Page 23 of Property of Blade (Kings of Anarchy MC: Alaska #1)

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Blade

H annah lies beside me, a slight smile playing on her lips, radiating contentment and beauty that tugs at my resolve to be a better man.

She drifted off into a deep sleep hours ago.

A sharp whistle pierces the air, signaling Scout’s presence outside.

Carefully slipping out of bed, I retrieve my jeans from the floor and silently close the bedroom door behind me.

I quickly pull on my jeans and head for the front porch.

Scout stands on the porch, his fingers tracing the fairy lights with a faint smirk. “Scout,” I acknowledge, my voice low.

He halts, meeting my gaze. “Prez, sorry to interrupt your night.”

“Problem?” I inquire, sensing urgency in his demeanor.

“Yeah,” he sighs heavily, running a hand through his hair. “Another homesteader, one of the usuals, but he turned up with five friends, and things got messy.”

“Any casualties?” I press, already bracing for the worst.

“No deaths...” he assures me, “... but there’s a witness.”

“And?” I prompt.

“And a townie hiding in the woods saw it happen.”

I furrow my brow, absorbing the implications. “Who was with you?”

“Ranger and Kyler,” Scout replies, his voice tinged with frustration.

Stepping closer, I lower my voice, my tone edged with a hint of threat. “You missed someone?”

Scout nods solemnly, meeting my gaze with a mix of apology and determination.

“Who?” I ask, my patience thinning.

“Tessa from the diner,” Scout responds, his gaze shifting slightly as if he’s unsure how I’ll take the news.

“The one Vex is sweet on?” I ask, trying to keep my tone steady, though the mention of Vex and Tessa catches him off-guard.

“What?” Scout looks at me, confusion in his eyes. “Vex is sweet on her?”

I nod slowly, my mind working through the implications. “Yeah, you haven’t noticed? Vex is into her, has been for a while.”

Scout blinks, then shakes his head as if the whole thing hadn’t clicked for him until now. “Guess I missed that.” He shifts on his feet, clearly eager to get back to the matter at hand.

“Where is she?” I ask, my voice low but urgent, as the weight of the situation settles in.

“Clubhouse,” Scout answers, his eyes tracking mine as I stand there, the night around us heavy with tension.

I turn my gaze to the darkened woods beyond, my thoughts racing. “Find Vex. Have him talk to her. She’s not to be harmed. Got it?”

“Of course,” Scout responds, his tone firm but his body stiff with the responsibility I’ve just placed on him.

I glance back at him, my frustration mounting. “Who’s watching her?”

“Kyler,” Scout replies.

I let out an irritated sigh. “Oh, for fuck’s sake. Kyler?” I snap, not exactly thrilled with the idea of him handling the situation.

“Yeah,” Scout confirms, not offering any further explanation.

“Get back to the clubhouse,” I growl, my voice dropping into a deeper, more menacing tone. “And you better pray she’s all right when you get there.”

Turning, I make my way back into the house, my footsteps heavy on the floorboards. I catch sight of Hannah in the doorway, her hair mussed, a sheet draped loosely around her body.

“Hey, you,” she whispers softly, her voice thick with sleep.

My heart clenches at the sight of her, and I walk over, wrapping my arms around her, pulling her close. The sweet, familiar scent of her fills my lungs, grounding me for a moment. “I have to go out,” I murmur, my tone apologetic but firm.

She leans back in my arms, eyes still half-closed as if she’s not fully awake. “Now?” she asks, confusion lacing her words.

“Yeah,” I confirm, my fingers gently tracing the bite mark on her shoulder, the connection between us as solid as the earth beneath our feet. “But I want you to stay here.”

She shifts, a faint frown on her face. “What time is it?”

“Nearly three,” I answer, glancing toward the clock on the wall.

Her eyes narrow in thought. “Can you drop me home?”

I shake my head, my hand reaching up to cup her face before I kiss her lips gently, unwilling to leave without feeling the warmth of her skin on mine. “No. I want you here when I get back.”

“Blade,” she says, her voice a teasing mix of concern and amusement. “I have responsibilities.” A mischievous grin parts her lips, the playful side of her coming out.

I laugh softly. “Your cat does not count.”

Hannah pouts, giving me a mock huffy look. “Grace does to me.”

Laughing. I pick her up effortlessly and carry her back to the bedroom. “I promise I’ll be one or two hours, tops. Sleep, eat, go through my things, or do whatever it is women do when they’ve found a mate.”

Her brows shoot up. “Mate? You mean boyfriend, yes?” She grins, clearly amused. “And I would never snoop.”

Gently, I lay her down on the bed, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Please, stay for me.”

She rolls her eyes at me, an exaggerated sigh escaping her lips. “So needy.”

