Page 24

Blakely had caused a lot of irritation in my life, but nothing like this. She wasn’t going to get away with this. Not this time.

“Yeah, well, we’ve all let her have her way a little too often,” Hawk said. “Eat your breakfast.”

I did as Hawk said. He sipped his coffee and washed the dishes as I finished eating. From the outside, it looked like a normal morning with my older brother, the family man. After Harley disappeared, I’d thought I’d never have a chance to be a family man like Hawk. With my fated mate gone, I’d never be able to really commit myself to another woman. It was a bleak fate, but I’d accepted it. I’d figured I’d ruined my future with Harley when I’d gone to prison. It was my own decision, and I had to pay the price.

But now, everything was different.

My fated mate was back. And she brought my child with her. My son. Nine years old and already strong, his dragon bursting to be freed.

Once I was finished eating, Hawk took the skillet from me. “So, what’s next?” he asked. “What are you going to do?”

“Dylan’s most important right now,” I said. “His first shift is imminent. I’m going to help him through that. As for Harley… Hell, Hawk, I don’t know.”

Hawk laughed. “That makes sense. One step at a time, yeah?”

“Yeah. But the first step is taking care of Blakely.”

Hawk grimaced slightly. “I don’t need to tell you to keep your temper in check, do I?”

“I’m not going to hurt her,” I said. “Not physically, at least.”

Hawk whistled. “You’re the alpha, boss. Take the Mustang.”

I dressed quickly, pulled on my leather jacket, and drove to the clubhouse. It was mid-morning when I arrived, but if thisSaturday morning was like the usual Saturdays, I knew exactly where to find Blakely.

I climbed the stairs and stomped down the hall to Tuck’s room. Without bothering to knock, I shoved the door open. A nauseating blend of sweat, booze, and cigarette smoke assaulted my nostrils. The floor was covered with clothes, and the blackout curtains were shut to keep the room dark. I stomped over and flung them open.

Blakely grimaced and covered her eyes with her forearm. She was alone in the bed, buried in the sheets with her red hair mussed and her shoulders bare. “Hm? Tuck?”

“No.”

She blinked up at me and a practiced, sultry smile curved her lips. “Oh, hi, Ace. What a nice surprise to wake up to.”

“Get dressed,” I said coolly, “and meet me in my room.”

She could hardly hide the hopeful glee in her expression. As Blakely jumped out of bed, I stepped into the hallway and marched down to the far end of the hall, where I kept a room for nights I stayed at the clubhouse. It was small but well-furnished, with a big bed and a window that overlooked the lake.

“Hey, gorgeous,” Blakely purred as she stepped into the room behind me. I glanced over my shoulder. She was wearing the same clothes I’d seen her in last night—black jeans and black tank top—and she had a few hickeys low on her neck. There were probably bruises from Tuck’s hands under her shirt as well. “Looking for a little fun this morning?”

Blakely slid her hands over my hips from behind me. I stepped out of reach and swatted her hands away like she was a misbehaving dog.

How could I have been so foolish? How could I have wasted so much time?

“No. I need to ask you a few questions.”

“Sure.” Unfazed, she sat at the foot of my bed and leaned back on her hands. She tipped her head back, shamelessly baring the hickeys on her neck. “What do you need to know, honey?”

The pet name made my dragon bristle with disgust. “What do you know about Harley Founty?”

Fear flashed across Blakely’s face, but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared. Her expression smoothed back into a teasing smile. “I hardly remember her. She was here for a summer about ten years ago, right? Is that the girl you’re asking about?”

My dragon and I both sensed the lie like a bad smell in the air. “She left town the night I was arrested. What do you remember about that?”

Harley shrugged one shoulder. “I don’t remember anything. She must’ve heard about the arrest and skipped town.”

“Funny,” I said. “That’s not what she told me last night.”

The blood drained from Blakely’s face. The teasing expression disappeared, too, and her mouth dropped open in shock. “What do you mean last night? Did she call you or something?”