“It could be that, too,” AJ said. “Whatever the reason, someone in the Fists wanted Larks dead.”

She didn’t seem upset about them pulling away, but what did he know? They barely knew each other so he was going to have to let AJ lead on this one, and the warning look AJ sent his way said now wasn’t the right time. Still, there was something vulnerable in her eyes, a wariness there. Pax would like to know why.

Maybe that’s what attracted him to her—she was a mystery. He liked mysterious women. Too many of them were open books, wanting to blurt out their entire life stories the first night you met them. Pax liked a woman who kept her cards close to her chest. It made him curious enough to want to peel back some of the layers.

Teresa took the chair next to the sofa. Safe territory, not near AJ or him. Pax didn’t think he and AJ had come on strong. They usually saved that for women who knew what was up, who welcomed the challenge. All he’d been doing was offering comfort, nothing more. And maybe she was pissed off that she had gotten into their touch and they pulled back abruptly. She didn’t want to get burned again. He couldn’t blame her. Women didn’t take rejection well. Problem was, they hadn’t rejected her.

“So why would someone in Larks’s group want him dead?” Teresa asked. “Unless they’re trying to pin this on Joey.”

“It might be just that,” AJ said.

“That seems pretty extreme, even for the Fists. Besides, Larks is their leader. He would be in on any scheme to take down Joey.”

“He wouldn’t have been in on this one,” Pax said.

Teresa nodded. “Obviously.”

“Do you know of anyone on the Fists who has it out for Joey?”

She turned her attention to AJ. “Individually? No. Of course, none of them like the Thorns on principal. The whole rival gang thing. And Joey as the leader puts him front and center. But I can’t see how taking Joey out of the equation this way serves their purpose. Because now Larks is out, too.”

AJ shook his head. “And that leaves both gangs vulnerable.”

“Right,”Pax said. “Now you have the Fists’ gang leader dead, and the Thorns’ leader is accused of killing him. Who benefits?”

Teresa clasped her hands together and leaned forward. “I don’t know. This doesn’t make sense. Why would this guy want his own leader dead? That’s the key question we need to find the answer to.”

“Whoa. Who’s this ‘we’ you’re referring to?”

“You, me and AJ.”

Part of him wanted to grin at the thought of the three of them trying to figure this out. The other part of him didn’t want Teresa involved in this at all. “No. Too dangerous.”

“I agree with Pax. This guy who killed Larks—did he see you?”

“No. I was on my way over to put a stop to the fighting. I’d had enough, especially when Larks coldcocked my brother. Joey went down, and that’s when I saw the bald-headed guy pull the knife and stab Larks in the back. I was afraid he was going after Joey next, so I grabbed my gun and ran like hell toward Joey, but the guy who stabbed Larks made a dash out the front door right after that without once looking back. He never saw me.”

“You have a gun?” Pax asked.

She nodded. “I keep it hidden under the bar.”

“Got a permit for it?”

“Of course. And in answer to your next question—yes, I know how to use it. And I would have, too, if that guy had gone after my brother.”

So she was tough. And not afraid to defend the people she loved. “What you did wasn’t a smart move. Someone could have stabbed or shot you.”

“I was aware of my surroundings. I’m not a moron, Pax.”

“I definitely don’t think you’re a moron.” He liked the way her cheeks turned pink and the exasperated look on her face. “So how far away were you when he stabbed Larks?”

She frowned. “I don’t know exactly. Six feet maybe? The whole place was chaos. I just saw Joey fighting with Larks and instinct kicked in. We look out for each other, always have.”

“You could have gotten hurt, Teresa. What were you thinking trying to get into the middle of a gang fight like that?”

She lifted her chin, her gaze skirting AJ’s. “I was thinking I was going to do whatever it took to protect my brother. And when that guy pulled that knife, I was certain he was going to defend Larks and use it on Joey.”

“Would you have used that gun on Larks?”

