Page 41 of Property of Blade (Kings of Anarchy MC: Alaska #1)

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Blade

M y Harley’s engine roars to life, the deep growl vibrating through the handlebars as the bike hums beneath us. Hannah’s arms wrap around my waist.

Glancing over my shoulder, I put one hand over hers and ask, “Are you okay?”

Hannah nods. “Yes.”

“Are you sure? We could take a truck or—”

“I’m sure. You know what you’re doing. You’d never hurt me, and I want to try.”

Nodding, I say, “If you feel scared, squeeze me tight and I’ll pull over.”

“You’d do that for me?”

“Hannah, I’d do anything for you.”

Hannah stands on the back pegs and plants a kiss on my cheek. “Thank you. Now, let’s get this show on the road.”

We roll out, the roar of my bike mixing with the hum of the town waking up around us.

Crystal Creek is small, but it’s got a pulse.

People here know each other, and they know us.

As we hit the road, I can feel Hannah’s body against mine, her warmth seeping through my jacket, even though I’m more focused on the road than anything else.

“Hold on tight,” I tell her, my voice low but steady as we round the curve, heading straight for the grocery store.

She presses herself closer, her hands tightening just enough to let me know she’s listening but not pulling away.

The grocery store is small, nothing flashy. It’s a place you could easily miss if you weren’t paying attention, but it’s got everything you need, even if you have to navigate three different aisles to find it. I park the bike in the lot, the rumble dying down as I cut the engine.

I hop off, then reach out to help her down. Her smile is the first thing I see when she lands lightly on the ground. There’s something about her, something that makes even this simple ride feel like an adventure.

“Let’s grab the essentials, yeah?” I say, nodding toward the store.

Hannah laughs, the sound light and easy. “Have you met me? I like to shop.”

We head inside, the bell above the door jingling as we walk through.

Hannah walks down the aisles, grabbing what she needs, and I find myself stealing glances at her, watching the way she moves. Everything about her seems natural in a way I never expected. I’m used to the loud, tough guys and the club’s chaos, but with her, everything feels quieter.

Once Hannah gets what she needs and I notice at least three large blocks of chocolate in the cart, we head out. The bike is still parked in the same spot, waiting for us. But I don’t rush.

“Did you want to go to Betty’s Café?” I ask, already knowing the answer, but I like hearing it from her.

Part of me wants to check in on Tessa to make sure she’s doing okay.

Knowing our secrets can be a burden to anyone, but for her, finding out the way she did must weigh heavily on her.

The overwhelming need to tell someone must be huge, so seeing me will hopefully encourage Tessa to keep her silence.

She grins. “You know it.”

We put her groceries in my saddlebags, then hand in hand we head for Betty’s, the place where the coffee is strong, the pies are better, and everyone knows your name.

As we approach, I can see Tessa standing behind the counter. Her smile falters when she spots us through the window. I offer her a small smile as we walk inside. Tessa fidgets, shifting from foot to foot. Her eyes widen a little when we sit at the counter.

“Morning, Tessa. How are you?” I ask, keeping my tone casual, though I can feel the tension in the air.

Tessa’s eyes flick from Hannah to me and back again, the unease clear in her expression. “Fine,” she says, a little too quickly.

“Hey, Tessa!” Hannah chirps, completely oblivious to the discomfort in the air. “What pie is good today?”

Before Tessa can respond, the bell above the door jingles, and in walks Jasper.

The old man’s weathered face breaks into a scowl as soon as his eyes land on me.

I’ve known Jasper long enough to recognize that look.

He’s never been a fan of the MC, and for whatever reason, he’s always had a particular dislike for me.

His eyes narrow, and his posture stiffens as if he’s bracing for a confrontation. He doesn’t even acknowledge Tessa or Hannah. Instead, his gaze locks on me as he moves to the counter, his boots clunking against the floor with each step.

Leaning back in my chair, I don’t bother to hide the smirk creeping onto my lips. I’ve had worse stares from men twice his size.

“Blade,” Jasper grunts, his voice thick with disdain. “Always trouble wherever you go.”

Meeting his gaze, with my voice low and steady, I say, “Morning, Jasper. Still got that chip on your shoulder?”

Jasper snorts, the scowl deepening. “You think I’m blind to what’s going on around here?” He gestures vaguely to the room, though it’s unclear exactly what he’s referring to. “You’re not welcome, and you never will be.”

Hannah, completely unaware of the underlying tension, leans in with a bright smile. “I’m sorry, what’s going on here? You two know each other?”

I glance at her, then back at Jasper. “You could say that. We’ve crossed paths a few times.” My voice stays even, but there’s a slight edge to it now.

I’m not about to let Jasper drag me into some pissing contest in front of her. Jasper grunts again, clearly not interested in pleasantries. He doesn’t respond to Hannah, but instead, he turns his attention back to me, his jaw clenched tight.

“Just keep your distance, Blade. You won’t get far in this town.”

“What does that mean, exactly?” I ask, my tone neutral, though the warning in my voice is hard to miss.

“It means I know what you are,” Jasper sneers, his eyes flicking between Tessa and me. “And now, so does she.”

Tessa’s hand tightens around the counter, and she doesn’t look at me, but I can tell she’s pissed. “You should go,” she says, her voice steady but cold.

Hannah, who’s still completely unaware of the weight of the conversation, looks between the three of us. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing, babe,” I reply quickly, trying to smooth it over. “Jasper’s just a crazy old man who likes to play with fire.”

Jasper’s lips curl into a sneer, and his eyes land on me, then shift to Tessa. “And what about Tessa? Is she crazy too?”

