Ace of Hearts (The Cursed Ravens MC #1) - Chantal Fernando

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For Rose, one of the kindest, most generous souls I’ve ever encountered

Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom. —ARISTOTLE

1 ERIN I don’t know what I’m doing here. Well, that’s not entirely true. I guess I do know what I’m doing here. I just don’t know how I’m going to get through it. I’m so out of my element, out of my comfort zone, yet that determined, stubborn part of me will not give up until I finish what I came here to do. He might not want me, or want anything to do with me, but at least I will know. At least I can say I tried. And if I know, I can close the chapter on this part of my life. I can stop wondering and wishing, and playing out the what-ifs in my mind. It’s a Saturday night, and I just got out of the taxi that drove me straight here from the bus station. When I walk toward the building, I know I’ve made a huge mistake in choosing today to come, but it’s too late to go back now. It’s not what I thought it would look like. I was picturing some kind of warehouse, not a large two-story home set on a couple acres of land. Just passing by, you would think a regular family lived here. Not a bunch of bikers. But as you get closer, you start to hear the loud music blasting and see people everywhere. I wring my hands together, giving myself a little pep talk before I enter. I can do this. No one pays attention to me as I approach the door, which is probably a good thing, yet it has me questioning myself even more. I look down at my worn, ripped blue jeans and black ankle boots. Should I have tried to look nicer? First impressions matter, as my mother always told me. Though I might not get the best one of him right now, during what seems to be a wild party, I still want him to think the world of me, not that I’d ever admit that out loud. I glance at the people congregating around their motorcycles. Men dressed in black from head to toe, wearing leather vests, all quite intimidating in their stature and demeanor—tall, broad, and mostly tattooed—and women showing off a lot of skin. I look away quickly, not wanting to make eye contact with any of them. These people look like they could eat me alive. Like the large man with the beard, or the woman standing next to him, dressed in tight leather, a collar around her neck, staring intently at me. And yet something inside me won’t let me walk away.

I’m so close now. I have to do this. As I lift my hand to push open the door, my black crop top rides up, and I feel cool air hit my stomach. I pull my top down as I step in, my eyes taking in everything around me. It’s like a whole other world inside. All the research I did before coming here didn’t prepare me for what I see. There are men filling the dimly lit room, some sitting and some standing, a cloud of smoke surrounding them. Most are in the same leather vests as I saw outside, and I stare at the words written on the back of one. CURSED RAVENS MC. A motorcycle club. I’m definitely in the right place. There are women laughing and dancing, not like one would in a club, unless it was a strip club. I see two of them dancing on each other, and for a moment I watch, both shocked and mesmerized. I notice a few of the men watching them, which is clearly their goal. I don’t know what to think. I feel frozen in place, not sure how I’m meant to find him in this crowd. I’ve never seen anything like this in my life. I shake my head and drag my eyes away from the show in front of me, scanning the hordes of people. As my eyes pass a man sitting directly across from me, I do a double take. Maybe because he’s looking right back at me. Or maybe it’s because he’s the sexiest man I’ve ever seen in real life. Sitting in the middle of a black leather couch, with a woman on either side of him, he’s dressed in all black, a contrast to his light hair. I can’t see his eye color from here, but I know that they too are light. Everything else about him, however, is dark. He doesn’t smile as he takes me in from head to toe and back again, and I have to wonder what he sees. One of the women whispers something in his ear, but he doesn’t pay her any attention; he doesn’t even turn his head. No, he’s still watching me, like a wolf would his prey. And I cannot look away, caught in his gaze. I should, but for some reason, I don’t want to. A whistle to the right of me gets my attention though, as a dark-haired man approaches me, licking his lips lavishly. I don’t like the look in this man’s brown eyes. “And what do we have here?” he rumbles, glancing behind me, checking out my ass. “I don’t think I’ve seen you around before.” Is he seriously trying to recognize me by my ass? A sliver of unease hits me. Just how far out of my element am I? What if it’s unsafe for me to be here? I didn’t even consider that this could be risky. I was so focused on finding my way here

that I didn’t think of the dangers. I’m not sure how this is going to play out, and I don’t like the way this man is looking at me like I’m a piece of meat. Like he could have me if he wanted to; like I am a sure thing. A man who is used to getting what he wants. I’ve never met any bikers before, and I don’t know what to think right now. I’m here for one reason only, and it’s not to chat with any of these random men. I turn to face him. “I haven’t been here before,” I admit, shifting on my feet. “And I’m also totally out of your league. I’m actually looking for—” “I know just what you’re looking for,” he says, grinning. He’d be good-looking if he wasn’t such a creep. My sister, Eden, and I do this little motion when a guy seems too . . . pervy. It’s a sprinkle action with our fingers, one that represents someone spiking a drink. If she were here, we’d both be doing it right now. This guy is way too sleazy for his own good. Does this actually work on some women? “Why don’t you come back to my room so I can give it to you?” He gently grabs my upper arm, but I pull away before he can lead me anywhere. “No, thank you,” I say, lifting my chin and looking him in the eye. “I’d rather stick needles into my eyeballs and roll around on the floor than go anywhere with you.” He arches a brow. “Sassy, aren’t you? Have a certain member in mind then? Trust me, whoever it is they won’t give a fuck if you give me a little taste first. I like the whole . . . innocent vibe you have going on. I’m Shack, by the way. Remember it, because you might be screaming it later.” Yeah, no. That innocent shit isn’t a vibe, and I need to get out of this situation right now before he figures that out and probably kicks my ass out of here before I can find Gage. I look back to the man sitting on the couch, and Shack catches it and barks out a laugh. “Yeah, of course it’s Ace you’re after.” Ace. The name suits him. I wish it were him over here talking to me instead of this creeper. “Who’s this, Shack?” a man with blond dreads asks, studying me, but not in a sleazy way. More curious. He has beautiful amber eyes and an easygoing, calm vibe that I can’t help but want to soak up. The golden stubble on his cheeks adds to his appeal. “I call dibs,” Shack replies, flashing his teeth. “As soon as I can get her to give up on fucking Ace tonight.” I’ve officially had enough.

I’m normally a very calm, sweet woman, but the minute I’m pushed too far I tend to have a bit of a temper. Things obviously run a little differently around here, something I wasn’t necessarily prepared for, but I don’t care who these men are, they can’t talk about me like I’m not right here. Like I’m less than them just because I’m a woman and not part of their world. Throwing my hands up in the air, I yell, “I’m not here to fuck anyone! And stop talking about me like I’m not standing here; it’s fucking rude. I’m here to see Gage Liam Parker. So if one of you would kindly direct me his way, that would be greatly appreciated.” As soon as the words leave my mouth I can feel the shift in the room, the sudden change in the atmosphere. It’s almost as if all the air gets sucked out, leaving me struggling to breathe, as the men look at me in a completely different way, their joking demeanor gone. “How do you know the name of our president?” Shack asks me, eyes narrowed and jaw tight. I didn’t know Gage was their president, right up until this moment. Shit. Now it’s as if he’s assessing a threat. It’s better than seeing the lust that was in his eyes, but only barely. I’d laugh at the thought of me being a danger to anyone, but I don’t want to push them any further than I already have. This time when Shack’s hand clasps around my upper arm, it is not gentle, nor is it playful. His whole demeanor has changed—no longer sleazy, a dangerous edge about him. “Who are you?” he demands, tightening his hold. “Let her go,” a deep, hypnotic voice says. I turn my head to see Ace’s handsome face up close. It’s even more perfect than I thought it would be. His light gray eyes give nothing away; they are lifeless, but also so beautiful that it almost hurts to look directly into them. The hair on my skin stands on end, a shiver taking over my body. I’ve never reacted like this to anyone before, and I don’t know why it’s happening right now. I feel like simultaneously running to him and away from him. Or maybe I need to do one or the other. Shack lets me go but moves his body closer to mine, as if I might try to run away. Fear fills me. Damn. I should’ve thought this out better. I don’t even know if I’m allowed to be standing here, but being surrounded by these three imposing men, I don’t know what to think or do. I can hear Eden’s voice in my head, telling me that I shouldn’t have come here. That it’s not a good idea. That something could happen to me, but I didn’t listen. Eden and I are so very different, and although she will always love and support me, that doesn’t mean she will ever understand me. I’ve always been the black sheep of the family, and a little reckless, and now I know why. “I’ll get the prez,” Dreads says, leaving me sandwiched between Ace and Shack.

“What’s the problem?” Ace asks his friend, a muscle ticking in his cheek. “Is she too much for you to handle?” Shack says something to him quietly that I can’t hear, but I can guess what he’s telling him. Ace brings his eyes back to me, once again giving nothing away. If it’s possible, they’re even more guarded than before. What did I do now? “Who are you? Another woman wanting to fuck her way up to the top?” Ace asks me, before he shares a look with Shack. “They’re starting young these days, aren’t they, brother?” “Young and delicious,” Shack replies, staring at my chest. Total creep. I give them both the finger. They’re assholes. Why do they have to make assumptions? These men clearly have major trust issues. What do they think I’m going to do? I’m half their size, in height and width, and they could easily restrain me if they wanted to. They think I’m here because I want to fuck my way to the top of the club? They have no fucking idea. If only they knew. “I wouldn’t fuck you if you were the last man alive,” I mutter under my breath, as I cross my arms over my chest and narrow my eyes at Shack. I ignore Ace, pretending he doesn’t exist. It’s just easier that way. I don’t like how he spoke to me, and even though we don’t know each other, it annoys me that he’d think that of me. He didn’t have to be so rude. “What the fuck did you say?” Shack asks me, but I decide to ignore him too. My temper is spiked, so much so that all my common sense seems to have left me. All I can feel is tension. Tension between me and Shack—anger mainly—and an entirely different kind of tension with Ace. Dreads reappears and nods his head toward the hallway. Shack grabs my arm again and pulls me with him, Ace at my back, until we come to a room. I can feel his body behind me even though we aren’t even touching. He’s powerful, and not just physically. I don’t really know how to explain it, but it’s like he’s a giant magnet, pulling people toward him. I’m tempted to lean back and press myself against his chest, just to absorb a little bit of whatever he’s throwing off. Shack knocks, and a man calls out, “Come in.” The door opens, and I’m ushered inside a spacious white-walled room. Gage sits on a large brown leather chair in the corner of the room, shirtless, his jeans on but not done up, his expression annoyed. I’ve seen him before, only in a photo, when he was much younger, but I have no doubt that it’s him. To his left, there’s a woman asleep on his bed on her stomach, naked. I keep my eyes on him, suddenly feeling very nervous and awkward. I’ve been dragged in here like a common criminal, even though I haven’t done anything wrong. This is not what I’d

planned on when I’d decided to come here tonight. I couldn’t have prepared myself for this. I don’t know why, but the scene before me makes me angry. My hands clench to fists. This is not how things were meant to go. I’ve imagined this scene so many times, but it wasn’t meant to be like this. “What the fuck is so important right now that couldn’t wait until tomorrow morning?” he asks in a calm, husky tone. His blue eyes narrow ever so slightly, and even I can tell just how unimpressed he is about the whole situation. Well, he can join the club. Shack steps aside to reveal me. Gage crosses his arms over his chest. “Two of you are here to bring me a fucking girl? I thought there was something wrong.” He eyes me, not looking very impressed. “Why is she here? A bit young for my tastes. Why don’t one of you have her? Better yet, why don’t you all get the fuck out of my room so I can get some sleep?” A bit . . . young? Why don’t one of them have me? Does he think? You have got to be kidding me right now. This just went from bad to worse. Who talks about women this way? And for him to think that I want to have sex with him? I don’t think I’ve ever been so disgusted in my life. My nails dig into my palms. “No one is going to fucking have me!” I can’t help it, I lose it. I’m a mix of emotions right now, and none of them are good. I wonder if he can hear the contempt in my voice. He is nothing like what I expected. I was naïve to think he’d be some big hero who would be so happy to find out about me, and who would welcome me with open arms. I pictured him as a good man, a strong one. Someone I’d be proud to call my father. I don’t know what I was expecting exactly, but it wasn’t this. My stupid expectations should have been lowered. Realistic. He is just a man, after all, and a biker at that, and I was a fool to think otherwise. Gage looks younger than the midforties I know he is, and he’s still as fit as the other men in here. He’s dark, brooding, and his silent anger is directed at me. He says nothing at my outburst, but I can almost feel the disapproval wafting from him. I’m nothing but an inconvenience. Numbness starts to fill my veins. That moment when you realize just how badly you’ve fucked up and you know you’ve made a bad decision, hits me. That moment of pure regret. I never should have come here.

“She asked for you by name,” Ace says, and I don’t know why but his heat at my back is suddenly oddly reassuring. Maybe because he told Shack to let me go when he was squeezing the life out of my arm. Or maybe he’s just the lesser of the evil that’s in this room right now. Either way, I’m glad that he’s here, even though I have no reason to be. I feel safer. Gage’s eyes turn from impassive to both curious and menacing. “Only my men know my real name,” he murmurs, running a large finger down the dark stubble on his cheek. His voice is deceptively calm. “How do you?” I try to reach into my jean pocket, but both my arms are grabbed by Shack and put behind my back before I even know what’s happening. “Who are you, the police?” I snap, breathless. “I’m just going to take a piece of paper out of my pocket, you psychotic asshole.” Ace quickly pats down my pockets and then nods to Shack, who instantly lets me go. I give them all the dirtiest look I can muster, then slowly reach into my pocket, fingers trembling, and pull out the folded document. Looking him right in the eye, I hesitate as I unfold it and hand it to him. When I say the next line, my words come out angry. “Because I’m your daughter.”

2 His expression stays the same, but several emotions pass in his eyes. Disbelief. Doubt. Fear. He doesn’t believe me, or maybe he’s having trouble processing my words. Maybe he doesn’t know who to blame, or how this happened. Maybe he’s angry at me for telling him the truth. I don’t miss the pain that also flashes in his gaze though, and that’s what calms me a little. I hold my breath as he lowers his gaze to the paper in front of him and looks over my birth certificate, which he seems to reread a few times, then shakes his head. “No, this can’t be.” “The proof is in your hands,” I say, feeling hurt that he’s denying what’s right in front of him. Why else would I come here making such claims? I have nothing to gain from lying. A simple DNA test would easily confirm that I’m telling the truth. My mother has lied about a lot of things. But at this point, I highly doubt telling me my father is in a motorcycle club is something she’d lie about. Ace steps next to me and lifts my chin with his hand. His fingers are warm and rough. He looks me right in the eye, and for a few seconds I’m lost in murky gray depths. “You know, her eyes are just like yours, Prez.” And he’s right, they are. Identical in color, shape, and even the thick lashes framing them. No one else in my family has blue eyes. “Everyone leave us,” Gage demands, then looks to the bed, as if only just remembering there’s a naked woman there. “Fuck. Actually, you come with me.” He points directly at me. “We’ll go talk in another room.” How considerate of him, although I’m glad to be rid of the woman whom he just apparently had sex with. Gross. I have no idea how she slept through this whole conversation, unless she’s intoxicated or something. I’m not going to touch that one. The men leave, back to the party I’m sure, but I don’t miss the lingering look Ace gives me before he disappears. I follow my father to a large, country-style kitchen, with cream benches and curtains, my arms wrapped around myself. Surprisingly no one is in there, and there is very little noise coming from the party. He sits down at the long wooden table, one so big it must have been custom-made, and I hesitate a moment before I do the same.

“I want to talk to her.” I assume that the her in question is my mother. He would have seen her name on the birth certificate. Just to be sure, I decide to clarify. “Who?” “Louise,” he says softly, glancing back down at the paper he’s still clutching. “So do you remember her?” I ask, kind of surprised if he does. He’s clearly a man who has been through a lot of women. I wouldn’t be shocked if he couldn’t remember them all. While my mother didn’t go into the full story of their history, she said that they had a short but intense time together, but she never would have been able to handle his lifestyle. She left him and never looked back. I didn’t know what she’d meant then exactly, but I do now, and that’s only after being here for about thirty minutes. I’m actually surprised my straitlaced, religious mother was ever with someone like Gage. Although it’s probably completely inappropriate given the circumstances, I’m kind of impressed with her. I would never have guessed she had it in her. He studies me for a moment, an odd, almost wistful look on his face. “Yes, I remember her.” “Oh.” Well that’s a good thing, right? If he remembers her, maybe he cared for her in some way. And maybe he will do the same with me. I take my phone out of my pocket, dial her number, and hand it to him. As he’s waiting for her to pick up, I see how tense his jaw becomes, and I know that this probably isn’t going to go well. It’s not every day a man finds out he has a daughter, and the woman he had one with decided not to tell him. When my mother admitted that to me, I don’t think I’ve ever been so angry in my life. I don’t know how she justified that decision, but what she did is not, and never will be, okay. It wasn’t meant to be her choice alone to decide if I get to have Gage in my life or not. “Louise,” he barks into the phone, in a voice I haven’t heard him use thus far. A scary voice. Maybe this is his president voice. “Tell me this isn’t true. That you didn’t keep my fucking daughter from me for the last twenty-odd fucking years.” As his hand squeezes my phone, I look down at my own hands, unable to witness the display of emotion on his face. He looks truly upset that he didn’t know about me. Is this just a pride thing? Or would he have genuinely wanted to have me in his life? I’d never admit it to her, but now I can see why she took me away from all of this. It’s not exactly the environment you’d want a baby to grow up in. My whole life I’ve felt like something was missing. I had a good life, so I shouldn’t complain, but it still didn’t feel complete. How am I supposed to know who I am when I know only half of me?

“I can’t believe you did this,” he says to her, his voice dripping with bitterness. Standing, he starts losing it. I jump as he throws my phone, punches the wall, then punches the glass cabinet, which smashes, sending glass flying everywhere. I don’t know what to do or how to react. I just watch the man who gave me life break down in anger, feeling everything as all his emotions hit him at once. I know how he feels, because I felt the same when I found out the truth. Like I was robbed of something; like I was so out of control in my own life. He throws a plate at the window when Ace, Shack, and Dreads come back in. Ace grabs me and pulls me out of the room, while, I assume, the other two try to calm my father down. I might have just literally only met Gage, but his reaction makes my chest tight, and I gulp for air like I can’t get enough into my lungs. He feels deeply. Just like I do. When we come to a stop in the hallway, Ace looks me over, checking if I’m okay. “You’re lucky no flying pieces of glass hit you. Why didn’t you get out of there when he started raging?” Even if they had, I probably wouldn’t have felt it. I feel numb. “I don’t know. I couldn’t look away from him for some reason.” His reaction to finding out about me is killing me, and it’s making me wonder how different my life would have been if I had had him in my life. Maybe it would have been worse. Or maybe I’d have a closely bonded relationship with him right now. It’s all screwed up. I’m close to my stepdad, sure. I call him that now, but growing up I actually thought my stepfather, Brock, was my real father. Another lie my mother had come up with. But after laying eyes on Gage . . . I know there’s something I’ve been missing out on. Coming here might have been a reckless move, but I feel like I’ve done the right thing. “Are you okay?” Ace asks, his arm touching mine as he leans against the wall next to me. “I’m fine,” I say, ducking my head and brushing off his concern. “I’d better get going, actually. It’s getting late.” I’ll go back to the motel and process this whole thing. Maybe tomorrow Gage and I could have lunch or something before I head back home. An actual getting-to-know-each-other conversation and meal with him would be perfect. “He won’t want you to go,” Ace says, more a demand than anything. “He just found out about you, and clearly he’s not taking it well. We told everyone to leave. This is more important than some fucking party.” Now that he’s mentioned it, the music has stopped. I can hear voices, but that’s it. “Have I done the right thing by coming here?” I ask myself out loud.

“I don’t know,” Ace answers, moving in front of me, gray eyes pinned on me. “But it’s too late to go back now.” “No one can make me stay here if I don’t want to,” I point out. “Where is she?” I hear my dad yell, and Ace gives me an I told you so look. I wrap my arms around myself. This is what I wanted, but now I don’t know what to do. Will he want me to stay here, in the clubhouse? Is he going to ask me if I want to stay? Or just demand it? Because if he asks me, I’ll consider it. It’s crazy; I just met him and the rest of the men, and I don’t know them at all, but he is my father. If he demands it of me though, well, I’m going to walk straight out those doors. No one tells me what to do; I don’t care if I have to stand up for myself against the whole MC. When my dad walks up to me, glancing over me as if making sure I’m okay, I brace myself for a battle. “Where are you staying?” “At a motel, I—” “Will you stay here tonight? It’s already getting late, and . . .” He trails off and clears his throat. “Will you stay?” I exhale, happy he’s asking instead of being a tyrant. While the idea of staying in a house with a bunch of bikers is not my first choice, I can already tell that my father won’t let anything happen to me. Besides, my motel kind of sucks. “I can stay for one night, I guess.” Relief flashes across his face. “Someone will go with you to grab your stuff,” he states, eyeing Ace. “You go with her. Make sure everyone knows who she is and knows that they are not to even look at her in the wrong fucking way. She is off-limits to everyone, including you, and if anyone upsets her, I will end them.” He turns back to me and cups my cheek with his palm. It’s the first touch he’s given me. It’s tender, with the same hand that just smashed a room to pieces. “The Cursed Ravens’ princess, the one we didn’t even know we fucking had, has returned.” He flashes me a sad smile and then walks off, leaving me with Ace. “Let’s go,” he says in a gentle tone, ushering me with his hand on the small of my back. “You ever been on a bike?” Is he kidding? My mother would have killed me if I went on a bike. I remember at my high school prom my date had a motorbike and she only let me go with him if I promised not to ever ride on it. I thought she was just being overprotective, but apparently there was more to it than that. She’s such a hypocrite. I’m willing to bet she rode on my father’s bike when she was younger than me. I guess she didn’t want me following in her footsteps. I shake my head, and the look he gives me in return is all amusement—a flash of his teeth— and something else . . . Satisfaction?

“Get ready for the experience of your life, princess,” he says, stopping at a door. He opens it and walks inside, and I’m not sure if I’m supposed to follow. I think this is his room. Feeling nosy, I’m about to step inside when he returns with a leather jacket in his hands, one that has an evil-looking black raven with red eyes staring back at me—the Cursed Ravens emblem—and nods toward the entrance. “You ready?” “As ready as I’ll ever be,” I murmur, ignoring the stares as we exit. I follow him to his bike, where I see him admire it before turning to me and handing me his jacket. “You got that for me?” I ask surprised, taking it from him. “Yes. Put it on, or you’ll freeze your ass off,” he says, then asks, “Wait, just how much shit do you have? Can we fit it on the bike, or do we need to take a car?” “Just one bag,” I say, sliding the warm, worn leather on. The jacket is the property of the club, and, wearing it, it feels like I am too. I don’t know how to feel about that, but I enjoy the smell of the leather mixed with a dash of delicious men’s cologne. “I can slide it over my shoulder.” “Light packer, huh?” he says, amusement lacing his tone. “I can appreciate that.” He checks me out in his jacket, a glint in his gaze that I don’t want to decipher right now. “That looks good on you.” “It feels good,” I admit, running my fingers over the leather. “Heavy, but good.” He nods in approval. “What’s the name of the motel?” I tell him, but I don’t bother to say I was only staying for one night before going home, so I didn’t really need much stuff. “What about you? Won’t you get cold?” He’s only in a black long-sleeve V-neck, jeans, and boots. He told me I’m going to freeze, but without his jacket, so will he. “I’ll be fine,” he says, handing me a black matte helmet. I put it on, feeling a little stupid in it, and a lot claustrophobic, but oh well. It fits properly, so at least I’m going to be safe. He gets on his bike and then tells me to climb on behind him. With my front pressed to his back, I hesitantly wrap my arms around his shoulders, in a very awkward hold, until he grabs them and brings them over his abs—which I note are rock-hard and extremely defined—and says, “Hold on tight, princess. Don’t be scared.” He lets go, and I instantly miss the warmth of his skin. Don’t be scared? I’m not, which is surprising. For some reason though, I trust he knows what he’s doing and will get me where we need to go safely. He won’t harm me, and not just because Gage would hurt anyone who tried. I feel safe with him. I have since I’ve met him.

Is it possible to sense someone’s energy and just feel as though you know something about that person? I don’t know. I do know that my gut instinct is telling me that this man, Ace, will not let harm come to me. “And whatever you do, don’t put your feet on the exhaust,” he warns, gently touching my knee with his hand before placing both hands on the handles. I look down and make sure my feet are where they’re meant to be, holding on for dear life as he starts the engine, the loud noise making me jump a little. And when he takes off, at first I am a little scared and unsure. I close my eyes through the first few turns, but after a while, they open wide, and I can’t help but smile. With the icy wind surrounding me and warmth against my chest, a feeling of freedom takes over me. Being pressed up against this large, muscled, wild man . . . Maybe right here is where I’m meant to be. When we get to the motel, I take off my helmet, fix my hair, and go to grab my stuff while Ace hangs back and waits. Afterward, when I walk toward the office with my key, the attendant tells me that the room has already been paid for. “You didn’t have to do that,” I say, sliding my purse into my bag as I walk back out to him. “I think I can afford a hundred dollars,” he replies, lip twitching in amusement. “That’s beside the point,” I say, frowning. I’m sure he has way more money than me. I’m going to be a college student, and sure, I have some savings, but I try to spend as little as possible. I’ve been working at a bar until school starts, because of their flexibility and the good tips. When I decided I was going to come here, I asked my boss for a week off. “You’re the type who just looks for fights, aren’t you?” he asks, not sounding put out about that fact in the least. “Not going to give you what you want, princess. I’m a man, and when you’re with me, and I’m sure any of the other brothers, we’re always going to pay. Don’t give a fuck what it is, so you’d better get used to it. And if you’re surprised by it, I don’t know what kind of boys you’ve been dating.” “How old are you?” He said he’s a man, then made the boys comment, so I’m curious. “Twenty-eight,” he replies, scanning my eyes. “Why?” “Just making conversation,” I say, shrugging. So he has seven years on me. That’s not that much—we’re both still in our twenties. And age ain’t nothing but a number anyway.

He takes my bag from me and wraps it around him. It looks ridiculous because the straps need to be lengthened to fit his huge body, and also because it’s pink. But he doesn’t care. And I really like that. It’s an attractive quality when someone doesn’t care what others think or will say. Ace is clearly badass, so of course he isn’t going to care. I don’t think anyone other than his fellow MC members would have the guts to say anything to him anyway. “You’re more than making conversation,” he mumbles. “I bet you’re one of those girls who has a calculated reason behind every question. Journalist shit.” I start laughing at that, especially because it makes me think of my cousin Celina, who is actually a journalist and does have a reason behind every question she asks. “What makes you say that?” “I can see your mind working behind those blue eyes, princess,” he says, shaking his head at me, amusement written on his face. “You’re trouble.” “I’m trouble?” I say, hand on my chest. “Look who is talking! Mr. Tough Guy, sitting at that party, surrounded by women, acting all tough. You looked right out of a scene in a music video.” “Acting?” he repeats, arching a brow. He leans forward, our lips almost touching, and whispers, “Honey, I’ve killed for less.” I force myself to breathe. Up close, he’s even more handsome. If he kissed me now, I wouldn’t stop him. No, I’d kiss him back harder. I clear my throat and roll my eyes. “You heard my dad, no one can even upset me. Which means you can try all your tactics, but we all know the truth—I’m untouchable.” He studies me for a second and then throws his head back and laughs. “See? Trouble.” Maybe, but he seems to bring it out in me. He challenges me. I’ve only been here one night, and I think I’m already in trouble.

3 I enjoy the ride back, and I notice that Ace takes a longer route than he did on the way there. I rest my cheek on his back and close my eyes, wondering what it would be like to have a man like him as my own. I’m sure that’s what every woman wants, but not what they all get. Maybe it’s just my being naïve, young, and stupid, but it doesn’t change the fact that I like being around him. I want to be around him. When we arrive back at the clubhouse I don’t want to get off the bike, but I hesitantly slide off and remove the helmet. I wait until he’s ready, then hand it back to him. “I could stay on there all day.” He chuckles. “Your legs and ass would get a workout.” Another type of workout appears in my mind at his words, and I clear my throat and look away for a second, a small grin playing on my lips. Thank goodness no one can see into my head. Our hands touch as he takes the helmet from me and places it at the end of the bike. With my bag still on him, we walk back inside together, and although the party is over, there are still a few people around. Is it always like this? I tend to like my space, and my privacy, so I don’t know how well this is going to go. There’s a voice in the back of my head asking me what the fuck am I doing, but I only just found Gage, and this world is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. I can’t help but be curious. Dreads approaches and smirks at the pink bag still hanging off Ace’s broad shoulder. “Suits you.” Ace doesn’t even reply, instead he looks to Gage, who just walked into the room. “Where we putting her, Prez?” “I’ll take her,” my dad says, nodding toward the hallway, and the reality of the situation hits me. I’m staying the night in a motorcycle clubhouse with people I’ve only just met. I’ve been known to be a little reckless at times, but this is really taking the cake. Ace hands me my bag, then says so only I can hear, “You remember where my room is?” I nod.

“Open to you if you need me,” he says, then walks off. Surprise fills me. What does that even mean? Does he think I want to come into his room during the night? Theoretically, I might want to, sure, but that doesn’t mean I would. What kind of girl does he think I am? I literally just met the guy, and it’s clear Gage doesn’t want me going near any of his men, which is understandable. I follow Gage down the hallway, but he notices my wariness. “You’re safe here, Erin. I want you to know that. And anything you need, I will get for you. Make yourself at home.” “Thanks,” I reply, gripping the strap of my bag. He stops at a locked door, opens it with a key, then turns the light on, and we step inside. The whole room is white, from the walls to the bed, and quite spacious. There’s a desk and chair in one corner of the room, a dresser on the other. The large bed is right in the center of the room, and there’s a door to the left, slightly ajar, which must be the bathroom. “Do whatever you want with it,” he says, watching me. “It’s yours. It will always be yours, whether you decide to leave or stay.” He hands me the key, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallows. “Tomorrow I’ll give you a tour of the place.” “Thanks,” I say, forcing a smile. “I know this is a bit . . . much.” His lip twitches. “I’m sorry you saw me lose my shit before. I didn’t think Louise would ever be capable of doing something like this, if I’m being honest.” He glances around the room, rubbing the back of his neck. “Did you grow up with a stepdad?” “Yeah,” I say, shifting on my feet. “Brock.” “Good guy?” I nod. I don’t elaborate; I think he’s had enough pain for one night, and I’ve had enough confusion too. I’m still not sure if I should have just stayed at the motel, but there was a look in Gage’s eyes that I couldn’t seem to say no to. He really wants me to be here. “Good,” he says, clearing his throat. “Thank you for staying. You have any problems, you come to me, okay?” “Okay,” I say, but neither of us move—we just look at each other, taking the other in, in a private, quiet moment. This is my father. This is the man who gave me half my genes and my blue eyes. He’s a stranger, yet I feel connected to him, and it’s the weirdest feeling. I want to give him a hug, but I feel a little awkward doing so. I don’t know what kind of man he is. All I know is what I’ve seen tonight,

and what my mother told me, neither of which has painted him in the best light. Yet there’s something making me want to give him a chance. “I’m happy you came to me,” he murmurs, and I can hear the emotion in his tone that I can tell he wants to mask. “Better late than never, right?” I nod. “Yeah, better late than never.” I lift my head and smile at him. “You really do have my eyes,” he says, smiling and making a sound of dry amusement. “But much nicer than mine.” I laugh at that. “It’s not a competition.” He grins back at me. “Get some rest, Erin.” “I’ll try.” He leaves, and I lock the door behind him and put my bag on the bed. As I look around my temporary room, I exhale. So much has just happened in such a short time, and I need to process it all. I take a quick shower, brush my teeth, and get changed into my pajamas. As I’m about to crawl into bed, I decide to grab some water from the kitchen in case I get thirsty during the night. Unlocking my door, I step into the hallway. The place is quiet, with no one in sight, so I’m comfortable walking to the kitchen. I find a bottle of water in the fridge, so I help myself. Gage did say to make myself at home. As I’m returning to my room, I look toward Ace’s room. I still don’t know what he meant by his offer to drop by. I turn away and open my door, just as I see a tall, thin, dark-haired woman knocking on his. I pause, watching to see what will happen. After a minute I see the door open and watch her enter with the door closing behind her. I guess his offer wasn’t just for me. I shouldn’t feel so let down by that after only meeting the man today. He’s clearly a ladies’ man, and it’s stupid to have any kind of fantasies involving him. He probably just wants to look good with my father and be my friend. It would be just my luck to be friend-zoned by a man whose clothes I want to rip off. How many women does he tell to drop by if they “need him”? Bet he likes feeling so needed. I also realize that I don’t have my phone, because my dad threw it, and I never went to check if it was in working order. I can’t even message my mother to let her know that I’m fine. She’s probably freaking out after talking to Gage. I can’t deal with it tonight though; it’s all just been too much. Gritting my teeth and feeling stupid, I close the door to my room, and this time I don’t resurface until morning.

