s hand in mine, I found the strength to face whatever lay in store.

The soft glow of the bedside lamp cast a warm halo around Juniper’s delicate features, her dark lashes fluttering against pale cheeks as she slept. I watched the gentle rise and fall of her chest, each breath a reassuring sign of life, a testament to her resilience.

My mind drifted to the future, to the challenges that awaited us. Robert Murray’s release from prison loomed on the horizon. The thought of him, of the horrors he had inflicted upon so many innocent children, what he’d planned for Juniper, sent a surge of rage coursing through my veins.

I clenched my jaw, my free hand curling into a fist at my side. She had come so far, had fought so hard to keep away from her uncle. I wouldn’t let him get his hands on her. From what Surge had found, her uncle had been the one to report her as a runaway. It looked like once he went to prison, a social worker stepped in and listed her as missing. If she’d known he was in prison, why hadn’t she gone to the police instead of staying on the streets? Had she felt that unsafe? As for her uncle, some part of me wondered if he blamed her for his arrest. I’d heard it had been an anonymous tip back then. And it had paid off.

As if sensing my inner turmoil, Juniper stirred, her fingers tightening around mine. I leaned closer, my lips brushing against her forehead in a featherlight kiss.

“Shh, it’s okay,” I whispered.

Her eyes fluttered open and locked with mine. In their depths, I saw a flicker of fear, a remnant of the nightmares that haunted her, but also a glimmer of hope, a trust that took my breath away.

“Breaker,” she murmured, her voice thick with sleep. “You’re still here.”

She hadn’t woken up long enough for me to share my name with her. Had she heard it while she was sleeping? Or had she been somewhat awake part of the time?

“Of course, I am,” I replied, a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. “Where else would I be?”

She returned my smile, a soft, sleepy curve of her lips that made my heart skip a beat. I held Juniper’s hand in mine, our fingers intertwined.

Her brow furrowed as she looked around. “Wait. Where am I? And how did I know your name just now?”

“You’re at my house, at the Hades Abyss compound. I’m guessing you’ve heard my name in your fevered state and somehow locked onto it. I found you freezing to death in an alley, and sick as hell. Our club doctor has been treating you.”

“You said my name earlier,” she murmured. “If I haven’t woken up until now, how did you know who I am?”

I didn’t want to scare her or make her run. I needed to be honest and try to make it sound less creepy. Except I wasn’t sure how to do that. “Um, one of my club brothers is a hacker. We took a picture of your face, and he ran it through some program he has. It located your identity, and… a few other things.”

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