Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 43456 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 217(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43456 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 217(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
Ace nodded. “Consider it done.”
“Echo,” King continued, his tone unyielding, “you’re our eyes and ears. Get full surveillance on every building Aegis owns—admin offices, hangars, and warehouses. I don’t care how many prospects or resources you need, whatever it takes.”
“Got it,” Echo responded quietly, already pulling out his phone to send messages.
King’s eyes landed on Cruze, whose cool, calculated expression sharpened under the weight of the order he knew was coming. “Get inside the airfield’s admin building. I want every physical file, record, or document Aegis hasn’t digitized yet. They’re hiding something, and I want it in our hands.”
Cruze’s mouth curved into a ruthless smile. Before he’d patched with the Hounds, he’d been a ghost—one of the most elusive and renowned thieves in the world. His real identity had never been confirmed, but his alias still whispered in elite circles like a legend. Now, he used those unparalleled skills for the club. Mostly.
King turned to Kevlar. “Start putting together anything you think we might need when we finally find the lab and plan to breach. Blaze’ll work on the pyro shit.”
Finally, he turned to Fallon and me. “You two keep working with Linden and Wizard. Comb through the files. She seems to have a knack for finding patterns in all the noise.”
I started to protest, something protective flaring in my chest at the idea of Linden staying tangled up in this mess, but King cut me off sharply. “She needs to stay busy and focused. Being locked in the clubhouse with nothing to do will make her restless, and that’s dangerous. Trust me on this.”
King was right, and I fucking hated it. Linden wasn’t the type to sit idle, and giving her purpose might be the best way to keep her safe. Even though every instinct in me screamed to lock her away and shield her from everything.
“Fine,” I grudgingly agreed.
The meeting broke up quickly after that, each of my brothers focused on their tasks with determined efficiency. I rose from my chair, the urge to get back to my woman riding me hard. I needed to see that she was safe. Feel her in my arms. I just needed her.
14
LINDEN
Aphone buzzed on the nightstand, shattering the quiet and waking me from a dead sleep. I jolted awake, my heart already hammering before my eyes even opened. Keegan’s arm tightened around my waist, his body curling protectively over mine as he reached for the phone with his free hand.
“Tomcat,” he answered, his voice rough with sleep but instantly alert.
I couldn’t hear the other side clearly, just the low murmur of a man’s voice. Keegan’s jaw locked so hard I felt the shift in his muscles against my back.
“When?” A pause. “Yeah. We’re on our way.”
He ended the call and sat up, the sheet pooling around his waist before he swung his legs over the side of the bed. “We gotta go, little dove. Your apartment got hit tonight.”
My stomach twisted. “What?”
“Neighbor just got back from out of town. Door was jimmied. Sheriff’s there now. Nothing obvious taken, but they tossed the place.”
I sat up too fast, the room tilting for a second. Keegan’s hand found my knee, steadying me. “Breathe, baby. We’re going to check it out. Get dressed.”
Twenty minutes later, we pulled up to my building in his blacked-out truck. Yellow crime scene tape fluttered across the front door. The sheriff met us on the sidewalk.
“Tomcat,” he greeted, dipping his chin. His gaze slid to me, softening. “Miss Holbrook. Sorry you had to see this.”
Inside, the apartment looked like a disaster. Drawers had been yanked out, cushions slashed, and books were scattered across the floor. The deliberate destruction made my stomach churn.
Nothing was missing. The TV was still on the wall, and the few pieces of jewelry I owned were on top of my dresser. Whoever had broken in had been there to create chaos, not for quick cash.
Keegan stayed close, one hand on the small of my back as we walked through the wreckage. I didn’t know what I would’ve done without him. He was the only reason I didn’t fall apart.
Returning to the clubhouse a couple of hours later, a few brothers were nursing beers at the bar, clearly waiting for us to get back.
Blaze looked up as we walked in, his usual easy grin nowhere in sight. “How bad?”
Keegan shook his head. “Nothing taken. Just gone through.”
Blaze leaned back against the bar, arms crossed. His eyes flicked to me, then back to Keegan. “Brother, I know you want to keep Linden close, but maybe it’s time we consider giving her a fresh start. Somewhere off the grid. Just till this blows over.”
I wasn’t sure what he meant, but Keegan seemed to be completely against the idea. “No.”
“Tomcat—”
“I said no.” His arm tightened around my back. “She’s not running.”