EVERESTS POV:

I pushed open the door to Ink & Steel, the familiar buzz of the tattoo gun filling the air as the scent of antiseptic and ink hit me. The place was quiet except for Stump in the back, wiping down his station. He didn't look up right away, but I knew he felt me coming.

"Stump," I called, my voice a little rougher than I intended.

He glanced up, his brows pulling together as he set down the bottle of cleaner. "Sin," he said, his tone neutral, but I could see the curiosity behind his eyes.

I didn't waste time. "You texted me about Avery," I said, stepping closer, my jaw clenched tight. "She was here?"

Stump nodded, wiping his hands on a towel before tossing it onto the counter. "Yeah, man. Came in a couple days ago." His face was unreadable, but something about his tone had me on edge.

"What'd she want?" I asked, my gut already twisting.

"She asked if I could draw her something up." Stump leaned back against the counter, arms crossing over his chest. "Said she was thinking about a new piece."

My jaw clenched tighter. "Did she say anything else? About... leaving?"

Stump's eyes met mine, and for a moment, I thought he was going to lie. But then he shook his head. "Nah. Nothing like that. Just asked about the tattoo, said she'd get back to me... but she left in a hurry."

I took a step back, running a hand through my hair, trying to keep the panic from clawing its way to the surface.

"Did she seem... okay?" I asked, even though I wasn't sure I wanted the answer.

Stump hesitated. "Not really," he admitted, his voice softer. "She looked... tired. Worn out. Like she had a lot on her mind."

Fuck.

I rubbed the back of my neck, pacing a few steps before stopping. "And she didn't mention where she was staying?"

"Nope."

My jaw ticked. This wasn't making any sense.

"Sin..." Stump's voice was quieter now, more cautious. "Everything okay with her?"

I swallowed hard, my throat tight. "I don't know," I murmured, more to myself than to him. I had to find her. And I had to do it before it was too late.

My eyes drifted around the shop, trying to pull myself together, but my mind wouldn't stop racing. I needed a lead—anything that could point me in her direction.

That's what I noticed something very distinctive the worn out key that usually hangs on the hook the only key that ever hangs on that hook by the register was missing . "You uh lend, the beach house to anyone recently?" I ask walking over to the not seeing the key laying around anywhere.

"No don't think so." he statement I just go along with it,

The beach house.

The one we'd escaped to that weekend when everything got too damn heavy. Just us, the sound of the waves, and no club bullshit. It had been one of the only places where I'd ever seen her truly relaxed—where her guard was completely down.

And now... the key was gone. Avery had been here. And she'd taken it.

I didn't say a word to Stump. My face gave nothing away as I pulled myself together, forcing the realization to stay buried deep where it belonged. If I told him now, it would just stir up questions I wasn't ready to answer.

"Thanks, Stump," I said, my voice steady, even though my mind was racing a mile a minute.

"Anytime, brother." He nodded, giving me a quick, knowing look before turning back to clean up his station.

I didn't stick around. I was already out the door, heading straight for my bike.

I pulled into the clubhouse lot, tires screeching as I threw the bike into park. My heart was pounding harder than the damn engine had been, but I didn't care. My mind was already at the beach house, picturing Avery—alone, scared, carrying our babies.

I barely took a second to breathe before I spotted Ghost leaning against his bike near the front door, cigarette dangling loosely from his lips. His eyes narrowed the second he saw me, already reading the shitstorm coming his way.

"I know where she is," I said, killing the engine and stalking toward him like a man possessed. Ghost exhaled slowly, a cloud of smoke curling up between us. "Where?"

"The beach house," I muttered, my jaw tight. "She took the key from Stump's shop. She's there, Ghost. I'm going to get her." Ghost's expression shifted, hardening in a way that made my stomach twist.

"No, you're not," he said flatly. I stopped dead in my tracks.

"The fuck did you just say?" My voice was low, dangerous.

"You can't leave, Sin," Ghost said again, his tone calm but carrying that weight that made me want to punch something. "Not now."

"Ghost, I'm not playing this game." I stepped closer, my fists clenching so tight my knuckles cracked. "She's out there by herself, and I'm not—"

"Max is already sniffing around," Ghost cut me off, his voice sharper now. "He's asking questions, Sin. About Avery."

My heart fucking stopped. "What?"

Ghost nodded, his expression grim. "He hasn't pieced it together yet, but it's only a matter of time. If you go running off after her now, you'll lead him straight to her."

A sick feeling crawled through my veins, making my chest tighten. "If Max finds out..." I didn't even need to finish that thought. I already knew what would happen.

"Fuck," I muttered under my breath, running a hand through my hair as I tried to keep my head from spinning.

"We need to focus on getting these Devil's Blood bastards out of here first," Ghost said, his tone steady but laced with that no-bullshit edge. "Figure out how to undermine Max without dragging the whole damn club down with us."

I clenched my jaw, my mind working overtime, but all I could think about was Avery—alone and vulnerable.

