Page 11 of Breaker

“Hey there, darling,” he said. “How are you holding up?”

I tried to answer, but my words caught in my throat. Breaker seemed to understand anyway. He reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from my face with a calloused finger.

“I know it’s a lot to take in,” he murmured.

“I -- I don’t know if I can do this, Breaker,” I whispered, hating the quiver in my voice. “I don’t belong here. I’m not like them.”

Breaker’s eyes softened. “You’re right. You’re not like them. You’re something special. Besides, a lot of these men have women and kids at home. They don’t act like this all the time. This is the one place they can cut loose and let off some steam.”

He held out his hand, an invitation. After a moment’s hesitation, I placed my trembling fingers in his palm. His hand engulfed mine, strong and steady. Before he could say anything else, the doors opened and a man strode in. He scanned the room before heading our way.

Breaker eyed him. “I take it you were looking for me?”

Surge’s gaze raked me with a mix of curiosity and warmth. “I’ve got something for you. Thought you might need this, given the circumstances.”

Breaker unfolded the document, his eyes scanning the contents. My brow furrowed as I tried to make out the words from where I stood. Curiosity gnawed at me, mingling with a growing sense of unease.

“Is that what I think it is?” Breaker asked, his tone a mix of surprise and something I couldn’t quite decipher.

Surge nodded, a smirk playing on his lips. “A marriage certificate. Fully legal and binding. Well, you know, legal minus the part where I hacked into the vital records department to create it.”

My heart stuttered in my chest. Marriage certificate? My mind reeled, trying to process the implications. I opened my mouth to speak, but the words caught in my throat. Did he seriously mean… No, that couldn’t be it. No one did crazy things like that, right? I glanced at Breaker.

He ran a hand over his face. “We can talk about this more at home, but Surge did this to help keep you safe.”

“But how is it supposed to do that? And how is this even possible?” I managed to ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

Surge chuckled, a sound that held both amusement and pride. “Let’s just say I have a particular set of skills. Hacking into government databases is child’s play for me. Creating a legitimate marriage record? Piece of cake.”

“As to how it will protect you, if we have to get the law involved, this makes me your husband. Which means I can help you file a restraining order, among other things.”

I stared at the two men, my mind struggling to comprehend the lengths they were willing to go to protect me. A part of me wanted to protest. After all, this was completely insane. Normal people didn’t do things like this. But another part, the part that craved the safety and security Breaker offered, whispered that this was a lifeline I couldn’t afford to refuse.

Breaker must have read the conflict in my eyes. He reached out, his hand gently cupping my cheek. “I know it’s a lot to take in, Juniper. But trust me when I say that this is the best way to keep you out of harm’s way. As my wife, on paper at least, you’ll be under the protection of the club. No one would dare touch you.”

I swallowed hard, my heart racing as I met his intense gaze. There was no deception in his eyes, only a fierce determination to keep me safe. Slowly, I nodded, my decision made.

“Okay,” I whispered, my voice trembling slightly. “I trust you, Breaker. If you think this is what’s best, then I’m with you.”

The smile that spread across his face was a mixture of relief and something deeper, something that set my pulse racing in an entirely different way. He brushed his thumb across my cheekbone, a tender gesture that contrasted with the hardened lines of his face.

“That’s my girl,” he murmured.

The moment was interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps. I tensed, my eyes darting toward the doorway as two women entered the room. They moved with a confident grace, their presence commanding attention without demanding it.

The first woman, with dark wavy hair and soulful brown eyes, exuded a gentle strength that seemed to fill the space around her. I couldn’t discern her age, but if I had to guess, I thought she might be in her mid to late thirties. I’d always sucked at guessing ages though. She offered me a warm smile, her gaze holding a depth of understanding that made me feel seen in a way I hadn’t experienced before.

The second woman, her features strikingly similar to the first, carried herself with a quiet determination. Her eyes were every bit as kind as the slightly older woman’s. Sisters maybe?

Breaker’s hand slid from my cheek to rest on my shoulder, a reassuring weight that anchored me in the midst of my uncertainty. “Juniper, I’d like you to meet Luciana and Violeta. Luciana is with Spider and Violeta is with Rocket. They’re sisters who came here under some not-so-great circumstances nearly twenty years ago.”

I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry as I faced these women who seemed to radiate a strength I could only dream of possessing. Part of me wanted to shrink back, to hide behind Breaker and let him shield me from the scrutiny of their gazes. But another part, the part that had survived on the streets for so long, refused to cower.

“It’s nice to meet you,” I managed, my voice steadier than I felt.

Luciana’s smile widened, and she stepped forward, her hand outstretched in welcome. “The pleasure is ours, Juniper. We’ve heard so much about you from Breaker. He’s quite taken with you, you know.”

I felt my cheeks heat at her words, and I glanced at Breaker, who merely shrugged, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. I turned back to Luciana, surprised by the warmth and strength of her grip.

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