Page 14 of Wrecker

I fired off the docs and notes, then clicked off the call just as Peyton stirred again.

Blade walked in ten minutes later, a clipboard in one hand and a coffee in the other. “She’s stable. You can take her outta here but don’t let her do anything but sleep, hydrate, and eat.”

“I’ll set her up in my room.”

Blade grinned, one brow raised. “Gonna be able to keep your dick in check for now? She needs actual rest.”

I shot him a look. “She’s staying with me.”

He chuckled and scrawled something on his chart.

“Didn’t say she wasn’t. Just make sure she rests before you start marking up territory.” His smile widened. “Gonna drag her to your room or let her walk?” A growl rumbled in my chest, and he held up a hand. “Hey, just asking. I remember what it’s like. Shit moves fast when it’s real.”

I ignored him and turned to Peyton. She was sitting up slowly, blinking sleep from her eyes.

“Up for a relocation?”

She nodded, face pale but steady. I helped her swing her legs over the edge of the bed and kept my arm under her back while she stood.

Peyton wobbled a little, so I scooped her up and carried her back to the clubhouse. When we entered the kitchen, Maverick’s old lady was sitting at one of the long tables feeding applesauce to their ten-month-old son, Chase.

When Molly looked up and saw us, she laughed. “Didn’t take you long.”

“Didn’t need long,” I grunted.

She snorted and went back to her task. “None of you did.”

Peyton watched me with curiosity, but I just kept moving through the kitchen and down the hall to my room. After unlocking it, I nudged the door open with my foot and stepped inside.

My bed took up most of the wall on the right side of the room. Beside my desk was a small couch that sat under a window, and the dresser across from it had a bottle of water and a couple of protein bars I’d left there the night before. I gently lowered Peyton onto the mattress and went to my drawers, pulling out a soft black tee.

“You can wear this, baby,” I murmured as I tossed it to her. “While you change and get under the covers, I’ll get you food.”

She nodded again, her eyes wide and mouth parted like she wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words.

“Relax,” I told her with a wink. I let the door close behind me, rubbing a hand down my face as I stepped into the kitchen. Racer was there, munching on chips while fucking with something on his phone.

He looked up when he heard me, and his lips curved up. “Heard you were moonlighting as Florence fuckin’ Nightingale,” he joked, after he swallowed. “Your baby bird awake?”

I flipped him off and grabbed a plate and filled it with things that would be easy for Peyton to eat. As I was finishing, I heard Racer chuckle and glared at him.

“Didn’t take you for the coddling type. That little girl’s got your balls in a chokehold already.”

He was saved from my cutting response when my phone buzzed with a new message.

Deviant

Looks like every one of the buildings has Eclipse Insurance underwriting the projects—they are the underwriter for that real estate company, too. They used different registered corps, but I found the link connecting them all to Eclipse.

Also, a name keeps popping up.

Ward Calder.

I didn’t reply. Just stared at the name until my teeth hurt from how tight I clenched my jaw.

Ward fucking Calder.

He’d been my second when I was in command of my old unit. And a ruthless son of a bitch. Not like me or my club brothers. There had always been something sinister inside him. I’d had to intervene on several occasions when he’d been reckless and almost put our team in jeopardy.

---