Read Meeting Danger (Danger #1) for Free Online

need.”
    “You have enough to do at home.”
    Knowing the discussion was over, Autumn turned to the window. Her head was beginning to pound, a familiar pain at the base of her skull that began whenever she was tense or upset. Which was often.
    The club had a legitimate business—a chain of motorcycle repair shops—but it was just a cover. Butch’s trip was probably related to the heroin operation. At the very least, it would be a relief to have him out of the house for a few days.
    As they drove over a bridge, Autumn’s thoughts turned to her father. Samuel Mason had been a lot like Butch. He’d also done illegal things to make money. And much like Butch, he’d had no conscience about it.
    • • •
    After Butch left the next afternoon, Autumn called Kristen.
    “I saw Hale at the bar last night. He said Maya’s been sick.”
    “She’s feeling better now. Her fever finally broke.”
    “Oh, good.”
    “Listen, I was going to call you. I was wondering with the guys out of town if you’d want to get together tonight. With the weather and Maya being sick, we both have really bad cabin fever.”
    Autumn bit down on her lip, thinking of what Butch’s reaction would be. But it wasn’t like she’d be entertaining a guy; Kristen and Hale were practically family.
    “That sounds great.”
    Quickly she began planning a menu. She had the ingredients for brownies, and mac and cheese. Maya would probably like both.
    When Kristen and Maya arrived that evening, Autumn had everything ready. The three ate at the kitchen table, and then Kristen laid Maya down on the couch along with a doll she’d brought.
    Maya snuggled against her doll and closed her eyes. With dark curly hair and rosy cheeks, she was a miniature image of her mother.
    “She’s adorable,” Autumn said.
    Kristen walked back to the table and took her seat. “I hope you’re a mom too someday, Autumn. You’d be great at it.”
    Autumn looked down at the floor. Why would Kristen even say something like that? She could barely take care of herself.
    When she’d first come to Butch’s, she’d been as timid as a mouse, too afraid to even ask about birth control. As the months went by and she hadn’t become pregnant, she’d begun to suspect Butch had done something to ensure he couldn’t have children. And when she’d finally had the nerve to ask him, he’d confirmed it by muttering that they didn’t need to worry about brats.
    It was for the best. Having kids with Butch would be a disaster, and even she was smart enough to know that. She already walked on eggshells as it was; there was no way a child should have to do that. After all, her own childhood with an angry, controlling father similar to Butch had been miserable. But she still couldn’t help the sadness she felt whenever she thought about the future.
    “In the meantime, you need a hobby,” Kristen continued.
    Autumn gazed at her friend. “Butch wouldn’t exactly go for something like that.”
    “Fuck him.”
    Autumn shook her head. “Just don’t ever say that to his face.”
    Kristen shrugged. “I won’t.”
    It was a wonder Hale had remained friends with Butch all these years; their temperaments were as different as night and day. Of course, Hale had been away in Alaska for quite some time.
    Kristen seemed to be thinking along the same lines. “Hale has felt loyal to Butch ever since they were ten years old, and Butch defended them against some bullies. But the way Butch treats you? It’s the one thing Hale’s at odds with him about. He hates it.”
    Autumn straightened in her seat. “I haven’t heard anything about bullies. Do you know what happened?”
    “Yeah. It was teenagers picking on them. Four of them, I think. Butch scared them away.”
    “How?”
    “He had a knife.”
    Autumn frowned. “At ten years old?” While it probably shouldn’t surprise her, it still did.
    “That’s what Hale said.”
    Autumn and Kristen chatted as they cleaned up the kitchen together,