Page 11 of Property of Blade (Kings of Anarchy MC: Alaska #1)

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Hannah

B lade doesn’t talk much on the way to the bar, and I don’t push for conversation. His silence isn’t uncomfortable—it’s just him. The low rumble of the truck’s engine fills the space between us as I watch the trees blur past the window.

When we pull up to The Rusty Nail, Blade eases the truck into reverse and parks neatly in a space right out front. His precision is impressive, and I’m half-smiling when he shifts the truck into park and turns to me.

“Wait there,” he says, his voice low but firm, with no room for argument.

Before I can respond, he’s already out, the crunch of his boots on the ground echoing as he strides around the front of the truck. The chill seeps in when he opens my door, but it’s quickly replaced by the warmth of his presence.

Grinning up at him, I tease, “Such a gentleman.”

His brow furrows, a faint scowl pulling at his lips. “No,” he says simply, his tone leaving no doubt that he’s not interested in the label.

He holds out his hand to me, the roughness of his palm grazing mine as he helps me out of the truck.

When my feet hit the ground, his hand doesn’t let go. His grip is steady, warm, and commanding, and I’m not sure if it’s the cold air or the way he’s looking at me, but my pulse skips.

I tilt my head up, meeting his gaze. “Thanks,” I say softly, my breath visible in the frosty air.

He doesn’t respond, not verbally, anyway. His thumb brushes against the back of my hand—just once, barely there, and I’m left wondering if it was intentional or just an accident. Either way, it sends a shiver down my spine that has nothing to do with the temperature.

Blade releases my hand, moving his to the small of my back, guiding me toward the bar’s entrance. His touch is protective, possessive, and entirely unspoken, but I feel it all the same.

This is going to be an interesting night.

He swings the door open, the wood creaking under his firm grip, and gestures for me to step inside first. I hesitate, briefly taking in the dimly lit interior and the low hum of conversations blending into a steady thrum.

Gathering my courage, I inhale deeply and cross the threshold.

The bar is a bustling sea of bodies, mostly men whose eyes flicker with curiosity as we make our way through.

Blade’s touch lingers reassuringly on the small of my back, guiding me through the maze of patrons to a secluded table tucked in a corner.

Around the table, a circle of men in Kings of Anarchy MC jackets sit, their gazes assessing yet guarded as they size me up.

The air around them crackles with an unspoken intensity.

I feel some of the tension in my chest ease as Blade pulls out a chair for me.

His presence calms my nerves, grounding me under their scrutiny.

The man I met in the diner, Vex, stands with a grin and extends his hand. “I remember you.”

“Hello, Vex,” I say, shaking his hand.

I catch Blade out of the corner of my eye, his arm twitching as if he’s about to step between us, but he stops and lets his hand fall back to his side.

Vex’s grin widens as he pulls me into a casual side hug. “Guys, this is Hannah. Hannah, meet...” He gestures to the men around the table. “Hollywood, Ranger, Prophet, Stash, and Kyler.”

Each man nods or offers me a quick two-finger wave. Their eyes linger long enough to make me feel as though they’re sizing me up, but there’s no hostility, just curiosity and perhaps a little hint of amusement. I swallow hard, aware of Blade’s presence behind me.

“Hello, it’s nice to meet you.” I glance over my shoulder at Blade, raising an eyebrow. “Did you pick the largest men in town to be friends with?”

The table erupts into laughter, the sound booming over the low hum of the bar.

Ranger stands, dragging another chair over with a scrape against the wooden floor. His lips curl into a grin as he looks at Blade and says, “I like her. What are you drinking, Hannah? First one’s on me.”

“A beer? Something local?” I reply, hoping I sound more confident than I feel.

Vex finally lets go of me, and I settle into the chair Blade pulled out for me as he settles into the chair Ranger dragged over. Before I can relax, Blade’s hand comes to rest on my shoulder, warm and firm. I glance at him, and his expression is unreadable.

“Would you rather sit somewhere else?” he asks, his tone calm, but there’s an edge to it I can’t quite place.

I let my gaze sweep around the table. The men are all watching Blade now, their faces carefully neutral, but I can feel the weight of unspoken tension hanging in the air. This feels important, a test I wasn’t prepared for.

Plastering on my best smile, I shake my head. “No, I’m fine here.”

The men relax slightly, a few of them exchanging glances before turning back to me.

I clear my throat and ask, “Have you all eaten?”

This time, the laughter is softer, but it breaks the tension. It’s not much, but it’s enough to make me feel as if I’ve passed, at least for now.

