“Tell me why we had to meet here without the guys.”

Hayley sipped her iced Frappuccino and gave me one of her ‘I know why you did this’ looks. We both knew she humored me. Maybe it was the fact that she was my best friend in the whole world or maybe she just knew me well enough that I could push past all of the bull and lay all my cards on the table without backlash or worry.

Hay was an angel.

“What happened with you and Jake?”

“You know he took me for a walk. Jake finally confessed he had feelings for me,” she gushed. Her eyes glistened like stars in the night sky. I knew the look. Hayley had it bad for Jake – for years – but for the first time I realized she was serious about him. As serious as me and Peter.

“What did he say exactly?” I was stalling, admittedly, but I didn’t want to jump right into the conversation. I was hoping she would bring it up first, but she never did.

“He’s wanted to date me all year. Why are boys so stupid?” she laughed lightly and sat back, fixing me with a pointed stare, “Just spill already. The tension is making me want to chew off my newly manicured nails.”

I sighed, “Did he say anything about the guns?”

She nearly choked on her drink, coughing as some of the crushed ice slid down her throat, “Jesus Rae. Do you think you said that loud enough?”

I shrugged, “Tell me, Hay. Did you talk to him about it?”

“I was more than a little caught up in his confession and those sexy lips pressed to mine.”

“So that’s a no?” I clarified.

“I asked him.”

I thought so, “And?” Geesh, this was like pulling teeth or rubbing a wire brush across my raw skin.

“You’re killing me, Rae.”

I ignored her comment and sat back, arms crossed over my chest, “What did Jake say?”

“He said all the guys carry them. It’s for protection.”

Duh, why else would anyone carry a gun? Her eyes avoided my gaze.

There was more.

“And?”

“There’s been a few confrontations lately. The guys are just taking precautions.”

Shocked, I sat forward, “Confrontations? With who? Why?”

“I don’t have all the answers Rae,” Hay looked uncomfortable. My bestie was never like this around me. Something else was going on . . . and she knew.

“Hay, I’m only gonna ask one more time. Tell me what you know.”

“It’s the Outlaws.”

The motorcycle gang? “Seriously?”

“Yeah, the Outlaws MC have been giving the guys a few problems,” she confessed, still not a direct look in my direction. She was staring at everything but me. Man, she was awful at hiding the truth. I almost laughed.

“Hay, who have the Outlaws been messing with?”

“Now Rae –”

“Cut the shit Hay. I mean it.”

Her eyes finally met mine, “I promised Jake.”

“That you wouldn’t tell me? Why?” I asked, hurt.

“To protect you sweets, no other reason.”

I sank down in the seat. This was bad, “Who are they messing with Hay? Just tell me, is it Jake?”

“Not really,” she inhaled a shaky breath and released it, “it’s Peter.”

I bolted up ramrod stiff in my seat and straightened, “What?”

“Peter has had a few problems.”

“What kind of problems?” A sinking feeling filled my stomach like someone threw an old moldy rock down there and let it sit, “Is he in danger?”

Her lips thinned as she cast me a withering look, “Well what do you think Rae? They want to sell him Girl Scout cookies?”

I might have laughed if I wasn’t so deathly afraid, “I have to talk to Peter about this.”

“Oh no you don’t. If you say a word Jake will know I told you.”

I had bigger worries than Hayley betraying Jake’s trust, “I think Peter’s safety is more important. Don’t you?”

“How are you going to keep him safe Rae? Neither of us can do anything.”

She was right, but I could talk to Peter about it, “At least he could fill me in on what’s going on.”

“I’m honestly surprised he let you out of his sight considering Vader and all that’s happening.”

I sort of regretted texting her about Step-Vader and all the bullshit now.

“Me too.”

I jumped a mile as Peter’s stern voice echoed in the quiet coffee house. Not many customers were around until the rush later in the day, so there were few witnesses to the angry tick I could see pulsing in his chiseled jaw.

“Care to tell me why you left the house without letting anyone know?”

I glared at him, frustrated that he didn’t tell me the truth. Those guys at the drive-in knew Peter. I’m willing to bet they were Outlaws. The knowledge spiked my frustration, and I nearly spat my response at him, “I can go wherever I want, whenever I want Peter.”

He grimaced at my tone, “We still haven’t discussed last night. I think it’s time to leave.”

“No, I’m not done with my iced coffee.”

One hand ran through his hair in agitation, “Now isn’t the time to prove a point, Rae. Bring it with you.”

I smiled sweetly at him, “What point would I be making?”

Hayley groaned and shook her head as Jake pushed so fast and angry through the front doors they banged against the inner walls, “We’ve got company.”

I heard the heavy rumbling roar of motorcycle engines outside. Through the solid glass front windows I could make out at least a half dozen figures on the bikes, facing us, “Peter?”

