Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
“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.
“Hey, sunshine,” I greeted her first, then nodded at her boss. “Marcy.”
“Thanks for coming,” Marcy said as she nudged Sadie, who gave me a soft, shy smile.
As I approached, she held out a plastic bag with a small piece of paper inside.
“Good girl,” I praised, one corner of my mouth lifting.
“I wasn’t sure it was serious enough to go to the cops, so I didn’t want to ruin any prints.”
Marcy snorted but didn’t say a word.
“The Iron Rogues will handle it,” I said, voice low and hard.
“But—”
“They’re the authority around here, Sadie,” Marcy said with a shrug. No judgment, no hesitation. Just stating a fact. Then she looked at me sideways and smiled. “They take care of their own.”
Sadie flushed deeper, peeking up at me through her lashes. It wasn’t intentional—she had no idea how naturally seductive she was. And no clue how fucking hard it made me.
“But we’re not part of the club,” she whispered.
“I’m not,” Marcy said with a sly grin.
“I thought women couldn’t join,” Sadie added, brows knitting.
“Not as patches,” I said. “As old ladies.”
Her sky-blue eyes widened. “That’s real? Calling them old ladies? I thought it was just something from movies or books.”
Holding her gaze, I grunted. “Claimed women are called old ladies.”
“Oh.” Her smile turned wistful before she shook her head and stepped back. “Well, I’m, um, not…I mean, I’m not claimed, so you really don’t have to—”
“One thing at a time, sunshine,” I muttered. It was the wrong time for that conversation. But it would be happening real fucking soon.
I flipped the note over and read the words. Fury instantly whipped through me. Sharp. Blinding. Someone had threatened my girl.
“It could be for me,” Marcy offered, but she didn’t sound convinced.
“‘Them,’” I muttered, eyes still on the paper. My jaw clenched, and I raised my gaze to her face. “Piss anyone off? You or Derek?”
“No one I can think of,” she said, eyes narrowing.
I was sure it was meant for Sadie. And “them” referred to my club. Maybe it was just some loser with a crush and no balls. Or perhaps it was worse.
I dug my phone from my pocket and called my prez.
“Fox,” he answered.
“Got a problem,” I said, then gave him a quick rundown about the window and now the note.
“You install cameras?”
“Yeah.”
“How many?”
“More than one.” I didn’t know if Marcy or Sadie were aware of just how many I’d planted, so I was vague in answering.
“Figured. Send Deviant the app login. He’ll start pulling footage.”
Deviant, besides being an enforcer, was a fucking tech genius. If there was something on the video, he’d find it.
“Will do. Sadie bagged the note. I’ll drop it at Iron Shield so Midnight can run the paper for prints.”
“Good girl,” Fox muttered, impressed.