“No, we’ve been drinking,” Prophet replies with a grin, his voice rough but with a hint of humor.

His jacket is slung over the back of his chair, leaving his thick, muscular arms on full display.

The tattoos etched into his skin catch my attention—crosses, bold and intricate, standing out against his tanned arms.

“Prophet, right?” I ask, trying to sound casual, though I can’t help but feel small under the weight of his presence.

He nods, and to my surprise, his face splits into a wide smile. It’s the kind of smile that softens his otherwise sharp features, almost making him seem approachable.

“Yeah,” he says, his gaze steady as though he’s sizing me up while deciding whether or not I belong.

“Well, I haven’t eaten nearly enough today...” I say, glancing over at Ranger at the bar, “... and since he’s getting me a beer, I definitely need to eat if I’m going to keep up.”

Prophet quirks an eyebrow, his grin tilting into something a little mischievous. “Keep up? Honey, there ain’t no way you’ll be able to do that.” He chuckles, the sound deep and rich, filling the space between us. “Especially on an empty stomach.”

The way he says it isn’t mean, but there’s a challenge hidden in his tone as if he’s daring me to prove him wrong.

I fight the urge to roll my eyes and instead shoot him a playful smile. “We’ll see about that.”

“Kyler, pass the menu down,” says Blade, his tone carrying the easy authority of someone used to being obeyed.

Kyler nods without a word and picks up a menu from the center of the table and hands it to me.

“Thank you,” I say, offering him a polite smile.

He nods again, his gaze flickering to mine for a brief moment before dropping to the table. There’s something quiet about him. But when he avoids my eyes, I can’t help but wonder if it’s because of the scar on my face, the way he’s looking down as though he’s uncomfortable with it.

Blade casually drapes his arm over the back of my chair. “Hungry? How about burgers or pizza?” he suggests.

I ponder for a moment, unsure. “What’s good here?”

His grin widens. “Honestly, everything. It just depends on how hungry you are.”

I furrow my brow, considering my options. “Well, burgers can get messy, and I’m not a fan of mess. Pizza sounds better, but I can’t eat a whole one.”

Hollywood lets out a hearty chuckle. “Don’t worry about being messy. Wait until you see Vex eat.”

The rest of the table reacts—some laugh, others grimace, and a few nod—but Kyler stays silent, watching the scene unfold. Blade, however, doesn’t seem to care about their reactions.

He leans in closer to me, his voice low and a little teasing. “I can help you eat a pizza.”

I tilt my head, a small smile playing on my lips. “Do you like pineapple on your pizza?”

He nods without hesitation. “Yes.”

Before I can say anything else, Ranger comes back to the table, scoffing as he drops into his seat. “Meat lovers is better,” he mutters.

Blade shakes his head, clearly amused. “Just because you’re a carnivore doesn’t mean we all are.”

Ranger quirks an eyebrow. “I eat fruit, just not on pizza.”

Stash chimes in with, “I’m the only true carnivore.”

Ranger gives him a quick nod. “Only when you’re—” Blade cuts him off with a sharp shake of his head. Ranger pauses, takes a slow sip of his drink, and then continues, “In town.”

Blade nods, but I can’t help but feel as if I’ve missed an inside joke.

I glance between them and then ask Stash, curious, “So you only eat meat at home?”

“Something like that,” Stash replies, his tone cryptic, leaving me with more questions than answers.

With a shrug, I shift my focus back to Blade, my hand instinctively brushing against his leg. “I’ll be right back. I’m just going to the ladies.”

He catches my hand before I can pull away, his fingers warm as they cover mine. “Want me to order you a Hawaiian?” His gaze is steady, and I can see the hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

I dig through my purse for my credit card and hand it to him. “Sure. Use this and get yourself something too.”

Blade’s smile widens, and I catch the warmth in his eyes as he nods. I stand, my heart giving a little flutter, and make my way through the bar, heading toward the ladies’ room.

Thankfully, when I push open the door to the ladies’ room, it’s empty. There are only three cubicles, so I pick the one farthest from the door. I take care of what I need to do, then when I step out, I see Tessa from the café standing by the sink, washing her hands.

She catches my eye in the mirror and smiles. “I see you found Blade.”

“I did,” I reply, my voice soft.

“The Kings are all super cute, huge, and so private,” she adds, almost as if she’s weighing her words.

I nod, agreeing with the first two. “Yes to the cute and huge... but I’m not sure about the private part, yet.”

Tessa dries her hands on a paper towel, then looks back at me. “Tell Vex I said hello.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Why don’t you come say hi yourself?”