Page 5 of Breaker

“We’ll need to investigate this further,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “But for now, she can stay under your watch. Keep her safe, Breaker. And keep us informed.”

I nodded, relief flooding through me. “Thank you, Fox. I won’t let you down.”

As they turned to leave, Rocket paused, his hand on the doorframe. “And be careful. Don’t let your emotions cloud your judgment.”

With those parting words, they were gone, leaving me alone with Dread and the woman once more. I sank into the chair beside the bed, my eyes never leaving her face. I knew the road ahead would be difficult, that there were still so many unanswered questions.

Dread took her pulse again. “She’ll need something for her fever, and if you can get her to drink some broth, it would help keep her hydrated while giving her some nourishment. Without tests to get a better look at her lungs, I can’t tell if this is a bad flu or pneumonia.”

Before I could answer him, Fox came back into the room. I’d thought he’d left the house, but if he had, something had made him turn around. His gaze swept over her, his brow furrowed in contemplation. “I’m going to take her picture and send it to Surge. I need him to check her identity. We need to know who she is, and whether she may pose a threat to the club or our families.”

“I understand, Pres,” I said, and I really did.

Fox approached the bed, his movements precise and efficient. He pulled out his phone and snapped a photo of the woman’s face, the flash illuminating her soft features for a brief moment.

“I’m sending this to Surge now,” he informed us, his fingers tapping rapidly on the screen. “He’ll start digging into her background, see if he can find anything that might help us understand who she is and why she was in the alley.”

As he hit SEND, I felt a knot form in the pit of my stomach. I knew the wheels were in motion, and there was no turning back now. Whatever secrets she held, whatever past she was running from, it would all come to light soon enough.

I glanced down at her, my heart constricting at the sight of her fragile form. I couldn’t shake the feeling she needed me, that I was meant to protect her.

When I was alone once more, I focused on the sleeping woman in my bed. She looked so innocent. So young. It was hard to imagine what kind of trouble she might be in, what kind of danger she might be running from. I reached out and brushed a stray lock of hair from her forehead, my fingers lingering on her soft skin.

“Who are you?” I whispered, more to myself than to her. “What secrets are you hiding?”

I knew I shouldn’t be getting attached, that I needed to keep my distance until we knew more about her. But there was something about her that drew me in, that made me want to protect her from whatever demons haunted her past.

As the minutes ticked by, I found myself lost in thought, trying to piece together the puzzle of the woman in my bed. I replayed every moment since I found her in that alley, searching for clues that might help me understand who she was and why she was here.

But the more I thought about it, the more questions I had. What had happened to her? Why was she alone and scared in the middle of the night? And most importantly, what would happen when she woke up and realized she was in a stranger’s bed?

I sighed, rubbing a hand over my face. Depending on how things went, and what Fox decided about all this, I’d end up choosing between a woman I didn’t know and the club that had been my family most of my life. It wasn’t a choice I wanted to make, and hoped like hell I wouldn’t have to.

As I looked down at her once more, I made a silent vow. No matter what happened, no matter what truths were revealed, I would stand by her. I would be her rock, her protector, her safe haven in the storm. Someone had once done the same for me. Spider had brought me here, given me a chance at a new life, and now it was my turn to pay it forward.

Because in that moment, as the first rays of dawn began to filter through the curtains, I knew one thing for certain… This woman was special, and I would do whatever it took to ensure her safety and happiness.

Even if it meant risking everything I held dear.

Chapter Three

Breaker

I sat beside the woman’s bedside, my eyes tracing the delicate lines of her pale face as she lay unconscious. The room was quiet, the soft hum of the compound outside barely audible through the walls. Tension hung thick in the air, my heart heavy with worry and fear. She’d been here for days now, and since her bath, she hadn’t once opened her eyes.

Her skin was pallid and clammy. Dark lashes fanned over hollow cheeks, and chapped lips parted slightly with each shallow breath. I watched the slow rise and fall of her chest, silently willing her to open those striking gray eyes.

As if sensing my presence, she stirred. A faint moan escaped her lips, so soft I almost missed it.

“You going to wake up, Sleeping Beauty?” I whispered, leaning closer.

With a gentle touch, I brushed a stray lock of hair from her forehead, my calloused fingers a stark contrast to her soft skin. I took her small hand in mine, feeling the thrum of her pulse beneath my fingers. A lifeline. A promise.

“I’m here, darling,” I murmured, my voice rough with emotion.

With a heavy heart, I rose from her bedside, my footsteps echoing in the quiet room as I made my way to the kitchen. The air seemed to thicken with each step, the weight of the impending conversation settling on my shoulders like a lead blanket.

As I entered the kitchen, the atmosphere shifted, the once casual space now charged with unspoken concerns. Fox, Spider, and Surge were already gathered around the table, their expressions grim and their postures tense. It didn’t bode well for whatever he’d found. Were they going to make me toss the woman from the compound? We’d always helped those in need, especially women and children. I hoped that wasn’t going to change, even though I could understand their caution.

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