“How was your first night, princess?” Ace asks me the next morning, opening the fridge while I sit at the table eating cereal. He grabs a carton of milk, closes the fridge, then smirks as he takes me in. “Nice pj’s.” I’m in my pink cotton unicorn pajamas in front of a group of strangers and a man I think is sexy as hell. I’ve clearly given up on life. “Thanks. And yes, my first night was wonderful,” I reply sarcastically, not bothering to look at him. I don’t feel like dealing with Ace right now. I’m only here to see Gage and then leave. Dreads comes in and sits next to me, a beer in his hand. I make a face. “Beer for breakfast? Seriously?” He just grins, amber eyes dancing with amusement. “Hair of the dog.” “I don’t even know your name,” I say to him. “I’ve just been referring to you in my head as Dreads.” He chuckles and leans back in his chair. “How original.” “Hey,” I say, narrowing my eyes. “It’s a great nickname.” “Maybe you should just keep calling me that,” he muses, taking a swig of his beer. “It works for us, I think.” I blink. “What works for us?” Ace sits down opposite us, watching me. I don’t look at him. I stare down into my cereal instead. Much safer. Dreads stands up, the noise of his chair getting dragged across the floor loud in the silent room. “I’m supposed to take you shopping today.” I lift my head. “Shopping for what?” “Clothes and shit for your room. Whatever you want,” he says, shrugging. “You didn’t bring much shit with you.” “Yeah, because I was going to meet Gage, then go back home. I never intended on staying more than a night or two,” I admit. It wasn’t exactly a well-thought-out plan, more like a rash decision I made when my emotions were out of control. I wanted to see why my mother didn’t want me to come here so badly. Maybe it was part act of rebellion, part finding myself, I don’t know. “Where is home?” Ace asks.

“A few hours from here,” I say, glancing at him briefly, then looking back to Dreads. “Why can’t Gage take me?” “He has something going on today,” he says, shrugging again. “Prez is a busy man. He will see you when he gets back.” Yeah, but I’m his daughter. And he should want to spend time with me. He can’t ask me to stay here, then not see me. I try to push away the disappointment, but I start to regret staying here at all, especially if he’s not going to be around today. “Yeah, okay,” I say, knowing there’s not much else I can do now. “When are we going?” “In an hour,” Dreads says, glancing at his drink. “I’ll stop after this one.” “How considerate of you,” I mutter in a dry tone, shaking my head at him in judgment. He grins and disappears, leaving me with the one person I don’t really want to see right now. I don’t have any reason to be disgruntled with him, I know that, but I just feel like this attraction to him isn’t going to end well, and I don’t need to get to know him. “You okay?” he asks, sounding concerned. His gray eyes narrow ever so slightly as he watches me. “I know it must be a lot to take in. Did you get some sleep?” “Like a baby. And yes, I’m fine. Do you know where Gage is?” I’m going to talk to him myself. “He’s with Veronica,” he replies, then changes the subject. “I can take you shopping instead of Mac, if you want.” Mac? Yeah, I’d prefer Dreads too. “Nah, it’s cool,” I say, shrugging. “I’ll go with Dreads. And who is Veronica?” “Your dad’s woman,” he says, scrubbing a hand down his face. “He’s probably telling her about you.” “Gage is married?” I ask, my nose wrinkling. I don’t know why, but I pictured him being alone. I never factored a wife into the equation, a stepmother, but I don’t know why. It’s been so many years since he was with my mom, of course he’d be with someone by now. “They aren’t married,” Ace says, then adds in a lower tone, “And I want to take you.” “Wait,” I say, a thought coming to me as I ignore his last few words. “Was she the naked woman in his bed last night?” Ace cringes, then wipes his expression blank. “No.” “I see,” I say, dragging out the words as I silently judge my newfound father.

“What do you see?” Ace asks, leaning back in his chair and studying me. “You know you can’t say shit to Veronica.” “I see that all men are pigs,” I say, flashing him a fake smile. “And don’t worry, I’m not going to say shit. It’s none of my business.” Women are treated differently here. It feels like the men are a unit, a strong one, and the women here must have their own role to play, which is hopefully more than just being in the kitchen and the bedroom. My mom definitely wouldn’t fit in here. She has an opinion on everything and can be kind of judgmental and condescending at times. I’m like her in some ways, and not at all in others. “Not all men are pigs,” Ace fires back, scowling. “Just my father?” “I never said that,” he says, sighing. “Come on, I’m taking you shopping. I don’t care if you don’t want me there. Mac is drunk, and I want to fucking take you.” He stands and leaves, like he has the final say. He doesn’t, and I’m not going to do what he says just because he said so. I don’t even want to go shopping. I just want to see Gage, maybe have a meal with him, and then go back home to my real life. He might be used to women following his every order, but I’ve always been a person who does what she wants. Unfortunately, my heart usually leads me instead of my head, which is why I am here. I seem to have a little soft spot for the father I never got to know, and maybe a serious case of fear of missing out.

4 After a long shower, to try and clear my head, I throw on some skinny jeans and a pink T-shirt. All I need is to spend a little time with him. If he’s too busy today, maybe I should just leave now. I’m obviously not a priority. I could call a taxi to take me to the bus station, and jump on the next available one, which will get me home in about four hours. But what if I don’t see him again after this? I’m finishing getting dressed, contemplating what to do, when there’s a knock at the door. With one shoe on, I get up and open the door, sticking my head out. “Yeah?” I ask Ace, as his eyes meet mine. I try to ignore the jolt that hits my body in his presence. I don’t know what this thing is between us, or why he has such an effect on me. The men here clearly have a different set of values than I’m used to, or a lack thereof. I grew up in a religious household, where we go to church every Sunday and have clear ideas on what is right and wrong. I’m not a judgmental person, but from what I’ve seen so far with how they treat women here, I would never want to become one of those ladies. I don’t want to be cheated on, or used and discarded. I’m a hopeless romantic, I suppose. Or a fool. Most likely the latter. “You ready?” he asks me, glancing down my body through the small gap. I open the door wider, then sit back down on the bed to put on my other shoe. “I don’t need anything.” I’m about to tell him I might just go home, when his next sentence captures my attention. “What about food?” he asks, stepping into the room. He’s wearing all black again—T-shirt, leather vest, and jeans—and I’m beginning to think this is a regular occurrence for him. “We can get some lunch or something, or I can show you around the city.” I lift my head slowly, trying to hide my interest. “What kind of food?” The cereal from breakfast is already starting to wear off, and I have a craving for something greasy. The city has a much larger variety of food options than I’m used to from the country

town I live in, and I wouldn’t mind eating everything in sight before I have to leave. I usually come to the city once or twice a year with my family for a little getaway, but that’s about it. And while I love trying new restaurants, I’d rather be doing it with my father. Maybe if I stay around, we could have dinner instead, and I could leave tomorrow morning. “Anything you want,” he murmurs, grinning to himself, like he now knows that all he has to do is mention food to get my attention. I hate to admit that it might be true. I’m kind of a foodie. “And we can go and get this fixed,” he adds, pulling out my phone and flashing the cracked screen in my direction. Shit, I almost forgot about my phone. I hold my hand out. “Is it just the screen?” He nods and drops the phone into my open palm. “It looks that way.” “Well, he can definitely pay for that,” I mutter under my breath, turning the phone back and forth in my hand. Ace makes a sound of amusement, bringing my eyes to him. “Don’t think that will be an issue, considering he handed over his credit card for you to use.” Credit card? What kind of girl does he think I am? I don’t want his money. Money can’t buy what I want, or fix anything. It’s not going to give me a relationship with Gage. That thought puts me in a bad mood again. “Don’t worry about it, Ace,” I say, sighing. “I’m going to try and talk to Gage, and if that doesn’t go well, I’m just going to head to the bus station.” “No, you’re not,” he murmurs, moving closer to me, thinking he can intimidate me with his large frame. “Come on, we’re going.” “Or what?” I ask him, crossing my arms. “What are you going to do?” When he bends down and lifts me into his arms, I slap at his shoulder. “What are you doing? Are you going to carry me through the mall too?” My stomach takes that moment to rumble. Loudly. “See, you’re hungry. Stop being stubborn,” he growls, putting me down. “Grab your bag. And let’s go feed you.” I sigh heavily and grab my purse. “Fine. But the food better be fucking amazing, and plentiful. When am I going to be able to see Gage?” He stands at the door and waits for me to walk through. “He should be back by the time we return. He had to go somewhere with Knuckles.”

Knuckles? “I’m assuming Knuckles is good with his hands?” I ask in a dry tone. Ace chuckles under his breath and closes the door after him. “Maybe he cracks his knuckles a lot.” “Yeah, in other people’s faces,” I reply, walking toward the exit. More laughter. As we walk through the clubhouse, I notice the interior decoration style includes a lot of leather and skulls, and there’s no clutter to be seen. The men are obviously into minimalizing. I point to one of the skulls on the wall. “Is that real?” “Yep,” he replies simply. “Fox skull.” I lower my hand, disgusted. I happen to think that foxes are pretty cute. “Who goes hunting?” I ask, wondering if it’s something Gage is into. Not that I’d join him, trying to bond with him, I could never kill an animal for sport. Or for any other reason. I’m not a vegetarian or anything, and I know that kind of makes me a hypocrite, but I could just never do it. I’m not judging others who do though. Well— No, okay, maybe I am. “Most of us do,” is all he gives me. I wait for him to lead me to his bike, because I can’t remember which one is his in a parking lot full of them, but he leads me to a BMW SUV instead. “Why aren’t we taking the bike?” I ask, frowning. I was looking forward to being back on it, the loud wind rattling in my ears and blocking out the world around me, as close to flying as I’ll ever get. As free as I’ll ever be. “If you’re buying shit, we can’t carry it on the bike,” he murmurs, opening the car doors with a press of a button. “I’m not buying anything, I just want to fix my phone and get some food,” I tell him, glancing longingly toward the motorcycles. I turn back to him to hear the doors locking, which means we get to go on the bike. “Come on then,” he says, and I can’t stop the big smile that spreads on my face. I don’t miss the headshake directed at me, but I don’t care. “You used to getting what you want?” he asks me quietly as we stop at his bike. “Nope.” I’m definitely not spoiled, if that’s what he’s insinuating. “Somehow I don’t believe that for a second,” he says, handing me a helmet.

“Think what you want,” I fire back, tying my hair in a low ponytail and sliding the helmet on. I should learn how to ride, then I won’t need to depend on a man or ride at the back. I tell Ace as much. “I can teach you,” he says quickly, a glint in his eyes that sends a shiver down my spine. “Maybe Gage will teach me,” I reply, shrugging. I don’t need to spend more time with Ace. Gage, on the other hand . . . “Here,” he says, sliding his leather jacket on my shoulders. “We’ll have to get you your own jacket.” I don’t think I’ll be here long enough to need one, but I don’t say that, I just nod and put the jacket on. “Thanks.” Ace gets on his bike, and I do the same, wrapping my arms around him, but not too tightly, even though that’s my first inclination. His engine is loud, but the sound fills me with excitement. I don’t know how I’m going to go back to my old life now that I’ve had a taste of this. I want to go on long rides every day, and yeah, I’d love Gage to teach me so one day I can feel this freedom whenever I want to. Maybe I’m not cut out for all of it, but this . . . this I understand. I watch my ponytail blowing in the wind in my shadow as we ride toward the city center, all the passing shops, traffic, and scenery consuming my attention. I ignore Ace’s warmth pressing against me and the feeling it gives me. I need to see him as a friend, and a friend only. It even sounds stupid in my own head. We come to a stop, and I hop off the bike before he does, removing my helmet and fixing my hair, pulling it out of its bind and letting it cascade down my back. Glancing around the parking lot, I look toward the shopping mall and back to Ace, who is removing his own helmet and placing it on the bike. I stare at the back of his leather cut while he does so, wondering if he’s going to take it off to walk into the mall. “All right, let’s go get your phone fixed,” he says, walking past me, his bare arm brushing the leather of his jacket. I guess that’s a no. I rush to catch up, then walk next to him. “Is this where you go to shop?” He barks out a laugh and shakes his head. “This is more . . . your scene.” “And what scene is that?” I ask him, removing his jacket and holding it in my hands. He takes it from me, carrying the heavy leather himself.

“I don’t know—girly, expensive shit,” he says, shrugging his broad shoulders. “This is the biggest mall we have. If you can’t find something here, you won’t be able to find it anywhere.” I look straight ahead and purse my lips. I might be girly, but I’m not wealthy enough to buy expensive shit. I’m about to go to college, and both my parents are teachers. I’ve never gone without, and we have a nice home and everything, but we’re far from rich. He leads me to an electronics store and asks them how much they charge to fix a phone screen. I hand my phone over so they can have a look, and they give us a quote of two hundred dollars. “How long will it be?” Ace asks the older gentleman. “I can have it done in about an hour,” he replies, and Ace nods. “All right, thanks.” With his hand on the small of my back, we walk away from the store. “So we have an hour to kill,” I say, checking out all the different food options as we head toward the food court. “Looks like it. Do you want to eat now or later?” he asks, turning to me. “Prez said to buy you whatever you wanted. Anything in mind?” I point to the doughnut stand. “We can start with a few of those.” And then work our way around the food court. We don’t even have a food court where I live; this might be normal for him, but I’m not used to it. He laughs under his breath. “Fuck, you’re cute.” I duck my head as I feel myself blushing a little, not wanting him to see it. I’d rather be beautiful, gorgeous, or sexy . . . but I guess I’ll take cute. I decide to call him out on what I saw last night, to just be open and honest with him. If anything, his answer will help me forget about this attraction I have to him, and maybe we could even become friends. “So you know how you said I could drop by your room if I needed anything last night?” I start, after ordering four doughnuts for the both of us. “Yeah?” he replies, studying me. “You never came; you were alright though, weren’t you?” “I was fine. I pretty much went straight to bed,” I say, wondering if I should bring this up or just let it be. It doesn’t really change anything after all. “I did venture into the kitchen to grab some water.” He studies me for a moment, giving nothing away.

I continue, unable to stop the verbal diarrhea. “I might have seen a woman go into your room. Do you . . . have a woman or something?” Maybe just like Gage, Ace cheats on his woman too. After what I’ve seen thus far, I guess it wouldn’t be unusual around here. “No, I don’t,” he replies, but doesn’t elaborate. So he’s not officially taken, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t fucking someone last night. I don’t want to ask myself why I don’t like the idea of that. I have no reason to be invested in any kind of way in who he’s fucking. “So what if I had dropped by?” I ask, because apparently I have no shame. I regret asking him this the second the words fly out of my mouth, but it’s too late to take them back now. I need to change the subject. He’s single and can sleep with whomever he wants. I shouldn’t have brought this up, because it’s none of my business. He studies me for a moment, giving nothing away. “You didn’t though.” “No,” I whisper. “I guess I didn’t.” “Is this why you’ve been brooding all morning?” he asks, amusement in his tone. “No,” I deny. “I’ve been brooding all morning because I only stayed at the clubhouse so I could spend some time with Gage, who has gone MIA.” “You’ll see him when we get back, don’t worry,” he assures me. “There was something he had to do today that he couldn’t cancel. I think he would have if he could.” Suddenly I feel a little bratty about the whole thing. I surprised him. It’s not like his world should stop just because I showed up. I murmur, “I guess I can wait.” “Good,” he replies. He pays for the doughnuts and then we move along.

5 How the fuck do you eat so much and not put on weight?” he asks me, his gaze roaming over my body. “I’m not skinny,” I point out, licking the ketchup off my lips. “And I stay pretty active. I don’t have my driver’s license yet, so I walk everywhere.” “That’s why you took the bus here?” he asks, eyebrows rising. “Why don’t you have your license?” “I live in a small town.” I shrug, not wanting to tell him the truth. “It only takes ten minutes to get anywhere, so I haven’t really needed it.” “You’ll need it if you decide to move out here,” he points out. “And you’re talking about getting your motorcycle license when you don’t even have one to drive a car?” “Something like that,” I reply, grinning. “A girl’s got to have goals.” “You didn’t say anything about my comment about moving to the city,” he says, leaning back on the mall bench and watching me from beneath his lashes. “Would you ever?” I chew and swallow my fry before replying. “I start college next month, so I don’t think I could move even if I wanted to. I could come back on holidays, and some weekends, I’m sure.” Ace stays silent for a few moments, dissatisfaction coming off him in waves. What, did he think I was going to move here? I’m not going to change my plans, just because the MC has suddenly come into my life. “What are you studying in college?” “Nursing,” I tell him. It was an easy decision for me. I’ve always wanted a job where I can help people. I want to be useful, contribute to society somehow. I think I’ll be a good nurse, and I actually am very excited to start college and this new chapter of my life, even though I’m a bit older than most freshmen. After I was in a car accident, I took a few years off, worked and saved, and even went to Europe for six months to get away. Whenever anyone asks me about it, I tell them I went traveling, but nothing about the accident. So, yes, I’ll be a freshman in college at twenty-one. I wait for Ace to make some stupid comment about my plans or something about the nurse’s uniform, something I’ve heard plenty of times from the boys back home, but he

surprises me with his reply. “I could see you as a nurse,” he says, a glint of approval shining in his eyes. “I think you’d be a good one. You seem to have determination, that’s for sure.” Maybe I am only used to boys, and he’s not a boy. He’s a man. “You’ve known me for about five minutes,” I point out. “I saw you walk into a biker clubhouse on a party night, storm in and demand to speak to our prez. You ignored all the much older and more experienced women who were staring at you, and went face-to-face with a few of our men without backing down once. You’re brave.” “Brave or stupid?” I reply, arching my brow. His lip twitches. “Maybe a bit of both.” “And I had no idea any of the women were staring at me,” I tell him truthfully. I was too busy looking at him. “They were. Everyone was.” I playfully nudge him with my shoulder. Maybe I do have determination. I wanted to meet Gage, and I didn’t care what I had to do to make that happen, I was going to do it. Even walk into a biker clubhouse. “I think he wants you to pimp out your bedroom and make it yours so you’ll stay,” he admits softly. “Or feel like you have a second home.” “If he wants me to stay he should be sitting next to me right now instead of you,” I reply. “He only just found out he has a kid,” Ace returns, lifting his arm to rest along the back of the bench, behind my neck. “You might want to cut him some slack.” I open my mouth and close it. “He should be making an effort though,” I reply. “I mean, he could have come and seen me before he left and told me himself he had to be somewhere. That would have been better than nothing.” “People handle things in different ways, Erin,” he continues, stealing one of my fries and popping it into his mouth. “Well, I thought you were being wise right up until you ate my food,” I tell him in a dry tone, moving the cardboard closer to my chest. “That’s not a very smart move.” His eyes dance with humor. “I am wise. It comes with age and experience.” “How long am I going to get the age digs for?” I ask, rolling my eyes.

“Until you hit your late twenties.” “That’s ages away,” I reply, part joking, part being serious. “And I’ll have you know that I’m very mature for my age. I’m twenty-one, not seventeen.” “How did you find out about Gage being your dad?” he asks, a curious glint in his eyes. “I found my original birth certificate,” I admit. “And I confronted my mom about it. She told me about Gage and how he’s a biker and in the Cursed Ravens MC. She never mentioned he was the president; I’m not sure if she knows that.” “And then what? You decided on a whim to come here and find him? Did she even know that you left?” “Yeah, I told her I was going to find him, and no, she didn’t like it. After many fights and telling her I was going to just show up at random biker bars asking for him, she agreed to give me the address of the clubhouse, or at least where it was when she knew him. That’s all I had to go by, really. A name and an address.” I did as much online research as I could about motorcycle clubs, because I didn’t want to go in blind. I don’t think I was ready for the reality of it though. “You’re kind of crazy, you know that? Anything could have happened,” he says, shaking his head. “I know,” I admit, shrugging. “Probably wasn’t the smartest thing I’ve ever done, but I just had to know. I had to see him with my own eyes. I can’t even explain how it feels finding out something like this. It’s like my entire life was a lie, and I wanted to correct that.” “What were you expecting?” he asks. “I don’t know,” I say, looking at the people walking past us. “I didn’t know what to expect, I was just hoping that he would be happy to find out about me. If he wasn’t, that probably would have been a hard blow.” “It was a surprise, that’s for sure,” he replies, and I can feel him watching me. “Do you still live at home with your mom?” he asks me next, and I turn to see judgment written all over his face. “Yes,” I reply, my voice much smaller now. “I moved out from my parents’ house when I was fourteen,” he tells me, not sounding smug, just stating a fact. “Well, that’s just ridiculous,” I say, brow furrowing. And really sad, but I don’t say that, because I doubt he wants my sympathy.

“Fourteen is way too young to be on your own. I hadn’t even had my first kiss at fourteen,” I tell him, frowning. “Where did you go?” “I rented out a room in a share house,” he explains, acting like it’s no big deal. “I was a troubled kid, kept getting into shit, and my mother had had enough of it.” “My mom loves having me at home still,” I tell him, comparing our different lives. “And I’m really close with my sister, Eden. She wanted to come with me on this little adventure, but I told her I had to do it alone.” Plus my mom probably would have been even more furious if I’d brought Eden with me. Not exactly a place you want to take your baby sister who just turned eighteen. I twist my body toward him. “Do you have any siblings?” He shakes his head. “Nope. Only child.” “I read an article the other day that said only children are most likely to cheat on their partners,” I say. “I read that article too,” he replies, crossing his arms over his chest. “Didn’t it say that firstborns are the second most likely?” “It might have.” I grin. “But you took the number one spot.” “I’ve never cheated on a woman in my life,” he proclaims, gray eyes unwavering. “Never?” I ask, feeling somewhat surprised. I’ve only experienced their lifestyle for one night. But even in that short time I’ve seen things that give me a hint at what their lives are like. At what Ace is like. “You have to be taken to cheat,” he replies, lip twitching. “And I’m always single.” Ahhhh, a loophole. “How long ago was your last relationship?” I ask, being nosy. I want to know everything I can about this man, in the short amount of time I get to be around him. I want to know what makes him tick, and whether he’s a good man on the inside, not just the outside. Because he is really pretty on the outside. “Did you just call me pretty?” he asks, sounding extremely offended. Shit, did I say that out loud? His eyes narrow to slits as he waits for my reply. “No, of course not. I said, ‘Whoever you had a relationship with must have been really pretty,’ ” I lie, not batting an eyelid.

His lips tighten like he doesn’t believe me, but he lets it slide. “About four years ago. I ended it. She was raging jealous and ended up moving overseas afterward.” “Raging jealous?” I ask, eyes widening. “Yeah, she didn’t think I could be trusted alone, even for a second, so she practically moved into the clubhouse, and we just weren’t meant to be together. We were fighting all the time, and we were both unhappy,” he explains, shrugging. “I chose wrong. And I guess that’s probably why I’ve been single since then; I don’t want to get into something like that again.” “Not all relationships will be like that,” I say gently. “How about you? Boyfriends?” I don’t miss the way he emphasizes the word boy. “Nope, no boyfriends,” I reply, throwing my trash in the bin next to me. “Liar,” he mutters under his breath, but I catch it. “What?” I snap, my temper flaring. “Why am I a liar?” “Who is Clint, then?” he asks me, and my jaw drops. Wait, what? How does he know that name? Clint was my high school boyfriend, my only boyfriend. We dated for about three years, and we’re still friends now, although that’s all we’ve been ever since high school. How could he know that though? “And how do you know about Clint?” I ask, keeping my tone even. Inside, I’m fuming. Ace shouldn’t know any information that I haven’t given him. He stands up and offers me his hand. “Your phone should be ready now, let’s go and grab it.” “Why don’t you answer my question first?” I reply, taking his hand and allowing him to pull me up, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to let him try to change the subject. “I don’t have to answer to a little girl,” is his curt reply. “Little girl? Don’t you have anything else to use against me other than my age? Because I’m really not that much younger than you,” I say to him, unflinching. “You can be whatever I say you are,” he replies, a muscle ticking in his jaw. I’m obviously pushing him now, but he started this, I don’t care how angry he gets. “You can’t say something like that and then not explain,” I growl, following him as he heads to the phone repair shop, ignoring me. “That’s not fair, Ace.” He walks up to the counter and asks if my phone is ready.

“Yes it is,” the man says, handing him the phone. “Good as new.” Ace hands over Gage’s card, and the man swipes it and asks Ace to put in a pin. He gives me my phone and exits the store, again, with me trying to keep up with him. I glance down at my brand-new screen when it hits me. My phone. My phone doesn’t have a password, and although the screen was cracked, the phone itself still worked. “You went through my phone?” I accuse, realization hitting me. “How could you do that? It’s a breach of fucking privacy! What is wrong with you? You call me a little girl, but that is some immature shit right there.” He stops in his tracks, expression giving nothing away. All he says is, “It wasn’t me who went through your phone, princess,” and then continues on his merry way. It wasn’t him? Gage went through my fucking phone and must have seen a message from Clint, or read our message history. We still message each other now and again; he was once a big part of my life, and will probably always remain so, in a purely platonic way. It’s true that he claims to still want me back, but I don’t see him like that. Besides, I could never trust him again. He cheated on me after the accident, and I don’t think I could ever forgive him for that. What the fuck? This is not okay, and I don’t care who my dad is, I’m going to let him know this. I walk behind Ace to his bike and get on without a word. Before we leave, he turns to me and says, “You should probably put a password on your phone this time.” I scowl but stay quiet, fuming inside. I’m not going to just let this go.

6 The ride back to the clubhouse doesn’t cool my temper, nor does the close proximity to Ace. I’m off the bike and storming in to look for Gage before I can get my helmet off, barely. A man I’ve never seen before is sitting on the kitchen countertop, drinking a beer, as I stick my head in, trying to locate the man who has already broken a key rule in trust between parent and child. “You must be Erin,” the man says in a deep tone, studying me. He’s good-looking. Extremely so. And not in the kind of way I’d expect a biker to be. I know I called Ace pretty before, but that was before I laid eyes on this man. He’s beautiful; that’s the only word I can think of to explain him. Classically handsome in that boy-next-door kind of way. Fuck, the women must swoon for him. “Who are you?” I ask him, stepping into the kitchen, oddly drawn to him in a curious way. “Rogue,” he introduces himself, dipping his head, his blond hair falling onto his forehead. “Heard a lot about you.” Rogue? The name suits him. He’s like a handsome, dashing rogue out of one of those old-school romance novels, just kitted up in leather. He could just as easily don a kilt though. “Like what?” I ask, pointing at his beer. “Can I have one of those?” He grins and says, “Sure. Help yourself.” I open the fridge, grab a beer, and jump up on the counter next to him, using my T-shirt to twist the bottle cap without hurting my fingers. I take a deep, long pull and swallow. “Can’t be that bad of a day,” he murmurs, taking a sip of his own drink. “It’s not even two o’clock.” “Tell me what you heard about me,” I say, ignoring his comment. I take a deep breath and add, “And don’t say that you don’t have to tell me anything because you’re a big, scary biker and I’m just a kid, because I will throw a temper tantrum that will outdo Gage’s last night.” Rogue laughs quietly before replying. “Just heard the prez received an unexpected present, is all.” “More like Pandora’s box,” I mutter under my breath.

Rogue laughs harder this time. “I’ve known your old man for a long-ass time, you know that? And I think you are just what he’s always needed.” It’s actually nice to hear that. The thought that I can bring something to Gage’s life, maybe even soften him a little, makes all of this worth it. “More responsibility?” I joke, scowling when Ace steps into the room, taking in the two of us. “There you are,” he murmurs, sounding very unhappy with me. “Rogue,” he says, nodding his head respectfully at the man sitting next to me. “How was your outing?” Rogue asks, amusement dancing in his clear-blue eyes. “I bet she made it interesting.” “Wonderful,” Ace replies in a dry tone. “It almost felt like I was back in high school.” He’s such an asshole. Why does he always have to try to make me feel so small? He’s going to have to try a little harder if he wants to break me though, because there’s no way I’m going to let him know how his words affect me. “If high school had old, seedy men,” I fire back, finishing off the rest of my beer in one large, alcoholic gulp. Rogue almost chokes on his beer, and I actually have to tap him on his back, in between his bouts of laughter and air gasping. His back is really hard; he must be really ripped under his black long-sleeve V-neck shirt. “Don’t die on me, Rogue, I only just met you,” I murmur, hitting his back even harder. “I’m fine,” he says, laughing still. “Someone works out,” I say once he can breathe freely again. “Okay, that’s it. Get your ass here,” Ace demands, moving to the countertop and lifting me off it with his hands tight on my waist. “Put me down, you asshole!” I yell, trying to push him off me. He proceeds to throw me over his shoulder, the air getting knocked out of me as he’s not too gentle. “I’m sure our vice president has had enough of your shit.” “On the contrary,” Rogue calls behind us, laughing as Ace drags me out of there. Vice president? Rogue is second under my dad? That’s interesting. I probably wouldn’t have just acted how I did around him if I had known that, but it’s a little too late for regrets. I like the guy. He could

have told me off, or put me in my place, but he let me vent, and seemed amused by my antics, unlike the man carrying me right now. “Can you put me down now?” I ask him, slapping his nice ass, which is right in front of my face. “I wish your personality was as nice as your ass.” He stops for a second, as if surprised, before continuing on to my bedroom. My door is opened and then slammed closed, and then I’m flying through the air onto my bed. I bounce once before settling, my eyes not leaving him as he stares down at me, chest heaving in . . . anger? “I don’t know what you’re so upset about,” I say, eyes narrowing. “I’m the one whose privacy was breached.” “By your father, not by me,” he seethes, jaw tighter than I’ve ever seen it. “And that’s between you and him.” “He told you what was in my phone though,” I point out. “So you had a conversation about it. If you guys wanted to know anything, you should have just asked! So did you stick up for me? Advise him that, just maybe, going through the phone of the daughter he just met might not be the best way to start a father-daughter relationship?” “I don’t think you get how it works here, princess. He’s my prez. I’m not going to tell him what to do, and even if I did, he wouldn’t fucking listen,” he says, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring down at me. “We aren’t men you’re used to. We’re a different breed altogether.” “Yet here you are,” I murmur, shuffling back on the mattress until I’m sitting up against the headboard. “In my bedroom. Is your prez going to be okay with that?” I’m pushing him, I know. But I need to understand what the fuck is going on here. My life is out of control right now. I thought I knew exactly who I was, but I don’t. I have no idea. I also have no idea what I’m doing here right now, sitting in a new bedroom that is apparently mine, across from a man I’m overly attracted to but can’t have, and the fact that in this new world, with this different breed of men, apparently I’m off-limits to him. “Well, he isn’t exactly here watching you now, is he?” he fires back, jaw tight. His comment hits his mark, and I wrap my arms around myself and take in a deep breath. “I want to go home,” I announce, to myself or to him, I don’t know. “What, you can dish it out but can’t take it? Maybe you should go home, princess, because if that’s true, you won’t survive a day here.” “I’ve already been here a day,” I point out, lifting my chin. “And guess what, asshole, I’m alive and kicking.”

He steps closer to the bed and rests his knees on it. “You’ve had one of us with you at all times, and none of the women have even dared to speak to you.” “Why is that?” I ask him, brow furrowing in confusion. Now that he mentions it, shouldn’t the women be welcoming me? Or at least coming to say hello? I haven’t even spoken to Gage’s girlfriend, whoever she is. None of the women have been introduced to me. Just what kind of backward, sexist place are they running here? “Because they’re not stupid,” he murmurs, tone softening a little. “Okay, I’m going to need more information than that,” I tell him, eyes pleading with him. He keeps saying little comments like I’m meant to read between the lines, but I have no clue what he means. He moves to sit down on the bed next to me, leaning back against the headboard and staring straight ahead. “If you were the president of a motorcycle club, and you just found out you have a kid, a daughter no less, what would you do?” he asks me softly. “I don’t know, I guess I’d want to get to know her,” I reply, looking toward his handsome profile. “Maybe find out everything I’ve missed over the years.” “You’re still looking at it from your point of view, not his,” he points out. “Remember who he is, Erin.” Who he is? Oh, he means what kind of man he is. If I take out the fact he’s my father, I think about what kind of man an MC president would be. He’d be strong, tough . . . He’s probably done some unsavory things in his life, and he’s probably fought up the ranks to get where he is today. Has he been to prison? Do they do illegal activities here, or are they just into the motorcycle side of things? Does he fight other men a lot? How do they really treat women here? I mean women who aren’t related to them, or married to them. Suddenly I understand what Ace is trying to explain to me. If I were in Gage’s shoes and I had done some shady things in my life, I wouldn’t want my daughter to know or see that side of me. I’d want my kid to think I was a hero, and I wouldn’t want to disappoint them. He’s scared. Maybe he’s thinking his club life will make me run, or that I’m going to judge him for his lifestyle choices. Maybe he doesn’t want to lose me when he just found me, and like me, he’s confused, like all of a sudden life doesn’t make sense anymore.

Or maybe I’m just hopeful. “I need to talk to him,” I mutter under my breath. I need to clear this up, once and for all, and I need to get him to see me. The real me. He might not know me yet, but he will. He has to. I didn’t come all this way just to leave feeling depleted, or to let my mother rub it in that she was right. She wasn’t right. I’ll never regret coming here; it’s just something I had to do for myself. Ace turns his face to me, gaze dropping to my lips. “And you’re right, he wouldn’t want me in here with you right now.” I shift on the mattress. I have two options here: one, I can ignore whatever this attraction is between us, and I can focus on the real reason I walked through those clubhouse doors. Or, two, I can explore exactly why I’m sitting here next to a man I’ve just met, our bodies almost touching, and why I’m so drawn to him, probably infuriating my father in the process, and getting the two of us into all kinds of trouble. I take a deep breath, lick my suddenly dry lips, and look him in the eye and say, “Yeah, but like you said, he’s not here though.” I guess I’m going with option two.