"And Avery?" I ground out, my throat tight as hell.

"You're gonna have to figure out another way to check on her," Ghost said quietly, his eyes meeting mine. "Without tipping them off."

My teeth ground together so hard I thought they'd crack. Every instinct I had was screaming at me to get on that damn bike and go to her. To make sure she was okay. To protect her.

But I couldn't.

Not with Max circling like a goddamn vulture. "Fuck," I muttered again, the weight of it all pressing down on me.

But I'd find a way.

I had to.

Because there was no way in hell I was letting anything happen to Avery—or our baby.

••••••••••••••••••••

AVERYS POV:

The sound of the waves crashing against the shore was soothing, almost hypnotic. I stretched out my legs in the warm sand, my toes sinking deeper with every small movement. The breeze was cool despite the heat, brushing against my skin as I turned another page of the book I'd been mindlessly reading. It was hard to focus on the words when my mind felt so... quiet.

Relaxed.

It had been almost a week since I'd gotten here, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn't drowning in anxiety. The tight knot that had been sitting in my chest since I left had loosened, little by little. I hadn't touched my phone since I turned it off. At first, the thought of being completely cut off had been nerve-racking. What if Everest had been trying to reach me? What if anyone had? But as the days went on, I realized... I felt better not worrying about it. No drama. No club. No Max. No Everest.

Just me and the babies.

And right now, I needed that.

I adjusted my sun hat, the wide brim shading my face, while the thin cover-up barely hid the fact that the bikini I had on didn't fit at all anymore. My boobs had gotten outrageously big—one of the many perks of carrying twins—and the tiny scraps of fabric I had barely did their job. But I wasn't about to wear anything else. The sun felt too damn good.

I let out a soft sigh, sinking further into the sand as I flipped another page.

And that's when I saw him.

A blur of movement caught my eye, making me glance up from the book. I lifted my hand to shade my eyes, squinting as I watched a man running down the beach, a golden retriever racing ahead of him.

He tossed a frisbee, sending it sailing through the air, and the dog leapt gracefully to catch it, tail wagging like crazy as it trotted back toward him.

A small smile tugged at my lips.

Okay, that's cute.

I lowered my hand, about to go back to my book, but then the man got closer—and I finally got a good look at him.

Wait a minute...

My heart did a little flip as I realized I knew that face.

"Justin?" I murmured under my breath, my eyebrows lifting in surprise.

As if he felt me staring, he glanced in my direction, doing a double take when he saw me sitting there.

"Hey!" He called out, slowing down as he jogged toward me. His shaggy brown hair was slightly damp, clinging to his forehead, and those familiar green eyes lit up with recognition. "Avery, right?"

"Yeah." I smiled, sitting up straighter as he approached, his dog bounding ahead and stopping just a few feet away to shake the sand from his fur.

"I didn't think I'd see you around here." He grinned, brushing a hand through his hair, which only made it messier.

"I didn't think anyone lived around here," I replied, glancing up at him. "I thought this part of the beach was mostly rentals and vacation homes."

"Not all of them." He chuckled, crouching down to give his dog a scratch behind the ears. "I've got a place a few cottages down. It's a fixer-upper, but... I'm making it work."

"A fixer-upper?" I tilted my head, curious. "What made you take that on?"

Justin shrugged, flashing me an easy smile. "Needed a change. Figured a little hard work and a good view wouldn't hurt."

"Hmm." I nodded, feeling a surprising sense of calm settle over me.

"Mind if I join you?" He motioned to the sand beside me, his expression warm but respectful. I hesitated for a second... but then I realized—why not?

"Sure," I said softly, scooting over a bit to make room. As he sat down next to me, the dog curled up at his side, I couldn't help but feel... at ease.

"Do you want something to drink?" I asked after a moment, brushing some sand off my legs as I stood up. The heat had been baking me for a while now, and I was definitely in need of something cold.

"Sure," Justin said with a friendly smile, his green eyes crinkling slightly at the corners. I nodded, gesturing toward the house. "Come on. I've got some iced tea inside."

As I headed back up the wooden steps leading to the beach house, I heard the sound of his footsteps following close behind. The breeze carried the faint scent of the ocean as I pushed open the sliding glass door and stepped into the cool, quiet space.

I made my way to the kitchen, pulling a pitcher of sweet tea out of the fridge. "Hope you like it sweet," I said, grabbing two glasses from the shelf.

"Sweet's fine," Justin said, leaning against the counter casually as his eyes roamed the room. "Nice place."

"Thanks." I poured the tea, the ice clinking softly as I filled the glasses. "It's my... getaway spot, I guess."

"Getaway, huh?" His tone was light, but I could hear the curiosity underneath.

"Yeah," I murmured, handing him a glass. "Just needed some space to breathe, you know?"

Justin nodded, taking a sip. "I get that."

"Do you?" I arched a brow, meeting his gaze over the rim of my glass.

"Yeah." He chuckled softly, his eyes flickering with something... distant. "I'm kind of hiding out too."