Leaning down, I press a soft kiss to the side of her face, then nuzzle my nose against her cheek before planting a kiss on her temple. “You have no idea,” I murmur, my voice low with affection and a hint of something deeper.

“Okay,” she agrees, her voice still soft but firm. “But if you aren’t home by five, I’m walking.”

I give her a serious look, my tone low but full of warning. “There are dangerous things in the woods. I wouldn’t recommend it.”

Hannah lifts her hand, her fingers threading through my hair with a soft tug. “Okay,” she whispers, her gaze softening as she pulls me closer.

I let out a quiet breath of relief, kissing the tip of her nose gently. “Thank you.” Rising to my feet, I step back. “ If I’m not back, I’ll send someone to take you home.”

“I could take your truck and drive myself home?”

Shaking my head, I open my closet, and pull on a black T-shirt and then put my boots on.

Hannah watches with her head propped up on one arm.

The sheet has fallen, exposing one of her perfect breasts, and I’m tempted to stay.

Shrugging on my cut, I move back to the bed and kiss Hannah until she moans.

Moving down her body, I suck on her nipple as she clutches me to her.

“Don’t go. Stay,” Hannah whispers, her voice a soft plea that tugs at something deep inside me.

I lean down, pressing a lingering kiss to her lips, tasting the sweetness of her.

When I pull back, I give her a look full of intention, my gaze locked on hers.

“That was just in case you were thinking of leaving,” I murmur, my voice low and thick with desire.

“I want you thinking of me and what I’m going to do to you when I get back. ”

“Tease.”

“Not a tease, a promise. Please wait for me.”

“Okay.”

L eaving Hannah was the last damn thing I wanted to do.

When she asked me to stay, every fucking part of me screamed to stay with her, to let the chaos of this life slip away for just a little while.

But duty calls, and no matter how much I longed to bury myself in her warmth, there’s a responsibility that weighs heavier than any desire.

I was thrust into this presidency, and I will do everything within my power to protect this chapter and the men who loyally serve with me.

After all, for people like us, there’s nowhere else to go.

As I park my bike, I spot Ranger pacing like a caged animal, frustration in every tight step he takes.

When I kill the engine, he freezes, locking eyes with mine.

Even from here, I can see the weight of guilt crushing him.

It’s the kind of guilt that sinks deep in your gut and doesn’t let go.

He’s not the kind of man to wear that shit well.

His shoulders slump, and with the defeat of a man who knows he fucked up, he walks toward me, words already hanging heavily on his lips. “It’s all my fault.”

I swing my leg off my bike as I give him a hard, silent nod. “We’ll talk about this later.”

Ranger drops his eyes to the ground, a look of shame creeping into his movements. “Yes, Prez.”

I scan the compound, eyes narrowing as I take in the distant buildings. “Where is she?”

Ranger’s gaze flicks over to one of the far buildings where Rooster stands guard. There’s a heaviness in his silence that speaks volumes. Without a word more, I move toward it, my boots crunching on the gravel as Ranger falls in behind me like a shadow.

Rooster’s grin is wide, almost too fucking wide. He’s enjoying this, and he shouldn’t be. “Hey, Prez, she’s inside with Vex. Got a good set of lungs on her.” He chuckles, but it sounds more like a snicker, too much enjoyment in a fucked-up situation.

I can feel Ranger behind me, his anger a palpable thing pressing against my back, a thick weight that’s hard to ignore. His muscles are tense, a coiled spring ready to snap.

A woman’s scream rips through the air, jagged and raw. The door flies open and Vex steps out like a fucking bull on a warpath, slamming the door behind him with a force that makes the walls shake. His eyes land on me, hard, daring me to say something.

“Is she okay?” I growl, my voice low and demanding.

“Tessa’s fine,” Vex mutters, his voice dripping with venom. “But apparently, she thinks we’re all like him .” His eyes flick to Ranger, the disgust practically radiating off him.

“Vex, I didn’t—” Ranger starts, but I hold up a hand to stop him.

Vex points at Ranger. “ You lost control, and now we’re all fucked.” His words slice through the air, sharp and unforgiving.

I glance over my shoulder at Ranger, my voice cold and commanding. “Go make us two cups of coffee.”

“I don’t want any coffee,” Vex snaps, his voice full of irritation.

“It’s not for you... it’s for me and Tessa,” I fire back, not giving a damn about his attitude right now.

Vex grumbles something under his breath but then addresses Ranger, “She likes hers with milk and one sugar.”

Ranger gives a stiff nod. He’s been trained to follow orders and heads back toward the clubhouse without another word.

I turn back to Vex. “I’m going in. Let Ranger in when he brings the coffees.”