Page 88 of Edge

“If we can wrap this up, you guys can handle your shit without us here,” I said calmly.

They turned, and suddenly both barrels were aimed at me. Slowly raising my hands, I pointed to the roof of the warehouse where Shaker, Badger, Copper, Judge, Boar, and two otherManglers were positioned with sniper rifles. “I wouldn’t do that.”

Hound lowered his weapon while Mange redirected his back to Hound and fired. Hound fell to the ground in a heap while Mange raised his hands and let his gun dangle from one finger. “I think we’re done here.”

“I’m going to need more than that.”

He sighed and returned his gun to its holster. “Hound, Muzzle, and Snarl have been problematic for the club for a while. As far as I’m concerned, whatever issues they had with you died with them.”

“What about Evie?”

“Evie is no longer our concern. This is over. You have my word,” he said and extended his hand.

“It’s not completely over. Evie was listed as a person of interest in Randall’s murder after the charges were dropped against Muzzle and Snarl. Now, I’m not an expert in murder investigations, but it seems like things weren’t on the up and up, and we’re going to have to clear Evie’s name, which might bring trouble to your door. I’m not interested in stirring up shit where shit doesn’t need to be stirred.”

“Not a problem. I’ll make sure Muzzle and Snarl are blamed for the murder, and Evie’s name is cleared.” When I arched an eyebrow, he added, “We have a nice setup in Fairbanks. We don’t need any outsiders sniffing around and changing things.”

Knowing that was as good as it was going to get, I shook his hand. Evie was safe, no one was hurt, and they were leaving. I was satisfied with those outcomes.

25

EVIE

Iwas doing my best to hide it, but I was a nervous wreck. I couldn’t imagine how I would feel if Edge had gone with Phoenix and the others to meet with the Mad Dogs.

“Are you okay?” Ember asked.

“How do you do this?” I blurted. “You guys are so calm, and I’m over here completely freaking out.”

She laughed. “Trust me. We’re all freaking out, too. We’ve just gotten better at hiding it over the years.”

“Do you really think they’ll be okay?”

“Anything can happen, but my dad is the president for a reason. He doesn’t head into situations blindly. He makes plans and takes precautions.”

“Mom!” Raven called from across the room. “Come look at this.”

Ember sighed and got to her feet. “Excuse me while I go see what my grown-ass child needs.”

She’d barely made it halfway across the room when Harper dropped into the seat she’d vacated. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m tired and a little sore, but it’s getting better every day. How are you?”

“Nervous. Worried. Pretending like I’m fine.”

“Yeah, I was just telling Ember I don’t know how y’all do this.”

“Stuff like this doesn’t happen too often, but I think it helps to have others to commiserate with.”

“You guys are lucky to have each other.”

“It probably doesn’t feel like it yet, but you’re a part of this group, too.”

“I’m surprised you guys don’t hate me,” I said and immediately covered my mouth. I hadn’t meant to say that, but there was no way I could take it back.

Harper’s face softened. “The club has had to handle stuff for a lot of us. Some of us asked for their help, and some of us didn’t. Sometimes people got hurt, sometimes they didn’t. But every time, they helped because they wanted to. Because their family needed help. You’re family now. This is what they do. No one’s going to hate you for that.”

“I’m not family,” I corrected.