Page 18 of Dagger

I grunt, nodding. “Appreciate it.”

It feels good to be trusted, to be needed. But no matter how much I settle in here, I can’t shake the ache in my chest.

I miss Jackson. I miss Mason, Brutus, the chaos of the Perdition clubhouse. But most of all, I miss Chloe.

She’s in my head constantly. I think about her laugh, her smile, the fire in her eyes when she’s determined about something. Being away from her was supposed to help me get my shit together, but it’s only made me realize how much I want to be near her.

One night, I’m sitting at the bar after a long day, nursing a whiskey, when one of the club girls saunters over. She’s tall, blonde, and dressed to turn heads, but I barely glance at her as she slides onto the stool next to me.

“Hey, stranger,” she purrs, her hand brushing against my arm.

“Not interested,” I say flatly, staring into my drink.

“Come on,” she says, leaning closer. “You’ve been here for weeks and haven’t let loose once. Let me help with that.”

She presses her lips to my neck, but I grab her wrist and push her back, gentle but firm. “I said, not interested.”

Her pout quickly turns into a frown, and she tilts her head. “What’s the deal? You got an old lady or something?”

I pause, my jaw tightening. “Something like that,” I mutter, finishing my drink and standing up.

She huffs, crossing her arms. “Whatever. Your loss.”

I walk away, my chest feeling heavier than it should. She’s right—itismy loss. Because the only woman I want is back in Jackson, and I have no idea if she feels the same way.

One day, I’m going to have to stop running. One day, I’ll go back and face everything I’ve been avoiding. But for now, I’ve still got work to finish. And the road ahead isn’t getting any shorter.

SEVEN

CHLOE

Life isthe same old routine as before he left, nothing has changed. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s steady, and that’s what I need. Every morning, I wake up in my little she-shed in the backyard of Tank and Sophie’s place. It’s small but cozy, my own safe space. Most days, I hang out here with a cup of coffee, scrolling on my phone or reading, until Sophie inevitably texts me to come inside and keep her company.

I help out with whatever she and Tank need around the house—it’s my way of saying thanks for letting me stay here. At night I head to work at Perdition where I waitress and sometimes bartend. The job pays my bills, and I’ve even managed to stash some extra cash for little things I want. The best part is I feel safe. I know the Iron Reapers won’t mess with me, and they won’t put up with anyone else messing with me either. I feel like I’ve got my feet under me.

But this morning, everything feels wrong.

I wake up with my stomach churning and a dull ache behind my eyes. Groaning, I throw off the blanket and stumble to the bathroom, but as soon as I make it inside, I’m on my knees. Ithrow up, my body wracked with heaves until there’s nothing left.

Sitting back against the wall, I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand and take a shaky breath. The nausea eases, but the unease lingers. Something feelsoff.

Then it hits me.

I can’t remember the last time I got my period. My breath catches as I try to count back the weeks. One, two, three...oh God.

“Shit,” I whisper, my voice cracking. My hands start to shake as the realization settles over me. Could I be... pregnant?

The night with Dagger flashes in my mind. We were both tipsy, caught up in the moment, throwing caution to the wind. I don’t think we used a condom. No, Iknowwe didn’t.

Panic sets in, and I scramble to get dressed, pulling on leggings and a sweatshirt without even looking in the mirror. I grab my keys and head straight to my car, driving to the grocery store on autopilot.

Once inside, I make a beeline for the aisle with the pregnancy tests. My hands tremble as I grab several boxes, different brands to be sure. I toss them into the basket and head for the self-checkout, hoping no one will notice me.

But luck isn’t on my side.

“Chlo?” Jenny’s voice stops me in my tracks.

I turn and see her standing a few feet away, her eyes flicking to my basket. Her brow arches slightly, and a knowing look crosses her face.

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