7 He reaches out his hand and cups my cheek with his palm. “So beautiful,” he murmurs, his gaze tracing my features from my eyes back to my lips. I’ve been called beautiful many times in my life, but it’s never meant more. Kind of stupid, but I like that he thinks so, that this fascination isn’t a one-way street. His gray eyes pin me in place, and I want to move, but I find myself unable to do so. I want to touch him before the moment is over. I don’t know how I get myself into these situations, but it seems like I never take the easy path in anything in life. “Clint?” he asks, tilting his head to the side. “Friends,” I find myself replying, even though I know I don’t owe him any kind of explanation. I’m still angry about the whole breach-of-privacy thing, and I’m not willing to just forget about it. “He’s a high school boyfriend who cheated on me, but I forgave him as a friend. That’s it. I wouldn’t touch him again if he were the last man alive.” He nods slowly, looking deep in thought, something playing behind those eyes of his. “Does he know you’re just friends?” My eyes narrow slightly. “Yes, he does. Why? Did the messages you guys read make you think otherwise?” “Maybe.” “And the woman at your door last night?” I ask again, seeing as fair is fair. I told him about Clint, and now he can tell me the truth of what happened. “She left a few seconds after she entered,” he admits. “She wanted me; I said no. End of story.” There’s a quick, quiet knock before my door suddenly opens, and Ace drops his hand from my face as we both look toward the now-open door. I don’t want to look at Ace’s expression right now, but I can only imagine that I look guilty as hell as I stare into the eyes of a man I’ve never met before. “How many of you are there?” I wonder out loud, eyes widening. “And I could have been naked, you know?”

“Probably should lock your door then,” he replies, crossing his muscled arms over the leather of his vest. His gaze goes to Ace. “Or maybe not.” “This is Knuckles,” Ace introduces, instantly moving his legs off the mattress and standing up, like he can’t get away from me fast enough. “Nice to meet you, Knuckles,” I say, also standing. “Do you have any idea where Gage is? It’s like I’ve been playing hide-and-seek with him all day.” I pause, and add, “Except he’s the only one doing all the hiding.” Knuckles’ lips kick up at the corners. As I step closer to him my gaze goes to the silver in his right ear. He offers me his hand, and I take it. “So you’re the one causing all the commotion,” he says, brown eyes crinkling at the corners. He must have a good ten years on me, but he’s a handsome man, with a closely shaved head and trimmed beard. “And your old man is out front.” “Thanks,” I say, moving to walk past him. I stop as we come face-to-face. “They don’t call you Knuckles because you like to crack your knuckles, do they?” “No,” he replies simply. “Thought so,” I say, glancing down at his scarred knuckles before I continue on my way out of my room and toward the front door. Ace and Knuckles follow behind me, then appear on each side of me as we clear the hallway. Ace opens the door for me, and I flash him a thankful smile before stepping out in the sunlight and glancing around the parking lot until I spot my father. He’s crouched down on his knees, leather boots covered in brown dust, examining a black motorcycle. Lost in his concentration, he doesn’t lift his head until I’m close enough to touch the bike in front of him. “There you are,” I say, attempting to keep the bite out of my tone. I’m trying to be understanding and see things from his view, but I’m not going to lie, it’s hard. Being mature is fucking hard work. It’s way easier for me to throw a tantrum right now and ask him why he wants me here if he’s not going to spend any time with me, but that’s not going to help the situation. I’ve been a daughter all my life, but he’s only just become a father. He stands and wipes his hands on a cloth. “How was your shopping expedition?” he asks, glancing behind me at his men. “Uneventful,” I tell him. “I got my phone fixed though, so thank you.” “Least I could do,” he rumbles, nodding his head toward the bike. “What do you think?” I eye the black machine. If I’m being honest, a lot of the bikes kind of look the same to me, in varying conditions of course, but there’s something about this one. It looks sleeker, prettier if you will, but there’s no way I’m going to mention that to him. “It’s amazing. Whose is it?”

“Yours,” he murmurs, catching me off guard. “It’s a Harley-Davidson Street 500. Thought it’d be perfect for you.” My eyes dart from the bike and back at him rapidly. “Wh-what?” Is he serious? He bought me a motorcycle? And the most beautiful one I’ve ever seen, at that. I don’t even know what to say right now. Holy fuck. “Ace tells me you can’t drive yet, so I thought I’d teach you to ride first, that’s if you’d like that.” He shifts on his feet, eyes on the bike as he pats the seat with his hand. “I learned to ride before I could drive.” “Really?” I ask, still shocked from his surprise. He nods once. “Yeah. I was a lot younger than you though.” “All right, all right, no need to rub that in,” I reply, shaking my head in disbelief. I, Erin Moretti, have my own Harley-Davidson. My dad is the president of the Cursed Ravens MC. And now I have a fucking motorcycle that he’s going to teach me how to ride. Never thought I’d be saying those words. How my life has changed so much, in such a short period of time. I don’t drive because I’m scared to. When I was learning, I had a crash, one that has never left me. I never got back in the driver’s seat again. This feels different somehow, like it’s a fresh start. Untainted. It’s a good feeling. I eye the machine as it becomes more beautiful simply because it’s mine. “You didn’t need to buy me a bike, Gage.” He doesn’t need to buy me anything. “I wanted to,” he says, shrugging. He watches me as I examine the bike and take a seat on it to see how it feels. “How do I look?” I ask him, then look to Ace and Knuckles. “Do I look like a hot biker chick?” Gage looks uncomfortable at the question, Ace scowls, and Knuckles merely laughs. “What?” I ask, tightening my fingers on the handlebars. I look back to my father and ask him, “Is this where you were all day?”

So he wasn’t avoiding me? I think Ace is right: he’s handling this situation in the only way he knows how. It might not be how I want him to, but he’s doing his best. “Yeah,” he replies in a gruff tone, with a nod toward Knuckles. “We saw this bike for sale, but it was a bit of a trek to get there. Knuckles drove me out there, and then I rode this back here.” “Thank you,” I tell him, sincerity in my tone. “I love the bike, Gage. And more than anything I love that you’re going to teach me how to ride it.” He smiles at me, and we share a quiet moment. “Now, when do we begin?” I ask him. I was only going to stay here a night or two, max, but how can I leave now? I’ll have to call my mom and let her know I’ll be staying a little longer, something she isn’t going to be very pleased about. He laughs at my eagerness. “How about first thing tomorrow morning?” I notice a woman walking over toward us. I can’t guess her age, but she’s definitely older, although her tight jeans and red crop top make me guess she thinks otherwise. She looks to me as she approaches, and it’s clear that this woman must be Veronica, Gage’s girlfriend. My assumption is proved correct as Gage quickly introduces us as I slide off my new toy. “Veronica, this is my daughter, Erin. Erin, this is Veronica,” he says, smiling down at me, as if he’s pleased. “Isn’t she a beauty?” As he gives me the compliment, the pride in his tone nearly my undoing, emotion threatens to spill out of me in the form of tears. “Nice to meet you, Erin,” Veronica says, pink lips forming a wide smile. “And, yes, Gage, she’s stunning. I can’t wait to get to know you, I have no doubt the two of us will become close friends.” I can’t tell if she’s being sincere, and for some reason his real name on her lips annoys me. Still, I was brought up to respect my elders, and that kind of kicks in, giving her the benefit of the doubt. If this is the woman Gage has picked to stand by his side, I’m sure she’s a good one. He picked my mom, right? So he has good taste. Or had good taste. I find myself looking to Ace to see his reaction to Veronica, but his expression is blank. It usually is though. The man seems to be a master at hiding. “Thank you,” I reply to her. “And it’s nice to meet you too. I was wondering where all the women around here had gone to.” She smiles again, batting her lashes, and looks to my father. “I don’t live in the clubhouse, so I’m not here all the time, as with most of the women. I thought the two of you would want

some time together anyway, so I didn’t want to intrude. We’re going to have a big dinner here tonight though, so that way you can meet everyone in the Cursed Ravens family. Trust me, everyone will make you feel welcome. We’re all very excited to have you here, Erin.” “That sounds nice,” I tell her, forcing a smile. “Thank you.” She waves me off. “It’s no problem at all.” Then she turns her head to Knuckles. “We’re all dying to eat your famous pasta again tonight. You have to taste it, Erin. It will make you never want to leave.” My eyebrows rise. “You cook?” I don’t know why I’m so surprised, but I am. This place is kind of Neanderthal, with the men in charge, from what I’ve seen so far anyway, and I just pictured the women doing the traditional gender roles and cooking and cleaning for the men. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, hell, I consider myself a strong woman, and even I’d probably get in the kitchen for Ace. Not that I’d ever, ever admit that out loud. There must be something in the water here, or perhaps it’s the testosterone floating in the air. Knuckles crosses his arms against his chest. “It’s modern times twenty, Erin. There’s no more traditional gender roles, and you know what? Men can multitask too.” I feel my slow-spreading smile light up my face. “You know what? I like you, Knuckles.” He’s obviously a man not to mess with, but I think Knuckles might have a soft side hidden beneath the beard; the hand, thumb, and forearm tattoos; and the scarred knuckles from whoknows-how-many fights. “I like you too, Trouble,” he replies, lip twitching. “I know my girls will like you too. You’ll get to meet them tonight.” “Girls?” I ask, hoping he doesn’t mean some harem of women he carries around or something. “I’ve got two little girls,” he tells me, with the same pride in his tone that Gage had. “Willow and Westley.” “Pretty names,” I tell him, softening my tone. “I’m looking forward to meeting them.” I wonder if he’s married. I glance down at his hand but don’t see a ring. My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I pull it out to see a text message from my cousin Celina. Your mom just called me. Apparently I’m supposed to talk you out of living on the road and sleeping with hordes of bikers.

I snicker to myself and quickly type back, not wanting to be rude to my present company but needing to reply to this. Too late. Already slept with three and currently living off the grid. Considering throwing my phone away so I have no contact with the outside world.

Ha-ha. If you need me, I’m there. Be safe, baby cousin.

I slide my phone back away and glance up, only to see everyone staring at me. “Sorry,” I say quickly. “My cousin is checking up on me. But speaking of phones, there’s a conversation you and I need to have,” I say to Gage. I don’t miss the look he shares with Ace. I hope I don’t get Ace into trouble, but I think Gage needs to know that what he did isn’t okay. Does he not trust me, is that it? I don’t know, but I want to get to the bottom of it. “Is there now? Why don’t you walk with me and you can tell me what’s on your mind,” he says, gesturing down a pathway behind the clubhouse. “You can have a look at the property; it’s beautiful this time of year.” I nod, and we both leave the rest of the crowd. We walk in silence until we come to what I assume is the view he wants me to see. It’s spectacular. “You own all of this?” I ask him in awe. All I can see is green. Trees, plants, flowers . . . I’d never have thought this view was hiding behind the two-story house these men call home. “We do,” he replies, glancing out at the acres upon acres. “I actually inherited the farm and the house. I had it renovated, of course, but yeah. This is where I grew up, Erin. Just me and my old man. I didn’t have any brothers or sisters, and my mom passed away when I was about seven, so when he, too, died, the house was given to me. I’m not close to anyone else in my family, so I made my own, and now they all live here.” “I hope that changes,” I say quietly, looking straight ahead. “What changes?” he asks. “That you’re not close to anyone in your family,” I say, looking down at my feet. He reaches out and wraps his arm around me, albeit a little awkwardly, but I appreciate the gesture. “Erin, you are my family,” he says, clearing his throat. “And I’d love it if you’d come and stay with me whenever you can—you always have a home here now, and someday, all of this will be yours.” I lift my eyes and stare at the beauty that is his land but then turn to him, taking in his profile. “Thanks, Gage. I’d love to come and spend time with you, maybe when I’ve got my college break. “I also want you to know that going through my phone is completely crossing a line.” His body jerks as he winces. “I just wanted to see . . . I was curious, Erin. Fuck.” “Wanted to see what? What kind of girl I am? Thought you could find things out without actually speaking to me and asking me, or getting to know me the proper way?” I ask, lifting my head and staring daggers at him.

He sighs and admits, “You need to try to understand. I didn’t know anything about you until you walked into my club. Things are different in my world, and I wanted to make sure you are who you said you are and that there’s nothing I needed to be concerned about. I have enemies, Erin. I had to be sure.” My eyes widen as I get it. He has trust issues, but he wanted to make sure I wasn’t hiding anything or trying to hurt anyone. “I guess that makes sense, but still. I know you’re new to the whole fatherhood gig, but trust is important, and there have to be some kind of boundaries.” “You’re right, and I’m sorry,” he says, pausing before adding, “I can’t even remember the last time I apologized. What are you doing to me, kid?” My lips twitch at that. “Well, I’m glad you gave me an apology. Now I won’t have to call your club Snooping Ravens MC instead of Cursed Ravens.” “Thank God for that,” he replies, smirking. “And you’re right, this is all new to me, and I don’t want to fuck it up.” He gestures to the clubhouse. “This is all I know, Erin, and I never knew about you. So now I’m thinking, what if you hate this, the way I live, or don’t want any part of it? What am I meant to do then? I can’t lose you when I’ve only just found you, but this is who I am. This is who your mother kept you away from. I’m not a good man—I know this— but for you, to you, I know I could try to be. I’d give you everything I have, the shirt off my back if need be. I guess I just have no idea what you’re thinking right now, and I’ve kind of thrown you to the wolves . . .” He laughs under his breath. “Or the ravens, as it were.” I step in front of him and look him in the eyes. “I’m out of my element here, yes, but I want to know you, Gage, and I know that this is who you are. I’d never ask you to change that. I guess I just want you to get to know me, and perhaps spend more time with me. Not that the Ravens haven’t been nice to me, because they’ve been great, but it’s you who I came here for. I don’t need the bike, although I absolutely love it, and I don’t need your home. I just want to catch up on what I’ve missed out on all these years, and I want to see where half of me came from, more than just the eyes.” “Be careful what you wish for.” He smiles. I smile back and exhale deeply, a weight suddenly lifted off my shoulders. We’re right where I wanted us to be—on the same page.

8 After my conversation with Gage, I return my attention to my new bike. I smile down at it and run my fingers over it. “I will call you Black Beauty.” “How original,” Ace teases, amusement written all over his expression. “It’s a good bike.” “Good?” I repeat, my voice raising an octave. “It’s perfect. Wonderful. An absolute delight —” “I get it,” he replies, cutting me off and chuckling deeply under his breath. “You love it.” “I do, even though I can’t ride it. When did you get your first bike?” I ask him, curious. “My dad gave me his when I was about sixteen or seventeen,” he explains, those gray eyes hypnotizing me as he speaks. “He was a biker too, in a different MC though.” “Was?” I ask softly. “Yeah, he’s been dead for a few years now,” he explains, shifting on his feet like he’s suddenly feeling uncomfortable, which makes me start to feel a little uncomfortable. “I’m sorry,” I tell him, but all I get is a shrug in return. His dad is clearly not a subject he likes to speak about, and I get it. Nobody likes talking about loss, and no one needs the reminder of everything they’ve endured in their life. Living in the present is the best way. “So being a biker is in the blood?” I ask, changing the subject. I step closer toward him, nudging him gently with my shoulder. “Like it’s in mine?” He shakes his head at me, lip twitching. “It might be in your blood, but there are no female members of the Cursed Ravens.” I purse my lips. “So what are all the women here? Walking vaginas?” He makes a sound between laughter and choking, and I start to tap him on his broad back just in case it’s the latter. “Let’s not forget what my first impression of you was, Ace. Sitting there in between two women, looking like a pimp on a throne.” “The shit you come up with,” he mutters under his breath, before running his fingers through his soft-looking hair. “Well, there are old ladies, who are in committed relationships with members, or there are hang-arounds, who come for parties or temporary fun.”

“So Veronica would be an old lady then,” I surmise, biting the inside of my cheek. Ace looks uncomfortable again, but he answers me. “No, Veronica isn’t Prez’s old lady. He’s never taken one.” I’m a little shocked by this, yet it makes me want to get to know my father even more. “So the old ladies, I’m guessing they are respected?” Ace nods. “Yeah, and if they weren’t, whoever disrespected them would be going head-tohead with whoever she belongs to.” “Belongs to?” I repeat, enunciating each syllable. “You want the truth, or bullshit?” he fires back, studying me. “This is how it is, princess, and you’re in this world now.” “I’m neither an old lady nor a hang-around,” I point out. “You’re something more special than that,” he says, moving his gaze to my bike. “I don’t call you princess for no reason. All the men here would lay their lives down for you because of how much they respect your father.” I ponder his words, and my place here. What if I wanted them to respect me for just me? Maybe I shouldn’t overthink too much and just try to enjoy the time I get to spend here with Gage and with Ace. “Hopefully it won’t come to that,” I tease, looking to his bike, which is now parked next to Black Beauty. “When can we go on another ride on your bike?” “Tomorrow maybe,” he murmurs, looking toward the clubhouse. “Everyone will be here soon, all to meet you, so you’re gonna be busy tonight.” “And where will you be?” I ask, resting my arm against him so our skin is touching as we stand side by side. “Where do you want me to be?” he asks, a teasing glint in his eyes. I move so we’re facing each other. “Wherever I am.” “Knuckles is right, you are trouble,” he says, stepping back and putting some space between us. “Prez isn’t going to like this, Erin. He made his rules pretty fuckin’ clear when it comes to you.” “We haven’t even done anything yet, no rules have been broken,” I reply, looking up at him beneath my lashes. “Besides, I am not in the MC, and he never told me to stay away from anyone. Not like I’d listen, ’cause he can’t tell me what to do.” “Do you think it’s better to ask for permission, or forgiveness?” he asks, but before I can give him an answer we’re interrupted.

“There you are,” Dreads says, amber eyes smiling. He comes and stands right in between the two of us and studies my bike. I don’t know how he misses the lingering tension in the air, but either he’s completely oblivious or he doesn’t care and is ignoring it. “Can’t wait to see you on that,” he says, whistling. “You’d be the only woman here who knows how to ride.” “Really?” I reply, shocked at the admission. “Don’t any of them want to learn?” Then again, who am I to question their motives? I don’t even have a driver’s license. And being on the back of a bike is an experience I wouldn’t want to give up either, being pressed against your man, not a damn worry in the world. “Nah,” he says, shaking his head. “I think they leave the riding up to us. Are you ready for tonight? I don’t think you’ve ever been to a party like this one before.” “That wild?” I ask, brow furrowing. “No, not wild,” he says, looking to Ace for some help, but he just stays silent. “Just a lot of people, most of them rough. We do have some wild nights, but this isn’t the occasion for it.” “Well. I wasn’t nervous before, but I am now,” I admit, wringing my hands together. I step away from Dreads so I can see more of Ace. “What should I wear? I didn’t bring many clothes, because I didn’t think I’d be staying this long.” Damn, maybe I should have stopped being so stubborn and actually done some shopping this morning. I know Ace is thinking the same thing, but my narrowed gaze and tight lips dare him to say it out loud. “It’s casual. Jeans and a top is fine,” Ace says, and I don’t miss the once-over he gives my body. I suppose I could wear the same crop top and jeans I wore when I arrived, because I don’t have many other options for a party, even if it’s a laid-back one. “Didn’t you go shopping this morning?” Dreads asks me, frowning. “Don’t even ask,” Ace grumbles, sliding his hands into his jeans pockets, probably so he doesn’t try to strangle me. “You went shopping and didn’t buy anything? What kind of woman are you?” Dreads asks, scratching his chin. “I would have just chosen some shit for you. I have great taste.” I eye his original look, which is along the lines of hippie meets biker—a tie-dyed T-shirt with his leather cut over it and dark, worn, ripped jeans and biker boots—and wince. “What a shame I missed out on that,” I say in a sweet voice. “If only you weren’t drunk this morning, maybe we’d be wearing matching rainbow shirts right now.” “I don’t think you could pull this off,” Dreads murmurs with a straight face, and when Ace chuckles I realize he’s being dead serious, and join in on the laughter.

“I should get ready,” I tell them, and take a step toward the clubhouse. I want to look nice tonight and put a little effort in with my hair and makeup. “I’ll walk you to your room,” Ace says, falling into line next to me. “I’ll see you in a bit, Dreads,” I tell him with a small wave, then leave him standing by the motorcycles. “Watch yourself, Ace,” I hear him calling out behind us. I guess he did notice the tension in the air, then. Shit. “I can walk to my room alone, you know,” I tell him. “But do you want to?” he asks, looking straight ahead. “No.” We walk side by side in silence until we hit the hallway, and then I reach out and take his hand in mine, and give it a tight squeeze. “Thank you for walking me.” It’s intoxicating being around him, and I want to get lost in him, but I know I can’t ask him to disobey his president’s order. Maybe I can test the waters tonight. Drunk people love to talk, and I didn’t miss all the alcohol being carted into the clubhouse today. It’s been a while since I drank a lot, and I’m kind of looking forward to letting loose tonight and having a little fun. I come to a stop at my door and use the key to open it. I hate that I fumble a little, flustered at his close proximity. I can feel his warmth behind me, almost touching me, and I hesitate for a moment, wanting to invite him in but knowing I probably shouldn’t. Knuckles saw us sitting together on my bed today, is he going to say something? Is Dreads? Can anyone who looks at us see the dangerous connection brewing between us? Or is it just me and what I feel? The door opens, but Ace doesn’t step through as I do. “How long do you need?” he asks me, resting his arm on the frame. “An hour should suffice.” A grin, and then, “I’ll see you in an hour.” He walks back toward where we just came from, and I watch him leave, biting my lip. The man has the best ass I’ve ever laid eyes on.

9 Not too shabby, Erin, not too shabby at all. Especially under the circumstances,” I say to the mirror, checking myself out. Luckily I’d packed the makeup essentials and was able to do my favorite wing liner paired with a nude lip. I add a little more highlight to my cheekbones to finish off, just as there’s a quiet knock on my door. I open it with a smile, expecting Ace, but Gage is there instead. My smile doesn’t waver. “Hey, Gage.” “You look . . . you’re stunning, Erin,” he says, opening the door further. “I just wanted to check on you.” “I’m just finishing getting ready,” I tell him, sticking my head out. “Are people arriving now?” He nods. He’s wearing his usual getup, denim and leather, clearly not bothering to put in any extra effort for anyone dropping by. I like that about him. What you see is what you get. His short dark hair is spiked up a little, like all he did was run his fingers through it. “Yeah, people will be in and out for the rest of the night. Just be careful, all right? Friends bring friends, so we don’t always know and trust everyone who may be here. The Ravens and I will be with you, keeping an eye on you, but I just wanted to tell you to be vigilant.” “I will be,” I promise him. “Are we going to have our first drink together?” He shakes his head and barks out a laugh. “You’re barely legal, kid.” “Excuse me, I’m twenty-one.” I do a little happy dance, and I can tell he’s amused at my antics and only messing with me. “We’ll see,” he replies, blue eyes sparkling. He rubs his hands on his leather vest, like there was something sticky on them, and says, “There’s cake. Lots of cake.” “And you’ve been eating some, have you?” “I needed to test the quality before my daughter consumes it,” he replies, keeping a straight face. “I’ll bet. Give me ten and I’ll be out to help with quality control,” I say.

He nods with a grin and backs away, as I close the door and lean against it. Do I wait for Ace, or do I just walk out there and start socializing? I’ve finished putting my black boots on when there’s another knock at the door, this one louder, bolder. I rush to open it and come face-toface with the man I can’t seem to stop thinking about. “I know I keep telling you that you look beautiful, but I can’t seem to think of any other word to use when I’m in front of you,” is the first thing he says to me. “This is only the second time you’ve called me that. But I suppose you can always get a thesaurus app on your phone for the next compliment,” I tease, taking him in from head to toe. He’s changed into a fresh pair of dark jeans and is wearing a black shirt, no leather in sight tonight, aside from his boots. I take a deep breath, loving the warm, spicy scent of him, the one that lingers on his leather jacket, one that’s not overpowering, the one that makes me want to bury my face in the crook of his neck. “You look . . .” Sexy? Fuckable? Edible? Shit, maybe I need the app, too. He doesn’t even let me finish. “You look like you’re making it hard for me to behave myself tonight. Like life is really fucking unfair right now and testing the shit out of me.” “You always this dramatic?” I ask, trying to ease the growing tension. “No,” he replies, not stopping me as I step closer to him, closing my eyes and resting my head against his chest. “Is this going to be a problem?” “You’re one giant problem, princess,” he replies on a deep sigh. “What cologne are you wearing?” I ask, getting lost in him, ignoring his comment. Do we have to attend this thing? I’d rather sit with him on my bed again, having chats about anything and everything and trying to figure each other out. “It’s a Tom Ford one, why?” he asks, running his large, calloused hand down my back. I shiver as his skin touches mine where my top ends, and as he threads his thumb through the belt loop of my jeans, I press my breasts right up against him. “It smells so damn good,” I admit, lifting my head and glancing up at him. Blue meets gray, fire and ice clash, and I think I fall in love a little bit. “What?” “Just wondering when you’re going to kiss me,” I say, licking my lips.

“You’re bold for someone so young,” he murmurs, tucking my hair back behind my ear. “Age doesn’t mean anything, Ace. Connection does.” People spend their whole lives looking to connect with someone. To feel that pull, that tether, and to be understood. To be loved. He might be a big, tough biker, but he can’t pretend he’s different from the rest of us. He gently pushes me back into my room and closes the door behind us, this time pressing the lock. “Is that what this is? Connection?” he asks me, sounding doubtful. Before I can reply though, he lowers his head, cupping my cheeks in his warm, rough palms, and kisses me. Gentle at first, soft and sweet. Unsure. All that soon changes as we melt into the kiss, his lips becoming demanding, greedy. His tongue slips inside my mouth, and his hands move from my face to my waist, pulling me closer. I moan as he dips me back, my back arching, like in a romantic movie. His thumbs caress my hips, and I’m lost in the sensations. I’ve never been kissed like this in my life, and I have to wonder if I hadn’t met him, if I ever would. He tastes like cake, and I can now approve the quality. I can feel him harden between us, his cock straining against the denim of his jeans, looking for a way out. Brazenly, I reach between us and stroke him, wishing it was his bare skin against my palm. He’s big. Really big. I’ve slept with two men before this, and both of them pale in comparison to what I feel beneath my hold. He breaks the kiss and mutters, “Fuck.” “Ace—” “How am I supposed to go out there now, with this?” he asks, peering down at his cock. “I could take care of that for you.” I grin. He doesn’t look amused. “Is being sexually frustrated making you really grumpy?” I snicker. “You’re about to find out,” he grits out, adjusting himself and looking to my door. “We’d better go there before they come looking for us.” I puff out a breath, trying to ignore my own sexual frustration. That kiss has left me turned on, wet, and wanting more. “Don’t worry, you’re not the only one suffering here,” I admit, stepping to the door. “That makes it worse,” he tells me, running his fingers through his hair in frustration, leaving it sticking up, looking like he just got out of bed. Yeah, I have a feeling that tonight is going to be a long one.

And not in a good way. “How does it feel, staying in the clubhouse?” Veronica asks when she finds me in the kitchen. “It’s different,” I admit to her. “The men are all really nice though, and interesting. Is your house close by to here?” “About ten minutes away,” she explains, pouring herself a Scotch on the rocks. “Gage is home a few nights, and spends the rest here. You know, if there’s anything you want, or anything I can do for you, all you need to do is ask. Us women need to stick together.” This woman confuses me. She’s super nice, and I don’t know if it’s just her blunt blond bob and exaggeratedly arched brows that give her an almost villain-like appearance, but I can’t imagine the two of us being best friends or anything. Since I’ve met her, I haven’t been able to get a read on her, and I really don’t like that. I like to think I’m a good judge of character. Maybe it’s just because she’s with my dad and I’m being petty. She hasn’t done or said anything wrong to me, so maybe I’m just being a little . . . I don’t know. Not jealous, but maybe just careful. “How long have the two of you been together?” I ask nosily. “About three years now,” she says, pursing her pink lips in thought. “Yeah, about that. He’s the love of my life. A good man, your father.” “I’m beginning to learn that,” I tell her, washing my hands after eating a slice of the vanilla buttercream cake. I’ve had a few drinks and am enjoying my happy buzz. Ace has been with me for most of the night, but I left him by the bonfire outside with a few of the men while I used the bathroom, then stopped in the kitchen to grab some water. “Are you going to come outside and have a chat with us?” I ask her, not wanting to be rude, and wanting to get to know her a little more. If this is the woman Gage has in his life, we should get along, right? “I’ll be out after I finish up in here,” she says, smiling. “Go on and have a good time, Erin.” I nod, force a smile, and head back outside. I stand next to Knuckles, who is watching his two daughters chat with a few of the other children. “They’re beautiful girls,” I tell him. Willow is his eldest, and looks to be about thirteen. Westley must be a few years younger, and they are both similar in looks and coloring. “I know,” he replies, scowling. “Too beautiful. Can you imagine when Willow starts dating? I’m going to have to go to prison; it’s the only possible outcome.”

And Ace calls me dramatic. “I’m sure that’s not the only option,” I reply calmly, trying hard not to laugh. “You could just not kill any of her dates. That works too, you know.” He makes a growling sound. I start humming “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” “Just wait until you have to introduce a man to the prez. Have you thought about that?” he asks, turning the tables on me. “He’d have to be man enough to face off with the entire MC.” “Well, there you go, kind of weeds out the pussies, don’t you think? Only a brave . . . or really stupid man would be willing to put up with you lot.” “That is true,” he chuckles. “So what’s going on with you and Ace?” My eyes widen, and I question whether I just heard right. “Sorry?” “You’re always together, and you both can’t keep your eyes off each other. Even right now, when two women are trying to get his attention, he keeps looking over here at you.” My head darts in the direction I saw Ace last. “What women? They better not be trying to get his . . . anything.” I spot Ace, standing and talking to Dreads and Rogue, no women to be seen. “Point proved,” Knuckles rumbles, bringing his beer bottle to his lips. “You better be careful. Things work differently around here. Ace is going to be in a world of trouble if he crosses any lines with you.” I expel a deep sigh. “I’m beginning to figure that out. Trust me to finally find a guy I’m interested in and I’m off-limits to him. You won’t say anything, will you?” “Not my business,” he tells me. “You were acting like it was a second ago,” I mutter, only making him laugh once more. “I’m glad I’m so amusing. I seriously don’t know how this is my life.” “You were kind of thrown into the deep end, weren’t you? I remember meeting your mama once, you know. She was a beautiful woman, and very sweet.” He pauses, and then adds, “I think your personality is more like your father’s though.” “Was that meant to be a compliment or a put-down?” I ask him, arching my brow up high. “I seriously can’t tell.” He shakes his head and murmurs, “Got his brains too.” “Whose brains?” Gage asks as he comes to stand next to me, eyeing the two of us. “What shit you telling my girl, man?”

“Merely pointing out the similarities between the two of you,” he says, eyes going back to his daughters. I decide to turn the topic to him. “So they call you Knuckles because you’re a good fighter, right? Are you the best fighter in the MC then? Who have you fought with in the MC before?” That has to be it. The scars on his hands speak for themselves. “That was my drug dealer name,” he says casually, grins, then bails, walking over to Willow and Westley. “True or false?” I ask Gage. “Trust me, you don’t want to know.” Well, shit.

10 I’m back at Ace’s side when I see the woman who was at Ace’s door last night, and my eyes narrow. She’s with another girl and walking back inside the clubhouse, both of them in short, tight dresses. I don’t know anything about this woman, but I already know I don’t like her. I could never like anyone who wants Ace, or has been with him. And I doubt that she would like me either. Wait, has he been with her? I don’t think I’ve ever asked him that. “What’s wrong?” Ace asks, following my line of sight to the woman. “Oh. Can you unclench your fists? I told you nothing happened, and I sent her on her way.” “Have you slept with her before?” I ask him, needing to know the answer. “Yes,” he instantly admits. “At least you’re honest,” I grumble. “Is that your type? Meth chic?” I know I sound petty, so I tell myself to calm down, because he hasn’t done anything wrong, and although I might be showing my age in this moment, I don’t care. He stares at me for a second, then throws his head back and laughs, a deep booming sound. “Meth chic? I like that.” “Clearly,” I mutter under my breath. “Let me break it down for you, princess. I’m a man with needs. Being in this MC guarantees me pussy on tap. I don’t even have to work for it. So, yes, I’ve indulged, and I’ve had my fun, and I don’t regret a second of it.” He leans closer, and in a quieter voice adds, “But if I was with someone, and we were all about each other, I’d be faithful and loyal, and that’s more than you can say for most men these days.” So the wild Ace can be tamed? Okay, tamed is the wrong word. He thinks he can be committed to one woman, if the right woman came along. But until then . . . My gaze drops to his lips. I want to lick them. “Don’t look at me like that,” he growls, making a sound of frustration deep in his throat.