Tessa clears her throat, a sharp edge to her voice as she speaks. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Jasper.” She turns slightly, her gaze locking with mine, a silent apology and plea in her eyes. “But I don’t need any disruptions to my day, so Blade, maybe you and Hannah should leave.”

I feel the heat rising in me, the instinct to protect Hannah roaring to the surface. But I bite it back, my jaw tightening.

“Like hell you don’t know about them!” Jasper shouts, his voice growing louder, attracting more attention from the other patrons. “I saw it in your eyes when you came back from being with the outlanders!”

Tessa slams her hand down on the counter with a force that makes the dishes rattle. Her eyes dart to me, pleading with a look I can’t ignore, before turning back to Jasper. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Jasper. You stop this crazy talk right now!”

The air between us crackles with tension. Tessa’s voice is firm. She’s made a promise to keep our secrets, even if it’s tearing her apart on the inside. And Jasper, damn him, is pushing every button he can find.

Standing, I hold out my hand to Hannah. “Come on, babe. We’ll have coffee at your place.”

Hannah slides off the stool and puts her hand in mine, but before we can move, Jasper steps directly in front of us, blocking our path.

“You’re not safe with him,” he spits, his eyes wide with frantic intensity. “He’s dangerous.”

His words cut through the air, and I can feel my pulse pick up, the protective instinct flaring inside me. “Step back,” I growl, my voice low and unwavering.

But Hannah’s other hand rests gently on my upper arm, a silent reassurance as she squeezes my hand. “It’s okay, Blade,” she says, then she turns to Jasper, her expression soft but firm. “Jasper, is it?”

He nods, his face twisted in anger, but there’s something else there too—fear. It’s as though he knows something he’s not saying.

“I know the MC can seem scary,” Hannah continues, her voice calm, trying to ease the tension in the air. “But they’re nice men. I’m safe with Blade. He’d never hurt me.”

Jasper laughs bitterly, and I see his eyes flick to Hannah’s face before he spits out another jab.

“Safe, huh? You think you’re safe, even after what happened with that other boyfriend of yours?

” His gaze flickers toward me, then back at her.

“You know, the one who thought he could control everything. Funny how that works, isn’t it? ”

The words hang in the air like a bomb dropped into the conversation. I can feel my muscles tense, a knot forming in my stomach. Something shifts in my mind as I look at Jasper, suspicion running deep. How the hell does he know about Hannah’s old boyfriend?

Hannah’s face goes pale for a split second, and she looks away, clearly thrown off by his comment. My hand tightens around hers, a protective instinct rising. The anger is building, and I can feel it simmering beneath the surface.

“What the hell are you talking about, Jasper?” I ask, my voice dropping low, more threatening now.

Jasper steps back, raising his hands in mock surrender. “I’m just saying some of us know more than we let on. Be careful, sweetheart. The man might seem harmless, but he’s a hell of a lot more dangerous than you think.”

Hannah looks from Jasper to me, her confusion mixed with a hint of fear. “What do you mean?” she asks quietly, her voice shaking slightly.

Jasper sneers, but before he can say anything else, I step forward, pushing him back lightly with a firm hand. “We’re done here, Jasper,” I mutter, my voice colder than I intended. “You don’t know shit, and you need to stay out of this.”

Striding out of the café, I head toward my bike, the sound of my boots on the pavement heavy with purpose.

Hannah pulls her hand out of mine, but I keep moving, throwing a leg over my bike.

The familiar weight of it between my legs feels grounding, but there’s a knot tightening in my chest I can’t ignore.

I hold out my hand to her, but instead of taking it, she folds her arms over her chest, her gaze locked on me, the frustration clear in her eyes.

“What did he mean about my old boyfriend? Did you do something to Travis?” she asks, the words sharp, a little colder than usual.

“No, but we think he’s missing or worse.” My voice is steady, but I can feel her pulling away, a distance I didn’t expect.

“We?” she asks, her brow furrowing in confusion.

“I’ve had the MC looking into him.” I glance over at her, meeting her eyes. “His rental car and his belongings were still at the hotel, but there’s been no sign of him.”

She looks at me, her jaw tightening as she processes the information. “And you didn’t tell me?” The hurt in her voice cuts through me, and I can see the confusion and concern warring with the trust she’s trying to hold on to.

“Babe, he was leaving you gifts. And then, with what happened to Grace, I thought it might be him. So, I asked the guys to bring him to me.”

Hannah’s face softens for a moment, but then her eyes drop to the ground, her voice barely a whisper. “Did they... did they hurt him?”

“No,” I say quickly, shaking my head. “They couldn’t find him. I swear, I didn’t want anyone hurt. We’re still trying to figure out what happened to him, but he’s vanished.”

She’s quiet for a beat, processing everything, and I can see the conflict in her eyes. The need to protect her is almost suffocating.

“Please, get on the bike, and we’ll talk about this at your house.”

Hannah hesitates, just long enough for me to wonder if she’ll walk away. But then, her hand finds mine, her fingers slipping in between mine, and she climbs onto the bike. The weight of her body against me feels right, but there’s an underlying tension I know won’t disappear until we talk this out.

“I have questions,” she whispers, her voice small but determined.

“And I’ll answer them at your place.” I start the engine, feeling the rumble beneath me. It’s comforting, but the knot in my chest is still there.

“Promise?” Her voice is tentative, but the trust in it cuts deeper than I expect.

“Yeah.” I look over my shoulder, meeting her eyes, my heart heavy. “I promise.”

She slips her arms around my waist, the familiar heat of her body pressing against mine, and I pull out of the lot, the engine roaring as we roll onto the road.

The town fades behind us, the trees and open space taking over, but all I can think about is what’s coming next.

The questions she’s got and the answers I don’t know how to give.