Page 5 of Unmasked Anarchy

He keeps a guard over his heart, and even for me, with my name sitting right above it, that guard never goes down.

Six years built fast under the weight of that kind of need.I managed the books for the club, juggled Gage’s moods, trained new old ladies, and kept to myself.He trusted me with the things he couldn’t trust anyone else with.It didn’t matter that most nights I felt less like a wife and more like an upper-class sweetbutt.I’d take it because part of me knew I was only alive because he kept choosing me, day after day.If I loved him, maybe I could survive anything else.

Just maybe.

But when the MC started getting involved in things they couldn’t control, everything shifted.His mood became stiffer, shorter, and if I dared ask questions, he would make sure I didn’t.Our love vanished into hatred; my throat became familiar with the pressure of his fingers wrapped around it.Danger was the only thing that felt like home to us until it finally broke everything open.

And now, now I lay in a hospital bed, Gage at the door, standing so still, his eyes fixed on Kael in a way that terrifies me.Kael doesn’t move, doesn’t flinch—he keeps his feet planted firmly on the ground, his fingers twitching by his side, ready for a fight.

“What the fuck are you doin’ in my old lady’s room?”

Gage’s voice comes out in a hiss, and before Kael can answer, he has his gun out, pointing it straight at him.

My mouth opens, but nothing comes out; my hoarse voice has disappeared.

Kael does the same, revealing his own gun, and the two men stand there, pointing the deadly weapons at each other.

My heart skips a beat.

I swallow frantically.

Then, I manage to croak, “He saved my life.”

Gage’s eyes flash and then swing to me.“What?”

“He ...he saved my life.”

“Oh!”

A nurse steps into the room, and her hands immediately fly up, her eyes wide as she takes in the scene before her.

“Unless you two want to spend the night in lockup, put them down,” I whisper, the pain radiating through my abdomen enough to threaten blacking out once more.

The two men take far too long, but, eventually, they lower the guns.

“Get out,” Gage orders.

My heart lurches as Kael turns slowly toward me.His eyes meet mine, and he gives me a simple nod before turning and leaving.

I want to call out to him, to ask for his number, to know where he lives ...anything.

The thought of not seeing him again stirs something inside me.

I hope he comes back.

God, I hope he comes back.