“Like what?” I ask, sinking my teeth into my lower lip. He looks away, Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallows, while I bring my beer to my lips and take a mouthful. I hear some cheering and look toward the clubhouse. “What’s going on in there?” “Rogue must be singing,” he replies absently, taking me by my wrist and pulling me against him. “Rogue sings?” I ask, eyebrows hitting my hairline. “Is he any good?” “Yeah. He plays guitar too,” he explains, looking down at me. “Open your door for me tonight.” “Wh-what?” I ask, not sure that I heard correctly. “You’re going to sneak into my room?” He nods slowly. “You’re driving me fuckin’ insane, Erin. I won’t fuck you, I can’t do that to my club, but that doesn’t mean I can’t come and spend the night with you.” So sex is off-limits, but everything else is okay? I don’t know how he’s justified that inside his head, but apparently he has. I have no idea how this is going to work. Things would have been so much easier if we’d just stayed away from each other. What a clusterfuck. Shack comes up and stands next to us, another man with him. “Erin,” he says, nodding at me in greeting. “Hey, Shack,” I reply in a tone that could be warmer. “Erin, this is Shovel,” Ace introduces, referring to the other man, who is heavily tattooed from his neck to his fingers. “Nice to meet you, Shovel,” I say, looking into his warm brown eyes. “You too,” he replies, offering me a small smile. “Been hearing a lot about you.” “So I’ve heard,” I say, with a smile that can be heard in my tone. Shack clears his throat, then murmurs, “So, I just wanted to say that I’m sorry for hitting on you last night. How the fuck was I supposed to know that you were going to be the prez’s daughter? I thought you were just a—” “I get it,” I reply, interrupting him from making me like him even less. “And apology accepted.” He flashes me a grin and then looks to Ace. “I thought Prez was going to kill me when he found out what I’d said to her.” He cringes, then returns his gaze to me. “I don’t even want to stand within two feet of you anymore.” I roll my eyes. “You’ll live, I promise.” “You weren’t in our club meeting. You should have heard Prez giving all of us the riot act,

saying that none of us were to even think of getting close to you like that. I mean if one of us were to—” “That’s enough, Shack,” Ace bites out. I look to Ace, who isn’t smiling or looking amused one bit. This is entering dangerous territory. “Come on, let’s go listen to Rogue,” I say, changing the subject and trying to enjoy tonight. This celebration is for everyone to meet me, and I want to be present. I pull Ace toward the house, waving to Shovel and Shack as we go, and he lets me. As I step inside, I see Rogue sitting on a stool with a guitar in his hands, everyone around him, enthralled by his talent. His hair has fallen across his forehead; he looks down at his instrument as he sings and plays so effortlessly. “I love this song,” I whisper to Ace. It’s “Waves” by Dean Lewis. And God, Rogue’s voice is something else. It’s husky and smooth at the same time, deep and delicious. “He’s amazing,” I swoon. “Okay, calm down,” Ace mutters, as I hold my hands to my chest over my heart. I look to him and shake my head in amazement. “He’s fucking incredible. Why are you guys hiding him out here? He should be famous, and the world should know his name.” I turn around to see everyone in the room staring at my outburst, and although Rogue hasn’t stopped playing, he flashes a smile in my direction. “Does he have a CD? Because I’d be all over that shit.” “No, the only time he performs is in the clubhouse,” Ace says into my ear, sending shivers down my spine. “We need him here more than the world needs to fangirl over his ass.” He eyes me. “Plus, he has enough fangirls within the clubhouse it seems.” “I know, but come on, he’s so talented.” He looks more like a superstar than a biker, but hey, who am I to make that judgment. The song finishes, and I cheer the loudest. Rogue walks over to me afterward and wraps his arm around me casually. “You are something else,” I say to him, glancing up at his face. “And I love that song. I could listen to your voice all night. Are you going to sing anything else?” “Do you have any requests?” he asks me, blue eyes filled with warmth. “Really? You’d sing for me?” I ask, shifting on my feet in an excited dance. “Do you know Sam Smith? What about ‘Too Good at Goodbyes’?”

“Tell you what, I’ll learn it and sing it for next time,” he promises, letting go of me and looking toward the bar. “I’m gonna grab a drink, do you want anything?” I shake my head and lift up my beer. “I’m good, thanks.” He slaps Ace on the shoulder as he walks past, and I watch him leave. “This place is just full of surprises.” Ace doesn’t look amused. I smile at him. He doesn’t smile back. “I think you need another beer,” I tell him, placing my own down on the table and pulling him toward the bar. There’s a man standing there, pouring drinks for everyone, and Ace tells me he’s a prospect by the name of Jasper, and he’s working his way up to becoming a member or something. “So he has to do all the crappy jobs?” I ask him quietly, after Jasper hands Ace a beer. “We’ve all been there,” he explains. “We gotta weed out the men from the boys, so we make the men who want to be members prospect for a year.” “Gotcha,” I say, grabbing my beer from the table I’d left it on as music starts blaring from a big set of speakers. “This place is perfect for parties and gatherings. You guys must have so much fun.” I wonder how exactly they make their money for the club. I’ve been wanting to ask but was waiting for the right moment, so I don’t look overly nosy. “We do a bit more than just party,” he murmurs, and I don’t miss the amusement in his tone. I’m an opportunist. I take the opening. “Like what?” “We have a few businesses we run,” he says, drinking from his bottle. “We have to make money. We hustle. We work hard. And we reap the benefits.” I take a swig of my own drink and am about to ask him what type of businesses when I start coughing uncontrollably. “Ace,” I manage to gasp out in a panic. Something isn’t right. The last thing I remember is falling. And Ace catching me.

11 My eyes flutter open slowly, sunlight hitting them. I lift my hand to my throat and stroke the sensitive skin with my index finger, almost making sure everything is where it’s meant to be. “Oh, good. I’m alive,” I rasp, my voice cracking, and my whole body void of energy. “And thank fuck you are,” Gage says from my right. I turn my head and look at him, and he looks a mess. I wonder who looks worse out of the two of us. “I don’t think I’ve ever been more scared in my life, Erin. And I’ve had a gun held to my head before.” He pauses. “More than once.” Wait, what? “What happened?” I ask him, remembering my last moments. “I was chatting with Ace, and then . . .” I look around the hospital room I’m in. Shit, am I sick? Did my binge-drinking and overeating ways finally catch up with me? I’ve had a good run, but to be honest I thought I’d have a few more years in me. “You passed out,” he tells me, concern in his familiar blue eyes. He rubs them with both hands and sighs. “They think someone tried to poison you.” I blink once. Twice. I shake my head. “No, that can’t be possible.” “The doctor isn’t going to lie, Erin. They found traces of poison in your system, but luckily you didn’t drink any more of your beer or you might not be here right now. Your mother has been calling nonstop, but I’ve told her not to worry. I might have . . . uhhh . . . downplayed what happened a little.” “I appreciate that,” I tell him. I love my mom, but I don’t need her here right now, being all dramatic and blaming everything on Dad and my apparent terrible decision-making skills.

“Why would someone want to poison me? I thought I was great last night, I was polite and chatted with anyone I came into contact with!” I even controlled my resting bitch face. “You were perfect, Erin,” he assures me, looking confused. Probably at the fact that I’m defending my hosting skills when I have bigger things to worry about right now. Like who wants me dead. Someone must have put something in my drink when I went to the bar with Ace to get him a beer. Ace. “Where is . . . everyone, Dad?” I ask him, not wanting to ask right out where Ace is. His eyes widen as I call him that for the first time. It actually just slipped out naturally. He opens his mouth, then closes it, clearly not knowing what to say. “I . . . I like you calling me that, Erin.” I manage a smile. “Good.” “Ace, Knuckles, and Rogue are in the waiting room,” he tells me. “Ace hasn’t left since we brought you in. My men are already loyal to you, which is why I’m so fucking confused and angry that this has happened.” He stands up and starts to pace, his hands clenched to fists. “And when I find out who did this . . .” He starts muttering about killing the person, slowly, in detail. I hold my hands out in front of me. “Dad, you don’t need to kill anyone. So someone poisoned my drink . . . happens all the time, right? You don’t need to go to prison over it.” Okay, it doesn’t happen all the time. And it’s kind of a serious matter, because someone wants me dead. I’ve only been here two nights, and someone already wants me gone. The question is, why? The people in the MC are all trusted by Gage, but like he said, other people do attend the parties he throws. He warned me. I didn’t see this coming though—how could I? This just goes to show how little I know about this world, and the fact that I’ve been waltzing around here like it was just a normal party concerns me. I felt untouchable with my dad, Ace, and the other men around me, but I’ve been stupid. Dad keeps pacing, which makes me feel a little anxious. I just want him to be the calm one so I can freak out. Both of us can’t freak out; someone needs to remain in control. Panicking right now won’t help the situation. And would he really kill someone? Has he killed someone? “Why don’t you go get some rest, Dad,” I tell him. “You look dead on your feet. We can plan your slow torture when you wake up.”

He stops his pacing and walks over to me. When he gives me the biggest, warmest hug in the world, I can’t help it, I lose any pretense of control over my emotions and I start to cry. This is the first time we’ve embraced, which makes it all the more emotional. “This is your fault for hugging me,” I tell him, wiping my eyes. “Don’t you know when someone is trying to keep it together, hugging always makes it worse?” “I’ll keep that in mind,” he murmurs, standing, sadness in his eyes. “The men will stay to guard you while I go home, shower, and change. Then I’ll be right back here. Doctor said we should be able to take you home tonight.” “Okay,” I reply, sniffling. “Thanks.” He bows his head. “Don’t thank me, Erin. This is all my fault.” “Unless you tried to poison me, no, it’s not,” I tell him. “You know, before this, I would have confidently stated that I wasn’t scared of anything. Now I know that that’s not the truth.” Emotion hits me again, and the tears threaten to return. My voice is hoarse as I say, “Well, wouldn’t want to make things easy on you, right?” He tries to summon a smile but fails, then walks out of my hospital room. Not a minute passes before Ace is by my side, and I’m safe in his arms. “Fucking hell, princess,” he rasps, pulling me against him. “I’m fine.” “You were poisoned—I don’t think that constitutes being fine,” he chastises, kissing the top of my head. I love when guys do that. Top of my head, my forehead, or my temple, all loving, gentle actions that hit me right in the gut every time. “I’m alive though,” I whisper. “They’re going to need something a little stronger than poison.” “They’re going to need a fucking army, because now that we know someone is trying to hurt you, we’re all going to be on alert,” he says, clenching his teeth together. He softens his voice and tells me, “But you don’t worry about any of that. You rest and get stronger. Let me worry about the rest of it.” And this is what I needed. He holds me, and I feel safe. He remains calm, which lessens my anxiety, and I start to feel in control again. I exhale and close my eyes. Someone tried to kill me.

It’s fine. My eyes dart open. No, it’s not fine. If I go home now, is that letting them win and giving them what they want? It’s probably my being smart and knowing that it’s not exactly safe in the clubhouse for me. A clubhouse that my father is the president of. Shouldn’t it be the safest place for me in the world? Maybe it’s my naïveté showing, but I don’t think I should back down. If there’s someone in the clubhouse who’s not meant to be, someone who isn’t trustworthy or loyal, shouldn’t we weed them out? “I want to find out who did it,” I whisper to Ace. “But the logical side of me is telling me to just go home now, that whatever happened has nothing to do with me.” Except it does, because it happened to me. Is this someone trying to hurt my dad, or someone who just doesn’t want me in his life? “We will,” he assures me, rubbing my back in comforting circles. “Don’t leave me just yet.” “You going to taste-test all my food?” I joke, closing my eyes once more. “If I have to. Prez isn’t going to let anyone into the clubhouse anymore except members until we find out who did this,” he explains to me softly. “And we’re going to install cameras, too.” “What if it was one of the members though? What happens then?” I probably sound paranoid, but considering what just happened, I feel like it’s valid. I never thought something like this would ever happen to me in my entire life. I guess if I stayed in my own world, it never would have. “There’s only one world, princess,” Ace says, kissing my forehead. I melt, but I don’t agree with him. Maybe for him that statement is true. But for me, this is something completely different. “I didn’t realize I’d said that out loud,” I say with a yawn. “Sleep, I’ll watch over you,” he says, fixing my pillow and ushering me to lie back down. “Rogue and Knuckles were waiting to see you too, but I can tell them to wait until you’ve woken up.” “No, let them come in,” I tell him, yawning again. “It’s nice that they’re here.” “Okay,” he murmurs, studying me for a few long seconds, an odd look on his face. Different emotions flash through his eyes before he lowers his head and kisses me on the lips. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

I smile sleepily. “No one was.” He watches me a second, then leaves to call the men in. Except I’m asleep before they return.

12 Do you know that you snore?” Rogue asks me as soon as I open my eyes. “I mean, I’m glad you’re breathing and all, but wow. Actually, you kind of sounded like a motorbike engine, so I guess that’s impressive.” I rub my eyes and glance around the room. “You know it’s not very gentlemanly to bring up the snoring. I just got poisoned. The poison made me do it. So basically, my snoring is your fault.” His brow furrows. “How did you come to this conclusion exactly?” I shuffle up so I’m sitting against the back of the bed, my pillows against my lower back. “Someone in your clubhouse poisoned me. I hear you’re the VP, so it’s kind of on you too, right?” That sobers him, even though I only meant it as a joke. “Whoever did this will be dealt with accordingly.” He pauses, winces, and adds, “Unless your dad or Ace gets to them first. Then they will be dead.” “I don’t want anyone dying because of me.” “They won’t be. They’ll be dying because of their own actions,” he says, but adds a grin to soften his harsh words. “You know how you’re VP? What does Ace do for the club?” I ask him. “He’s the treasurer. Handles all the money that comes in and out. He’s smart and has a thing for numbers.” “Oh,” I murmur, mind getting distracted. I know he’s smart, and I like that about him. I sigh deeply, and Rogue must take it as me worrying, because he continues to assure me. “Don’t worry about it, Erin. We will handle things our way. None of it is on you, and whoever did this knew that there would be dire repercussions. They still did it. We don’t want people like this around us. We need to trust all the men and women, or we’ve got nothing. And Ace and Knuckles are talking to your doctor, who is being difficult and not wanting to release you into our care.”

I smirk and raise my brows. “Would you release anyone into your care?” He flashes a slow-spreading, panty-dropping smile. “Fuck no.” “My thoughts exactly,” I reply, shifting on the pillows to get more comfortable. “You know what would make me feel better?” “No, but I feel like you’re going to tell me,” he replies in a dry tone, leaning forward to give me his full attention. “If you sang a song,” I say, trying to look sad and blinking my eyes in exaggeration. “It might take my mind off things, you know?” He leans back in the chair, arms on each rest. “Is that so? You want me to bust out a song for you, no guitar, nothing?” I nod. He looks to the door, then back at me. “Any of them walk in I’m stopping, and this never happened.” “Deal.” “Song?” “You choose,” I tell him, resting my palm on my chin and waiting patiently. He tilts his head to the side, looking a little boyish. “I know what song will cheer you up.” When he opens his mouth and starts to sing “We Know the Way” from the Moana movie, I smile so wide my cheeks start to hurt, and I hang on to his every word. His voice is so beautiful, and I absolutely love that he, the VP of a motorcycle club, knows the words to a Disney song. When it comes to an end, I clap and he shakes his head, a small grin playing on his lips. “It’s Westley’s favorite song right now, and when she was sick a few weeks back, I learned it so I could sing it to her in the hospital.” I reach my hand out to touch his. “You’re something else, Rogue. You’re a big softie on the inside, aren’t you?” “No,” he denies. “Just a little bit?” I push, batting my eyelashes. “Maybe just for girls in hospitals?” He laughs quietly, his shoulders shaking. “Yes, that must be it. Must be my weakness.” “We all have a weakness,” I tell him, giving his hand a squeeze before returning mine to my lap. “Do you know what mine is?” “Ace?” he asks with a bold look.

“Actually, I was going to say poison,” I reply, narrowing my eyes and lifting my chin. “But very funny.” “Not one funny thing about that whole situation, sweetheart,” he says, just as his phone rings. He answers it with a sharp hello, then an “Okay, we’ll be there soon,” before hanging up. I’m glad for the distraction, because I don’t even want to think about his previous comment. “Who was it?” I ask, fiddling with the blanket on top of me. “Shovel,” he says, sliding his phone into his pocket. “Do they call him Shovel because that’s how he kills people? Like, hits them over the head with a shovel? Or maybe he just buries any dead bodies with a shovel?” I ask, trying to come up with any other reasons a man would use a shovel. “Or maybe he used to work in a cemetery as a groundskeeper or something.” Rogue blinks slowly a few times and with a straight face, murmurs, “Actually we call him Shovel because he rides a Shovelhead.” He pauses, then adds, “As in a motorcycle.” “Oh,” I reply, shoulders hunching. “You seem unhappy with the real reason. Did you want him to kill people with shovels?” he asks, looking on the verge of laughter. “You have a big imagination, Erin. Has anyone ever told you that?” “My tenth-grade English teacher,” I reply, reaching out to grab the water on my side table. “I’d offer you a drink but all I have is this.” “Don’t worry about me,” he says with humor in his tone. “You’re the one who needs to flush out all those . . . toxins.” “Oh, you mean my poison-laced beer?” I say in a dry tone, as I take a sip from my water. “Is it bad that I could really go for a beer right now?” The door opens and Knuckles sticks his face in. “Pack your shit up. We’re breaking you out.” “Wait, what?” I ask, looking between him and Rogue. “What do you mean? The doctor really doesn’t want me to leave now? That’s not what Dad told me. He said the doctor said I can leave soon.” “He was probably going to do what we’re about to do,” Rogue says casually, standing up and dusting his jeans off. “Think you can run? Or should I ask Ace to steal a wheelchair?” My eyes almost bulge out of my head. “No. No one is going to steal anything. Let me put my shoes on. I swear, if I die because I’m meant to stay in a hospital, guess which clubhouse I’m going to choose to haunt? I can be the first woman member, and you can call me Ghost, what do you think?”

“You talk a lot,” he points out, ignoring my rant. Ace sticks his head in and sees me putting on my shoes. “You ready?” he asks, giving me a once-over. “Yeah, but don’t steal a wheelchair. You create a diversion and I’ll run out. If anyone gets left behind . . . well, I’m not going back for them,” I state, looking to Rogue. “Because I’m not a member, so I don’t have to do any of that loyalty shit.” Ace steps into the room, opens his mouth, and then slams it shut. “What are you talking about? Why would I steal a wheelchair?” He looks to Knuckles, who bursts out into laughter. “You’re an asshole,” I tell him, ignoring his cackles as I move to Ace and let him pull me in for a big hug. “He told me I had to run out of here because you were breaking me out against doctor’s orders.” “Doctor gave in because Prez arrived. So no need for an escape plan anymore. How are you feeling?” he asks, then looks back at Knuckles. “She’s been fuckin’ poisoned, can you wait until she’s better before you pull that shit?” “Clearly not,” Knuckles mutters, then comes to stand next to us. “But I’m fuckin’ hungry, so let’s get out of here. Erin can sleep in her own bed.” Dad comes inside the room, and I let go of Ace to hold on to him. “Let’s go home,” he says to me. Home. I don’t know where that is anymore. Veronica fusses over me the second I enter the clubhouse, so I start to feel a little guilty that she’s suspect number one in my eyes, and I start to second-guess myself. She’s been so worried about me, and has been trying to help in any way she can. “Can I get you anything else?” she asks me, looking concerned. “My poor girl, I’m so glad you’re okay.” If she did this, she’s a very good actress. I’m talking Oscar-worthy. Her pink lipstick is a little smudged, but I don’t know if I should tell her or not, so I pretend I don’t notice it. “I’m fine, thank you, Veronica,” I tell her, softening toward her. It’s kind of nice to have someone mothering me, especially after everything that has happened. “I think I just need to have a nap.”

Ace comes in as she continues to hover, with a bottle of water and some painkillers in his hand and I’m thankful because I have the worst headache. He places them next to my bed and sits down next to me. “Think you can stomach some food, or you just want to sleep?” “Sleep, then food,” I reply, wishing he could lie in bed and cuddle with me. As if reading my mind, he turns to Veronica and says, “Prez is looking for you. I’m keeping first watch on Erin, and then Mac will take over. So you don’t have to worry about her.” “Okay, just call out if you need anything.” Veronica nods, hesitating before leaving my room with the door half-open. I pull Ace onto the bed, or at least try to, but he doesn’t budge. “Just come and lie down with me, please.” Skin on skin would be ideal now, but I think that’s asking a little too much, especially considering anyone could walk in at any point to see how I’m doing. “Fuck,” he grits, sliding off his black boots. “Can hardly say no to you right now.” “Don’t say that,” I tell him, reaching out for him. “Because then I’ll ask you for what I really want.” He eyes the open door, gets up and closes it, then lies next to me, on top of the cover though, which is kind of shit but better than nothing. I still get to lay my head on his chest and feel his warm, big body next to me, making me feel many things. Safe. Protected. And very, very horny. Even poisoned, my body reacts to his close proximity, so much so that I start to feel a little restless and no longer tired. “What’s wrong?” he asks me, pulling me closer, trying to keep me still. “Try to get some rest, you said you were tired.” I say a lot of things. “I was tired,” I tell him, closing my eyes and trying to get back to that place. “We should put a TV in here and then we can watch movies or something.” I wonder what he looks like naked. I bet he’s big and hard in all the right places. Okay, that’s not what you’re meant to be thinking about right now, Erin. “I can do that,” he tells me, kissing the top of my neck. I freeze as tingles run all over my body, and wait and hope that he gives me a little more than that this time. He does.

Trailing his lips from my neck, I shiver each time his lips touch my skin, and when they stop on my lips I reciprocate, holding his face and kissing him deeply. He sucks on my bottom lip before pulling away but then gives me another kiss, like he misses my mouth. I’m not feeling my best, I smell like hospital, and someone tried to kill me, but this moment couldn’t have been more perfect.

13 I wake up the next morning alone in bed, feeling back to my old self. I have a long, lingering shower with scalding-hot water, get dressed, and wash and dry my clothes before anyone else is even awake. The clubhouse is so quiet early in the mornings, so when my phone rings as I’m hanging out in my room with another call from my mom, I’m hesitant to answer, but I’ve put this call off for long enough. “Hey, Mom,” I say into the line, trying to act like nothing has happened since I saw her last. “Erin Rose Moretti,” she growls at me, and as my full name leaves her lips, I know just how angry she is. “What happened to you? Gage said you weren’t feeling well and had to spend a night in the hospital? Why didn’t you call me? Was it the flu? You’ve been avoiding my calls!” Her rant continues for what feels like a few minutes before I can get a word in. “Mom, I’m fine. I’m back at the clubhouse now, so you don’t need to freak out. I just felt a little . . . sick.” Or poisoned, but whatever. She doesn’t need to know all the details. “I was worried, Erin,” she says, sounding sad, which makes me feel really guilty. “When are you coming home?” “I don’t know,” I tell her as I sort out my clothes. “Maybe in a few nights? I’m really sorry I haven’t been calling you, Mom, but I knew that after talking to you, I’d feel guilty. I told you I’d only stay here a night or two, max, but now I want to stay a little longer. I have plenty of time before college starts, so I don’t really have to be in any rush to go home, right?” She’s silent for a few moments before she speaks. “Your home is here, Erin. I don’t exactly enjoy the thought of my daughter living in an MC clubhouse with a bunch of men I don’t even know. No mother would.” “Then you shouldn’t have gotten pregnant by a biker, Mom,” I tell her, pointing out the obvious. “You chose my father, not me.” When she goes quiet, I know I’ve hurt her feelings, so when I speak again it’s in a much gentler tone. “Can’t you trust that Dad will keep me safe?” I plead with her, making sure to keep my tone gentle, so it doesn’t spark World War III.

“Dad? You call him Dad?” she asks, sounding surprised and a little unhappy. “What about Brock? He’s your dad too, and the man who raised you.” Here we go. “I love Brock, Mom, but both of you lied to me. Yes, he raised me, but only because you never told my real dad I even existed! So, sorry if I’m still feeling a little bitter about that, and it’s probably the real reason I’ve been avoiding your calls. You lied to me my whole life, it’s not exactly an easy pill to swallow, and I don’t think you should try to make me feel bad for wanting to stay here and get to know my real father.” More silence. I tell her I will see her in a few days, and we both say ’bye and hang up. When I look up, I see my father standing in my doorway. “How much did you hear?” I ask him, feeling terrible. I don’t like arguing with my mom. She’s a great mother, but I just don’t know how I’m meant to forgive her for this. What she’s doing to me is unfair, especially bringing up the Brock thing. Yes, Brock has always been there for me and has been a great father, but that doesn’t change the fact that they both lied. They kept me away from my real father. I don’t even know how they justified that. He comes into my bedroom and sits down on my bed. “You thought that other guy was your dad?” he asks me. I can tell he’s angry. Fuming even. His eye is ticking, and there’s barely concealed rage in his eyes. “Yeah,” I admit. “There was a fake birth certificate and everything. I only learned the truth when I found the original document and I confronted them. She admitted that you were my biological father, and I wanted to find you and meet you from that very second. She can’t blame me for being curious about you. What if I never found the original birth certificate though? Would she just have never told me? I don’t know. I’m trying not to hold a grudge, but it’s hard.” My mom and I love each other, but we’ve never had an easy relationship. We are completely different people, and we both struggle to see each other’s views. I’m more laid-back, while she can be very uptight. She likes to follow rules, and I like to break them. When she slept with my father, that must have been the only rebellious thing she’s ever done in her life. He makes a sound of frustration. “I can’t believe this. I thought that you always knew, you just waited until you were ready before you came to find me. I had no idea that you were left in the dark too.” “I don’t think I wanted you to know,” I admit, looking down at my hands. “I don’t want you to be angry at her. I know it makes no sense, because I definitely am angry at her—”

“But you still want to protect her,” he murmurs, nodding his head. “That’s understandable. I’m not going to do anything—she’s your mother—but fuckin’ hell, Erin, this makes me so angry. I don’t know what gave her the right to act like God and decide this for the both of us. She must have really not wanted you in my life.” He looks away, shaking his head slightly. “I know my lifestyle isn’t perfect to raise children, but it’s doable. Look at Knuckles’ girls . . . they are happy and healthy, and no one would dare mess with them. They will want for nothing. We take care of our own.” “I know that,” I reply, puffing out a breath. “I think we both need to accept that we can’t change the past, and maybe we need to let it go and look forward. Easier said than done, I know.” Considering I just threw it in my mother’s face, again. I know I’m going to have to forgive her, but it’s so hard. I just feel so betrayed, lied to, and confused. She did what she thought was best, but was that what was best for me or for her? I think she was selfish in her actions. “Maybe she thought you would try to take me away, or maybe she didn’t want to share me. I don’t know. She obviously wanted a certain life for me, the white picket fence and all that, which I can’t blame her for, but what can I blame her for is the fact she lied,” I tell him. “And she kept lying. She could have waited and told me the truth when I was older, at least told me that Brock was my stepfather, not my real one, but she didn’t. She pretended like we were one happy family, the perfect family, and that nothing needed to be said. I know it’s going to be hard to forgive her, but holding on to anger isn’t healthy either.” And she was wrong. I’ve always been the black sheep of the family. The louder one, the difficult one, the one with a bit of a wild streak my mother could never tame. I’ve never gone with the flow; I usually do my own thing, and she never liked that. My sister, Eden, is the perfect daughter. I’ve never been that. “Maybe you’re right,” he concedes, forcing a smile and visibly attempting to let go of his anger. “You’re here now, which is all that matters. I might not have been there to raise you, but if I had known, I need you to know that I would have been.” I smile and try to lighten the mood. “My first riding lesson was meant to happen. Is the whole poisoning thing going to postpone that?” “I’m afraid so,” he replies with a short laugh. “I want to check your bike to make sure it’s okay first.” My eyes flare. “You think someone would try to mess with it?”

“I think I have no idea what to think,” he admits, standing. “But from now on I need to be careful. I’m not going to let anything else happen to you. I understand if you want to go home after what happened. I’m so angry I can’t even explain it. Nothing like this has ever happened, and for it to happen to my own daughter, the one I only just found. My blood is boiling. I don’t even want you to see me like this because I don’t know what I’m going to do when I find out who did this. I never want you to see that side of me.” I make my final decision right here and now. “I’m not going home right now, Dad. I’m going to help you find this person.” I don’t want someone like this around my dad, around Ace. What if they target someone else next? I might not be some badass chick. I can’t fight; I can’t ride; hell, I can’t even use a gun. I’m barely legal, and I’d never even met any bikers until I got here. But you know what? I never back down. And when I’m backed into a wall? That’s when my Raven blood will show.

14 He opens his door after two knocks, pulls me in by my hips, and closes the door behind him, making me squeal a little. “Good morning, princess,” he says, giving me a quick kiss. He’s shirtless. And only wearing a pair of black silk boxer shorts. This is the first time I’ve seen his bare chest, and I can’t seem to look away from it. He’s perfectly muscled, not too much, not too little, with a six-pack and sculpted biceps. He is flawless. I’ve never seen anyone who looks like this in real life. “Spend much time in the gym?” I ask him, clearing my throat. “We have a gym here,” he tells me, shrugging. “I like to stay fit. My goal is to never become one of those bikers with a beer belly.” “Well, you definitely don’t have one of those,” I rasp. “Are you ever going to look me in the eye again?” he asks, laughing to himself. “No.” “Erin—” “You have no tattoos,” I point out. “Is that a problem?” he asks, absently scratching one of his pecs. “No, it’s just interesting.” “Are you stereotyping me?” he asks, stepping closer to me. “Yes,” I reply, resting my hands on his chest and feeling his bare skin. “I guess I am.” “Could never decide what I wanted,” he explains, shrugging. “I get bored easily, so I’d probably change my mind on whatever I chose, anyway. Plus, everyone has one these days. I like to be a little different.” “Why am I not surprised that you get bored easily?” I ask, running my nails gently down his abs.

“Because you’re a smart girl,” he replies with a cheeky grin. He’s being playful, and I’m not used to it. There’s something different about him. He’s kind of chirpy, like there’s a lightness about him, as if a weight has been lifted. “I thought you’d still be in bed.” “No, I was up early,” I tell him, glancing around his room. This is the first time I’ve been inside of it, and now that I’ve gotten my fill of his body, I take in everything from his king-size bed covered in white sheets to the motorcycle memorabilia he has on a wooden shelf in the corner of the room. His room is really tidy. Too tidy. Does he clean it, or does someone else? There are no photos anywhere, but there’s a drawing of the Cursed Ravens emblem hanging above his bed. “I guess you’re feeling better then?” he asks me, leading me to his bed, sitting down and pulling me onto his lap. “Luckily they made you throw up at the hospital. That’s probably what saved you.” Wait, what? “They made me throw up? Why don’t I remember that?” I ask, frowning. “You were kind of out of it.” “So, you saw me puke?” I ask, sounding horrified. “Great, just great. That’s exactly what I need right now.” Looks like we’re going to get pretty comfortable with each other in a short period of time. “We thought you were going to die, Erin. Trust me, a bit of vomit wasn’t going to faze me,” he says, hands starting to massage my shoulders. “You’re tense.” “I can give you multiple reasons to explain the tension,” I murmur, my eyes closing of their own accord. “That feels really good.” He’s good with his hands. Not like I ever thought he wouldn’t be. There are pros and cons with a man who has a lot of experience, and this is one of the pros: You can almost guarantee they will be good in bed. My cousin Celina told me as much. She’s older and has more experience than me. She also said they’re the hardest to keep, but I’m going to choose to ignore that little tidbit. What is it about a bad boy? A biker. A wild man. A powerful man. I don’t know, but I forget my line of thought as Ace starts to kiss up my neck, slowly, deeply, his soft lips tingling my skin. I squeeze my thighs together and close my eyes, and when

he turns my face toward him and tastes my lips, I move to straddle him. I can feel how hard he is, and soon the kiss turns frantic, our hands everywhere at the same time, our moans overlapping. My fingers move to his nape, holding on as he gives me the most sensual kiss of my life. I purposely push my center against him. “What if someone comes looking for me?” I ask him against his lips. He cuts me off with another kiss. It’s like he’s not bothered if someone catches us anymore. Has something changed? That’s my last thought as he stands with me in his arms, and I hold on to his shoulders. “Ace?” “Mmmm?” “What are you doing?” I ask breathlessly as he pushes me back against the door and starts to place openmouth kisses on my neck. “Shit,” I whisper, arching my neck to give him easier access. I gasp as he bites down on my sensitive flesh, feeling heat starting to spread in my lower stomach. “Ace?” He moves me again, this time back to the bed, where he lays me down and looks at me, those gray eyes pinning me in my place. “So beautiful,” he whispers, gaze roaming across my face before landing back on my lips. “Your lips turn pink when they are kissed.” I push at his chest. “I better go.” I don’t want him to regret this if things go further. He’s usually the one who backs away, and I have to wonder what has changed. “Why?” he asks, being all affectionate and nuzzling my cheek. “I’m not done with you yet.” I arch my brow. “It’s normally you being the cautious one, why does it seem the roles have changed?” “No one is playing any roles,” he replies, studying me closely. I narrow my eyes, returning the favor. “What did you have in mind?” He brings his lips to my ear, and whispers, “I’d like to taste your pussy, if you’ll let me.” “Oh,” I whisper, blinking furiously. “What about—” “Can I, princess?” he asks again, waiting patiently for me to reply, gray eyes filled with heat and want. I nod once, and his fingers begin undoing the button on my jeans. I lift my hips up and help him slide them down until they’re thrown onto the floor somewhere and I’m left in a cotton white T-shirt and red lace panties. I’m the type of girl who always has nice, sexy underwear on, for me more than anyone else, and I’ve never been more thankful for that than right now. He

kisses my mouth, then down to my collarbone, and my nipples through my T-shirt, which soon rides up, exposing my stomach. His lips trail down, past my belly button and to the top of my panties. He takes his time, kissing, licking, and biting, which has me squirming, unable to keep still. “Stop teasing me,” I whisper, groaning in complaint. “I need more, Ace.” “And you’ll get it,” he rumbles, slowly pulling down my panties, exposing my bare pussy. He makes a deep sound in the back of his throat, then continues his exploration, kissing my hips bones and playfully biting them before spreading my thighs to run his tongue along the inside of them. I grit my teeth and lift my head, watching his every move, turning me on even more. Then his mouth is on my pussy, and his hands are holding my thighs apart. He moans at the first taste of me, and I don’t know how much of this I’m going to be able to handle. My head falls back as pleasure consumes me, the magic of his tongue and the fact that it’s him, it’s Ace with his head between my legs right now, has me already on the verge of coming. It’s been so long since I’ve had an orgasm, and even longer since it hasn’t been me giving it to myself. I’ve fucking needed this. “I’ve fucking needed to give you this since the moment you walked through those doors,” he rumbles, lifting his head. Shit. I really need to stop talking to myself out loud. He starts to suck on my clit, and I know it’s about to be all over for me, especially when he reaches up and starts to stroke my nipples through my clothing. To assist, I lift my top up and pull up my bra, baring my breasts for him to play with as he desires. He doesn’t disappoint, rubbing then flicking his thumb across the pointed peaks, and increasing the speed of his tongue as he flickers it with precision over my clit. “Ace,” I whisper, my thighs starting to shake. He starts to moan again, like he loves what he’s doing to me, maybe even more than I love receiving it. I never knew men like him existed. I feel like my pleasure is his own. Maybe that’s the definition of a real man. He delves deeper with his tongue, which sends me right over the edge. I come saying his name, my fingers gripping the bedsheets and making sounds louder than anticipated. I try to quiet myself by biting down on my hand, and let the waves consume me. “Oh my god,” I say, as I move my hand, lifting my head to look down at him, feeling both dazed and sated, satisfied but also more than ready for more. “That was—” He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, the look in his eyes stopping my words. He looks like a wolf, eyeing its prey. He’s about to say something, when there’s a knock at his door.

