Page 13 of Property of Blade (Kings of Anarchy MC: Alaska #1)

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Hannah

I t’s been three days since I’ve seen Blade.

I’m in town buying groceries and a few essentials, chocolate for me and food for Grace.

The locals are all friendly as I wander around the store, but something keeps drawing my attention elsewhere.

Every time a motorbike roars past, I can’t help but strain to see if it’s Blade, knowing he’s in an MC and must ride.

It’s silly, but I can’t stop looking. A small part of me hopes to catch a glimpse of him, even though I know he’s probably off doing his own thing. Still, I can’t help but look whenever one goes by.

I’ve got my head in the freezer cabinet, trying to decide if I should get ice cream when someone says, “Get the rocky road.”

Turning, I find Tessa grinning at me. “It’s the best.”

I shut the door, looking down at the basket already full of chocolate. “I’m trying to decide if my ass can handle any more sugar.”

Tessa laughs. “That I understand. You going to be in town long today?”

“Not sure, why?”

“Well, if you want a sugar fix, Mandy has cooked her famous chocolate pie. It’s seriously good.”

“Are you working today?”

Tessa glances at her phone. “I start in ten minutes. Come on, it’s a slow day, and Vex will be there.”

“Why do I care about Vex?”

“You don’t, but I do, and I’m pretty sure Blade and him are meeting up there today. You could just happen to be in there and say hello.” Tessa smirks.

“Are you playing matchmaker?”

“As far as I know, you’re the only woman who’s ever hung out with the Kings. Maybe your good luck will rub off on me and Vex will finally...” she makes air quotes with her fingers, “... see me.”

“He sees you. But men are dumb sometimes.”

Tessa holds up her phone, pointing to the time. “Gotta run. But come in, get a coffee and some pie.”

I nod, a smile tugging at my lips. “Okay, I will. See you soon.”

“Yay! I can tell we are going to be friends.” Tessa winks at me and hurries to the checkout.

Casting another glance at the ice cream, I decide I don’t need it and make my way to the cashier. The older woman smiles at me as I place my purchases on her counter.

“How are you liking Crystal Creek?” she asks, her voice friendly, but there’s a sharpness in her eyes that hints she’s not one to miss much.

“I like it a lot. I’m really looking forward to winter.”

The woman coughs, her eyes widening in disbelief. “Are you crazy? It gets colder than a witch’s tit, and we can get snowed in for days, weeks even.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “I know. But I’m from LA, so it’ll be different for me.”

She scoffs. “I’ll say.” After running all my items through, she looks at me and says, “That’ll be thirty-three dollars and twenty-eight cents. And my name is Sally. I’m here most days.”

I tap my card on the machine and smile. “Nice to meet you, Sally. I’m Hannah.”

“Oh, I know. No one else in town drives a Mini.”

I laugh, picking up my grocery bags. “So I’ve been told.”

“Have a nice day,” Sally says, her smile wide and genuine as I walk out toward my car.

When I get to my car, I’m trying to balance my grocery bags against it while fishing my keys out of my handbag. My mind is still on the conversation with Sally when suddenly, a voice behind me makes me jump.

“Need some help?”

I almost drop my groceries, startled by the familiar deep voice. I turn, and there he is—Blade—standing just behind me with that easy, confident smile on his face.

“I think I’ve almost got it,” I say, laughing a little nervously as I try to steady my hands.

“Hannah, give me the bags,” he says, his voice gentle but firm, and before I can protest, he takes the bags from me with a single, effortless motion.

My heart skips a beat at the sight of him standing there so close to me.

“Thank you,” I say, meeting his gaze as he adjusts the bags, his eyes locking onto mine.

“No problem,” Blade replies, his smile a little softer now, almost tender. “What brings you to town?”

“Just getting some groceries,” I reply.

Blade’s face goes a little red. “Should have figured that one out.”

“Oh, and the promise of Mandy’s famous chocolate pie at the café.”

“I’ll walk you to the café since I’m headed there too,” Blade says, and I notice the slight possessiveness in his tone.

Blade puts my groceries in my trunk and closes it. His hand finds mine as we cross the street, and I can’t help the flutter in my chest.

When we reach the café, Blade drops my hand to open the door for me, letting me go first. The loss of his touch leaves an emptiness I try not to acknowledge. I glance back at him, but he’s already following me in.