“On him or anyone else who threatened Joey’s life.”

“You shouldn’t have put yourself in the middle of a dangerous situation like that,” AJ said.

Teresa looked down for a second, then lifted her gaze to AJ’s. “I’ve been in worse and survived.”

“What kind of ‘worse’?” Pax figured that was an opening, and despite AJ’s warning to back down, Pax was going to take the opportunity to ask.

“Nothing.” She stood. “I’m really tired. There are two extra bedrooms where you guys can sleep. Come on, I’ll show you.”

“You need to show us your room,” Pax said.

Teresa stilled, that look of wariness shadowing her face again. “Why?”

“Because we need to know where you sleep so we can protect you.”

Her lips lifted and she let out a short laugh. “You’re not sleeping in my room.”

“Didn’t say that we were. We’ll be taking turns sleeping tonight. We can’t protect you if we’re both asleep.”

She cocked her head to the side and looked at both of them. “I don’t really think I’m in any danger.”

“You let us worry about that,” AJ said. “Just show us where your room is. We’ll make sure it’s secure in there, then we’ll get out of your way so you can get some sleep.”

She took a few seconds to look them both over. Pax wasn’t sure if it was because she didn’t trust them or because she didn’t really believe anything bad could happen to her. Finally, she turned and moved to the end of the hall and opened the door to her bedroom.

She flipped on the lights and AJ stepped in, Pax right behind him. Queen-sized bed covered in a brown and yellow quilt. Windows on either side. Pax took one side and checked the latches, while AJ did the other. “Secure over here,” Pax said.

“Same,” AJ said, then turned to Teresa. “Are there any other points of entry into this room?”

“Just a small window over the tub in the bathroom.”

“I’ll get it.” Pax went in the direction Teresa pointed. The bathroom was small, as was the window over the tub, but the window was big enough to get a body through. He double-checked the closure and came out. “Okay.”

Teresa was sitting on the side of the bed. “You never told me who you two really are.”

AJ crooked a smile. “Well, honey, you’ve known me a long damn time. You know me.”

She rolled her eyes. “That’s not what I meant. All this security stuff, and those badges you flashed at the bar to get past the cops. What do you do for a living?”

Pax moved into the room and knelt in front of her. “We’re agents with the U.S. government.”

Her brows rose and her gaze shot to AJ. “Really?”

AJ DIDN’T REALLY WANT TO GET INTO THIS WITH TERESA, BUT HE knew they wouldn’t be able to avoid it forever. “Yeah. But who we work for is kind of confidential, so we’d appreciate if you didn’t go telling everyone in town.”

“Of course. Wow. That’s wonderful, AJ. I never thought...”

She stopped mid-sentence, her cheeks flushing. “I’m sorry. That wasn’t what I meant.”

AJ sat next to her on the bed. “Hey, don’t worry about it. I wasn’t exactly an altar boy when I left here.”

“You had potential. I always believed in you.”

Something warm settled in his chest. He brushed it off. “I didn’t give you any reason to believe in me. I was a mess. That’s why I left.”

Her gaze was warm. “But look where you ended up. You did good.”

“Thanks.”

“What kind of federal agent stuff do you do?”

“Whatever the government needs us to do. Mostly undercover work where bikers or guys who look like us can fit in,” Pax said.

“Is it dangerous?”

AJ shrugged. “It can be sometimes.”

“Wow. What an awesome job.” Teresa’s gaze shifted to AJ. “Do your parents know what you do for a living?”

“No. I don’t talk to them anymore. They don’t even know where I am.” She frowned. “For how long?” “Since I left home.”

“Oh, AJ. Why not?”

“You know why not.” Because they wouldn’t care. Because it was too late for that kind of family relationship. Because he didn’t want it, and they didn’t, either. They’d made their choices a long time ago. So had he.

“I’m sorry.” Teresa raised her hand and laid it on AJ’s shoulder. He pulled it off and laid both his hands over hers. “Get some sleep and try not to worry about anything. Pax and I will take care of you.”

