Page 23 of Dagger

Walking outside, the cool night air hits me, and I dig my phone out of my pocket. I stare at Mason’s name on the screen for a second, then press the call button and hold it to my ear.

It doesn’t even ring twice before he answers, his voice sharp and pissed. “What?”

“Shit, man. Good to talk to you too,” I say, trying to keep it light, though my chest feels tight as hell.

“Dagger,” he snaps. “I’m dealing with a lot of shit down here. My VP ghosted me, but I’m too damn stubborn to find another. You gonna tell me what the hell’s going on, or what?”

“Fuck, Mase, I’m sorry,” I say, and I mean it. “I know I left you in a shitty spot.”

“Youshouldbe fucking sorry!” he yells. “Do you have any idea what it’s been like? Holding this club together while you’re off God knows where? I’ve been cleaning up your mess and mine, and you didn’t even bother to explain why the hell you left!”

I close my eyes, his words hitting harder than I want to admit. “I know. I fucked up.”

“You’re damn right you did!” he snaps. “You’re my best friend, Dag. My brother. You don’t just walk away like that without a reason. What the hell am I supposed to think?”

I take a deep breath, knowing there’s no backing out of this now. “I left because of Chloe.”

There’s dead silence on the other end of the line.

“What about Chloe?” Mason finally asks, his voice low but sharp enough to cut through steel.

“I slept with her,” I say, the words falling out like stones. “At the wedding. Then I bailed because I didn’t know what the fuck to do. She’s too young, Mase. I didn’t want to screw things up worse than I already had.”

The silence stretches, and I brace myself for him to blow up.

Instead, he sighs heavily. “Jesus Christ, Dagger. You’re a goddamn idiot.”

“I know,” I mutter, my jaw tightening.

“And a coward,” he adds.

“Yeah, I figured that out too.”

There’s a pause before Mason speaks again, his tone firm. “Get your ass back to Jackson. We’re not hashing this out over the phone. You’ve got shit to explain, and we’re dealing with this in person. You hear me?”

“Yeah,” I say, swallowing hard. “I hear you.”

“Good,” he snaps, then hangs up.

I stare at the phone for a second, letting the weight of the conversation settle in. Harlan was right—I’ve been running. But it’s time to stop.

I shove the phone back in my pocket and head inside to tell Harlan I’m leaving. Jackson’s waiting, and I’ve got a hell of a lot to make right.

NINE

CHLOE

Life is slowly startingto settle into a new normal for me. Getting pregnant was not on my bingo card for this year, but I’m figuring it out day by day. Hawk has become the big brother I never had—always there when I need him, stepping in to help with everything.

When Sophie calls to say she can’t make it to my doctor’s appointment, I sigh, staring at the calendar. Another one alone. Before I can even ask, Hawk tosses his keys in the air and catches them. “I’ll take you. No big deal,” he says, already heading for the door.

Since then, he’s shown up to almost every appointment, sitting next to me in the waiting room like it’s his own routine. He flips through those old, beat-up magazines—usually something random likeBetter Homes & Gardens—before leaning over to ask the doctor questions like, “Is that normal?” or “How long does that usually take?”

The looks he gets from the other patients are priceless. This rough, tattooed biker, acting like a concerned dad, makes people do a double-take every time. Honestly, it’s the highlight of my day.

Then there’s my doctor—she’s been delivering babies longer than I’ve been alive, which is oddly reassuring. She’s seen it all, but I think Hawk might be a first for her. I catch her hiding a smile every time he asks a question, and I’m pretty sure she gets a kick out of him.

Today, though, he looks more excited than usual. As the ultrasound technician moves the wand over my belly, Hawk leans closer. “What are we looking at?” he asks, squinting at the screen.

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