I was in his arms so fast I hardly had a chance to blink. Shoved behind him for protection, Peter faced the windows and ticked his head in their direction, arms out wide at his sides.

Holy shit.

Was this some kind of 1950’s turf war? Like the Greasers and the Socials who hurt Ponyboy in The Outsiders? “Peter?” I asked again, scared.

You could hear the tremble in my voice as it wavered.

One of his hands reached back and pulled me close, clenching tight. His eyes never left the scene outside, but I saw the tilt of his chin, the familiar defiant and confident glare as it met the leader. Cold eyes met mine as I recognized the same guy from the drive-in.

“It’s alright baby.”

Like hell it was.

Was he crazy?

“Alright?” I nearly screeched.

Hayley was behind Jake. For the first time I noticed R.J. lurking outside, leaning against the wall on the right side of the doors as he played with a large hunting knife. On the left was Beckett, the sheriff’s son and his best friend Shane, puffing on a cigarette.

The tension was so thick I could have cut it with R.J.’s knife.

Before I could snap from the silence and lack of action, the biker leader flipped off Peter and laughed, signaling for the other riders to disperse. I exhaled a shaky breath once I saw his Harley pull away from the parking lot.

Once Peter was assured they were gone, he spun around and yanked me into his chest, his lips crashing down on mine. Before I could react, he blurted, “Don’t ever be so foolish again.”

I shoved at his chest, hard enough to separate us by a few inches, “Maybe if you told me the truth about the Outlaws and your toys,” I pronounced sarcastically, “I would know what the heck is going on.”

Peter’s teeth ground in his mouth, “We’re leaving, now.”

No response. I didn’t expect him to elaborate in the middle of the coffee shop, but once we were outside I intended to find out everything . . . and from the look on his face, he knew it.

His hand clamped down on my upper arm as he saw the nod from R.J.

Once we were free of the coffee shop, I was escorted to his Nova where Hayley and I climbed in the back. R.J. took shotgun, his eyes darting in every direction. I didn’t miss the Glock sitting in his lap or the tense line of Peter’s shoulders as we left the strip mall. The sound of a motorcycle let us know that Jake was behind us. Close headlights in the rearview proved Beckett was following too. He must have been in his truck with Shane.

Ten minutes later I nearly panicked as I realized we were headed out of town. “Where are we going?”

Peter shook his head, refusing to answer.

“Jake?” Hay’s small, high-pitched voice broke into my thoughts. She was frightened too.

“It’s ok sweetheart. He’s right behind us. We got this. Just let us get you to safety. Alright?” R.J.’s soft reassuring tone helped her to relax as she sank back into the seat.

“You’ll keep an eye on him?”

“Yes Hay, I promise.”

She nodded as I scooted closer. Our hands reached toward one another at the same time. Clenching tight we snuggled close, both of us aware of how dangerous the situation had become.

Peter’s eyes darted to mine in the rearview. He mouthed ‘sorry’ before his focus was back on the roads and the side mirrors. I didn’t answer. He had a lot of explaining to do, and he knew I wasn’t happy about the turn of events.

R.J. turned around, an apologetic expression on his face, “Everything will be fine Rae. We have a safe place to take you for the night.”

“What? Why can’t I go home?”

Peter shook his head so hard I thought he might hurt himself.

“No,” he growled.

R.J. sent a disapproving look in his direction, “We don’t know if we’re being followed. Don’t want to lead them straight back to your place.”

“But –”

“Not with your mom and little sister Rae. That’s just foolish. Right?”

I sighed, “Right.”

Why couldn’t Peter explain it like that?

“I’m hungry,” Hay chimed in, out of nowhere, as usual.

I shook my head at her randomness and almost laughed not able to help it, but I sobered up as my gaze fell on Peter’s stiff shoulders. Here we were in total and complete danger and all Hayley wanted was something to eat. Her priorities were safety, Jake, and food – in that order.

“Seriously Hay?”

R.J. and I said it at the same time.

“Jinx. Now neither of you can talk until I say your name.”

R.J. rolled his eyes. I sighed loudly, thinking she sounded like she was eight years old. Hay was always goofy when nervous or anxious. Peter chuckled for the first time.

“And I’m still hungry.”

At Hay’s remark, all four of us began to laugh. The only person who ate as much as she did was Jake. The thought must have crossed her mind too because the small smile on her face wobbled.

She lifted her head up high and peeked out the back window.

“Keep your head down, both of you,” Peter ordered sharply. “I won’t have either of you hurt.”

We exchanged a look as Hay slumped down in the seat, “How much further?”

“Until we arrive there,” he snapped, all humor gone.

Closing my eyes, I decided to take a nap and ignore his attitude. He might be stressed and worried, but his short temper came from the confrontation we both knew was coming the moment we reached a safe place to stay. If my life was in danger, I deserved to know from who and why, even if Peter disagreed. He caught my frown in the mirror and diverted his gaze.

This was going to be a long night.