I jump and grab my jeans and panties, trying to throw them on as quickly as possible, but Ace doesn’t seem too fazed. “Yeah?” he calls out, voice husky. “We’re going on a run, leaving in an hour. Pack your shit,” Mac calls out to him. “For how long?” Ace replies, looking frustrated with this new revelation. “Just a night.” “Who is staying behind?” he asks Mac through the door. “You volunteering?” Mac asks, sounding amused. “Fuck yes, I am.” “The prez is staying behind, so don’t worry, Erin will be fine,” he says, and I hear his footsteps down the hallway as he walks away. “What’s a run?” I ask him, fully dressed, which he doesn’t look too thrilled about. “It just means we all gotta be somewhere,” he says, moving to sit next to me. “And we will all ride there together. Must be a bit of a ride away if we’re going to stay the night there.” “What do you do on a run?” I ask him, reaching out and pulling him closer to me. “And we still have an hour, right?” He makes a sound of frustration. “That’s club business, Erin. And I need to pack and get myself ready. Make sure my bike is good, so no.” I glance down at his crotch. “So I don’t get to return the favor?” “Fuck,” he grits out, sighing heavily. “I’m going to have to take a rain check. If I’m late, the men will kill me.” He adjusts his painfully hard-looking cock. “What a waste,” I murmur. He groans and looks like he wants to kill me. I guess sexual frustration will do that to you.

15 Ace jumps in the shower, gets ready, then rides off with the rest of the men, leaving the clubhouse deserted, but at least I’ll get to spend more time with my father while they’re gone. I’m in the kitchen making some pancakes from scratch when Knuckles walks in. Also shirtless. Did I miss a memo or something? Is it like no-pants Thursdays, except no-shirt Tuesdays? “You didn’t go with the rest of them?” I ask him. “Nope,” he replies, standing behind me to peer into the frying pan. “Those smell good.” “Grab a plate, I’m making plenty,” I say, flipping the one currently in the pan. “Why not?” “Westley is getting an award in school today and I don’t want to miss it,” he explains, bringing a plate over to me and then sitting down at the table. “Plus, it’s just Prez and a few prospects here. Better to have a little extra backup, considering recent events.” “It’s like a ghost town in here now,” I say, piling four pancakes on his plate and bringing it over to him. “I think I need to put a TV in my room. I can spend tonight binge watching a series on Netflix.” He runs his hand over his bald head with a smirk playing on his lips. “Sounds productive.” I slide him the maple syrup and glance up as my father walks in. “Unless someone wants to give me my first riding lesson.” “I was just about to ask you if you wanted to go for a ride,” he says, rubbing his hands together. “I checked your bike; she’s looking good.” “My bike isn’t a she, it’s a he,” I let him know. “Do you want some pancakes?” He nods and takes a seat next to Knuckles, who is inhaling his own pancakes. “So can my girl cook? Or are we all going to die?” I consider making a poison joke but decide against it. “My pancakes are the best,” I tell him, watching Knuckles. “Look at him, he’s loving them.” Knuckles swallows his last bite. “They’re pretty fuckin’ great.”

I beam. “Told you.” I hand him his plate and serve my own, sitting down with the two of them. “Before we start your training, we need to go to the shops first,” Dad says as he takes his first bite. “Oh fuck, these really are good.” “Are there any more?” Knuckles asks, looking hopeful. I nod and point to the frying pan. “Yeah, a few.” He stands up and helps himself while I ask, “Why are we going shopping?” “You need riding gear,” he explains, pouring maple syrup on his stack. “Your own helmet, jacket, and boots. You can also buy more clothes so you don’t need to do laundry at five a.m.” “I tried to be quiet,” I tell him, wincing. “But that washing machine is like a hundred years old.” “We can buy a new one of those too,” he announces, devouring the rest of his pancakes. “You were right, Erin. Best pancakes I’ve ever tasted.” “I’m glad,” I reply, watching him with satisfaction. “And no, we don’t need to buy a washing machine. Just the riding gear and a few tops will be fine.” And some more panties—how the hell am I meant to buy them with him around? I’ve only ever gone underwear shopping with my mom, Eden, or Celina. Never with a man, especially not a father I only just met. Veronica storms into the kitchen before he can reply. “Oh, there you are.” She leans over to give him a quick kiss. “Good morning. I was going to make you some breakfast, but I see you’ve already eaten.” Oh shit. Does my being in the kitchen step on her toes? Jesus, I was actually just making myself some food, I wasn’t trying to make this some pissing contest over who is the woman in charge around here. I hope I’m reading into this too much and she actually doesn’t mean anything by it, but I didn’t miss her tone when she spoke. “Best pancakes we’ve ever had,” Knuckles adds, and I feel like he’s shit stirring, going by the crinkle in his eyes. “I see,” Veronica huffs, sounding a mixture of disappointed and slightly annoyed. She takes a breath though, and puts on a smile. “Are you free now? I feel like I haven’t spent any time with you in forever.” Dad stands with his plate. “I’m taking Erin to the shops to get her some riding gear, and then for a riding lesson. I’m free after that though.”

Knuckles and I share a look. This is a really awkward conversation, so I stand up with my full plate and head to my room to eat. The place feels different without Ace, as stupid as that sounds. I miss him already. And his mouth. I’m going to need a little more of that too. I finish my breakfast on my bed, then return to the kitchen to wash my plate. Veronica is sitting at the table as I walk in, alone. I wonder if I should offer to make her breakfast, or whether that will just make this situation worse. I decide to try to give her a chance, for Dad’s sake. “Did you eat anything?” I ask her, walking to the sink and turning the tap on. “I can make something for you, if you like.” The offer falls out of my mouth, but I regret it the second it does. She makes an hmmmph sound and declines my offer. “No, thank you. I’m fine. I’m just going to have some coffee and then do some gardening until you and Gage return from your adventures. Someone has to keep this place maintained.” Is she just in a shitty mood because Dad isn’t giving her the attention she wants right now? As if listening to my thoughts, she continues. “You know, Erin, you seem like a really sweet girl, and this environment isn’t for everyone. I know that we don’t really know each other, but if you ever want to talk, or need advice, I want you to know I’m here. And I know how to keep a secret.” I nod a few times, considering her words. “Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind.” Maybe she’s not so bad after all? “We should have lunch, or something, sometime,” she also offers. I’m about to reply when two girls walk in, none other than the “meth chic” girl and one of her friends. “What are you two doing here?” Veronica asks them, scraping her chair against the floor as she slides back to face them. “The clubhouse is in shutdown mode. No one is meant to go in or out.” “I know,” Meth Chic says, looking sheepish. “I didn’t realize, and I came to pick something up. Knuckles said I can go in to grab it but then we have to leave.” “Well, you better hurry up. The men won’t be back until tomorrow, and you know exactly what they’re going to get up to tonight . . .”

Wait, hold on just a second. What are they going to get up to? I thought they were just going on some run thing? The girl raises her eyes to me and clears her throat. “So you’re the girl Ace has been spending all his time guarding.” I shrug and murmur, “I guess so. You have me at a disadvantage. While you’ve heard about me, I have no idea who you are.” “I’m Paulina.” She smirks, and it’s pure evil. “Ask Ace, I’m sure he will tell you. Although he’s probably extremely busy right now. The men love to . . . indulge whenever they visit another chapter. What do they say? ‘Change is like a holiday’? Well, going by their comments, different women are like holidays, too.” Oh, hell no. Is Ace going to fuck someone else tonight? I literally thought he was going on a work trip. Biker trip, whatever. And I sent him on his way with blue balls. Fucking hell. He may not be my man, but I’m not going to share him. If he wants to fuck others, that’s fine, but I’m not going to touch him then. I’m no one’s side bitch. I might be younger and I might not have the life experience others have here, but I do know something. My worth. And no man is going to treat me any less than I deserve. My nails dig into my palms. “Thank you for your . . . advice, Paula.” “It’s Paulina,” she says and glowers, uncrossing her arms and exposing her thin frame. “Right. Well, you better get going. I’ve been told it’s only family who’s allowed to stay here tonight, because you never know who you can and can’t trust these days unfortunately,” I say with a deep sigh. I turn my focus on Veronica. “They should probably tighten security, they seem to be letting anyone in here these days.” “Okay, Trouble, sheath the claws. These two were just leaving,” Knuckles says as he walks in and takes in the scene in front of him. He looks to Paulina. “I said five minutes, now hurry your asses out of here.” The girl with Paulina steps to Knuckles, an exaggerated sway in her hips. “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay? You might get bored in here tonight with no one else around.” Knuckles eyes her, steps away, out of her reach, then looks at me. “I’m hanging with her tonight. We’re going to have a great time, aren’t we, Erin?”

“Totally,” I reply with a cheeky smirk. I give Paulina and co. a sarcastic wave. “We’ll be sure to tell you all about it, Paula.” Veronica stands up and gives me a look. “All right, that’s enough. Girls, you best be going.” The two of them leave, and Veronica follows. “And then there were two,” I say, shrugging and hopping up on the counter. “What do you know about that girl?” “Fuck no, I’m not being dragged into this conversation,” he tells me, holding his hands up in surrender. “She’s one of the club girls, so she comes for parties or whatever, that’s all that I know.” I consider this. “Do you guys share these ‘club women,’ or how does it work? I know Ace has slept with her, I’m just trying to figure this whole thing out.” “What’s that? Oh, fuck, Prez is calling me,” Knuckles says, escaping the conversation and walking away. Shit. That’s not a good sign.

16 I send Ace a text message saying: If you even touch another woman tonight, don’t bother looking in my direction ever again.

Straight to the point, and now the ball is in his court. My phone pings almost immediately with his reply. Who have you been talking to? I’m not going to do anything, don’t worry. No one is going to satisfy this craving except for you, princess. Good. Can’t wait for you to get back. I miss your body next to mine. Trust me, I can’t wait either.

Slightly mollified, I tap my fingers on the car door, staring straight ahead as we make our way to get my riding gear and clothing. “Everything okay?” Dad asks, and I turn my head to him at the sound of his voice. “Yeahhhh,” I murmur, dragging the word out. “Can I ask you something?” “Sure.” “The women I saw today at the clubhouse, Paulina and some other girl . . . Do they just hang around hoping to get with one of the men? Why are they allowed to be at the clubhouse all the time?” I ask him, fiddling with my seat belt. “Okay, wasn’t expecting that one,” he utters, sighing. “Being in the Cursed Ravens, Erin, comes with many things. One of them is the women. Women love coming to the clubhouse to party, and there are a few who come all the time to party with the men and have been for a long time.” “Paulina?” He nods. “Yeah, she’s one of them.” “So she just sleeps with . . . anyone?” I ask, grimacing. “Uhhh,” he mumbles, cringing. “What they do is their business, but yeah, I guess so. I guess they think if they stay around, eventually one of the men will choose them to be their old lady. I’m not saying it’s the best plan.”

“Was the woman I saw you with on that first night one of those women?” I ask him boldly, and I can see how uncomfortable he gets. But I’m curious. He looks out the window, his jaw tight. “This is how things are here, Erin. I’m not saying it’s right, or it’s something you’d ever want to be a part of, but it’s how things are. And I happen to like them this way. What I do is between me and Veronica, and it’s no one else’s business.” I purse my lips. He’s right and he’s wrong. He’s right that it’s none of my business what he does, that’s on him, but he can’t say it’s not something I’d ever want to be a part of when bringing me into his life is making me a part of it. Can I be one foot in and one out? Maybe I could choose the best from both worlds and make it work for me that way. I don’t see any other option now. He’s right, it’s just how things are around here. I don’t have to do what they do, or live how they live, but basically he’s telling me that I do have to mind my own damn business. If I want to be welcome here, I need to accept that there are some things I won’t like and things that I can’t change, and unless they directly involve me, I shouldn’t try to change them. Which I get. “I can mind my own business,” I tell him, trying to explain why I’m asking without telling him about my situation with Ace. “I’m not going to tell anyone anything, Dad. I’m just curious is all. I came here with no idea what I was getting into, and you might say this is how things are for you and not for me, but I’m here, aren’t I? It’s like you’re confused whether you want me in this world or not, but I don’t think you get to have it both ways. Either I’m a part of it, or I’m not.” He parks the car before answering me. “I’m not used to anyone questioning me, Erin. I don’t want you to be scared to ask me anything though, so I’m trying to be patient and give you the answers you want. Yes, you’re a part of it, but through me. I make the decisions, and I decide what happens in regards to you. You’re never going to be invited to a wild party where the men are carrying on, because that’s not something I want you to see. Is it hypocritical? Yes. But you’re my daughter, and I can choose what I want to share with you or shield you from. I know you’re a curious girl, and I know you seem to have a strong will and personality, but sometimes you’re going to have to let things go.” “That’s not really in my nature,” I admit, flashing him a cute, sweet smile. “But I hear what you’re saying. You’re the boss, it’s your world and you’re just letting me be in it because I’m your daughter, so I need to play nice.”

“That would be wonderful,” he says, but I can tell he doubts it from his tone. “When I rang your mom to tell her that you weren’t well, she told me a few things about you.” Oh, crap. “Like what?” I ask casually, wondering what she would have said. She didn’t tell him about my accident, did she? Because that’s something only two people know, and something I never tell anyone. “Just how when you want something, you don’t stop until you get it. And how you’re a fighter. You don’t give up. And how strong-willed and -minded you are. She’s proud of you, you know. I could tell it in her voice. She might act like you’re too much of a rebel for her, but she still loves you so much, Erin,” he admits, smiling absently. “I don’t think I’ll ever forgive her for what she did, but she did raise you well. I’ll give her that. Not many girls would walk into a biker clubhouse making demands.” “I think that makes me stupid,” I joke, nudging him with my shoulder. “I’m glad you like that I’m stubborn and strong-willed. I’ll be sure to bring this conversation up the next time you want to murder me with your bare hands.” Like when he finds out about Ace. A sliver of guilt hits me. Although he never said to me directly to stay away from his men, Shack insinuated as much, and Ace mentioned it as well, so I can’t act innocent here. I guess I’m having a hard time seeing how it can be so wrong for me simply wanting to be with a man I’m so drawn and attracted to. We’re both adults. Neither of us is married or in a relationship. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, but I can’t seem to stop myself either. I have a feeling this isn’t going to end well, though. This is so typical me. He chuckles and opens his door. “I’m in for a wild ride, aren’t I?” He has no idea. “Can you take another picture, from a higher angle?” I ask my dad, posing in my new riding gear. It’s heavier than I thought it would be, and it cost a lot more too. But I love it. I look badass in my black leather jacket, holding my black-and-hot-pink helmet. Now I’m giving my father a lesson on angles for social-media photos, and he’s not impressed in the least. “Why a higher angle?” he asks me gruffly, frowning in confusion. “Because then there’s no double chin in the photo,” I explain, striking another pose.

He lowers the camera and glares. “Who told you that you have a double chin? I’m going to kill them. You’re perfect.” “No one told me anything,” I say, removing the jacket and sitting down on the grass next to him. “Is that how you deal with everything? Threatening to kill people?” “Hasn’t failed me yet.” He grins, teeth on show. “Make sure you don’t come out here at night. I know it’s beautiful, but we think there’s something out there.” He points across his land covered in trees and shrubs. “Like what?” I ask him, curious. “Wolves? Ravens?” His lip twitches. “Definitely ravens. But a few of us have seen something that looks eerily like a panther.” I wave my hand in the air. “Sounds like one of those ‘finding bigfoot’ shows.” “You gonna compare a panther to bigfoot?” he asks, throwing some grass at me. “You are something else, Erin.” “I get told that a lot.” I smile, batting my lashes at him. When we returned from the mall we’d decided to sit outside and enjoy nature while eating the burgers and fries we’d gotten on the way home. Along with the riding gear, I got a dress, a few tops and bottoms, and luckily some underwear. Dad left me to my own devices, and never hovered, so it was easy. He gave me his credit card, and then refused to take it back, not that I’ll ever be using it again. I don’t want him to think he owes me anything, because he doesn’t, and I don’t expect anything. “But noted, I will not venture out here at night, because there are both ravens and panthers about. Which one is more dangerous?” “For you? The panther. For others . . .” He trails off, and even flashes me a wink. Laughter escapes me. I lean back on my hands, the grass prickling my palms. Closing my eyes, I look up at the sky and let the sunlight touch my face. “Who knew paradise could be found in the backyard of a biker clubhouse.” He makes a hum of agreement. “You know, you never told me how you met Mom in the first place. And if you haven’t figured it out, she’s not the most forthcoming when it comes to you.” He turns to me and smiles, almost wistfully. “I actually met your mother on the side of the road one day. Her piece-of-shit car had broken down, and I stopped on my bike to help her. The battery was dead though, and there was nothing I could do, so we called roadside assistance. I told her I’d give her a ride wherever she wanted to go, if she was in a rush to get somewhere. She said she was supposed to be having lunch with a friend, but now she was late

and had to cancel. I said I’d take her out to lunch instead. So she got on my bike and off we went.” “Wait. My mother. On the back of your motorcycle, when you were a complete stranger to her. Are you sure?” I ask with shock. I could never imagine my conservative mother jumping on the back of a stranger’s bike. My father laughs. “She sure did. She was a pro.” I smile as I picture the scene. “And then how long did you . . . see each other for?” “A few months, I think it was. I was just a prospect back then, but she came to the clubhouse a few times and I could tell she didn’t like what she saw. Then one day she came to say good-bye and bailed on me. I never saw her again. I’ve often thought about her over the years, wondering where she was, and how she was, but never once did I think I’d gotten her pregnant during our time together.” “Well, she’s in the country, and she became a teacher,” I update him. “She married a teacher, and she got what she always wanted. Two kids and a white picket fence.” He makes a sound of amusement. “That is what she always wanted, isn’t it? I just wish she didn’t get her dream at my expense.” “I’m here now,” I whisper. “I know,” he replies, smiling sadly. “And now I suddenly can’t picture my life without you.” We share a moment, and a smile. “Now, are you ready for this lesson? We’ll have you riding that bike on your own in no time.” I nod. “I’m ready.” He gets up and offers me his hand, pulling me up. I start to feel a little nervous. I know it’s not the same as driving a car, but the thought of being in control of a machine like this takes me back to the car crash I had years ago, when I was fresh out of high school. While I play off the reason I don’t have a driver’s license to other people, the truth is much different. When I was learning to drive I had an accident that nearly killed me. There was gravel on the road, and I’d lost control of the car, which skidded, and I ended up hitting a tree. My mom was in the passenger seat, and luckily she was fine. But I lost a lot that day, and it took me a long time to recover. And now I’m going to face my fears and learn to trust myself again. Biker-style.

17 I smile and hold on to my dad as we zoom through the streets. After an hour lesson, he asked if I wanted to go for a ride. As if I’d say no. While he didn’t let me actually ride my bike alone, he explained to me what everything was and went through all the safety. He showed me how to start the engine, and I stalled a few times but got the feel for it by the end. I was scared and nervous, but not how I am when I think about driving a car. Maybe a bike is the answer to my problem, and soon I’ll be the one zooming through the streets on Black Beauty, black-and-hot-pink helmet shining in the sunlight. We stop at the beach and walk down to the water, dipping our toes in the waves. “I lived at the beach growing up,” I tell him, smiling out at the ocean. “We live five minutes away from the water, so any time the sun was out, that’s where you’d find us.” “You like living out there?” he asks me, looking up at the sky. “Wouldn’t you like to move to the city? Country towns aren’t places you’re meant to stay forever.” “I really like the college there,” I explain, shrugging. “A few of my friends will be going there. It’s home. I’m all enrolled for my nursing degree, and after that’s done, who knows where I’ll end up.” I glance over at him and add, “And it’s not so far away that I can’t come and visit on weekends and holidays.” “I know,” he murmurs, but still sounds a little sad about the whole thing. “It’s just a little shitty, is all. How long is a nursing degree?” “Four years.” “And you can transfer if you wanted to?” he asks, his expression blank. “Sure, I guess so,” I reply, looking down at my sand-covered toes. “I doubt Mom will be too happy about that though. Eden too.” “You close with your sister then?” he asks, wandering a little deeper into the water, his jeans rolled up to his knees. “Yeah, I am,” I reply. “But she’s my baby sister, so I can’t tell her everything. I’m probably closer with my cousin Celina.”

“Your mom’s brother’s kid?” I nod, surprised. “Yeah. You know him? Celina is great fun.” And has a wild side I can relate to. “She’s also got a kick-ass career and is a completely independent woman, so I guess I look up to her a bit.” “I never met him, but your mom spoke of him.” I’m about to continue when a splash of water hits me in my face. I wipe it away and narrow my eyes and look at my father, who stands there with a grin and wet hands. Oh, it’s on now. I kick my leg up and practically drench him, then run for my life. “You can’t run as fast as me, old man,” I call out to him, laughing as I make my way back to his motorcycle. He arrives there a minute after me, while I lean on his bike with a smug grin. “Oh, there you are.” “You’re a shithead, you know that?” he announces, amusement dancing in his gaze. “Didn’t Mom tell you that too?” He grabs his helmet and says, “Actually, she did.” I roll my eyes. “So cool how no one has tried to kill me again,” I say to Knuckles, raising my bottle of beer. “To being alive.” “To being alive,” he repeats, clinking his bottle against mine. I put my drink down and change the song to “Unforgettable” by French Montana. “I love this song.” “This song is old,” he tells me, leaning back in his chair. “You’re old,” I tell him, bringing my bottle to my lips and tipping it back. “How old are you anyway?” “Old enough.” “To know better?” He barks out a laugh. “You’re a smart-ass just like your father.” “Can I ask you something?” “Sure.”

I lean forward, as if telling him a secret, even though no one else is around and the music would drown out any conversation anyway. “Do you think a man in this MC can be faithful?” “I was,” he admits, ripping the label off his bottle of beer. “I was with Flora for about ten years, and I never once cheated on her. She’d never believe that, though. And if there’s no trust in an environment like this, you’ve got nothing.” “Is Flora your baby mama?” I ask. “Yeah. We haven’t been together for years now, but she still likes to make my life hell whenever she can.” “She thinks you cheated?” “Among other things,” he tells me, lifting his feet up on the coffee table in front of us. “I get it, I do. You see some of the other men being unfaithful, and we don’t say anything to their women. So I guess she thought I was doing the same thing to her. But if she knew me at all, she’d know that I can actually be loyal. When I’m single, sure I like to fuck around, who doesn’t? But if I’m taken, then I’m with that person for a fuckin’ reason, and that’s not to waste my time.” “Are you a closet romantic?” I blurt out, finishing the rest of my beer and grabbing another bottle from the cooler. “Because, Knuckles, I think you are.” “Don’t tell anyone, or I’ll have to kill you,” he teases, running his hand through his beard and smiling. “You can get in line,” I reply in a sarcastic tone. “Apparently more than one person wants to kill me. Or maybe it was you.” “Then my road name would be Poison,” he quips. We both burst out laughing, clearly having had one too many beers by this point. “Next song is your choice,” I tell him, standing up and starting to dance all by myself. “But for now, we’re going to listen to this anthem.” “No Lie” by Sean Paul plays, and I start to sing along to all the words. Knuckles pulls out his phone and starts recording a video of me singing and dancing. “I’m going to send this to Ace.” I freeze. “No, you’re not!” I run to him and try to grab his phone. “Too late,” he murmurs as I jump on him, showing me the little SENT bubble. “You’re an asshole,” I tell him, sighing. “What happens with us should stay between us. The chats, the dancing, the singing, everything. You just gave me a speech on loyalty, and then you

go and do this. I feel so betrayed.” Knuckles laughs and pushes me off him. “You’re so dramatic, Trouble. That’s why I don’t go for the younger women.” “Is that why? Or is it because you can’t get the younger chicks?” I tease, wiggling my eyebrows. Knuckles looks behind me and calls out, “Do you hear the shit that comes out of your kid’s mouth? I think I’m going to have to teach her a lesson.” “What are you going to do? Besides snitch to my dad,” I tease, egging him on. I know he’s just messing around. I really like Knuckles. I know he’s got some badass reputation and is known as the best fighter in the MC, but he’s a really funny, laid-back guy. And he’s such a great father. The way he talks about his kids, and the way I’ve seen him be with them with my own eyes . . . He truly is a good person. Just goes to show that you can’t judge people. Dad walks in, sits down, and takes a beer, cracking it open. “Look at you two carrying on like children.” “Yeah, but only one of us is actually your child,” I remind everyone. I point to my chest. “And that would be me.” I smile at my father and sigh in contentment. “Look at us, having a drink together, like a normal dysfunctional family. And where is Veronica? I thought you two were having a romantic evening together?” “Yeah, she left,” he admits, wincing, and rubbing the back of his neck. “So I thought I’d come and see what all the commotion was about.” “Just me and my bestie Knuckles having beers and deep, meaningful conversations,” I tell him, touching my hot cheeks with my hands. This is how I know I’m drunk, when my face gets hot. “Your bestie?” he asks, throwing back his head and laughing. “Shit, you must be the only person on the face of this earth with enough balls to call the Cursed Ravens’ sergeant at arms your bestie.” Knuckles is the MC’s sergeant at arms? Wait a second . . . “What’s a sergeant at arms?” “It means he’s pretty much the enforcer of the MC,” Dad explains, looking to Knuckles. “He handles all kinds of shit, usually with his fists, and he’s not someone you’d want on your bad side.” I wave my hand dismissively. “He’s been nothing but nice to me ever since I walked through those doors. He has a heart of gold; I don’t care what kind of sergeant he is. And I don’t care if he’s only nice to me because I’m your daughter, either.”

Knuckles starts laughing, and I reach out and touch his beard. “You have a great beard.” “Thanks,” he says, looking at my dad. “Can we keep her, Prez?” “I’m trying,” he grumbles in return, finishing his beer off in a few big gulps. “Hey, I’ll be here whenever I can, as long as you want me here. But I do have this thing called college I need to attend, which I’m already a few years late to, to further my education and get a good job.” “I’m proud of you, Erin. I really fuckin’ am,” Dad says, smiling sadly. “I just wish I had more time with you is all. I know, I’m being selfish.” “You can be as selfish with me as you like,” I tell him, giving his hand a squeeze. “I like that you want me here, Dad. It’s what I wanted.” We share a look, something passing between us. We’re family, it doesn’t matter if we only just met. He’s now one of the most important people in my life. And no one can take that away from me.

18 Covering my face with my hands, I groan and force my eyes open as I wake up with a raging hangover. Everything hurts. I wait about ten minutes before I make myself get into the shower because I smell like beer and need a fresh start to the day. After I throw on my new red tank top and black track pants, I wander into the kitchen for some water. “Please tell me you have some painkillers?” I ask Knuckles, who is sitting shirtless in the kitchen, eating . . . ice cream? “Is that your breakfast?” “Yeah, want some?” he asks, voice thick from sleep. “There’s some Advil in the cupboard on top of the fridge.” I open the cupboard and grab the bottle, then a bottle of water, and sit down, hating life. “How much did we drink last night?” He scrapes the bottom of his bowl, spooning the last of the ice cream. “More than I have in a long-ass time.” “Good morning,” Dad mumbles gruffly as he walks in, glancing around the kitchen. “I need bacon. Should we go and grab something?” I’m sure I look like a heart-eyed emoji right now. “Can we, please? Because I’m about to die.” “Dramatic ass,” Knuckles says, rubbing his temple with his thumb. “Why are you always talking about death?” “Because I feel like death! Maybe my road name can be Reaper. What do you think?” They both ignore me. “What time does everyone return?” I ask as I stand. I want to be here when Ace gets home, not out stuffing my face. I consider my words. Actually, stuffing my face is probably on the same level as seeing him.

“This afternoon,” Dad replies, reaching for the Advil I left on the table. “You know what, Erin? You’re a bad influence on your old father.” I gasp. “I was the young and impressionable one; you both are old. With your centuries of experience, you should know by now when to stop drinking.” They share a look, then both walk out of the kitchen, leaving me alone. “Does this mean we aren’t going to get food?” I call out, grinning to myself. I finish my bottle of water and then send Ace a message. Safe trip home.

I go in search of my father, who drives me to get greasy hangover food. I get something for Knuckles too. Can’t forget the new bestie. The rest of the day is spent being lazy. I read a book and lounge in bed, still not feeling 100 percent, but I did this to myself, so I can’t complain. I hear the rumble of the motorcycles just as I’m on the last chapter of my book, so I run to the front door, watching bike after bike return. I pick him out of the crowd straightaway. I think I’d know him anywhere, even among motorcycles that can look similar to someone who doesn’t know anything about them. With my eyes on only him, I watch as he turns off the engine, gets off the bike, and removes his helmet. Next off comes his familiar leather jacket, which he holds in his arms, then he looks toward the door to where I’m standing. He starts to move, pace quickening, and I can’t stop the smile on my face when he’s standing before me. “Miss me?” he asks with a cheeky, panty-dropping smile. I want to jump in his arms and wrap my legs around him and kiss the crap out of him, like I haven’t seen him in months. I know it’s just been one night, but that’s how I feel. I had a good time without him—Knuckles and Dad are hilarious—but with him here, that’s when it feels most like home. “Not even a little bit,” I reply, giving him a quick hug with my arms around his waist and head on his chest. “I brought you something.” “Hopefully not an STD,” I reply with a straight face and wide eyes. He pushes his cock against me, and I can feel that he’s hard as a rock. “You left me with this, and it hasn’t changed. No one else has touched it, including me. So don’t give me any shit, Erin.” “You sound grumpy,” I state.

