Page 28 of Breaker

I thought of Juniper, her gentle smile and kind heart, and my resolve hardened into an unbreakable shield. I would move heaven and earth to keep her safe, to shelter her from the darkness that threatened to consume us all.

Because in the end, that’s what family did. We stood together, united against any foe, ready to fight and bleed and die for the ones we loved.

And I loved Juniper, with every fiber of my being. Even if I hadn’t found the courage to tell her yet, or even admit to myself before now, I knew it with a certainty that shook me to my core.

I would protect her, no matter the cost. And God help anyone who tried to stand in my way.

“This is just the beginning,” Fox said.

I nodded, my fists clenched at my sides. “He’s not going to stop until he gets what he wants. Men like him never back down, and they don’t play fair.”

Fox turned to me. “We won’t let that happen, brother. The club stands united, and we’ll do whatever it takes to keep Juniper safe. Like you told that asshole, she’s family.”

I met his gaze, a flicker of gratitude sparking in my chest, the knowledge that I wasn’t facing this battle alone. “I know, but it’s not just about protecting her anymore. It’s about sending a message, loud and clear, that nobody messes with the Hades Abyss.”

A ghost of a smile tugged at the corners of Fox’s mouth, a glimmer of pride in his eyes. “Damn straight. We’ll show Murray what happens when you cross the wrong people. Him and anyone backing him.”

This was more than just a fight for survival. It was a fight for family, for love, for the very heart and soul of the Hades Abyss. And I would be damned if I let anyone, especially a snake like Robert Murray, tear that away from us.

The rumble of approaching motorcycles pulled me from my thoughts, and I opened the clubhouse doors to see four more of our brothers rolling into the compound, their faces etched with a mix of concern and determination. They dismounted their bikes and came inside.

I cleared my throat, my voice carrying over the low murmur of the crowd. “Robert Murray, Juniper’s uncle, just paid us a visit. And it’s clear he wasn’t here for a family reunion.”

A ripple of unease passed through the group, a few muttered curses and growls of anger punctuating the air. I held up a hand, silencing them. “He’s made his intentions clear. He wants Juniper, and he’s not going to stop until he gets what he wants. But we’re not going to let that happen.”

I paused, letting my words sink in, watching as the weight of the situation settled on their shoulders. “Fox and I have been talking. Things are moving faster than we’d anticipated. From now on, we’re on high alert. Double the patrols, keep a close eye on the perimeter. And if Murray shows his face around here again, we’ll be ready for him.”

Fox stepped forward, his presence a reassuring force at my side. “Breaker’s right. This is our home, our family. And we’ll defend it with everything we’ve got. Murray thinks he can take what’s ours, but he’s about to learn the hard way what happens when you cross the Hades Abyss.”

A chorus of cheers and shouts of agreement erupted from the crowd, a palpable energy crackling in the air. I felt a swell of pride in my chest, a fierce love for these men who were willing to stand by my side, to fight for what was right.

As the group dispersed, I felt a hand clap my shoulder. I turned to see Fox, his expression a mix of understanding and determination. “We’ve got this, brother. Juniper’s one of us now, and we take care of our own.”

I nodded, a lump forming in my throat. “I know. I just… I can’t lose her, Fox. She nearly died the day I found her,wouldhave if I hadn’t brought her here. I felt led by some… force, for lack of a better word, to go down that alley. Juniper was meant to be mine.”

“You won’t,” he said, his voice firm with conviction. “We’ll make sure of that. Together.”

As I watched him walk away, I felt a renewed sense of purpose, a fire burning in my veins. I knew the road ahead would be fraught with danger, that we were stepping into a world of shadows and secrets, but I was ready to face whatever lay in store. Robert Murray could throw whatever he wanted at us. We’d take him on no matter the risk.

Because this was more than just a fight for survival. It was a fight for love, for the chance at a future I never thought I deserved. No matter the cost, I would make sure that future was with Juniper.

I stormed into the house, my fists clenched tight and jaw set like stone. The confrontation with Robert Murray played on a vicious loop in my head -- his smug threats, the way he seemed so sure he could rip Juniper away from me. Over my dead fucking body.

Juniper looked up from where she sat curled up on the couch, a book forgotten in her lap as her wide eyes took me in. I could only imagine how I appeared in that moment, a thundercloud of barely contained rage. Concern pinched her brow.

“Teller? What’s wrong?”

I scraped a hand over my face, struggling to find the words. To tell her that the monster from her past had slithered out from whatever rock he’d been hiding under. That he wanted to sink his claws into her again and drag her back to a life of fear and pain.

“It’s your uncle,” I ground out. “He found you, Juniper. He knows you’re here, with me. With the club.”

The color drained from her face and the book slid from her trembling fingers, landing on the floor with a dull thud that seemed to echo like a gunshot in the suffocating silence.

“No,” she whispered, shaking her head as if she could will it not to be true. “He can’t… I thought I was safe here.”

Tears welled in her eyes, magnifying the terror and anguish that suddenly haunted their depths. It ripped me apart to see her like this, to watch that fragile sense of peace and belonging she’d found here shatter in an instant.

I crossed the room in two long strides and dropped to my knees in front of her, gathering her small, shaking hands in my own.

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