AJ stood, and Pax led the way out of the room. They closed the door behind them and took a seat on the sofa.

“Do you really think someone could come after her?” Pax asked as he pulled his Glock out of the back of his pants and laid it on the table.

AJ shrugged. “I don’t know. Teresa might not think anyone saw her, but until we know why Larks was killed and for what reason, we need to keep her safe. She’s the only one who can ID the guy who really did it.”

“And one way or the other, that makes her a target.”

AJ nodded and blew out a breath. Not exactly the vacation he was looking for.

Or the kind of hometown reunion he’d had in mind.

SEVEN

DAWN HADN’T YET FILTERED THROUGH THE BLINDS ON TERESA’S windows, only shades of gray announcing it was morning but too early to get up.

It didn’t matter. She hadn’t slept much anyway, had tossed and turned, wondering what Pax and AJ were doing, coupled with random thoughts about the bar fight, what she’d witnessed, and her worry about Joey’s welfare. None of that added up to the ability to get a restful sleep.

She took a shower and got dressed, opening the bedroom door and moving into the living room, surprised to find both the guys there. AJ was asleep on the sofa, Pax sitting in a chair near the front window. He turned to her and smiled, grabbed the pistol sitting on the table next to him and slid it into his pants.

For some reason, knowing they were armed comforted her. Besides, there was something sexy as hell about a guy carrying a weapon who knew how to use it. Not for show or to look tough, but because it was part of his job.

“Heard anything from the police station yet?”

Pax shook his head. “Nothing, but it’s early.” He came over to her, brushed his knuckles along her cheek. “Too early for you to be awake. You didn’t get much sleep.”

She took a step back, not used to the little thrill that shot up her spine at his touch. She liked it, which made her uncomfortable as hell. “I’m fine. I’ll go make coffee.”

“It’s already made.”

“It is?”

“Yeah. I brewed a pot a little while ago. Go kick the couch and wake up AJ. I’ll start breakfast.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

He gave her a look over his shoulder, and a smile that made her toes curl. “I want to.”

A guy who made himself at home in her kitchen. That was also a little disconcerting. And comforting. And sexy.

It had been five years. And maybe it wasn’t freaking her out as much as it used to. She’d wanted to get back in the game again for a long time now. She was tired of being afraid, of letting what had happened rule her life. She wanted to be a woman again, and damn if she was going to let those guys ruin her. Every man wasn’t like they had been.

Every guy wasn’t going to hurt her. And maybe every guy wasn’t going to run away when he found out the truth about her.

She moved over to the sofa. AJ was too big for her average-sized couch. One arm was slung over his head, his booted feet hung over the edge of the arm. Beard stubble peppered his jaw, making his face look dark and ruthless. AJ had never been ruthless. A bad boy, yes, but he’d always been the fun kind of bad boy.

And he’d never hurt her.

Once, he’d loved her. And she’d loved him. But that love hadn’t been enough to keep him out of trouble. They’d just been kids, on the verge of adulthood. Neither of them had known what they were doing back then. It had been innocent and intense, as all teenage romances are.

Ten years later she still didn’t know what she was doing. Nor did she know who AJ really was now, other than he was one of the good guys.

She smiled. She liked that he was one of the good guys. It suited him. But he still carried an edge of danger that fit him well, too.

“You’re staring.”

Startled, she jumped back, realizing he’d moved his arm and his eyelids were partially open, revealing smoky grays studying her. She tried to calm her racing heart. Goddammit, when was she going to relax? “Sorry. I debated waking you.”

“I was already awake. Pax walks like a herd of elephants.”

“Fuck you,” Pax said from the kitchen.

AJ sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the sofa and planted his feet on the floor. “Plus, I smelled coffee.” He dragged his fingers through his hair, winked his sleep-laden gaze at the window, then turned his attention on her. “It’s still dark out. Why are you up?”