“I wonder why,” he growls, leading me away from the door as the men start to walk in. “Hey, Dreads!” I call out as I see him. “How was the run?” “It was good!” he calls back, waving his gloved fingers at me. “Did you get into any trouble while we were gone?” “None.” “The videos Knuckles was sending say otherwise,” Ace mutters, but he can’t hide the amusement in his tone. “I was with my dad,” I point out. “How much trouble could I actually get into?” He was the one doing shady shit that no one will tell me about except Paulina. Had to get that information from her, and just because she wanted to throw something in my face. I wonder if it was her who slipped the poison into my drink. My suspect list thus far is: 1. Veronica 2. Paulina 3. Paulina’s no-named friend who tried to hit on Knuckles The more I think about it, though, Veronica is no longer number one on the list. She’s been nothing but lovely to me, and it makes me question it. What if I want it to be her? Maybe it’s me, hoping that she’s evil so it gets her out of the picture. I know that’s a terrible thing to even think, and it makes me ashamed of my own thoughts, but maybe I’m painting her into some bad person that she’s not just because she’s another part of my dad’s life that I don’t know. It’s not like my parents will ever get back together, so I know it’s ridiculous. She’s probably not even the wicked stepmother I’m making her out to be. Dad walks past us, stopping to greet Ace. “How was everything?” he asks him. “Any problems?” “No,” Ace replies with a headshake. “Was smooth sailing. Rogue has the money.” “Thanks,” he tells Ace, slapping him on the back. I don’t know why guys do that. Like, just hug, it’s okay. Dad looks to me and says, “How are you feeling?” “Better,” I tell him. He looks between the two of us, studying us both for a few seconds. The man isn’t stupid, he has to know that something is going on, but he’s either biding his time before he kills us or he’s changed his mind on the whole situation. I don’t know which one it is—he’s kind of a wild card. “Good,” he replies, looking to the front door. “I’m going to go greet the men.”

“Shouldn’t there be hot babes in bikinis doing that?” I yell as he walks out. “There will be when you go home,” Dad calls out, chuckling. I scowl and turn my eyes to Ace. “He’s joking, right?” “Yeah, he’s joking,” Ace says, opening the door to his room, when he comes to a stop. “The women won’t be wearing any clothes.” This guy. I step inside and close the door behind me. I probably could have tried to look better than the track pants I’m wearing, tank top, and with my hair in a bun on top of my head. No makeup, no effort, nothing. I guess he’s seen me worse. “I’m going to take a shower,” he says, starting to undress. I sit down on the bed and enjoy the show, biting my lower lip as his abs make their appearance. Last night when I was thinking about him, I was saying to myself that I must have exaggerated just how good his body was, but no. It really is that fucking amazing. “Better than I remember.” He runs his hand down his stomach. “Like what you see?” “I’d like to see more,” I reply, eyeing the bulge in his pants. I don’t like giving Ace too many compliments, because I know how big his ego is already. He’s used to getting what he wants and who he wants, and he’s used to women pawing at him whenever he’s around. I keep flashing back to the first night I saw him, sitting on that chair like a king on a throne, surrounded by all those beautiful women. That’s what he’s used to. But then again, none of those women have lasted. He’s still single, he has no old lady, and he’s got his eyes on me, for now at least. He undoes his jeans and removes them along with his boxers, and stands there in all his glory. “Fuck, I missed that body,” I whisper, licking my lips. I crook my finger at him. “Would you come over here?” I know better than to command him. He’d probably oblige, just to humor me, but he’d never truly let me be in control. To test this theory, I demand, “Lie back on the bed.” Straightaway I’m given a look. An I’m sorry, what? look. I simply smile. He walks closer and stands in front of me, his hard, thick cock right in front of my face. “I’ve wanted to do this ever since I laid my eyes on you,” I tell him, taking his cock in my hand and stroking it a few times before sucking it into my mouth. I might not be a pro at this,

but I always give it my best, and I actually enjoy doing it. Much like the noises he made when he was going down on me, I moan as I take as much of his cock into my mouth as I can manage. He’s big, so it’s hard, and my eyes start to water when I get a little ahead of myself, my gag reflex kicking in. I take him out and start all over again, using my hand up and down his shaft, licking and sucking the head of him. His fingers squeeze the back of my neck, as he groans and whispers my name. “Fuckin’ hell,” he curses, his breath hitching as I continue to suck, tease, and lick his cock for the first time. I can tell he’s close by his louder moans and the way his hand tightens on my neck. “I’m going to come, princess.” I know you are, I want to say, but my mouth is a little full. As he comes, the first squirt hits the back of my throat, and I swallow quickly. I’ve never swallowed before, but for some reason I want to taste him. It’s not so bad, I just don’t think about it and keep swallowing as I listen to his cries of pleasure, his deep moans and sounds as he finishes in my mouth. His hand loses its hold but stays on my nape, gently stroking my skin. I slide him out of my mouth and glance up at him, a smug look on my face. He pushes me back on the bed and straddles my hips, careful not to put his weight on me. “You have no idea how badly I needed that.” He leans down and kisses me, not caring what just happened. I like that. “Your mouth, fuck,” he continues, peppering kisses across my cheeks, my forehead, my nose. “It’s good at more than just witty banter and jokes,” I say, kissing the arch of his neck and biting down gently on the skin. “My turn,” he whispers into my ear, moving down my body. Did I mention how happy I am that he’s back?

19 I turn the key into the on position, making sure the bike isn’t in gear, and push my right thumb down on the START button. “See, I’m on my way to being the first female member.” “Pay attention,” Ace chides from behind me. I’m sitting between his legs on my bike, his lips at my ear as he tells me what to do. I showed him what I’ve learned already, and he showed me how to find the grab point of the clutch, but with his body wrapped around mine from behind, I’m feeling a little distracted. How does he ride with me behind him? I can’t seem to think of anything except his big, strong thighs touching me and the things I’d like him to do to me on this bike. “How am I meant to pay attention when all I want you to do is bend me over this bike and have your way with me?” I ask him, letting go of the handlebars and swiveling my body around so my legs are over his and my face is in front of him. “Don’t give me ideas,” he warns, cupping my cheek with his rough palm. “What the fuck am I going to do with you?” he asks, tone softening. “I could give you a few ideas,” I whisper back quietly, our eyes connecting and holding. I don’t know what’s happening here, or how it happened, or how I even get myself into this situations, but the man in front of me is consuming me. I’ve never wanted anyone so badly in my life. And he’s never going to be mine. That’s the reality of it, and I need to be honest with myself. I will go home, and he will go back to doing what he does. I can’t help it though. I’m not going to give up my education, and I can’t see him wanting to do a long-distance relationship. He’s not a man who goes without sex. I’m surprised he actually didn’t have any last night, if I’m being honest. He makes an mmmm sound, and moves his hands down to my waist, my hips, and then lands on my ass. “I want to take you out tonight.” “Where?” I ask him, excitement filling me.

“I’ll tell him I’m taking you out to eat to get away for a little while,” he says, kissing my forehead. “I’ll show you the city, take you out for dinner and dessert, and we can even see a movie or something, if you like.” “Can we go on the bike?” I ask him, sounding hopeful to even my own ears. He chuckles quietly. “Yes, Erin. We can go on my bike.” “Get a room!” Knuckles calls out as he gets out of his car, two bags of groceries in his hands. “What food did you get?” I ask him as he approaches. I move off the bike, because it’s a little awkward to be in that intimate pose with someone watching. “Just some things to make dinner for everyone,” he replies, glancing down. “Thought I’d mix it up a bit.” “Mix things up or because Veronica and the other women aren’t here to feed everyone?” I ask, smirking at him. “Yeah, where the fuck are all the women?” Knuckles asks Ace, frowning. “The place is getting messy, and there’s no food, and I’m hungry.” Ace looks at me. “The single women aren’t here because Prez doesn’t want to make his kid uncomfortable, and Veronica isn’t here because she’s jealous he’s spending all his time with said kid.” “I’m not a kid,” I add, rolling my eyes. “And I don’t care if women are here, tell him to let them in. I want to eat, too, you know. And I’m not cooking for everyone every night, so we need them.” I look to Ace, and add, “Just no women that Ace has licked, kissed, or fucked.” “That’s all the women we know.” Knuckles sighs, scowling. “You’re ruining our lives, man.” Is Ace known as the club man-whore? Trust me to choose him out of all the men. “It’s like the Ravens’ women have gone on strike.” I snicker, looking between both men. “I’m sorry. But when I leave, things will go back to normal. You can be as slutty as you like, and I won’t be here to feel uncomfortable about it and call you out on your behavior.” The thought of Ace with another woman makes me feel a little sick to my stomach, but it is what it is. He’s not mine to get jealous over. I’m just going to enjoy him while I have him and then let him go. Like that butterfly quote. Let them free, or whatever. Ace scowls in my direction, but I ignore him. “So what are you going to cook?” I ask Knuckles, wondering what I’ll be missing out on,

since I won’t be here for dinner. “Steak and shit,” is his reply. “Lovely,” I say, looking back at Ace. “What a shame we will be missing this steak and shit.” “Where are you two going to be?” Knuckles asks, placing the bags on the ground, like he never plans on leaving. “Out,” Ace replies, tone daring him to push further. “I see,” Knuckles murmurs, stroking the end of his beard. “Be careful.” “Always.” I look from Knuckles to Ace. “Be careful of what?” “We aren’t the only MC in the city,” Knuckles explains, glancing out over their land. “So you have enemies,” I gather, leaning back against Ace. “And what happens if you run into them?” “Hope you never find out,” Knuckles says, picking up the bags and heading toward the front door. “But have fun, you two. Don’t do anything I’d do.” “Like wash my beard?” I call out. He gives me the finger, and I laugh. What a great guy. “I’ve never seen anyone give Knuckles shit and live to tell the story,” Ace rumbles, placing his hands on my shoulders and starting to massage me a little. “You’re lucky he has a soft spot for you.” “We’re best friends,” I say, moaning as he rubs his thumb along a knot on my back. “That feels so good. What time do you want to leave tonight? I need to get pretty.” “Six?” he suggests, spinning me around and wrapping his arms around me. “And you’re already pretty.” “Well, prettier, then,” I say, lifting my head up to look at him. Our time is coming to an end, but I’m not going to think about that tonight. No, tonight I’m going to be in the present and enjoy my first date with my biker man. “So let me get this straight,” I start, needing to clarify. “You haven’t been on an actual date in four years? So what have you been doing then? Boning and bailing?”

“Something like that.” He smirks, taking a sip of his Scotch. When Ace said we were going out to eat, I didn’t think he’d take me to the most expensive restaurant there is. I didn’t say anything, but I’ve heard of this place, and have always wanted to eat here. I also heard that there is a long-ass waiting list, so I don’t know how he got us in last-minute. “And spare me from your judgy look.” “I’m never judgmental,” I sniff, raising my own glass to my mouth. “I’m an Aquarius. We’re known for being open-minded and rebellious.” Which is why I’m on a date with a forbidden biker and man-whore who will more than likely break my heart in the end. “Don’t give me that star-sign shit.” He laughs, placing his glass down and studying me. “People use that shit all the time to act like assholes.” My jaw drops open. I love astrology. Not the day-to-day stuff, but the sign character and personality traits; I love that shit. “What sign are you? Let me guess. Probably a Virgo or a Scorpio.” He stills. “Someone told you that, didn’t they?” “Ha! Which one are you? The overcritical Virgo, or the craziness that is a Scorpio?” I ask him, arching my brow. “Who would have told me that? You think I’m walking around the clubhouse asking men when your birthday is?” “I’m a Virgo,” he replies, gray eyes narrowing. “That was just a lucky guess then. I’m not overly critical.” He pauses, and sighs. “You’re going to blame everything on me being a Virgo now, aren’t you?” “I’m not blaming anything on you,” I say, shrugging. “You brought me to Bravo’s to eat, which is a restaurant I’ve wanted to go to forever, so there’s nothing bad I can say about you right now.” He glances around the restaurant. “You like this place, huh?” I nod. “Are you kidding me? It’s the hardest place to get a reservation. I tried for my eighteenth birthday when Mom brought me to the city, but no luck.” He leans closer to me, voice lowered. “You know who owns this place right?” I shake my head. He starts laughing to himself, and I wait patiently for him to finish. “Remember I told you we own a few businesses?” “Get out of here,” I whisper. “You guys own this place? I thought you meant strip clubs and a brothel or something, not a flashy, expensive Italian restaurant.” These men are just full of surprises.

“We own those too,” he says casually, reaching over and taking my hand. “But this is definitely where most of our income is generated. It was actually originally Mac’s family business, but it was called something else back then, and we fixed it up, changed the name, improved the menu, and did renovations et cetera, and people just loved it. We hardly come here anymore, but we all used to eat here all the time.” “I’m still in shock,” I admit. The waitress comes over with our meals, and we both thank her as she places the plates in front of each of us. We both ordered pasta—me a seafood marinara, and him a carbonara. He also got some breaded chicken and garlic bread. We had oysters for an appetizer, which was my first time trying them. I still don’t know how to feel about them. “You underestimate us,” he says, picking up his fork. “You see the side of us most people never get to see, Erin. We aren’t like this with everyone, and I think that’s where you’re getting confused.” I don’t want to admit it, but maybe he’s right. They’ve had to be good to me from the getgo, respectful, and treat me like one of their own. If I was a random just walking in, it would have been a whole different scenario. “That might be true, but I go by how people treat me, so it doesn’t really change anything from my standpoint.” I know they didn’t get to where they are now by being nice to everyone and following the law. They’re bikers. But at the same time they’ve been only kind to me. Welcoming. So I see them as good people. To me, they are good people. “Tell me something about you, Ace,” I say, studying him. “Do you think you’ll be in the MC forever? How does that all work?” He nods instantly. “Yeah, of course. The Ravens are my family. And my goal is to move up the ranks and become vice president, and who knows? Maybe even one day I’ll be leading the whole MC.” “Ambitious, then,” I reply with a teasing smile. “I guess we all need goals, right?” “Something like that.” I take a bite of my food and moan as a prawn hits my tongue. “This is amazing. Thank you for bringing me here. I can now tick a dinner at Bravo’s off my bucket list.” “You’ll be coming here many more times, I assure you,” he says, like it’s no big deal. And to him it probably isn’t. Will it be with him, though?

20 After dinner and dessert, we go for a ride around the city to all the scenic views and hot spots. The place is so alive, so many people doing different things. So different from home. I breathe in all the scents and soak up the new experiences, loving every second of it. We’re standing side by side, peering over a high-up view of the city when he asks, “Do you still want to see a movie? Or do you want to go back to the clubhouse?” I move to stand in front of him, my back to the view. “Up to you, I’m easy.” “You’re far from easy,” he murmurs, bending down and giving me a quick taste of his lips. “You taste like chocolate mousse.” “I want to taste you again,” he whispers into my ear. “I think I could get addicted to the taste of your pussy, Erin.” I glance around, blushing, making sure no one can hear, even though he said it so softly there’s no chance anyone else could. “What, all of a sudden you’re shy?” he teases, kissing my cheek and then my neck. I close my eyes and let my head fall back, giving him easy access. “I’m not shy.” “You smell so good,” he says, licking my neck. His hands find my hips and pull me against him, and lust takes over, nothing else mattering in this moment. “I want you, Ace. I mean really want you,” I tell him, moaning. “I want your cock inside of me. You say I’ve only been with boys, well why don’t you show me what it’s like to be with a man.” This morning, after I went down on him, he returned the favor, making me come twice with his devilish tongue, but he didn’t have sex with me. He had his shower, and then we cuddled in bed before heading outside to check out my bike. “Fuckin’ hell, Erin,” he grits out. “I’ve tried to be good around you, and it hasn’t been easy.” “And why are you being good?” I ask him, confused. “Because of what my dad said? Do you really think he doesn’t know what’s going on? I spend most, if not all, of my time with you. We’re on a fucking date right now, and he has to know that.”

“It’s complicated,” he mutters, looking away from me. “It’s a respect thing, you wouldn’t understand.” “And eating my pussy is respectful?” I ask, scowling, shaking my head. “I don’t get it, Ace. Do you want me or not?” “Wanting you isn’t the issue.” “Then what is? I haven’t had sex in a really long time, I’m talking over a year, and I really like you, Ace. I want you. I want you to fuck me. Are you going to give me that or not? Because it feels like a game you’re playing, and I have no idea what’s going on. I’m going to be leaving soon, and the men have made hints that you’re basically a ladies’ man and fuck heaps of women, so I’m a little confused as to why you won’t fuck me when it’s obvious that there’s something here between us.” He pushes me back against the railing and kisses me, punishing me with his lips, his fingers tightening on my waist. If I’ve pushed him too far with my honesty, then too bad. Apparently men aren’t good at communication at any age. He ends the kiss and pulls me to his bike without saying a word. I climb on the back, tension between us at an all-time peak. I know he can’t feel my pebbled nipples through my leather jacket, but I can, and all I want to do is have his mouth on them. I hold on to him as he rides off, taking me fuck knows where. I try to enjoy the ride, but it’s hard when my panties are damp and I’m sexually frustrated and confused. Don’t get me wrong—I love his company, but to be honest, I’m a little offended that he will fuck any woman in heels . . . but he won’t fuck me. I don’t get it. Does he not want me as badly as I do him? He used the word respect, but all I want is some fuckin’ disrespect from him right now. Until we leave the bed, at least, then I can go back to being his princess. When the bike comes to a stop in a parking lot, I look around to see where he’s taken me. A hotel. Oh, shit. He walks me inside, still in silence, and stops at reception. “Do you have any rooms available for tonight?” he asks the lady. She presses some buttons on her keyboard and nods. “Yes, sir. We have plenty of rooms.” He places his credit card down on the desk. “One night please, your best room.” Her eyes widen. “Sir, the best room is three thousand—” “That’s fine,” he says, waving away her concern.

I open my mouth, then close it. That’s a lot of money, especially if we aren’t going to be able to stay the entire night. “Are you sure—?” “Not a word from you,” he says in a low, deep voice, so only I can hear. I sigh heavily but listen to him. This was my idea, and if he wants to spend thousands, that’s on him. Meanwhile, I don’t even have that much money in my savings account, never mind blowing it on one night. After she hands over our key, he takes my hand and leads me to the elevator. We get in, alone, and as soon as the doors close, he pushes me back against the wall and kisses me, roughly, lifting my hands and pinning them above my head. The saying “Be careful what you wish for” flashes through my mind. I wanted all of him, and now I’m going to get it. But am I ready for it? The elevator comes to a stop, and he steps away from me, leaving me panting. Breathless. I push myself off the wall and step out of the elevator, Ace following closely behind. I don’t know which way our room is, so I silently wait for him to direct me. With a hand on the small of my back, he leads me to the right, and down a long hallway. The hotel is impressive, beautifully decorated and modern, but I don’t have the time or the inclination to stop and admire the view. My mind is focused on one thing and one thing only. We come to a stop in front of room 7328, and Ace opens the door. I walk in and briefly glance around before I turn and face him. He’s about a foot away from me, and my heart is starting to race, the air so thick in the room that I don’t know how we’re both not suffocating. He places the key down on the table and then removes his leather jacket, followed by his navy-blue shirt. He takes his belt off next, slowly, seductively, and then holds it in his hands like he wants to spank me with it. “What are you going to do with that?” I ask him, wide-eyed, but my tone husky and sinful. He throws it on the bed with a smirk, then undoes the button of his jeans, and removes them. He’s not wearing any underwear. “Undress,” he commands. I remove item by item—my jeans, my top, and then my bra and panties—while he watches intently, taking in every single part of my body. Nothing can be hidden from him, so I just stand there, naked, letting him take his fill. My body isn’t perfect, but I know that he likes what he sees, and I don’t feel self-conscious. I feel beautiful, sexy, and excited. I know I will never regret this, even if after I leave, nothing ever happens between us again.

“You’re perfect,” he rumbles, closing the space between us. “You drive me fuckin’ crazy, Erin.” “The feeling is mutual,” I reply, reaching out to touch his cock, which I can see hardening before my very eyes. “You have no idea how badly I want you.” “Why don’t you show me?” he asks, reaching down to play with my breasts. “Lay back on the bed and spread your legs for me.” I swallow hard, then sit down on the bed, scooting backward and lying down. Probably not the most graceful movement, but oh well. I make sure our eyes are connected as I slowly spread my thighs, showing my glistening sex. He takes his time lowering his gaze down my body before stopping on my pussy and licking his lips. “On your knees,” he demands. “I want you to bend over, so I can lick you from behind this time.” Oh. I roll over and scoot up onto my knees, bending over for him. If he hadn’t seen everything before, he definitely has now. I really hope I did a good enough job shaving, because in this light, he will definitely be able to see everything. Warm hands cup the globes of my ass and squeeze, and then a wet tongue is on me, licking me from behind. I’ve never done this before, and I find myself being turned on by the new, vulnerable position of being down on my elbows. He slides a finger inside me while he licks my clit, making those moaning noises that turn me on so fucking much that I bite down on the pillow in front of me. As he slips a second finger inside, my orgasm hits me out of nowhere. I cry out as he draws every last ounce of pleasure out of me. Then he’s gone and I hear him opening a condom and sliding it on, his cock pressing against the entrance to my sex. Before he can slide in, I push back against him, sliding up on his erection. He moans, and gently slaps my ass. “Wait.” “Don’t want to wait,” I reply. He pulls out of me completely, and rolls me over so I’m on my back. Inserting himself between my thighs, looking down at me. “Kiss me,” I whisper, and I don’t need to ask twice. He kisses me slowly, deeply, and pushes himself inside me at the same time. He’s big, but he works himself in gradually and takes his time. I lift my hips up to meet his, because I don’t want to be a starfish, and dig my nails into his back as his strokes increase, turning faster and deeper. “Fuck, you feel good,” he grits out, kissing my neck and sucking and biting, and driving me wild. Next he pays attention to my breasts, licking and sucking on them until my back is arched and I can’t even remember what my name is, my hands squeezing them and bringing them to

his lips. He pulls out and moves behind me, in the spooning position, lifting my leg up and sliding back inside me. I close my eyes and just feel while he kisses my ear, my neck, my jawline, and reaches between us to play with my clit with his fingers. I come twice before he finishes. We sleep for an hour or two, me wrapped in his arms, before I’m woken up again with his mouth between my legs, followed by another round of delicious sex. And I realize that he was right. I’ve never been with a real man before.

21 As I wake, I smile before I even open my eyes, remembering last night. I can still feel him, deliciously sore, as I lazily stretch my body. We got back to the clubhouse at 6:00 a.m. and snuck back into our own rooms. I don’t know why we felt the need to do that, considering we were gone all night, but I guess now that we’re back here nothing has really changed. Away from the MC, it’s just me and Ace, but here, it’s everyone. We can’t only think of ourselves because the MC is a unit. And my dad happens to be the leader of that unit. I have a long shower, get dressed, and go to see if Ace is awake. When he doesn’t answer when I knock on his door, I head to the kitchen instead. I’m walking past one of the rooms when I hear my dad’s voice. “I told you to do what you had to do to keep her here!” he growls. “Not keep her out all night, leaving me worried sick about her! The only reason I haven’t killed you for going after my daughter after my warning is because I don’t want her to leave.” “She’s still here, isn’t she?” Ace replies. I freeze the second I hear his voice. Dad told Ace to do anything to keep me here? Anything? I flash back to last night. Well, he sure fucking did not just do anything, but everything. “Yeah, she’s here, where she needs to be, but I don’t want you taking her out and not fuckin’ coming home again, Ace. I’m serious. I didn’t want her to be with a biker, but if that’s what it’s going to take to make her stay, then so be it.” He pauses, then adds, “Jesus. I knew you two were close, but I never thought you’d go there. If this is the tactic you are using, you damn well better not hurt her. I will kill you slowly, in front of all the men, to show them what happens when someone goes against my orders. And you can say good-bye to being vice president when I step down and Rogue takes over.”

I cover my face with my hands, trying to process what I’m hearing. It sounds to me like my father has been blackmailing Ace to be with me so that I stay here. He’s promising that he’ll be vice president? Even during my father’s outburst on that first night I’ve never heard him sound so scary; his tone makes me want to go hide. This is exactly what Ace was trying to tell me. I’ve been shown only the good, the nice, and the fun. I haven’t been shown the reality. This, right here, is the truth of who they are. Ace is with me because my father gave him an incentive. So I would stay here. So he can move up in the MC world. The whole thing was one big game to them. A ruse. And I’ve been manipulated and lied to the entire time. Betrayed again by people who I thought cared about me, by the two men who mean the most to me. I run back to my room and lock the door behind me. I need to get the fuck out of here, now. I pack all my things, then sit on the edge of my bed. I want to get out of here with no hassle, no drama, and just storming out with my bag, with all the guys around, isn’t going to accomplish that. Maybe the men will have things going on during the day and I can sneak away. I’m going to have to wait for the perfect moment and then bail. I could always call Eden, who will take a few hours to get here, or Celina, who lives in the city and is someone I know will have my back no matter what. I even search her name in my phone contacts, my index finger lingering over her number. One press, and she will be here, but for some reason I put my phone away. I guess I just don’t feel like explaining the situation to anyone. I’d rather be alone. I’ll leave a letter, because I don’t want anyone to worry about me, saying that I’m fine but I’ve decided to go home or something. I absently rub my chest, as it starts to suddenly feel tight, like I can’t breathe. I woke up so happy, and now I just feel so used and manipulated. They will never see me on the same level as them. I’m a pawn. Maybe this is a blessing in disguise. Right now though, I’m hurt. I thought I’d found more family, but all I found are men who lie to me. Who pretend and who manipulate. I’ve been nothing but trusting and naïve, a young country girl with no idea of the world I was entering into. I’m so stupid. I was willing to try to adapt just so I could keep these people in my life, but all the while they were scheming to get what they wanted. The betrayal cuts so deep that I can almost feel myself bleeding out.

Men like them will do anything to get what they want, even at someone else’s expense. I climb back into bed and get under the covers. I know for this plan to work I need to act like everything is okay, but I don’t know how I’m supposed to do that. I’m not that good of an actress. All I know is someone tried to kill me, my father is doing anything he can to make me stay, including using my attraction to Ace against me, and as for Ace . . . That’s just the arrow right through my fucking heart. “What are you doing?” Ace asks when he finds me sitting on the grass in the same spot I sat with my dad two days ago, looking over the property. “Enjoying the sunlight,” I tell him, forcing a smile. “I had a really good time last night,” he says, looking down at the grass. “You surprised me.” “How?” I ask, honestly curious. Even though he’s a lying piece of shit. “I don’t know,” he says, tilting his head to the side and bringing those gray eyes back to me. “You were wilder than I thought you’d be.” I smirk. “Never underestimate me.” “Won’t be making that mistake again. So, listen, I was wondering if—” “Ace!” Rogue calls out to him. “We gotta leave now. There’s a problem that’s come up and we’re being sent to handle it.” “Fuck, okay,” he calls back, then sends me an apologetic look. “I’ll be back in a bit. Do you want anything while I’m out? Food?” “No, I’m good,” I tell him, smiling sadly. “I’ll see you.” He bends and kisses the top of my head. “I’m all yours when I get back.” He will never be all mine. I doubt he ever wanted to be. I watch him walk away and get into a car with Rogue. As soon as he and the other men are out of sight, I head back inside, grab my bag, leave the note, and make my escape. I glance down the hallway, making sure it’s clear before casually walking to the front door and gently closing it shut behind me. As I make my way to the road, I see Veronica. I remember her words and look at her, pleading with my eyes for her not to tell anyone. She gives me a slight nod and turns to go back inside. For the first time, I’m thankful for her. I know she won’t tell my father.

I wait until I’m down a few blocks before I call a cab and ask them to take me to the bus station. I’m going home. I’m an hour into my trip when my phone starts ringing, call after call, message after message. I put it on silent and put my earphones in, drowning out reality with music. I’d messaged Eden, asking her if she can come get me when my bus arrives. I didn’t contact my mom, because I know exactly what she will say and it’s not what I want to hear right now. Two hours into the bus ride, I ask myself if I’m overreacting. But then I remember the words I overheard, and how they were discussing me like they both didn’t care what I wanted or what was best for me. They only care about themselves. The MC is their family, and it doesn’t matter that I’m blood related to one member, I will never be included in that family. They will never respect me how I want to be respected. What an idiot I’ve been. I should have gone for a visit, met Dad, had a good time, and then come back home to my real life. I shouldn’t have gotten lost in that world, and, more than anything, I shouldn’t have gotten lost in Ace. If I’m being honest with myself, because I’ve never felt like I’ve truly fit in, I guess I thought that maybe I’d found my place. The place where I’m meant to be. The missing piece in my life. How naïve I’ve been. I don’t feel guilty avoiding my phone, because the letter explains that I’m safe and that I’ve realized how much I need to do before going to college, and I decided to get back to jump-start my real life. I just feel so numb right now. So stupid. I knew that my dad and Ace were both hinting at my staying, but the plan they came up with shows what kind of people they are. Ed Sheeran gets me through the rest of the bus ride, and when I see my sister waiting for me, I smile. Eden looks nothing like me, and everyone now knows why, but she is absolutely beautiful, with her chocolate-brown hair and matching eyes. “Hello, baby sister,” I say, giving her a warm hug. “Thanks for coming to get me.” “Of course,” she replies, smiling. “I’m just happy you’re home. This place has been boring without you.” “I’ll bet.” “Do you want to grab a coffee and something to eat? You can tell me everything about your trip.” “That sounds nice,” I tell her, throwing my bag in the backseat of her car, then jumping into the passenger side. It kind of sucks that my younger sister drives and I don’t, but my fear makes me let go of that fact.

“What have I missed?” I ask her when we’re on the road. “Not much,” she replies, turning the music down a little. “Mom was all freaking out about you being with your dad, and she and Dad fought about it a fair bit, that’s about it. I’ve been working and trying to save money.” Eden just finished high school, but instead of going straight to college she’s decided to take a gap year and travel, so she’s been working her ass off doing two part-time jobs and saving everything she earns. “I didn’t even tell Mom I was coming home,” I admit, expelling a deep sigh. “Did you?” “No, she’s at work,” she tells me. “You know her, she usually stays back in the classroom and does her grading, or gives a few kids extra help if they need it.” My mom is a really good teacher. She genuinely cares about the children in her class. “I can just imagine the grilling I’m going to get,” I grumble, glancing out the window at the familiar surroundings. It feels good to be home, but sad at the same time. It kind of feels like this place is exactly the same, but I’m not. Time with the Ravens changed me. Whether for the good or bad, is to be seen. I left my new riding gear and clothes hanging in the closet in my room. I figure that I’m not going to need them, since I won’t be riding on any motorcycles here. Eden pulls up to our favorite café, and we occupy our usual table at the back, by the window. “So what’s your dad like?” “He’s . . .” I trail off, not knowing what to say. If you’d have asked me this question before I overheard that conversation, I’d be raving about him. But now? I don’t even know how to answer. “Not what I expected. He isn’t just a member of the motorcycle club—he is the president. So I stayed there and got to know him and his men, and it was nice, but it was time for me to come home.” I’m not going to tell anyone what happened. And I’m not going to tell anyone about Ace. Just another secret to add to my collection.

22 I’m glad you’re back home, where you belong,” Mom says, hugging me tightly. I squeeze her back and let myself be vulnerable for a few long moments. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming today? I would have made your favorite meal for you.” “It’s fine, Mom,” I tell her. “It was kind of a last-minute decision, I wasn’t sure if I was going to come back today or tomorrow,” I lie. I look behind her and say hello to Brock. I grew up calling him Dad, and it’s the only name I’d known him by. Do I call him Brock now? It’s so awkward, and I’m not sure how to handle the situation. I step to him and give him a warm hug, one that he quickly returns. “Good to have you home, kiddo,” he murmurs, clearing his throat. “I hope you found what you were looking for.” Oh, I found something all right. “Thanks,” I say, smiling at him. “I may not be your biological father, Erin, but I’ll always be your dad. I was there the day you were born, and I’ll always be there for you, no matter what happens,” he says to me, looking me in the eye. “Okay,” I say, tears pooling in my eyes. “I think there’s something in my eye.” “Must be your hay fever acting up,” he says, squeezing my shoulder. “Yeah, must be. I’m going to have a shower and unpack my things,” I tell them both, walking to my childhood bedroom and dropping onto the floral sheets. I bury my face in my pillow and take a few moments to pull myself together. Then I roll over and check my phone. Thirty-one missed calls. Ten new messages. I skim the messages, most of them are from Ace, but one is from Knuckles, so I read that one first. Let me know you made it home safely, please. Love you bestie.

I smile sadly down at the screen. Fuck, I’m going to miss Knuckles. I type him a quick message and hit SEND. I’m home safely, bestie. And I miss you already.

He replies instantly. Thank fuck. Well if you miss me too much, you know where to find me.

He doesn’t question me, and I appreciate it. The next message I open up is from Ace. Where are you? Are you okay?

That was the first one, followed by: I just saw your letter. You left without saying bye? What the fuck, Erin?

I sigh and delete the messages, as well as the other ones from him without bothering to read them. I don’t delete my dad’s, but I’m not ready to read his, either. I know Knuckles will pass that message on that I’m fine. I don’t want them to worry about me; it’s not attention I’m after. I just need to figure out how I’m supposed to process all of this. I was thrown into a new world, then thrown back, and I don’t know where I want to be. I was falling in love with Ace. I’m so stupid. There’s no doubt about it, and now I need to try to stop those feelings. I need to forget about him, and I know how hard that’s going to be. I wish I’d never met him, I wish I never knew men like that existed, and I’d never known that kind of instant attraction and connection with a man. Maybe I’ll never know it again. But just because I feel that way doesn’t mean I can try to justify what I heard. Did he even like me? I feel so embarrassed and ashamed that this has happened. I’ve never felt anything before like I did with Ace, and the whole thing was a joke to him. Maybe all he did see me as was a young, trusting, and naïve girl whom he could use, probably because he could tell just how much I liked him. Maybe that’s why he didn’t want to sleep with me. Maybe he was just following orders. What word did Dad use? Oh yes, tactic. I know he liked me to some extent, I do. You can’t fake some of the feelings and emotions between us, but I shouldn’t have to question that. They speak of loyalty above all else, well, where was their loyalty to me? They call me the princess of the Cursed Ravens MC, but they treated me like a puppet. It’s like there is no one out there I can truly trust and know that they have my best interests at heart. Everyone is just out for themselves. Clint cheated after my accident, when I needed him the most. My mom kept me away from my biological father, and then lied to me about who my real father was. Dad used my feelings for Ace to get what he wanted, which was for me to stay with him. And Ace . . . Ace used all of this to have his cake and eat it too. He tried to win everything.

