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T he constant barrage of noise in this place doesn’t bother me. My years in the military, deployed to war-torn countries, taught me valuable survival skills—one of which is being able to tune out the chaos and focus on a target. In this case, making sure my brothers and I aren’t caught up in any more unexpected jail fights.

They released us back into General Population, but we’re in a different cell block, with all new faces and a whole new list of potential enemies. I’m not sure if that’s a blessing or a curse. Saint relayed his conversation with the captain, and I’m not sure about the others, but I’m even more on guard than I was before. This thing with Colt goes higher up than just some pull with shithead criminals, and that means we’re worse off than we were before.

A small television is playing in the corner of the open space, a couple of inmates glued to it like addicts waiting for their next hit. Ace and Saint are quietly talking at the table closest to me, while I’ve placed myself against the cold cement wall, my eyes perpetually scanning the room, waiting for the next shoe to drop.

“Breaking news! It has just been confirmed that the body found on the steps outside of the Public Safety Building, which houses the Police Department, Sheriff’s Department, and County Jail, along with other city facilities, is victim number thirty-six of the infamous serial killer known as the Avenging Angel.”

My eyes cut to Ace’s, then Saint’s.

“Authorities are stating that a note was left with the body, along with the usual list of prior transgressions , as the Avenging Angel labels them. The note was directed to the Deadwood Peak Police Department with a message that read, ‘Nice try. Better luck next time.’”

Saint smirks, earning a scowl from Ace. Luckily, mine’s hidden beneath my beard. Our girl must be out of her mind to try something like this right now, but I can’t say I don’t admire the fuck out of her for it. She’s scarily brilliant.

“The Chief of Police is now under heavy scrutiny after he announced that his department had apprehended three suspects believed to be involved with the Avenging Angel murders. Our office has reached out to him for comment, but as of this morning, he has yet to respond. Join us at noon for the latest updates on the case as it continues to play out.”

“What does this mean?” Saint asks quietly.

“It means we need to be on high alert. This is going to piss Colt off, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he tries to come up with another way to keep us locked in here.”

As the words leave Ace’s lips, I catch two of the guards huddled together by the door, whispering as they shoot nervous looks our way. I don’t bother to pretend I’m not watching them. I want them to know that I see them, that I’m ready and waiting for whatever shit they’re concocting.

Another officer enters, glaring at the two men who look like gossiping teens. “Don’t you two have jobs you should be doing?”

“Yes, Lieutenant,” one says, hightailing it up the stairs to do his rounds.

The other takes up his post beside the door, his neck and cheeks red from the not-so-quiet scolding.

“Hart,” the lieutenant calls out. “You have a visitor.”

Straightening from the wall, Ace stops me with a look. “If it’s Remy, tell her we’ll be with her soon.”

I nod, heading toward the door. He efficiently cuffs my hands and leads me down the long corridor toward the visitor room. The entire time, my nerves prickle along my skin, both hoping it’s Remy and praying she was smart enough to stay the hell away from here.

Once I’m through the door, the lieutenant leads me over to one of the open stalls toward the end of the row, and the second I round the privacy wall, my eyes land on her.

Fuck, she’s beautiful.

With her hair hanging down her back in wild waves, her cheeks slightly flushed, and her large brown eyes staring up at me, something inside me settles for the first time since we entered these gray walls.

The officer unlocks my cuffs and walks back over to the door, giving us as much privacy as prisoners are allowed in this place.

We reach for the receivers hanging on the wall at the same time.

“Hey, big guy. Miss me?”

Her voice rushes along my senses, lighting up the dark spots only she’s ever been able to reach. “More than words, gorgeous. How are you doing?”

Her wide smile is all too brief.

“We’re both doing okay,” she says somewhat cryptically, but I don’t blame her. We’ve done our damndest to keep her pregnancy under wraps. “I’m actually here because I had an interesting conversation with one of your friends.”

One of my friends? There’s only one person she could be referring to because outside of the club, there’s no one else I’d use that particular term for. I’m surprised despite myself. Squire must have helped her gain access to our encrypted network.

“Oh? What did he have to say?”

“Turns out, our landscaper lied about his qualifications.”

Landscaper? Oh. Right. Colt had been hired to do our patio.

“How so?”

