Meeting Danger (Danger #1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

him.
    Disappointed, Autumn slumped back into her chair. Kristen was the closest thing she had to a friend, and she’d been hoping the two of them could talk.
    She stood as Hale approached. “Kristen’s not with you?”
    “Nah. Maya’s sick, so Kristen didn’t want to get a babysitter. She stayed home with her.”
    Worry replaced disappointment. “Is Maya all right?”
    Hale nodded. “It’s the flu, but she’s getting better. Just needs a couple more days of rest.”
    He turned around, bumping fists with Butch and the brothers before picking up a pool cue.
    As he waited for his turn, Autumn said, “I hope she feels better.”
    “How are you doing, Autumn?”
    “I’m fine,” she said automatically.
    Hale studied her. “Are you really?”
    She gave him a quizzical look before nodding.
    As Butch took his next shot, Hale leaned in and lowered his voice. “I know how he is. You just tell me if you ever need me to talk to him.”
    Twisting her hands, Autumn moved her gaze back to Butch, still involved in his shot. He’d be pissed off if he heard any of this, and she’d pay the price. Hale had to know that.
    “I’m fine,” she whispered.
    Hale glanced at Butch again and then gave her a nod. “All right.”
    Autumn had been excited when Hale moved his wife and three-year-old daughter to New York from Alaska several months ago. Although he wasn’t a member of the Wicked Disciples, Hale was a longtime friend of Butch’s and hung out with him quite a bit. They had grown up together, but thankfully Hale wasn’t nearly as intimidating. He’d always been pretty decent to her, and for that she was grateful. And since Butch trusted him, Hale felt comfortable enough to chat with Autumn from time to time, something none of the brothers dared to do.
    When the pitcher of beer was delivered, the men took a break from their game. A few minutes later, Autumn walked into the bathroom.
    Denise stood reapplying her lipstick at the mirror by the sink. She shot Autumn a knowing look.
    “He’s going to put you out to pasture one day too, you know.”
    Ignoring the snide remark, Autumn ducked her head and slipped into a stall without answering.
    Denise was bitter, but her anger was misplaced. Her sister, Hope, had been Butch’s last girlfriend, and had moved out days before Autumn moved in. From what Autumn could piece together, Butch had grown tired of her. She’d been in her mid-thirties at the time, hardly old.
    Butch never talked about Hope, and Autumn knew better than to ask. But she’d overheard one of the brothers say that Hope was working at a strip club down in Florida.
    Will it be the same for me in a few years? Will I end up in a job like that once Butch gets tired of me and kicks me out?
    While it would be a relief to just be out of his house, she had no skills, no way of getting a good job. And not being able to read or write didn’t help. It was something she tried not to think about because each time she did, she got overwhelmed.
    Denise was fiddling with her hair when Autumn walked over to the sink. Giving her a last dirty look, Denise headed for the door. It slammed shut behind her.
    By the time Autumn made it back to her table, Hale was putting on his jacket.
    “You’re leaving?” she asked.
    “Yeah.”
    “Tell Kristen I hope Maya feels better.”
    “Will do.”
    Autumn took her seat after he left. The next hour and a half passed with her nursing a beer as she watched the men play pool. Butch won another game and then announced they were leaving.
    In the pickup truck on the drive home, he said, “I’m going to Philadelphia with Deck and Hale.”
    “When?”
    “Tomorrow.”
    Autumn took in a breath. “Do you think while you’re gone I could stay with Kristen?”
    “Why?”
    “Maya’s sick. I was thinking I could help them.”
    Butch snickered. “Help them with what?”
    There he went again, implying she was useless.
    Autumn swallowed hard. “With housework or whatever else they