Me. His ranking in the MC. And my dad’s approval to be with me. His was the worst betrayal of all. He played with my emotions and now I’ll never know if it was real. It’s time for me to look forward, focus on college, and reach my own personal goals. No more Ravens. When I hear the rumble of motorcycles, I tell myself I must be imagining it. I look at the time on my phone, 9:00 a.m. I close my eyes and pull the covers over my face, but then I hear it again, louder this time, closer. I get out of bed, sliding my feet into pink unicorn slippers before opening my blinds and looking outside. There are three men on motorcycles in the front of my house. What the fuck? Ace, Knuckles, and the president himself. Did they bring Knuckles to soften me up? I quickly brush my teeth and try to tame my hair before stepping outside my room, and coming face-to-face with my mother. Shit. “What are they doing here?” she whisper-yells, her wild hair making her look like a crazy woman. “I don’t know,” I reply, becoming frantic. “I have no idea, Mom, but I’m going to go out there and find out.” “What am I meant to do? Just stay in here?” she asks, scowling. “Unless you want to come out in your pajamas to see the man you conceived me with,” I reply, walking toward the door. I really don’t want her out here, because I don’t want her to hear the fight that’s about to ensue. Although, knowing my luck, she’ll be able to hear my raised voice from inside the house anyway. “Erin,” she chastises, muttering something under her breath. I flash her a cheeky smile and open the front door, the cold morning chill hitting me with full force. Closing the door behind me, I walk up to the men, my eyes on Ace, who has gotten

off his bike and is standing on my driveway, patiently waiting, while the other two men are doing the same. “What are you doing here?” I ask him, wrapping my arms around myself. “How do you even know where I live?” “You can’t just leave like that without thinking we wouldn’t want to know why,” he tells me, his eyes cold and hard. Yeah, he’s pissed, but you know what? So am I. “Pretty sure I can do what I like,” I reply, lifting my chin. “I wanted to go home, so I did. You all knew I was going to go back any day anyway, so I don’t see what the big deal is.” Knuckles and Dad walk up and stand on either side of Ace. “You left without saying good-bye,” Dad murmurs, a confused and sad look on his face. “I don’t get it, what happened that made you leave like that?” I look between him and Ace, emotions filling me, and then I turn to Knuckles, the safest one out of all of them. He flashes me a small smile, a look of comfort, and I appreciate it. “I heard your conversation,” I tell them all, looking them in the eye. “I heard how you,” I say to my dad, “told Ace to do whatever he needs to do to make me stay. I can’t believe how much I trusted both of you, and let you in, and then to hear that . . . I’m not some puppet you can both try to control. And to be honest, I don’t want to see either of you any time in the near future.” I turn to Knuckles and ask him, “Did you know about this?” He stays silent a moment too long, giving me the answer. “Well, some bestie you are. You preach about loyalty, but you gave me none. So much for being a part of the family, huh?” “Erin, wait, I know it sounds bad, but—” I cut my father off. He’s the last person I want to talk to right now. “You told your men to stay away from me because you didn’t want me to be a part of your lifestyle, and now you have that. It doesn’t matter that later you came up with some plan to use the feelings I had for Ace against me just to get what you wanted. And don’t get me started on the fact that you all but bribed him to move up the ranks in the club if he did what you asked, which was nothing short of breaking my fucking heart.” “Erin, don’t do this,” Dad says to me, reaching his hand out and then withdrawing it. “At least let’s sit down and have a proper discussion. It’s not what you think. I’ve fucked up, okay, but—” “There are no buts.” At least not this time.

His jaw is tight, and his expression is full of frustration. What can he say though? He’s been caught out in his lies, and yes, I know he loves me. I mean, look at what he was doing just to get me to stay with him longer, but fuck, it’s not about him. He can’t make decisions for me, especially the way he tried to go about it. And as for Ace. I guess he really will do whatever his president wants, including fucking his daughter. “Wait,” Ace murmurs, shaking his head. “Let me explain, Erin.” “What is there to explain?” I say, scoffing. I look down at my slippers and continue, “You guys wasted the trip. As you can see, I’m fine. You don’t need to worry about me, and I sure as hell won’t be worrying about you.” I turn and walk back up my driveway, but Ace stops me by grabbing my wrist and spinning me around. “I wanted you from the first second I saw you, but I knew you were off-limits. So after you were poisoned, when Prez saw that we liked each other, yes, he changed his mind and gave me the green light, and yes, that’s because he wanted you to stay, because he loves you. But can you really blame me for taking the only option I had to be able to be with you without betraying my MC and my family? Everything we have is real, princess.” His words have their effect on me, but I don’t let him see that. I’m still angry, and I’m not ready to hear his side. All I can hear is their conversation in my head, and all I can feel is the pain of it. “Please, leave,” I tell all of them. “My life is here, and it’s clear what you all truly think of me.” I walk back inside and close the door behind me, tears dripping down my cheeks. The sobs that come out from me are sounds I’ve never made before. How did I let them in so easily? I thought I’d found my people, where I’m meant to be, but now they’ve taken it away from me. Even right now, even though I’m so angry and all I want to do is lash out at them, there’s nothing more I’d want than to be on the back of Ace’s bike, or back in the clubhouse. I’m not going to trust them again though. And I don’t know if I can forgive them. Why are people always lying to me? They all knew how hurt I was over the lies Mom told me, and they did the same damn thing. I can’t think of anything worse. My mom waits for me with open arms, and I hate that she probably knew something like this was going to happen. I hate that she saw me upset and showing emotion. I know it’s not right to think this way—she’s my mother after all—but it’s like with this situation she knew I was going to fail. She was waiting for it. And now it’s happened.

I went there, my head full of hope and dreams, and I came home upset, hurt, and betrayed. She doesn’t say anything, and for that I’m thankful. I hear the rumble of the motorcycles as they ride away, out of my life.

23 The next morning, I decide to get out of the house and visit my friend Mona, from elementary school. We catch up at least once a month, and I thought I’d go see her, since I wanted to get out of the house for a bit. She doesn’t live too far away, maybe a fifteen-minute walk, but I grab my skateboard to make the commute even faster. I’m on my board, smiling, because it’s been so long since I’ve skated, and enjoying the warm sunshine, when I hear him before I see him. “I didn’t know you could skate,” Ace says from behind me. I place my foot down on the pathway, stopping my movement. “You don’t know a lot of things about me.” I turn around and watch as he catches up to me. “I can see that. Can we talk?” “What are you doing here? I thought you rode home yesterday,” I say, clearing my throat. I didn’t expect him, and now he’s caught me off guard. My anger has left me, now I just feel resigned, depleted. I hate that when I look into his gray eyes, even now there’s still that spark. That tether. I still want to press my face against his chest, and allow him to hold me, to forget any of this happened so we can go back to how things were. But I can’t do that. Things have changed, and I’m not going to be weak and pretend that they haven’t. “I’m not going home until we have a proper fuckin’ conversation,” he tells me. “I’m staying at the motel here.” He pauses, then adds, “Because they don’t even have a proper hotel. What’s up with that?” “Small towns.” I shrug. “Some of the serviced apartments aren’t bad.” “Didn’t come here to ask your ratings on accommodation.” “You brought it up,” I point out. “Now if you don’t mind, I have somewhere to be. I’m really enjoying being outside, and I’m trying to distract myself from the fact that the man I was falling in love with was only with me because his boss told him so.” He loses it at that, gripping my upper arm and pulling me toward him. “Did you not listen to anything I said yesterday? Or were you too busy yelling out accusations to hear?”

“Oh, I heard enough back at the clubhouse, don’t think that there’s anything else to be said, Ace,” I growl, my temper starting to spike along with his. I did listen to what he said yesterday. And maybe I believe him. But the trust is gone, and it doesn’t change the fact that they manipulated me. That’s not so easy to forget, even if like Ace said, everything between us was real. “You all think you can do whatever you want and get whatever you want, and you don’t give a shit about anything else,” I snarl back at him. “How long did you want to keep me there for, huh? Want to get me addicted to you? Well, guess what, you were already halfway there.” “You can’t tell me you were falling in love with me and then just walk away, Erin,” he says to me, voice now calm and collected. “I should have told you what your dad had said to me so you’d have known that I was with you because I couldn’t not be with you, not because someone told me to do it. I’m fuckin’ crazy about you! Why else would I be here, in bum-fuck nowhere, practically begging for you just to fuckin’ listen to me? Do you think I normally do shit like this? Because let me tell you, princess, this is a motherfuckin’ first. I don’t chase women.” We’re both breathing heavily at this point, looking into each other’s eyes, emotions running wild. “Is that why you were putting off sleeping with me?” I ask him, lifting my chin. “Did you feel a little guilty?” He sighs. “I wanted to tell you first, so shit like this didn’t happen,” he replies, a muscle ticking in his jaw. “And yeah, I guess it didn’t feel right, but like I said, it doesn’t mean that I don’t have feelings for you, Erin. And everything between us was real, no one is that good of an actor. You can’t pretend to have a connection with someone; it’s there or it’s not.” “Maybe it was just a one-sided connection,” I whisper, pulling my arm out of his hold. “I feel so stupid, Ace. I knew I was out of my league with you, with the age thing, and the whole biker thing, but I thought that maybe, just maybe . . . I don’t even know what I thought.” “You think I don’t know that? Fuck the age issue; your dad is my president, Erin. You can make fun of that all you like, but I’m loyal to my MC. Can I be loyal to my MC and to a woman? Sure. But when you’re his daughter things become a little fuckin’ tricky, so, sorry. I did what I could to give him what he wanted, and to be with you, which is what I wanted. Does it matter what I said to him when I wanted you anyway? If I didn’t want you, my life would be so much fuckin’ easier right now. You don’t even live in the city, and you’re about to start college and create your own future. Without me. Nothing about this situation is ideal, so don’t act like you’re the only one put out here.” I open my mouth and then close it. I don’t even know what to say to that, because he said it perfectly, nothing about this situation is ideal. In fact, everything is working against us, beside the fact that we both seem to want each other. Is that enough?

They say love isn’t always enough, and I suddenly understand that saying. There are so many other factors that come into play for a couple to be together and have a happy and healthy relationship. Why is he even here? It doesn’t change anything really, except maybe he can leave with us on good terms instead of my wanting to erase him from my life and memory. But we still can’t be together . . . can we? I hate that the idea is still lingering in my mind. “What do you want from me, Ace?” I ask him bluntly, just needing to know where his head is at right now, because I have no idea. “Come to my motel with me,” he murmurs, raising his hands up with his palms out forward. “Just to chat, nothing else.” I study him, wariness filling me. I’m torn. I don’t really know why we’d have anything else to say to each other, but at the same time . . . it’s Ace. I glance down at my skateboard. “I told my friend Mona I’d drop in for a coffee and a chat.” “Will Mona care if you bring a friend for this chat?” he asks, flashing me that charming smile. I don’t smile in return. “I guess not,” I say with hesitation. Mona lives alone, in her own little house that her parents bought for her. I get back on my skateboard but ride slower, as not to be rude. I don’t know why though. I should be as rude as I want to him, considering everything. “Did Dad and Knuckles go home?” I ask, looking straight ahead. “Yeah, Knuckles had to pick up his girls, and your dad was just in a really shitty mood,” he admits, walking quickly to keep up with me. He takes a deep breath and then says, “I’m sorry you overheard us saying those things. I know it’s fucked-up, but your dad loves you, he just clearly doesn’t know what the fuck he’s doing, as a newfound parent.” “Don’t try to make excuses for him,” I tell him, scowling. “Did he ask you to do that too?” “No,” he replies, sounding offended that I’d think that. “Just going by history.” “When are you going to let that go?” he mutters, gritting his teeth together. I realize that he’s not used to being in this situation. He’s in the wrong, he fucking knows it, and from what he’s said he usually wouldn’t give a shit, that this would be when he walks away. But instead of walking away, he’s walking with me, while I skateboard to a person’s house he doesn’t even know—another girl who is also my age and will probably have nothing in

common with him. “Well, it just happened yesterday, so I don’t know? Maybe in six months’ time? I’ll let you know,” I reply, smiling just a little too sweetly to be real. He’s not so amused. “If I had known you were coming, I’d have brought my extra skateboard for you.” “Or we could have ridden on my bike,” he replies in a dry tone, glancing around the street. “How far away is this place?” “Not very far,” I say. “But far enough that you can tell me whatever it is you want to say to me without my having to go back to your motel.” He steps in front of me, blocking any possible movement. “I’m sorry. I should have told you, both how I was feeling and what had been asked of me. Now it’s up to you if you choose to forgive me, or if you’re going to let your stubborn pride ruin something that could be fucking amazing.” I stay quiet, contemplating his words. When we arrive at Mona’s house, I knock twice and wait for her reaction when she sees all six foot four of the delicious, yet assholey man next to me. “Hey, Erin,” she says, beaming as she opens her door, her eyes then landing on Ace. “And helllooo to you.” Ace’s trademark smile makes an appearance. “I’m Ace, I hope you don’t mind if I join you both for coffee . . .” He looks to me and smirks. “And chats.” He’s such a smart-ass. “Of course not,” Mona says, gesturing for us to enter. “A friend of Erin’s is a friend of mine.” I step in and flash her a wide-eyed look. She smiles, looking all sorts of amused. “You’re tall,” she says to Ace, studying him. “I know,” he replies, crossing his arms over his chest. “So how do you and Erin know each other?” “We’ve gone to school together pretty much our entire lives,” Mona explains as we sit down on her couches, with Ace next to me and Mona facing us. “Good, so you’ll know all the juicy shit about her then,” Ace murmurs, resting his arm along the back of the couch, behind my neck. “I’d love to hear what she was like growing up.” Mona laughs and shares a look with me. “She was a troublemaker, that’s for sure, but always had a heart of gold. I remember one time there was this girl getting bullied, so Erin stood up for her and punched the bully in the face.” She smirks. “She was suspended for three days.”

“How old was she?” Ace asks, seeming genuinely interested in her story of my antics. “Seven,” Mona tells him. “And what can I get you both to drink?” She turns to me and says, “I’m guessing a coffee with two sugars for you?” I nod. “Ace?” “I’ll just have a black coffee with two sugars, thank you,” he says to her, moving closer to me so our bodies are almost touching. “Is your real name Ace?” she asks him as she starts to move to the kitchen. “Or is it a nickname?” “Nickname,” he replies, and I hope Mona asks him for his real name because I don’t even know what it is. “What’s your real name?” Yes! I always knew I loved this girl. He looks to me like he knows what I’m thinking, that this is the first time I will hear the name that’s on his birth certificate. “Carson. Carson Kendrick.” Carson. “Well, nice to meet you, Carson,” Mona says, disappearing to make us our hot drinks. “I like her,” he says to me softly, so only I can hear. “She’s a woman and she’s pretty, of course you like her,” I say with an eye roll. “Maybe I like her because she’s not mean.” “Maybe she’s not mean because she didn’t hear you talking shit about her,” I fire back, annoyed both that he’s bringing this up again and that he likes Mona, which is absolutely ridiculous. What has he done to me? I’m screwed.

24 Mona brings out the coffee, along with a cheese platter she made up for us. “So you went to meet your real dad and came back with him?” she asks, cutting a piece of Brie for her cracker. “This sounds like a story I’d like to hear.” “I didn’t bring him back,” I point out. “He followed me here.” “Because she left without so much as good-bye,” Ace adds. “I left a letter,” I tell Mona, sniffing. “He’s old, I thought a letter would be more appropriate than a text message.” “I’m not old,” he growls, looking to Mona for help. “Is she always this . . . this—?” “Bratty? Stubborn? A pain in the ass?” Mona asks, nodding. “Yes, yes she is. But her good qualities are worth putting up with the bad for.” “I know that, or I wouldn’t be sitting here right now,” Ace admits, and I can feel his eyes on me, but I look at Mona instead. “Let’s talk about you, Mona,” I say, changing the subject. “How’s your love life going? Anyone new since we last spoke?” “Nope,” she replies, looking content about that fact. “Might have to go to the city with you next time and find me my own tall, sexy, badass Viking man.” I sigh and scrub a hand down my face. “Don’t give him a bigger head, trust me, he doesn’t need it. And he’s not a Viking, because he doesn’t have a beard.” “I can grow a beard,” he says, touching his chin like he’s imagining it. “I’ve had one before, but I think it makes me look older.” “Well, you wouldn’t want that,” I say with a straight face. “I ran into Clint at the grocery store yesterday, he asked about you,” Mona continues, missing the fact that Ace stills next to me. “Clint still lives here, huh?” Ace rumbles, and now he’s the one with a fake smile. “Of course he does.”

“What does that mean?” I ask him, frowning. “Mona and I live here, too, you know.” “You two argue like a married couple,” Mona points out, thoughtfully chewing on a celery stick. “Why don’t you just tell me why you’re so mad at him, Erin, so I can weigh in?” “Because I don’t want to talk about it, or about Ace. I want to talk about you and how you’ve been,” I huff, grabbing my own celery stick and biting down on it, hard. “We can’t really exclude him from the conversation,” Mona says, giggling. She’s giggling! “It’s rude. And I’ve never seen you act like this with a guy before, so I’m highly intrigued.” “I feel like we’re in couple’s therapy right now,” I grumble, munching away. “When are you going back home?” I ask Ace. “That depends.” “On what?” I ask, swallowing and eyeing him. “On you. And when you forgive me and realize that you’re mine,” he says casually, like he’s talking about his day or some shit. “It doesn’t matter what happened, or what will happen, princess. You’re mine. And you know what? I’m yours, too. So admit it, and then I can go home and wait for you to come back to me.” He pauses and then adds, “Or I’ll come back down here when I can. See, I can fuckin’ compromise. I’m flexible.” My jaw drops, and so does Mona’s celery stick. I did not expect him to be so honest and to say all that, especially in front of Mona. I look to my friend apologetically. “Thank you for having us, but I need to get going. I’ll have you over at my place next week sometime?” She nods. “Go and sort this out. We can catch up whenever; I’m just down the road.” I stand and bend down and give her a warm hug. “Love you.” “Love you too.” She looks over my shoulder at Ace. “Look after her.” “Always,” he replies, thanking Mona for having him over. I quickly help her tidy up, then walk outside, grabbing my skateboard from the front of her house, where I left it. “Where are you going now?” he asks me, walking next to me as I place the board down and stand on it. “I don’t know,” I whisper. And I don’t. I could go home, and try to get rid of him and tell him he should forget me. Or I can go back with him to his motel, truly listen to what he has to say, and then fuck his brains out.

He said that I’m his, and that he’s mine, and he sounded like he meant it. What if he is only here right now because my dad ordered him to fix things? He got offended when I asked that, but surely he can see why it would be a valid concern for me. My trust is shattered, and I don’t know what to think. I don’t want the men to see me as weak, as someone they can just manipulate and get to do whatever they want. Maybe Ace is right, and my pride is the issue, but I also just want to protect myself. My life was so much simpler before I walked through the Cursed Ravens’ clubhouse doors, but I can’t regret it. I found out so much about myself, and I met people who will stay with me forever. I guess I need to choose. Am I going to turn my back on the MC? Or am I going to give them a second chance? “I can come back tomorrow, if you want,” he says to me gently. “I’m not going anywhere, Erin. I’ll wait as long as you want me to.” Fuck. Why is he being so sweet? “Don’t get all soft on me now, Ace,” I say, trying to lighten the mood. His being an asshole I can take, and I can give it back to him tenfold. His being sweet . . . Shit. “Let’s go back to your motel,” I decide, speaking with my heart instead of my brain. “But just to talk. We aren’t doing anything else.” “Okay,” he replies, and I can hear the relief in his tone. “Where’s your bike?” “At the motel, I walked over here,” he admits, holding his hand out to me. “Walk with me? I’ll carry your board.” “Okay,” I murmur, picking up the board and handing it to him. I then take his hand. And we walk together back to the motel. “He said that no one was to touch you, but then he saw how we were with each other, and he pulled me aside and said he’d give me the green light with you, but there were a few conditions,” Ace explains, as we both lie back on his motel bed, staring up at the ceiling. “He said that if I hurt you, he was going to kill me, so I better be sure that I actually do want you; he

also said that I had to do what I needed to do to make you want to stay at the clubhouse, instead of going back home to the country. I told him that I was going to be honest with you about all of this shit, because you deserve to know.” I stay silent, wondering what I’m meant to do about my dad. He was so much fun to hang out with, and I know that once he got over the shock, he was really happy to have me in his life. I guess he needs to learn that while he’s a club president and can control his men, he can’t control me. I’m sure that frustrates him, I’m nothing but a country girl after all, but a daughterfather relationship is not the same as the one he has with the people around him every day. The plan he had was selfish, and made me see the other side of him, the one I knew was there but never thought I’d experience so soon. “What did he say when I left?” I ask Ace, slipping under the ugly green quilt. This motel really is awful. “He was really worried about you, he thought something had happened, that whoever tried to poison you had kidnapped you or something,” Ace explains, and I picture the scene in my head. “He was about to send us all out on a search mission to find you, but then I went into your room for the second time and had a proper look, and found your letter. I was furious, but your dad just looked hurt, and to be honest I’ve never seen him like that before.” I soften a little toward my dad, but not enough to erase what he’s done. I know I will want to talk to him again, but he needs to see that what he did wasn’t okay, and he needs to be willing to change for our relationship to continue. “You guys really hurt me,” I admit to him in a soft voice. Vulnerable. Just what I didn’t want to be around him again. “Do you realize how fucked-up the whole thing is?” “Yeah,” he whispers, sighing deeply. “As long as I got to be with you though, I guess I didn’t really look past that. But you’re right, it should be your happiness I’m focusing on, not my own. So you do your college thing, and I’ll come see you when I can. And when you’re ready to face your old man again, you can come and visit me, too.” I blink slowly a few times. “Did you just decide we’re going to be in a relationship without me?” He chuckles softly. “Yeah, I guess I did, but after hearing your words yesterday, you don’t need to tell me that the feelings are mutual.” “You’re such a cocky son of a—” He cuts me off with a soft kiss to the lips. “I know what I am, princess, but I’ll also protect you with my life. You can call me out on my shit whenever you like, and trust me I’ll be doing the same, but at the end of the day, all I really want is you.”

“So you’re not going to fuck anyone else, you’re just going to wait for me?” I ask, hearing the skepticism in my own voice. “With all the women throwing themselves at you? Somehow I highly doubt that, especially if I’m not around and you haven’t had sex in ages.” “Will you give me a chance?” he asks, rolling over onto his side and looking me in the eye. “That’s all I’m asking for. Another chance to prove myself.” I swallow hard and nod. I move to kiss him, and he allows it, but only for a second. “I promised nothing was going to happen here, remember?” “And you’re going to show me you’re a man of your word right now?” I ask, scowling. “Ace —” “Can I take you out for dinner tonight?” he asks, cutting me off and kissing my cheek. “You can give me a tour of the town and show me why you love it here so much.” I agree. How did things change so much again, in just one day? After we eat dinner at my favorite Indian restaurant, we walk side by side down the main street of my town. “So this is your city center?” he asks, sounding mildly horrified. “It’s, like, one long street.” “It’s not all we have,” I insert, sounding a little defensive, even to my own ears. “This is just the main street where all the cool cafés and things are.” “So this is your strip?” he asks, teasing me. “I don’t know how you survive here. You’re not a small-town girl, Erin.” “I’m whatever I want to be,” I fire back, pointing to the ice-cream shop. “I worked there when I was in high school.” “You do like ice cream,” he mutters, reaching out and taking my hand. “Do you see people you know everywhere you go?” “Erin?” I hear a familiar voice call out, just as those words leave Ace’s lips. Shit. I turn around and come face-to-face with none other than Clint. “Oh, hey,” I say, taking him in. He looks the same, with his belted jeans, white top, and even whiter smile. His brown eyes eat me up, and it makes me feel a little uncomfortable. While we’ve spoken over text, it’s been a while since I’ve actually seen him. “Clint, how are you?” “Good,” he says, looking up at Ace, who is a few inches taller than him. “Who is this?”

“This is Ace,” I say, realizing how rude I’m being. “And Ace, this is Clint.” “This is your ex?” Ace asks, sounding both surprised and disgusted. “I feel like you’d be the one saving him in any given situation.” Yeah okay, Clint isn’t really muscly, or anything like that. He’s more on the lean, gaming nerd side, but in my defense, he was one of the popular boys in school, and I never felt as though I was any better than him. I glance up at Ace and roll my eyes. “Can you not?” “This is your new man, Erin?” Clint asks me, also sounding surprised. “He looks like a criminal.” “I am a criminal,” Ace replies, flashing his teeth. “And don’t say my woman’s name again. I don’t like it coming out of your mouth, and it might trigger me to do something Erin might get angry at me for.” “Okaaay, that’s enough,” I say, smiling apologetically at Clint. “I’m sorry, I better get going. Take care, okay?” Clint opens his mouth, then closes it, but all I do is pull Ace out of there as quickly as I can. When we’re a safe distance away, I slow my pace. “He’s an idiot,” he declares, looking down at me with a gentle look in his eyes. “He had everything, he lost it, and I don’t even think he realizes it. He doesn’t deserve you, though. That’s not the type of man you’re meant to be with, Erin. You’re so much more than the life he would give you.” I exhale slowly, not knowing what to say to that. So I don’t say anything. I just squeeze his hand and walk with him into the night, feeling safe, adored. And maybe even loved.

25 TWO WEEKS LATER It’s weird seeing so many new faces,” I tell Mona as we walk through the campus. “Do these people even live in town? Because I’ve never seen them before.” “I’ve never seen him before,” Mona mutters, whistling under her breath. “I’d have remembered that face.” I check out the guy and nod. “He’s handsome.” “People from all over still come here, Erin,” she explains. “Just because we’re a country town, that won’t stop them if we have the courses they want. Or maybe they couldn’t get a placement anywhere else.” “That’s true. And this is a good college,” I say, glancing around at the older buildings. “It didn’t look this big from the outside.” Mona gives me a knowing look. “You’ll be fine, Erin. And we can still try to have lunch together, depending on our schedules.” I am a little nervous. I’m older than most people here, for one, which makes me feel a little self-conscious. Plenty of people do a gap year, but I’ve done several. I know I’ll be fine, but it’s a new place, and I have no idea what I’m doing or where I’m meant to be, and it’s a little stressful. We sit down on the grassy area, waiting for our first lecture to begin. Mona is studying business, so we won’t be in any lectures together, but like she said, we can still try to see each other. I see a few familiar faces walk by, and for that I’m grateful. I guess I’m going to both meet new friends and be reunited with older ones. My phone beeps, and I open the message; it’s from Ace. Good luck on your first day, princess. You are going to be the best nurse that college has ever seen.

I smile to myself. We’ve been messaging and video-calling every day since he left, and he’s planning on coming back to visit this weekend. I spoke to my dad on the phone and said I would come see him when I was ready, as long as he didn’t try to pull any shit. He agreed. I don’t know if I’m too forgiving, or if I’m just being too hard on myself for forgiving them, but it does play on my mind.

“Hello there, ladies,” a masculine voice says. I glance up to see two guys standing there. “Do you mind if we sit here?” I glance around the lawn, which has plenty of room, but shrug. “Sure, it’s a free lawn.” Maybe Mona will like one of them? They’re both cute, and I can see them being her type, especially the guy who spoke. He’s a bit preppy, dressed well and has a nice build. I mean, nothing on Ace, but good for our town’s standards. “Thanks,” he replies, sitting down. “I’m Glen.” I shake his hand. “Erin.” “Mona,” she introduces, smiling at Glen. Nailed it. The other guy, whose name is Roger, also introduces himself. “We’re new to town and don’t know anybody, and then we saw two beautiful women sitting alone, so we thought we’d come be loners with you,” Glen explains, smiling at Mona. “And I’m glad we did.” I roll my eyes, and Roger smirks. “Where are you both from then?” I ask Roger, making small talk with him. He seems more shy than Glen, who clearly doesn’t have a problem putting himself out there. “Out east,” he replies, telling me all about the city he grew up in. “We came here to get our business degrees. The list of the people who have come out of this college is insane, so we wanted to see what all the fuss is about.” “The town is a little . . . boring though,” Glen says, cringing. “But, hey, I’m here to study, so I suppose the less distractions the better.” I share a look with Mona, who is about to be his next distraction. “Yeah, but because there’s nothing to do, are you sure you’re not just going to end up drunk all the time? It is college, after all,” I tease. Mona decided not to stay in the dorms on campus, and why would she when she owns her own house about a forty-five-minute drive away. I, on the other hand, wanted the full college experience, so I’ll be living on campus. My roommate wasn’t there this morning, so I have no idea who it’s going to be, but I hope we get along. “I’m sure I’ll be able to contain myself.” Glen grins, and then he and Mona start talking between them. I look at Roger and say, “So I guess we’re going to both be the third wheel.” He pulls out a red licorice twist, breaks it in half, and hands it to me.

I like him already. “Thank you.” “It looks like it,” he replies with a mouthful of sugary goodness. “And unlike Glen, I probably won’t be able to contain myself.” Did I just find myself a partying buddy? “Wonderful,” I reply, chewing slowly. “You have a man?” he asks, studying me. “Yeah, why do you ask?” “Well, you must be taken, since you aren’t hitting on me now,” he says, wiggling his brows. I laugh loudly. “Think you’re that amazing, huh?” “I know it,” he replies, but with a cheeky grin, so I know he’s just being a smart-ass. “Are you one of those people who starts off quiet but then never shuts up?” I ask, finishing the last bite of licorice. “Maybe.” I look at his bag. “What other goodies do you have in there?” His lip twitches, and he reaches over and undoes the zipper. “I thought you’d never ask.” And that’s how Roger and I became friends. When all my classes are over, I head back to my dorm room, completely drained from all the socializing and new information to process. I open my door and step inside, seeing that my roommate has arrived and is sitting on her bed, her phone in her hand. She’s dressed in all black, from head to toe, boots, ripped jeans, and a tight top, showing off her slim figure. Her long black hair covers her face as she’s typing furiously, and I don’t think she’s even realized that I walked in. “Hello,” I say in a soft voice so I don’t scare her. She doesn’t reply, and then I realize that she has earphones in. I step to her side and touch her shoulder, wanting to introduce myself, but one second I’m standing next to her, and the next I’m on the floor and she’s standing over me, fists raised in a fighting position. “Who are you?” she growls, hazel eyes narrowed, her hair falling over her face like a curtain. She’s beautiful, in a scary way, considering she just threw me to the fucking ground like I weigh nothing. “Erin. Your roommate,” I reply, wrinkling my nose. “Nice to meet you too, kung fu Barbie.”

She winces and offers me her hand, helping me up. “Sorry, Erin, it was just reflex. Don’t sneak up on me, because that’s generally how I’ll react.” “Oh yeah, well, I won’t be doing that again,” I mutter, dusting off my ass and fixing my clothes. “Sorry,” she says, sounding a little sheepish. She holds her hand out. “I’m Clover.” “Clover, that’s a nice name,” I tell her, smiling. “Good to know if someone tries to break in, you can fight them off for us.” She laughs and sits back down. “Well, I was raised not to be the damsel in distress but my own hero instead.” What a great line. “I like you already,” I blurt out, moving to my own bed and lying down. “The beds need work, but it’s okay. It’s day one of dorm life, and I’m free, and alone, and I can do whatever I feel like doing.” “Want to watch Netflix and eat junk food?” she asks, tying her hair up, showing off her stunning features. She’s going to have all the men on campus panting—she is that striking. “Yes, I’d love to. Who needs to binge drink when there’s binge eating? Am I right?” Although I intend to do both at some point. Full college experience, remember? Clover laughs, opening her laptop before looking at me, an amused look on her face. “How about Sons of Anarchy?” “Sure, why not,” I reply, inside cringing. I’ve never watched it, but now I’m going to be comparing everything to real life. And Ace is my Jax.