“Hey, Hannah,” Tessa says, her voice a little too loud as she spots me from the counter. “Fancy seeing you here.”

Laughing, I sit down on the stool in front of her and try to shake off the feeling of being caught in an awkward moment. “Fancy that.”

Tessa squints at me, puts one arm across her body, and taps her chin as if she’s deep in thought. “Let me guess,” she says, her voice playful. “You want chocolate pie and a hot chocolate.” She quirks an eyebrow at me.

“Damn, you are good,” I reply with mock excitement, a smile tugging at my lips. “However did you guess?”

“I’m psychic.” Tessa grins at me, winking before her gaze shifts to Blade. “And you, Blade... you want black coffee, but now you’re thinking about the pie. Am I right?”

Blade chuckles, his eyes glinting with humor. “Sounds good.” He looks around the café, searching for something or someone. “Where’s Vex?”

Tessa shrugs, looking around herself. “I was going to ask you that very same thing.”

Blade’s brow furrows slightly, and I see a flicker of frustration in his eyes. “He was supposed to meet me here.”

“Maybe he’s running late?” I suggest, trying to smooth over the tension I feel creeping in.

“Well, until he arrives, I’ll get you both sorted with pie and drinks,” Tessa says, cheerfully bouncing off to get our orders.

The moment she walks away, I suddenly feel awkward. Blade’s gaze lingers on the door for a moment, and I can see the slight unease in his posture.

I shift on my stool, unsure of what to say. The air between us is charged in a way I’m not entirely prepared for.

As if sensing my discomfort, Blade moves a little closer, leaning against the counter with his elbows, his eyes meeting mine. “You all right?” His voice is low, just for me, and it cuts through the tension.

“Yeah,” I say, my voice softer than I meant it to be. “Just... you haven’t phoned me.”

His gaze softens, and for a second, the mask slips. “I know. I’ve been... busy.”

Busy. The word lingers in the air. I open my mouth to ask doing what but change my mind.

Tessa returns with the pie and drinks, placing them in front of us with a satisfied grin. “Enjoy,” she says with a wink.

I laugh, the sound a little too forced as I try to mask the tension I feel. Blade sits beside me, picking up his fork and digging into his pie.

“Is it good?” I ask, trying to sound casual.

He nods, savoring another bite. “Very.”

Just as I’m about to take a bite of my pie, the bell over the door jingles, and Blade turns toward it, his eyes narrowing as someone enters. I glance over and see Vex walking in, looking unbothered as usual.

“Where have you been?” Blade asks, his tone more curious than frustrated.

“Running late,” Vex quips. “Hey, Hannah, how are you?”

“Good, thanks, Vex,” I reply, trying to appear as if everything is fine.

Blade stands, his hand hovering over his coffee and pie. “Tessa?”

Tessa appears from the back of the café, wiping her hands on her apron. “Yes?”

“Could I have this to go, please?” Blade asks, his voice soft but decisive.

Tessa nods. “Yep.” She grabs his pie and coffee, then looks over at Vex, a playful grin forming. “Hey, you, how’s your day going?”

“Good. It’s another beautiful day in Alaska,” Vex responds, his voice dripping with fake enthusiasm.

Tessa tilts her head, eyeing him with a teasing look. “Sarcasm isn’t your strong suit.” With that, she walks back toward the kitchen, leaving me alone with the two men.

I raise an eyebrow at him. “Why don’t you ask her out?”

Vex shrugs, his posture relaxed as he leans against the counter. “I would, I want to, but I come here almost every day. A date could ruin it.”

I can’t help but smirk, a hint of mischief in my tone. “Or make it better. Or you could get her number and text her.” I glance at Blade, who’s still watching us from the corner of his eye. “Women like that stuff.”

Vex doesn’t seem convinced, but before he can reply, Tessa walks back out, pie and coffee in hand. Blade places some bills on the counter, a curt nod to Tessa.

“Thanks, Tessa,” he says, his voice cool and distant, then looks at me. “I’ll see you around, Hannah.”

My mouth drops open in surprise. I quickly close it, trying to mask my hurt. I swivel back around, face forward, and do my best to hide the confusion and frustration bubbling inside me. “You have a nice day,” I reply, the words a little colder than I intend, but I can’t help it.

Blade and Vex walk out of the diner, leaving me sitting there, feeling dismissed. Tessa, however, isn’t about to let me stew in silence.

