"I don't get off till nine tonight, which is why I'm not going in till nine."

I glance over at Everest as he pulls up to the hospital entrance, but he barely acknowledges me with a nod. It's been like this all night. Well, actually, since last night—when we got home, he stayed for a while, but the second I pretended to be asleep, I heard him leave. I barely slept, my mind running in circles over everything that's happened.

I had texted Bonnie before bed, knowing she could check the schedules. She told me Mason called off tomorrow—which I was grateful for—but also asked if I'd switch shifts with one of the other nurses. I had no problem doing that.

Grabbing my lunch bag, I step out of the truck. Before I can say anything, Everest speeds off, tires screeching slightly against the pavement. I just stand there for a second, exhaling slowly.

That's when I notice him—Stump, in his usual spot, leaning against a car, cigarette between his fingers. He's always there. Always watching. I give him a small smile and wave, but he doesn't react. Just keeps staring.

I sigh and head into the hospital to start my twelve-hour shift.

————————-

I know Everest is still fuming, and honestly, I'm not even sure if he's the one who'll be picking me up later. But I do know one thing—Stump will still be outside, making sure I don't go anywhere.

I spend most of the morning talking with Bonnie.

"Now that you practically live on club property, you should come up and see us more. Have a couple drinks," she teases, tossing a peanut into her mouth.

I roll my eyes, laughing. "Pretty sure I'm on house arrest at this point."

"Got in trouble with Sin?" she asks, and I just nod. The answer is written all over my face—of course I did.

"It'll be fine," she assures me. "He's been keeping himself distracted with that Bree girl."

I raise an eyebrow at her, catching something in her tone. Like she thought I already knew.

"Is that his...old lady?" I ask.

Bonnie practically chokes on her drink, laughing. "Honey, that girl is a walking vagina who throws herself at Sin every chance she gets. He's just giving her a little extra attention lately because he ain't getting it from you."

I laugh along with her, but my mind drifts back to something Sarah said. 'Are you and Everest back together? Because him and Bree... well, they're basically a thing.'

I hate that a small part of me does care. That it does sting, thinking about him with someone else. But we're not together. He's bad for me. This is just a protection thing. He's made that clear—multiple times.

"Everyone keeps saying that, but if you saw how he acts toward me, you'd think he was my dad," I scoff.

Bonnie just giggles.

Before I can say anything else, a voice shouts across the ER—

"INCOMING! MULTIPLE GSWs!"

The room shifts in an instant.

I shoot Bonnie a quick wave before rushing to the emergency entrance, slipping on gloves as the ambulance screeches to a stop. The doors fly open, and a team moves fast, pulling the patient out.

This. This is the rush I live for. This is why I chose this job. Back in New York, they used to call me an adrenaline junkie.

We wheel him into the trauma bay, a sea of nurses and doctors swarming around him. I grab scissors and slice his shirt open—

That's when I see it.

The patch.

Devil's Blood.

The name reads Roach—one of the bikers we ran into at the bar with Mason.

No time to think.

One of the interns lifts a dressing on his neck wound, and blood spurts out, fast. Instinct takes over—I shove my finger into the hole, plugging it to stop him from bleeding out.

Everything stops for a second. The team stares at me, breathing heavy.

Then a doctor snaps back to life. "We need to get him to the OR. Now." He looks at me. "You need to hold that in place. You're coming with us."

I nod, keeping my grip steady. Excitement thrums beneath my skin.

———————————-

I spent the better half of my shift keeping a Devil's Blood biker alive.

Someone who, not too long ago, was hunting me.

By the time I step out of the OR, I'm covered in blood, my muscles aching from holding still for four straight hours. I rip off my mask and walk down the hall, my body screaming in exhaustion.

The hot water from the locker room shower is a relief, washing away the blood, the tension, the everything. I take my time, knowing I still get paid until I clock out.

By the time I step outside, the world feels hazy. Bonnie's already gone—she left at four, her regular eight-hour shift nothing compared to my four twelves.

I blink, shaking off the exhaustion—

And that's when I see him.

Everest, leaning against his bike.

I tighten my grip on my backpack, braiding my damp hair before tucking it under my shirt. I just stand there, not knowing what to say.

I'll probably just get yelled at. It'll probably turn into another argument.

