Page 27 of Wilder's Promise
"My summer break starts in a month and a half," she says thoughtfully. "I could spend it here. Figure things out before making any decisions."
Hope blooms in my chest. "That would be perfect. I'd love to show you Pine Haven when we're not hiding from our enemies."
She laughs and rises on her tiptoes to kiss me. I pull her close, savoring the moment until the radio at my hip crackles to life.
"Wilder, come in." Ghost's voice is tight with tension. "Compound secure. We're heading back."
I grab the radio, putting some distance between Emma and me. "Copy that. Status?"
"Mission accomplished. Ace took one in the shoulder, Viper in the leg. Nothing critical." Ghost pauses. "Charles wasn't here. Stay alert. We're twenty minutes out."
"Understood. I'll check the security feeds. All quiet here." I hesitate. "Everything else okay?"
"Yeah. Everyone's accounted for." Ghost sounds exhausted. "Where are you now?"
"Kitchen with Emma," I answer quickly. "Making coffee to stay alert."
There's a suspicious pause. "Right. Check those cameras and get back to me."
"Will do." I clip the radio back to my belt and meet Emma's eyes. "We should..."
"Yeah." She nods, smoothing her hair and straightening her clothes. She looks thoroughly fucked, but hopefully no one will notice. "I'll go find Evelyn."
I head to the security room, a small office off the main hall where monitors display feeds from cameras positioned around the compound. Everything looks clear. No movement at the gates, no suspicious vehicles nearby. Evelyn sits in the common room, her posture tense as she stares at the door, waiting.
Emma joins her, speaking softly. I can't hear what she says, but Evelyn's relief is visible as they embrace. I radio Ghost with the all-clear, confirming there's no sign of trouble.
"Copy that," Ghost responds. "ETA fifteen minutes."
Emma catches my eye across the room. "I'm going to grab a shower," she announces. "All this stress has me feeling gross."
As she disappears down the hallway, Evelyn approaches me, her dark eyes knowing.
"You better be prepared," she says quietly. "Reaper won't be easy to convince."
I feel my face go hot. "What are you talking about?"
She gives me a look that says she's not buying my innocent act. "You weren't just talking in the kitchen. No one takes that long to make coffee." Her eyes drop to my waist. "And you're missing your belt."
Shit. I glance down, confirming my stupidity. My belt is probably still on the kitchen floor.
"I'm happy for you both," Evelyn continues, her voice gentle. "But I won't lie to Reaper. I'll give you one week to tell him yourself before I do."
"I appreciate that," I say, running a hand through my hair. "This thing with Emma... it's serious for me. Really serious."
"I don't doubt that." She smiles. "And Reaper won't either. But she's still his daughter, and he won't make it easy. Just be honest with him. That's all he ever really wants."
"Thank you," I tell her sincerely. "For understanding."
"I understand more than most what it's like to find someone unexpected," she says, glancing toward the door where my brothers will soon appear. "Love doesn't always make sense on paper."
Love. The word hangs between us, neither confirmed nor denied. Is that what this is? This overwhelming need to protect Emma, to make her smile, to be the man she deserves? It's too soon to say for certain, but it feels dangerously close to something that profound.
The sound of motorcycles approaching pulls us from our conversation. They're back. We've survived the night. And now I have a whole new battle to prepare for.
A Week Later
The knock on Reaper's office door feels like a death sentence. My palms are sweating, my heart pounding against my ribs like it's trying to escape. I've faced down armed men with less fear than I feel right now.