"Really?" I tilted my head, genuinely curious. "What are you hiding from?"

"Not so much hiding," he said, his expression turning a little more serious. "Just... needed to get away from where I was."

I leaned against the counter, sipping my tea. "Where was that?"

"A small town called Dodge." He said the name like it left a bad taste in his mouth.

My eyes widened slightly. "Dodge?" I repeated, the name tugging at something in the back of my mind.

"Yeah." He let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. "Ever heard the phrase 'get the hell out of Dodge'?"

A laugh bubbled up before I could stop it. "Oh, definitely. That's where that comes from?"

"Yep." He grinned, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "That's my hometown. Charming, huh?"

"Charming's one word for it," I said, still smiling, but there was a flicker of recognition in my chest now—a sense of familiarity that I couldn't quite shake.

Dodge.

The name echoed in my mind, like a distant memory trying to claw its way to the surface.

"Wait..." I murmured, narrowing my eyes as I searched my brain. And then... it hit me. "Dodge..."

"Yeah?" Justin raised an eyebrow, watching me closely.

"Isn't that..." I trailed off, piecing it together. "That's the town right outside of Locus, isn't it?"

Justin's expression shifted, his easygoing demeanor fading just a little. "Yeah." His voice was quieter now. "Other side of the tracks."

Of course I knew Dodge. I'd heard plenty of stories growing up—stories about how rough it was, how dangerous. It was the place you didn't go unless you were looking for trouble.

I blinked, trying to process it all.

"That's... familiar," I murmured, more to myself than to him, feeling the weight of that realization settle in my chest.

Justin gave me a look, one that was equal parts knowing and cautious. "Yeah," he said softly. "It usually is."

And just like that, the easy conversation between us... didn't feel so easy anymore.

I forced a small smile, keeping my tone casual. "Yeah... I've heard of it," I murmured, my fingers tightening around the glass of iced tea in my hand.

Justin gave me a brief look, like he was trying to figure out if there was more to my words, but he didn't push.

Thank God.

Because the truth? Dodge wasn't just some random town I'd heard of. It was where my father was from. Where the Devil's Bloods had originated. And if Justin was from there... well, I wasn't ready to go down that road. Not yet.

"Small world, huh?" he said, his tone light again, and I was grateful for the shift. "Yeah." I nodded, taking another sip of tea, trying to settle the knot in my stomach.

After that, the conversation felt... easy. Surprisingly easy. Justin was funny, laid-back, and actually pretty nice. We sat there for hours, talking about everything and nothing. He told me how he'd bought the little cottage down the street, planning to fix it up and eventually turn it into a bed and breakfast. I kept things vague, just saying I needed some time away without giving too much away.

And for the first time in a long time... I felt normal.

No chaos. No stress.

Just... normal.

But eventually, the sun started to dip lower, and the cool breeze coming off the water reminded me that the day was winding down.

"Well," Justin said, standing up and brushing the sand off his shorts. "I guess I should let you get back to relaxing."

"Yeah..." I stood too, feeling a little lighter than I had earlier. "Thanks for... hanging out. It was nice."

"Anytime." He smiled, and for a second, I could've sworn there was something... warm in his eyes. But just as he turned to leave, he paused, glancing back at me, a little hesitation in his voice.

"Hey," he said, almost nervously. "Would you maybe want to... grab dinner sometime? Or I could cook. I'm not terrible in the kitchen." My stomach clenched, and I felt my smile falter.

"Um..." My hand instinctively went to my belly, fingers brushing over the curve that was impossible to hide now. "I don't know..."

Justin's eyes followed my hand, and I saw the exact moment when he put the pieces together.

"Oh..." His voice trailed off, and his expression shifted instantly, understanding dawning in his eyes. "Right. I, uh... I wasn't sure, but I kind of assumed." He gave me a soft smile, not the least bit awkward. "I wouldn't... you know, leave my pregnant wife alone at a beach house either."

I let out a dry laugh, shaking my head. "I'm not married."

His brows lifted slightly. "Oh?"

"It's... complicated." I glanced down at my belly, that familiar ache tightening in my chest. "Really complicated."

Justin didn't say anything for a moment. He just nodded, his expression thoughtful, as if he was trying to figure out what to say.

"Well," he finally said, his voice gentle, "complicated or not... if you ever want to get out for a bit or just need someone to talk to..." He pulled out his phone, a small, hopeful smile tugging at his lips. "The offer still stands."

I hesitated, my heart pounding a little harder in my chest.

But then, I nodded, giving him my number.

"Thanks, Justin," I murmured, my voice softer than before.

"Anytime," he said again, his eyes lingering on mine for a second longer before he finally turned and headed down the beach with his dog trotting beside him.

I stood there for a moment, watching him go, my thoughts swirling.

Complicated.

That was putting it mildly. And as nice as Justin was... as much as he made me feel normal for a few hours...

Everest.

My heart still belonged to him.

No matter how badly it hurt.