Page 16 of Hunter

I read the words again as if they might rearrange themselves into something less scary, but it didn’t help. I still didn’t know who “them” was. Although, if I had to guess, they were probably referring to the Iron Rogues since I hadn’t really met anyone else recently who could be described in the plural like that.

I twisted the paper in my hands, torn between running back inside to Marcy and pulling out my phone to text Wesley.

He’d already done so much, and Country Crust was her baby. Plus, she was my boss.

My fingers hovered over my phone, uncertainty rooting me to the sidewalk. Then it buzzed in my hand.

A new text lit up the screen.

Wesley

Checking in.

I had no explanation for how he’d known the perfect time to send me a message. But Marcy didn’t seem the least bit surprised when she came out to see what was taking me so long with the mail.

Marcy’s eyes dropped to the phone still clutched in my hand, then the note dangling from my other fingers. She didn’t even blink.

“I told you Hunter would watch out for you.” Her voice teased, but her eyes were serious. “Hiring you was the best decision I’ve made since opening the bakery, and not just because you’re amazing.”

“You don’t think he somehow knows about this already, do you?” I glanced at the screen of my phone again. “It has to be a coincidence, right?”

“I recommend going with whichever theory makes you feel better.” She patted me on the shoulder. “But also, get ready to see him again soon. I’d be willing to bet my ownership in the bakery that he’s on his way here now.”

I hoped she was right because I already knew I would be safe with Wesley here.

6

HUNTER

Sadie

There was a weird note in the bakery’s mailbox. It’s probably just a joke, and I’m overreacting.

As I read the text, my frown deepened, and I fired back a message without hesitation.

Me

Be right there.

“Sadie?” Fox asked, his tone knowing.

I looked up. Apparently, I wasn’t as unreadable as I liked to think.

He chuckled. “I recognize that look. See it anytime a brother’s old lady is involved in questionable shit.”

“Fair point,” I muttered. “Something’s off at the bakery. I don’t know what yet, but it’s not nothing.”

Fox jerked his chin toward the door. “Go. We’ll finish this later.”

I nodded and was already moving, stalking out of his office and straight to my bike.

Watching Sadie on the cameras had forced me to slow down a little. She was soft, skittish, and if I pushed too hard, she might run. Not that she’d get far—she was mine. Always would be. And if it came down to it, I’d chase her ass down, tie her to the bed, and take my time proving it.

I’d also been keeping an eye out for shady shit. So far, nothing. That made the tension that coiled in my chest when I saw her anxious expression as she read a note outside the shop hit harder than I expected.

When I pulled up, Sadie and Marcy were sitting at one of the bakery’s tiny café tables inside, both heads turning at the sound of my engine. Marcy said something that made Sadie blush like crazy, and if I hadn’t been half out of my mind with worry and fury, I might’ve smiled. She was too sweet for this world, and way too damn sweet for me, but I didn’t care. She was mine.

The women stepped outside just as I swung off my bike.

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