Page 27 of Psycho

My eyelids were too heavy, and I didn’t have the strength to open them. But I managed a lazy shrug in response.

“Because he was my first contact with your club,” I said. “I know him better than anyone else. And besides, he’s retired. So, he’s guaranteed to be bored out of his damn mind and desperate for something to do.”

Arrow snorted with amusement.

“Well, it was good thinking. Things can get complicated when cops are involved. We prefer to handle club business on our own whenever we can. Keep it in the family, so to speak.”

I hummed.

“I’ve noticed.”

During my stay in Juniper Creek, it wasn’t hard to figure out why The Reckless Order and the cops didn’t get along. Many members had a criminal record, and a questionable history of skirting the rules to resolve their conflicts.

“I keep forgetting you’re nosy,” Arrow said. “How much dirt did you dig up on us anyway?”

I breathed a tired laugh.

“I learned enough to know that literally nothing will stop you from protecting each other. Fighting for each other. Not even the law.”

Arrow turned his head and brushed a kiss to my temple.

“Damn straight, baby. We would burn the world down to take care of our own if that’s what we have to do.”

I said nothing as the haze of sleep grew thicker, dragging me into unconsciousness. Arrow shifted, tucking the covers tighter around me.

“Have you been living out of your car, Bobbie?”

It took a few seconds for me to grasp the meaning of his words. I could barely think straight. And in the back of my mind, I knew he was probing for answers while my defenses were down. But I was too exhausted to care.

“I used to be on the streets,” I mumbled. “But my Rover is better.”

“Is that why you’re so thin?” Arrow asked. “Because you haven’t been getting enough to eat?”

I sighed. It was becoming harder to stay awake, to string together a coherent sentence.

“It’s just…difficult to know…where my next meal will come from. So, I gotta…make my food last.”

“Jesus, Bobbie,” Arrow croaked. “I never want you to feel like that again.”

The mattress dipped and he slipped out of bed, grabbing his boots and pulling them on. I sat up, blinking and groggy.

“Are you leaving?”

My heart gave a sickening jolt against my ribs. Maybe I had said too much. Maybe I shouldn’t have told him those things and now he had changed his mind and he didn’t want to marry me anymore.

Arrow brushed his knuckles against my cheek.

“I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart,” he murmured soothingly. “I just thought you might like a big breakfast in bed.”

I paused as I processed his answer. After a few moments, I sank back against the pillows with relief.

“That does sound good.”

Arrow smiled softly and leaned over me, kissing my forehead.

“I’ll be back before you know it. Get some rest while you can.”

Forty-five minutes later, Arrow returned with breakfast that was fit for a small army—two cups of coffee, a giant stack of flapjacks swimming in syrup, crispy smokey bacon, creamy oatmeal with slices of juicy golden peaches, eggs sunny side up, and thick cuts of buttered toast.