“I’ll see you around, Hannah!” she calls out as she waves. Her voice is teasing, but it holds a genuine warmth.

I take a deep breath, my mind still reeling from Blade’s abrupt departure. His kiss, the one that had taken me by surprise and left me breathless, feels as if it meant nothing to him. All I get is, “I’ll see you around, Hannah.” It stings in a way I didn’t think was possible.

“Weren’t you the one who said men are dumb?” Tessa says, her voice light but knowing.

I chuckle bitterly. “Truer words have never been spoken.”

With anger coursing through my veins, I stab my fork into the pie, taking a big bite. It’s seriously good, the perfect mix of sweet and chocolatey, but all I can think about is Blade and how he could be so cold after what we shared just a few days ago.

I’m angry at him for making me feel unimportant and not treating me with the same care he did before. And a little hurt too. The kiss obviously meant more to me than it did to him.

T wo days later, I’m back in town buying more chocolate when a hand lands on my shoulder.

“Hey, Hannah.”

Blade’s deep voice startles me, yet at the same time, my stomach does a little flip. I freeze for a moment, feeling the rush of emotions I’ve been trying to suppress.

“B-Blade,” I stammer, turning to face him.

His presence is undeniably tall and strong.

“How are you?” His question is simple, but the weight of everything unspoken between us hangs in the air.

I smile widely and maybe a little too quickly. “I’m good. See you around.”

I walk away before I can say anything else, my heart beating faster than usual, my head a whirlwind of emotions. I make a beeline for my car, open the door, and throw my groceries onto the passenger seat.

“I hope there were no eggs in that.”

A small squeak escapes me, and I jump slightly, turning around. Blade is standing right behind me, one hand on my car’s roof and the other on the open door, effectively caging me in.

“Nope. No eggs,” I reply, trying to sound casual, but my nerves are getting the better of me. I add quickly, “And I’m busy, so, if you wouldn’t mind?”

He doesn’t move. He just stands there looking at me with an unreadable expression. Then, a small laugh escapes him. “You’re mad.”

I furrow my brow, confused. “No. Why would I be mad?”

Blade runs a hand through his long, light brown hair, his gaze shifting away for a moment before meeting mine again. “I’m not good at this.”

“Not good at what?” I ask, genuinely confused now. The tension between us is still there, thick in the air, but I’m not sure what he’s referring to.

“Dating and all the stuff women like,” he mutters, the frustration in his voice clear now. “Like texting or calling or whatever the fuck I’m supposed to do.”

My heart skips a beat, and I blink at him, taken aback by his admission. Blade seems to be the kind of man who has it all together, but this feels different. Vulnerable, even. His shoulders are tense, his gaze unwavering, but there’s honesty in his words I didn’t expect.

For a moment, I don’t say anything. I just stare at him, trying to process his words and the unexpected vulnerability he’s offering me.

“You don’t have to be perfect, Blade,” I say quietly. “You just have to show a girl you like her.”

He looks at me, his expression softening ever so slightly, though he doesn’t say anything for a moment. His gaze flickers between my eyes and lips, and I can see the internal battle in his eyes—a mix of uncertainty and longing.

“I don’t know what to do,” he admits, his voice quieter now, the walls he’s built around himself starting to crack. “I don’t know how to fix what I’ve messed up.”

“This helps. Admitting you’re a dick for not calling or texting a girl after you kiss her and give her your knife.” Tilting my head to the side, I laugh. “That sounds way weirder said out loud.” I shake my head. “Do you want it back?”

“Not sure I said I was a dick.” He laughs, then he reaches out, his hand brushing against mine, and I don’t pull away. “You’re right, though,” he says softly, his voice almost a whisper now. “I should have called, but no, I don’t want my knife back, not yet.”

For a long moment, we stand there, the quiet settling around us, and I realize that, despite the messiness of it all, I really like this man.

“Do you want to grab a coffee or a tea or something?” Blade asks hopefully.

Shaking my head, I say, “I can’t. Gotta get back to work.”

Blade steps back, nodding. “Right, of course.”

Not wanting him to think I’m brushing him off, I say, “I really do, but you still owe me a date.”

A grin spreads across his face. “I do?”

“Yes, you do.” I get into my car and close the door, then wind down the window. “Blade?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t leave it too long.” I wink at him, start my car, and drive away.