She casually glances around the room before turning to meet my worried stare. “Turns out his full-time job is with the FBI.”

Warning alarms blare in my brain as all the possible complications this creates clang around in my head. My wide eyes lock on hers.

“You shouldn’t be here. Go. Now.”

Every instinct I have is demanding I get her out of this building before Colt can somehow figure out a way to have her taken into custody.

“Don’t worry. He’s probably a little preoccupied at the moment. I may have sent him a present after I got the address to his fancy field office.”

My breathing stalls. “You didn’t.”

“Oh, I most certainly did. The middle finger to be exact.”

Not her middle finger. The middle finger. From the body the Avenging Angel—aka Remy—dumped in front of the Public Safety Building.

“Fuck, gorgeous.” Running my free hand down my beard, I try to decide whether I’m now terrified or turned on by her audacity. “Please tell me you didn’t come here alone. I will literally beat Trip’s and Squire’s asses if they aren’t waiting for you outside.”

Her smile reappears. “Don’t worry. They’re close by. Owen is here somewhere too. He’s currently meeting with Captain Davidson and the district attorney. My guess? You all will get a hearing before the judge by the end of the day and be released before sundown. After all, you’re obviously not the Avenging Angel. That psycho just dropped another body.”

My eyes narrow on the woman I love, the one who killed my personal demons and to whom I owe everything. She’s not the psychopath. Her brother is. The next time I get my hands on her, I’ll need to reinforce that concept. I’m sure Saint won’t mind helping.

“When I get out of here, you and I are going to have to talk about some things.”

Like her being so damn reckless when she’s carrying our baby. Or how fucking sexy she looks in that off-the-shoulder black sweater and skin-tight jeans.

“Oh, I hope we’ll be doing more than just talking, big guy. It’s been ages, and I need you.”

My dick strains against the rough seam of my orange jumpsuit.

“Better be ready for us, gorgeous. The three of us have a lot of pent-up aggression after all this time without you.”

Her eye are alight with heat, a pretty flush spreading across her cheeks as she bites her lower lip. “I’m always ready when it comes to you guys.”

It’s been too fucking long. Even a brief stint without her has me on edge and desperate enough to take drastic measures to get the hell out of here so I can make sure she’s safe and see with my own two eyes that she and our baby are being taken care of…along with a host of other things I’d like to do when she’s within reach.

Her voice drops, taking on a tone I recognize from our moments in her kill room. “Don’t do anything stupid, Rogue.”

I shake my head. “You know I won’t, but if we don’t get out of here soon, I’m worried about what he might try to pull. Just the thought of something happening to you while we’re locked away in here…”

My body reacts, muscles tensing and jaw clenching as I fight against the fury that rolls through me at my inability to protect what’s mine. She holds her hand up to the plexiglass, and I follow suit, my palm dwarfing hers.

“Do you trust me?” she whispers.

“With my life.”

“Then know I’ll be seeing you soon. Until then, you keep an eye on Ace and Saint. Fill them in, so when you walk out those doors, we’re all ready to end this thing. He’s pushed me too far, and now it’s time he realizes exactly who I am. Steele women don’t take it lying down…unless we want to, of course.”

She fucking winks, and just like that, my soul settles again. This fucking woman is going to be the death of me.

“Time’s up, Hart,” the lieutenant calls out. “Say your goodbyes.”

“Watch your back, gorgeous.”

“Always do, big guy.”

She blows me a kiss and hangs up the receiver. I watch her stand and walk toward the door, not moving until it closes behind her. The entire way back to Gen Pop, my mind focuses on what’s to come. I’m not a big believer in some of the hippy dippy shit that’s become so popular these days, but manifesting positive energy is something I can definitely get behind. Fuck knows we could use all the help we can get for what lies ahead.

Walking back into the room, Ace and Saint make eye contact. I hold their stares until I maneuver my big ass body into the tight bench seat attached to the metal table.

“Well?” Ace asks.

“Remy says a war is coming. Time to gear up, because the second we’re free, it’s on.”

They don’t ask questions. Don’t try to fill the space with false hopes. We know that what comes next won’t be easy, and it sure as hell won’t be pretty. I know I speak for my brothers when I say that our single goal is to make sure Remington and our unborn child live to see a world without fear and constant threats. We’ll make that happen…or die trying.