But he says nothing. Just gets on the bike and starts it.

I hesitate, then climb on behind him. For a moment, I sit there, hands in my lap, unsure—

Then I realize why we're not moving.

My arms. They're just there.

I clear my throat and awkwardly wrap them around his waist. He doesn't hesitate this time—just kicks up the stand and takes off.

——————————————-

"Avery! Jesus Christ!"

My body jerks upright. My head lifts from his shoulder—I passed out.

We're pulled over on the side of the road. I let go of him, trying to regain my thoughts as Everest glares.

"Did you just pass the fuck out?!" His voice is sharp, angry. "You're lucky you didn't fall off and die!"

I blink hard, shaking my head, trying to wake up. "I—I'm sorry. I didn't realize how tired I was. Where even are we? Why aren't we home? It's pitch dark."

He exhales, running a hand through his hair. "I'm taking you somewhere. There's too much heat right now."

My stomach tightens. "What heat? Did something happen?"

He doesn't answer. Just sighs and gets back on the bike. "We're almost there. Just—don't fall asleep again."

I wrap my arms around him tighter this time, resting my chin on his shoulder as the wind stings my skin.

When we finally pull up, I hear it before I see it.

The ocean.

A small cottage sits tucked against the coast, moonlight reflecting off the waves.

Everest parks the bike and steps off, unlocking the door with a small yellow key. I follow him inside, eyes sweeping over the cozy interior.

"I had Brooke pack a bag for you while you were at work," he says, scratching the back of his head. "Enough clothes for the weekend."

I stare at him, caught off guard.

Gone is the cold, distant Everest. For the first time in days, his expression is... soft.

"Oh... uh, thanks," I murmur.

He nods toward the bag on the bed. "Shower if you want. You probably need it after today."

I nod, still processing everything. "Okay."

I step into the bathroom, but my mind doesn't quiet.

Did something happen? Did someone get hurt?

Are we running?

The anxiety creeps in, thick and suffocating.

And for the first time in a long time...

I want to cry.

Anxiety pulses through my body, my heart pounding relentlessly. It feels like a suffocating fog wrapping around me, tightening its grip with every breath.

I throw on a pair of shorts and an oversized T-shirt, wringing out the last bit of water from my hair before tossing the towel into the bin.

Stepping into the living room, I don't immediately see Everest. It's only when I walk further in that I spot him—sitting by the sliding glass door that leads to a small deck overlooking the ocean.

He's slouched in a chair, a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other, staring out into the darkness.

Quietly, I slide the door open and hesitate for a moment before stepping outside to join him. I take a seat next to him, but he doesn't acknowledge my presence, remaining completely unbothered.

"I know you're mad at me," I say softly. "But I deserve to know what's going on, Sin."

Everest exhales slowly, his voice unusually gentle. "I figured it'd be good to get you away for a bit. There are people meeting with Ghost about the situation, and I thought it was best to keep you out of it for now."

There's something different about him—he seems relaxed, almost at peace. He's not the rigid, always-on-edge man I'm used to, the one constantly anticipating a fight.

"Where even are we?" I glance around. There are no houses nearby, just a small cottage tucked along the coastline. A warm breeze drifts through the air, and the moonlight shimmers over the ocean's surface. I can't even remember the last time I was at the beach. Definitely not something I expected after coming back from New York.

The last time might've been with my parents.

"It's just a place I borrowed for the weekend," Everest says. "One of the brothers from the club owns it."

"I'm surprised you didn't want to stay back with everything going on," I say, studying him. "You're vice president. Shouldn't you be there?"

I sit on the edge of the chair, my hands clasped in my lap. It's ironic—he's the calm one now, and I'm the one on edge.

His next words make my stomach tighten.

"You're my priority," he says simply. "There wouldn't be a situation without you."

I stare at him, my expression unreadable, unsure of how to respond.

"Ev—" I place my hand on his, but before I can get the rest of his name out, he abruptly stands, tossing his cigarette into the sand.

"You take the bed. I'll sleep on the couch," he says, his voice firm but distant. "We need to get some rest. It's been a long night."

And just like that, the conversation is over.

I make my way to the bedroom, closing the door softly behind me. Once I'm tucked in, I stare at the ceiling for hours, sleep refusing to come.

What was my life?

Just one beautiful mess ....