26 Clint, hey,” I say as I see him walking up to me while I wait for my food order to be ready. I came home to spend one night with my family, because it’s my sister’s birthday and there’s no way I’m going to be missing that. I didn’t tell her I was coming though; instead, I told her I’d see her next weekend for a belated birthday celebration. We ordered Chinese food, which I’ve been sent to pick up, while Mom finishes Eden’s cake. Eden is still at work, so when she gets home she’s going to be surprised with me, dinner, and my mom’s chocolate mud cake. “Erin,” he murmurs, eyes widening. He glances around me. “No giant biker with you this time.” I shift on my feet. “Just me this time.” “Is he your boyfriend?” he asks me, coming closer. He tucks his hands in his pockets and studies me. Boyfriend doesn’t seem like the right word for what Ace is to me, but I nod. “How have you been?” “Good,” he replies, brow furrowing. “Listen, there’s been something I’ve wanted to say to you for a while now, and it needs to be face-to-face, but I hardly see you these days and—” “What is it?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest. He swallows hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “I’m sorry, Erin. You know, about everything that happened. I was young, and selfish, and I didn’t look after you the way I should have, and I’m fuckin’ sorry.” “Oh,” I whisper, eyes flaring. I didn’t expect him to bring this up. It’s kind of been like a black-hole subject, one that is never spoken about yet always lingers below the surface, the damage so irreversible that we can always feel it. “Thank you,” I tell him. “For the apology, I appreciate it.” Even though I was strong enough to forgive him without it. Although when I think on the trust issues I have with men, maybe that’s not exactly the truth. “It’s long overdue,” he murmurs, looking down at his white sneakers. “I was an idiot.” “It’s in the past now,” I tell him, glancing around the restaurant. “I better go. But, Clint?”

“Yeah?” I step to him and wrap my arms around him. “I’ve forgiven you, now forgive yourself.” I don’t want him to carry this around with him. We were young, and it was me who crashed. I know he’s sorry for what happened afterward, and he should be, but I guess all we can do is take this as a lesson, and learn and grow from it. One sad smile, and then I leave his side, not feeling any lighter, but happier for him. I will never forget what happened. But that doesn’t mean I can’t be happy and look forward to everything ahead of me. Be hopeful. I’m just not going to look behind me anymore, because there’s nothing left there for me. I make it through my first two weeks of college, my nerves calming as I meet new people and get used to the lifestyle. When you start to know your way around, the campus isn’t that big, and there’s no need to freak out and go half an hour early for every lecture, which is what I did on the first few days. I get to see Ace again today, and I can’t wait. I hear him before I see him, then watch as he rides toward me, stopping in the campus parking lot. Everyone around me is watching, wondering who he is; I don’t miss the curious looks on their faces. He’s in all black, and when he takes off his helmet his light hair makes its appearance, and those gray eyes land straight on me, like he knew exactly where I was standing the whole time. With a small smile, I run toward him and jump up into his arms, squeezing him tightly. “Right where you belong,” he murmurs, kissing my cheek, then my lips. I slide down his body, but don’t let go of him, my arms around his hips. “I missed you,” I tell him. “Me too,” he replies, handing me my black-and-hot-pink helmet. “Are you ready to get out of here?” I nod and put my helmet on, waiting for him to get on before I slide on the back behind him, holding him. This is home. On the back of his bike, my arms around him, no other worries in the world. I’ve missed this feeling, and him, so much. The ride to the motel is quicker than I would have liked, but I enjoy it all the same. He quickly checks in, and we walk to the room, holding hands, only letting go when he has to unlock the door.

The door slams closed behind us, and his lips are on mine, and we’re catching up for lost time in the best way possible. He undresses me quickly, then throws my naked body onto the bed, before removing his clothes and pressing his bare skin against mine. “Fuck, I’ve missed you,” he grits out, kissing down my neck. “I was hard the whole ride here. It was torture.” “I’ve missed you too, Ace,” I say breathlessly. “Let me show you how much.” I try to roll him onto his back, but he doesn’t budge, so I tap his shoulder. One deep, lingering kiss and then he humors me, lying back on the bed with his arms crossed behind his head. I take a second to appreciate the beauty that is him, from head to cock and back up again. “You are something else,” I mutter, moving to straddle him, then leaning forward and kissing him, while my hand reaches between us to stroke his big cock, my breasts pressed against his chest. “And you are so fuckin’ beautiful,” he whispers, his tongue touching mine. I place his cock at my entrance and slowly push down on him until he’s in all the way. He feels different, in a good way, and I suddenly realize why. “We aren’t using protection!” I whisper, starting to freak out. “I’m on the pill, but . . .” “But what?” he asks me, gripping my hips and starting to thrust. “I got checked recently and haven’t been with anyone but you, so I’m good.” “Are you sure?” “Are you sure you’re on the pill?” he replies cheekily, rolling me over onto my back and grinding himself against me. “Of course I’m sure. I’m not going to put you in danger, Erin.” His lips cut off any reply I might have had. Fuck, it’s so good to have him back. I don’t know why, but I feel a little nervous bringing Ace to meet all my friends. Mona he already knows, but it’s a little weird to mix both my worlds together, especially because they are so different, and I have no idea how this is going to go. We had all decided on dinner and drinks at a local bar, something casual. We arrive on his bike, and I find myself missing my own and the chance I had to learn to ride it and to conquer my fear. I still hope that one day I can continue my lessons, even if it’s Ace teaching me. I feel kind of like shit that I’ve forgiven Ace but still haven’t properly made up with my father. It should probably be the other way around, family first. Dad just really hurt me, but I don’t know if I’m taking it out on him because he’s not my first parent to do so. But he is my father.

And I do love him. And I’ve already lost so many years with him. And I miss the men. Knuckles, Dreads, and Rogue, and even the ones whom I didn’t get to know that well. They’re a motley crew of different, crazy personalities and temperaments, yet somehow they all get along together. “I think I want to see my dad,” I tell Ace as we walk toward the entrance. “He will love that,” he says to me, opening the door. “He’s been fuckin’ miserable and grumpy as shit ever since you left, and he’s taking it out on all of us.” I’m sure I hear him mutter under his breath, “Especially me.” I see Mona, Glen, and Roger sitting in a booth, surrounded by more than three drinks. “Over here,” I tell Ace, leading him with my hand in his. “Erin!” Mona calls out, waving her fingers at me. “There you are.” “Hey, guys,” I say. “This is Ace. Ace this is Glen and Roger, and you know Mona. Where’s Clo?” “She should be on her way,” Mona says, sliding down the booth. “Come sit down. What do you want to drink?” “I’ll order something,” Ace says, kissing me on top of my head. “What do you want?” “I’ll just have a cocktail of some kind—surprise me,” I tell him. He walks to the bar, and we all watch him. “No wonder you’ve turned down every guy who’s hit on you when you’ve got that,” Roger says, jaw dropping. “I mean, you’re cute, Erin, but how the fuck did you get him?” I throw a napkin at him. “Jerk.” “I’m just saying,” he says, glancing back over at Ace. “I’m not gay, but he might be able to sway me.” “Can you say that louder? I don’t think the people on the other side of the bar heard you,” I whisper-yell, rolling my eyes. “He’s not hotter than me, is he, Mona?” Glen asks, narrowing his eyes on her. “No, of course not,” Mona replies, but when he turns his head she mouths “Yes, he is” to Roger and me. When we start laughing, Glen starts to ask why, which only makes us laugh harder. Ace comes back to the table with a cocktail and a beer and sits down next to me. “Thank you,” I say, taking a sip and getting a delicious cinnamon flavor. “This is so good. Want to try some?” He has a quick sip and nods. “That’s not bad at all.”

The conversation starts flowing, and I notice Ace kind of pretending Roger doesn’t exist. He doesn’t look his way, or engage him in any conversation, even though he does with Mona and Glen. I can’t think of any reason he wouldn’t like Roger other than that we spend time alone together. There’s absolutely no attraction between me and Roger, just pure friendship, so he has nothing to worry about. I guess if Ace hung out with a girl all the time though, I’d kind of be wondering who the girl is and assume she wanted my man. It’s Roger though. I can’t even take him seriously, and the thought of being more than friends with him makes me cringe. I down my cocktail and try to enjoy the rest of the evening.

27 I’m standing next to Ace’s bike when Clover finally pulls up and gets out of her car. I notice her eyeing Ace a little warily, and then she looks next to him and sees me, so she walks over. “Who are you?” she asks Ace, then turns her head to me. “Are you okay?” “I’m fine,” I tell her, brow furrowing. “This is my man, Ace. Ace, this is my roommate, Clover.” “Your man is a biker?” Clover asks, something working behind her hazel eyes. “Yes, he is,” Ace replies, studying Clover. “Clover, hey. Where have I heard that name before?” Clover shrugs and puts her hands in her jeans pockets. “There are a few of us around. Are you from an MC? You aren’t wearing any colors.” “I’m just here to see Erin, not on any club business, so I chose not to wear them out,” Ace explains, frowning. “And what do you know about any of that?” She shrugs once more. “Erin and I have been binge watching Sons of Anarchy, what can I say? I’m curious.” She turns to me. “Sorry I’m late, Erin. Are you leaving now?” I nod. “Yeah, but everyone else is still inside.” “All right, I’ll see you on Monday then?” she asks me, and I nod. She smiles and heads inside the bar, leaving me a little confused by her behavior. She seemed almost suspicious and didn’t like the fact that Ace is a biker. I may not know much in this life, but my gut tells me that there’s more to Clover than she’s letting on. “That’s your roommate?” he asks, an odd look on his face. I nod. “She’s amazing, Ace. She’s seriously badass. And I’m sure you noticed she’s also a total stunner.” I don’t say it in a jealous way, just stating a fact. I take my helmet in my hand and smile up at him. We only had one drink, followed by dinner, because we knew we were riding home, but I still feel that buzz. I always do when I’m around him.

“Did you have an okay time with me and all my barely legal friends?” I tease, playfully nudging him with my shoulder. “I always have a good time when you’re around,” he says with a charming look. “Knuckles was telling me the other day how you’re one of his favorite people to have a drink with after you both had so much fun that night.” “We really did,” I say wistfully, glancing down. “I do miss all of them. I was just thinking that on the ride over here.” “You’d be welcomed back with open arms,” Ace says in a soft tone. “Even by your stubborn-ass father.” I decide to change the subject. “Do you want to do something else now? Or just go back to the motel and chill?” “Let’s go back,” he says, a glint of lust in his eyes. “But we’re going to do more than chill.” “What are we going to do?” I ask with a straight face. “They have a few board games in the motel. Monopoly?” He pulls me close and whispers in my ear. “I’m going to fuck you in the shower, up against the tiles, and then I’m going to throw you on the bed and eat your pussy until you come so many times that you’ll be pushing me away.” “Oh,” I mouth, licking my suddenly dry lips. “Well, what are we waiting around for then? Let’s go.” He kisses me, just to give me a taste of what’s to come, and then gets on his bike. I do the same. I’ve never had shower sex before, but it’s on my bucket list. Another tick. Ace leaves on Monday morning, and I go back to college life. I go home to have dinner with Mom, Brock, and Eden on Tuesday, because I’m only forty-five minutes away they expect me to drop by at least once a week. Eden comes and picks me up, and we chat the whole ride home. I’ve never been away from her this much, and it’s quite an adjustment. “Have you spoken to Gage?” Mom asks at the dinner table in front of everyone. “Why?” I ask her, sticking my fork in a roasted potato. She can never leave anything alone. “Because you were quite upset the last time he came here, so I’m just curious,” she says, taking a sip of her red wine.

“I spoke to him on the phone, but I’m thinking of going there next weekend to visit,” I say, telling her the truth but knowing she’s going to hate it. “I thought you’d let that whole thing go,” she replies in a disapproving tone. “He’s family. How do you let that go?” I ask her, keeping my tone even. I try to change the subject. “How is everything at work?” “Good,” she replies, chewing and swallowing before continuing. “I’m thinking of applying for the deputy principal position.” “That sounds wonderful,” I tell her, meaning it. “And how about you, Dad? How’s everything at your school?” He teaches at a local high school, while my mom teaches elementary school. They met in church, and the rest, as they say, is history. “It’s good, sweetheart,” he replies, gentle brown eyes on me. “Same old. Not as interesting as your college experience so far, I promise.” “Any boys you’re interested in?” Mom inserts, looking to her husband. “You know, I actually saw Clint the other day. He’s looking quite fit.” Great. My mom doesn’t know about Clint cheating, or anything that happened after the accident. “No, no boys,” I tell her, and, technically, I’m not lying. Because Ace is all man. Ace offers to come and pick me up on Friday after my last class, but I tell him not to worry about it, that I’ll just take the bus. There’s no point in him riding all this way just to give me a ride, but it’s very sweet that he wanted to. It will be about 9:00 p.m. when the bus gets in, but it means I have an extra night there than if I left tomorrow morning. I listen to music the whole ride, with my eyes closed, just daydreaming and napping. I don’t mind the bus, if I’m being honest, although I see the way people cringe every time I tell them it takes a few hours to get to the city. I’m used to it, though, and it’s a time where I’m alone with my quiet thoughts. I pick up my bag as we near the station, and smile to myself when I see Ace already waiting for me. He has a bouquet of flowers in his hand, and I laugh under my breath, amused at the romantic gesture. I didn’t think he had a romantic bone in him, but here he is with two dozen red roses. He crosses the road to get to me and kisses me in front of everyone, not giving a shit who is watching. “For you,” he says, handing me the roses. He carries my bag for me, then walks with me to the car.

“Is this your car?” I ask him once we’re settled in. “We have a few for all of us to use,” he explains, eyes not leaving me, like he’s hungry for just the sight of me. “So we just use whichever is available. Sometimes the motorcycles aren’t convenient when you need to get shit done.” “Like pick up your girlfriend with your hands full of roses?” I ask, as he reaches his right hand over to rest on my thigh. “Exactly like that.” Saying boyfriend and girlfriend sounds so young, and I wonder if it sounds weird for him. What else can I say? Partner? I feel like that’s more for de facto relationships. I’ll just say he’s my man. That sounds better. “I’m so fuckin’ happy you’re coming back home,” he says to me, sighing in contentment. “It was such a shitty feeling when you left like that, and I thought you’d never come back.” “I know the MC is everything to you,” I say to him, looking out the window. “And I guess before everything happened, I was starting to love everything about it, too.” “Maybe you can again,” he says, squeezing my thigh. “After you give your dad hell, just like you gave me.” “You got it easy,” I tell him, laughing. “I know,” he says, sounding sincere. He parks the car and is checking his phone while I get out and look at the clubhouse, at those familiar entrance doors that changed my life the second I walked through them. Ace then gets out and grabs my bag, and I hold my roses to my chest, as if they can protect me from facing everyone again, after they knew just how upset I was. I wonder if the men are going to act differently toward me. Will Dad embrace me, or will he be a little unsure and standoffish? Fuck. I hope it’s not too awkward. Ace opens the door for me and I step inside, bracing myself for their reaction. I can do this.

28 Welcome home, Erin!” everyone yells out, making me jump and almost drop my roses. “Holy crap,” I whisper, taking in the balloons, the decorations, and the whole MC gathered together to surprise me. There’s a sign that reads, WELCOME HOME, ERIN. SORRY WE WERE ASSHOLES. Dad stands in the middle, a sad smile playing on his lips. I step to him first and give him a hug, wanting to show my respect to not only the president but also my father. We have a lot to talk about, and I will be giving him a piece of my mind, but that will be in private. “Thank you for coming back,” he says to me, tone gruff. “I hope you don’t mind, the men wanted to throw a party for you.” “I always love a good party,” I say to him, running to Knuckles when I see him standing in the corner. I give him the biggest hug. “Did you miss me?” “No, did you miss me?” he replies, squeezing me so hard I can barely breathe. “Not even a little bit.” We share a grin. “Place has been boring without you, Trouble,” he says quietly, for only me to hear. “What? You mean no one is trying to kill anyone else?” He barks out a laugh. “Nope. It’s been quiet as hell. I’m glad to have you back.” “Glad to be back,” I say, giving him a kiss on his bearded cheek. Ace comes and grabs me around the waist, and it’s so weird being able to be affectionate with him in front of the MC now. It’s a really good feeling. “So who made the banner?” I ask, eyeing it once more. “It’s really made my night.” “That would be me,” Knuckles says, rubbing his hands together. “I thought you’d enjoy it. Really was the finishing touch, I think.”

“It’s perfect,” I tell him. “Thank you, Knuckles. I also like how everyone gets called an asshole just because they belong to the MC, even if they didn’t do anything.” “Yeah, but everyone knew about it, so basically we’re all assholes.” “I’m not going to argue with you.” Music starts to play, and Veronica brings trays of food out for everyone. She comes and gives me a lingering hug and asks me how I’ve been. “Not too bad, how have you been?” I reply, smiling at her. “Much better now that you’re back,” she says, offering me a quiche. I take one and thank her. “The place just wasn’t the same without you,” she continues, sighing deeply. “I hope you like the quiche.” “They look good,” I tell her. All I can think of, though, is someone better eat the food before I do, or it might end up how it did the last time. Great, being poisoned has ruined me for my favorite thing in the world. Food. “Hey, Dreads,” I say to Mac, giving him a hug. “How have you been?” “Good,” he replies, lifting a joint to his lips. “We’ve missed you around here though.” “So I’ve heard.” Shack comes and says hello and gives me a hug. Such a change from the first night I met him. I head to the kitchen to find a vase for the flowers, coming to a stop when I see Paulina and her friend in there having a discussion. About me. “I don’t know why the fuck she’s coming back again,” Paulina snarls, hands on her hips. “It was so much better once she left. We can do what we want. Now we have to act PG again. And it’s a fucking biker clubhouse; we should be able to do what we want. Like if I want to walk out there and fuck Ace right now, I should be able to.” I see red. I’m about to tell her right off when her friend says, “Ace is taken, Paulina. He’s not going to cheat on her, you tried and he rejected you, so maybe you should focus on one of the other men. How about Rogue? He’s VP and fucking hot.” Wait a second. She tried?

To fuck Ace? This bitch has to go. I step into the kitchen, looking for the vase I saw in the cupboard the last time I was here. I pull it out, fill it with water, and then place my stunning roses in it. “Beautiful, aren’t they?” I say to them, smiling a little too sweetly. They both look uncomfortable, probably wondering if I overheard their conversation. They don’t have any power here. One word to my dad and I know he would kick them out permanently, but I don’t want to do that. I need to handle things for myself, as Ace’s woman, not as the president’s daughter. I dry my hands, then move to face Paulina. I look her dead in the eye and say, “Ace is mine. If you even look in his direction, you will regret it.” She tries to speak, but I hold my hand up. “I’m not done talking. I know you’ve fucked in the past, blah blah, and I don’t care, because that was before he met me. I heard enough between you and your no-name friend here to know that he clearly doesn’t want you.” “I’m not scared of you, you fucking bitch,” she yells in my face. “The men here love me too much to see me go, and that includes your precious Ace. While you’re off at college, who do you think will be here waiting for Ace to give in to his desires? To satisfy his needs? I know just how good he is with his hands . . . and his mouth.” “You are disgusting and have no self-respect.” “Oh, screw your holier-than-thou bullshit. You don’t get to judge me. I’m perfectly happy. Who knows, maybe your father will show interest again.” She registers the shock on my face. “Oh yeah, I’ve even fucked your father too.” Okay, that is a whole level of fucking disgusting. My ears cannot unhear that shit. Without thinking, I raise my fist and punch her right in the face. “Ouch,” I mutter over and over again, holding my hand, while she covers her face as blood starts dripping from her nose. I hope it’s broken, the dirty bitch. It’s Rogue who walks in first and sees what has just happened. “Erin, where’s my hug . . .” He trails off, seeing the blood. “Oh shit. What happened here?” Knuckles walks in next and casually takes in the scene. He then looks at me, without missing a beat, and says, “Things always get more interesting the second you walk through the door. How do you do it?” Rogue gets a tea towel and hands it to Paulina. “Stop the bleeding.” “It’s just a little blood; she isn’t going to bleed out,” I say, just as Ace walks in, hearing my words.

“Jesus Christ,” he mutters, looking between me and Paulina. “What did you do?” He moves closer to her as if to help, until I say, “Touch her and you’ll be next.” He stops in his tracks and turns back toward me. “Erin’s turned into a savage,” Rogue announces to the room, blue eyes wider than I’ve ever seen them. I make a mental note to thank Clover for teaching me how to throw a mean hook. “A savage or a Raven?” Knuckles fires back, studying me. Ace grabs my arms and pulls me outside the kitchen, back to the party, where members have no idea their club whore just got taught a lesson. He takes me to the bar and pours us each a drink. “What happened?” he demands, downing his drink like he really needs it. “You’ve been here, like, five minutes, and you know I haven’t touched her, or don’t you trust me?” “I do trust you,” I tell him. I don’t mention that the other girl confirmed that Ace didn’t do anything. “But I don’t appreciate someone telling me how they’ve fucked both my man and my dad. Do you know how fucked-up that is? I need alcohol to forget I ever heard that, because I’m fucking traumatized.” Dad walks over to us. “What happened?” “Erin punched Paulina,” Ace says, wincing. “And trust me, you don’t want to know why.” “I told Paulina and Jessie to leave, why are they still here?” he asks, jaw clenching. “Are you okay, Erin?” Jessie. The other girl finally has a name. “Nothing a bottle of vodka can’t cure,” I tell him, downing my drink in front of his very eyes. “Actually, maybe there’s nothing that will cure finding out that your man and dad have slept with the same woman, and having her throw it in your face.” Dad flinches, his face turning red, with anger or embarrassment, I don’t know. “Excuse me,” he says, then storms to the kitchen. I look at Ace, who is staring down in his drink like it suddenly holds all of life’s answers. “Vodka shots?” I ask. It’s the best idea I’ve ever had.

29 Where did you learn to punch like that?” Ace asks me, brow furrowing. “I never picked you for a fighter.” “My roommate taught me,” I explain to him. “She’s a black belt in karate and knows all kinds of shit.” Knuckles sits down next to us. “Are you trying to take my job? You want to be the Ravens’ enforcer now?” I poke my tongue out at him. “Only when it comes to the women.” “You broke her nose,” he tells me, sounding amused, surprised, and a little bit proud. “Well, luckily it’s not her nose you guys need from her,” I say, flashing a fake smile. “Hey, don’t look at me! I’ve never gone there,” Knuckles admits, lifting his legs up onto the coffee table in front of us. “But you can’t go fighting all the women we’ve been with.” “Well, hopefully not all of them are so nasty.” “You’re making her relive it,” Ace tells Knuckles. “Look, she’s getting angry again.” “Hey, she’s not my woman. She’s my bestie, so she’s not going to lose her shit on me,” he says cheerfully, bringing his beer to his lips. “And she stood up for herself. I don’t know why everyone is getting so worked up about it. She did what she felt she had to, to get respect. And I respect that.” “Because she was sweet and innocent when she walked through those doors,” Ace points out, frowning. “She wouldn’t have had it in her to punch someone in the face.” “And now she does. And she needs it to survive around here; she can’t go running to Daddy or you for everything if she wants to be respected, Ace,” Knuckles tries to explain to him. “I know she’s your woman, and your princess or whatever, but she still has to live here with everyone else, women included. And you can’t save her from all the women, even if you wanted to.” Ace sighs, like he can feel the weight of the world on his shoulders. I reach out and take his hand in mind, cold from the glass; I give it a squeeze. “Knuckles is right, you can’t save me from the women. And you’re also right that it’s not in my usual nature to hit someone, but she

pushed me, and she’s been pushing me. So can we forget about it and try to enjoy my welcomehome party, please?” I move so I’m sitting on his lap, with my legs off to the side, and give him a sweet peck on the lips. “So what else have I missed around here?” “Nothing much,” Ace tells me, running his hand down my spine. “We’ve been working and keeping up with all the business ventures. We went on another run yesterday, which I told you about. It was so good to have all of us riding together.” “We’ve had another chapter visit, too,” Knuckles adds in. “So other Cursed Ravens but from different areas. Oh, and Rogue got into a fight with two Devils Gate members.” “Devils Gate?” I ask, looking between them. “Another MC, which we aren’t exactly on good terms with,” Ace explains, touching my hair. “Rogue was at a biker bar and ran into two of their members. They started talking shit, and Rogue made them pay for it. Tension is kind of high right now, so we’re being really careful. We don’t want any of them to catch us out alone.” “That’s kind of scary,” I admit, snuggling into Ace. “What would they do if they ran into one of you and there was a huge group of them?” “If no one was around, they’d kill us,” Knuckles says, a little too casually for my liking. Why don’t they sound too concerned about this fact? Knowing that a group of men would kill you if they ever had the chance must be a stressful situation. You’d have to watch your back all the time, and you’d never know when one of your fellow brothers could get into trouble. This must be normal for them, and the reality of it is both mind-blowing and terrifying. “If it was in public though, there’s not much they can do other than fight. People call the cops, and none of us want cops involved in our business.” Every time I think I’m finally getting used to this world, I learn something like this. Do I even want to know? It’s not like they’d ever change or stop doing what they’ve been doing for years for me. Despite it being completely against who I am, I let it go. There is nothing I can do. “That makes sense,” I say, stretching my neck from side to side. “I need a massage.” “I’ll give you one tonight,” Ace says in my ear. “And afterward, I’m going to make you scream my name.” My cheeks heat, and I look at Knuckles to see if he heard that, but he’s busy talking to Dreads, who came to sit on the other side of him. Rogue also joins us, his blue eyes filled with humor. “I can’t believe you broke Paulina’s nose.”

“I did it for you. I heard them saying that you’re next on the hit list,” I tease, then ask them all, “Do you think it was her who tried to poison me?” “I don’t know,” Rogue answers first. “If it was, I don’t think she’d be acting alone; she’s not very smart.” “She has the motives though,” Dreads adds, rubbing his hands on his latest tie-dyed T-shirt. “She wants Ace, and now with Erin here, she can’t have him or roam freely in the clubhouse. Plus she’s jealous because Erin is way hotter.” “Aw, thanks, Dreads,” I say, flashing him a drunken smile. “I think I’m hotter, too.” “That was never a question,” Ace says, shaking his head. “No one is hotter than you.” “See, this is why I love you,” I say, giving him a kiss. I’m about to turn and say something to Knuckles when I realize what I just said. “Oh, fuck.” “You can’t take it back now,” he murmurs, sounding amused and happy. “You love me, and do you know what that means?” “You’re going to run because you’re a commitment-phobe?” I ask, cringing. “Also I imagine the thought of only one pussy probably scares the shit out of you.” “Actually, it means you’re stuck with me, because I think I love you too,” he says, kissing my cheek affectionately. I narrow my eyes on him. “Did you just say that you think you love me? Think? Did you hear that, Knuckles?” “I did. It’s pretty hard to miss when you’re talking so fucking loud,” Knuckles pipes in. “I’m using my inside voice,” I say, slurring a little as the shots start to hit me. “Oh, hey, this is a great song. Will you dance with me, Ace?” I jump off his lap and pull him up, moving my hips from side to side, and raising my free hand above my head. My hair falls on my face, but I don’t bother to push it away, I just keep on dancing. Ace spins me around and comes to stand behind me, hands on my hips as I start to grind on him. I think I’m super sexy right now, but I probably look absolutely ridiculous. Knuckles is probably recording this again and won’t hesitate to show me it in the morning, but I’ll let sober me worry about that. I spin and wrap my arms around his neck, pressing my breasts against his chest. He picks me up, and I wrap my legs around him. I love how strong he is and how feminine he makes me feel. In my eyes, there’s nothing he can’t do. He spins me around, which probably isn’t the best idea, but I laugh and hold on to him for dear life. This night might not have had a good start, but there’s a reason I didn’t stay away.

These men are far from perfect, in fact, there’s something seriously wrong with most of them, but they make me feel alive. Ace makes me feel alive. And I love my dad no matter what. We will fight, and we will butt heads as we navigate this newfound relationship, and I’m sure as fuck not putting up with his being controlling or scheming behind my back, but other than that, I will always have him. And he will always have me. “Get a room, you two!” Rogue calls out, shaking his head at me. “Rogue knows the words to the Moana songs!” I blurt out, snitching on him. The rest of the night is a drunken blur, but I remember dancing, laughing, and knowing I made the right choice to return. I’m hungover, I’m half asleep, and I’m extremely hungry, but that’s when my father finds me in the kitchen and wants to have a talk. “I just want you to know that I’m really sorry about my actions, and what you heard, and the fact that I was being selfish,” he says to me, pulling out a chair and sitting down. “And I’m sorry about last night and what Paulina said to you. You shouldn’t have to hear things like that about me.” No, I shouldn’t. However, I’m sleeping with one of his men, so it’s not just him who has done things to make things a little awkward between us. “I just want you to know that if you want to be in my life, you need to be honest with me, and we need to rebuild the trust between us,” I tell him. “You really hurt me, Dad. You weren’t honest, and you used Ace against me because you knew I liked him. You all but bribed him!” “He was always going to become the VP when Rogue becomes president,” he admits to me softly. “Ace is not meant to be just a treasurer. I’ve always had big plans for him. He just didn’t know about it yet.” “So you schemed against your own man, too?” I ask him, shaking my head in disbelief. “Yes, I did. Look, Erin, what I did was wrong, and I know that now. I’m sorry I hurt you, and I will do whatever it takes to get you to trust me again. But you need to know something— when it comes to you, I’d do anything. Your safety is my priority, so if there is ever a time I think I need to make a call to protect you, I will do it. You may not like it, but this is the truth. I am the president of the Cursed Ravens, and I normally answer to no one.”

“What goes on in that mind of yours? I need you to promise that all this manipulation is going to stop, especially if it involves me.” “I will be better,” he says quietly. “I’m not going to lose you again.” “We really need to communicate. And you need to let me live my life—how I want to, not how you want me to.” “I know,” he admits, reaching out and taking my hand. “I learned my lesson, trust me. I hated it when you were gone, knowing you didn’t even want me to call, or visit. I’m not going to fuck things up this time. I’m so happy to see you again, Erin.” “I’m happy to see you again too,” I reply, moving to give him a quick hug. “I’m going to make some coffee, do you want some?” “I’d love some,” he says, sitting back in the chair and pulling the newspaper on the table toward him. I make three coffees and give him his, then kiss him on the cheek. “I’m going back to bed. Want to have lunch today, just me and you?” “Yeah, that would be nice.” “Okay,” I reply, then walk back to Ace’s room with both mugs in my hand. I push the door open with my hip and step inside. Ace is still fast asleep, so I leave his mug on the side table, then sit in the chair next to the bed and drink my coffee. I can’t believe I punched Paulina. It’s been a while since I’ve hit someone. In fact, I think the story Mona told Ace was the last time, so I was just a kid. It felt good though, a little too good. I can see why Knuckles likes his job as enforcer. I finish my coffee just as Ace wakes up to his, and then the two of us climb back into bed and fall asleep again. I told him that I loved him, and he said he thinks he loves me too. It’s going to be harder than ever when I leave on Monday.

30 How I’ve missed you,” I say to Black Beauty, giving him a rubdown. “You are just as beautiful as I remember.” “You need to learn to ride her,” Dreads says, coming up to stand next to me. “No point wasting her beauty, having her sit here.” “I know,” I say, sighing and turning to face him. “And it’s a him, not a her. What are you up to today?” “We own a motorbike shop, so I’m working there today,” he explains. “I better get going, or I’m going to be late. But if you have time tomorrow I can give you a riding lesson.” “Sounds good,” I tell him, waving as he gets on his bike and rides away. Dad comes out of the clubhouse, all dressed up in slacks and a shirt, ready to go out to lunch. I can tell he made an effort, and I appreciate that. “You look handsome,” I tell him, giving him a thumbs-up. “And you look beautiful,” he says. We walk to the car, and he opens the door for me. I thank him and get in. After he gets into the driver’s seat, I ask, “So what do you feel like eating today? I did a Google search, and there’s a really cool Spanish tapas place if you’re interested in checking it out. Also, I’m paying for lunch today. Because it’s always you doing stuff for me, and I want to say thank you for everything.” He turns to me and I can tell he’s trying to keep a straight face, but ultimately he ends up cracking up laughing. “If you think you’re going to pay, you have a lot to learn. I never let a woman pay, and you’re my daughter, so fuck no are you ever paying. I missed out on your childhood, if you look at it that way, I probably owe you a huge-ass check for all the birthdays and everything that I’ve missed.” I purse my lips and roll my eyes. “You’re such a caveman. I didn’t even know men like you guys existed anymore. It’s the twenty-first century. There’s a thing called gender equality.” “I don’t give a fuck,” he replies frankly. “If the worst thing women can complain about is that I want to pay for shit, then I’d say I’m doing all right as a man.”

“I’m sure they have other things they can complain about,” I reply, turning up the radio. “If I ask Veronica, I’m sure she’d have a few things to say.” “Oh, she’d have plenty to say,” he mutters. “Now what’s the address of this place you want to go to?” I rattle off the address, and he puts it into his GPS. “So did you have a good night last night?” he asks me, fingers tightening on the steering wheel. “I did.” “I told Paulina not to come back to the clubhouse,” he says, and I’m surprised that he’s bringing this up. “If she has an issue with you, then she has one with me.” “That’s nice of you, Dad,” I tell him. “I knew you would have done that if I told you, but I guess I wanted to handle things myself, even if I handled them in a terrible way. But hey, when in Rome . . .” He chuckles softly. “So, what? You tried to think how one of us would handle it and decided to break her nose?” “I didn’t plan on the nose breaking, I just lost my temper and went for it,” I say, staring at his profile. “My roommate recently showed me the proper way to throw a punch, and I guess I wanted to test how well I picked it up.” “I’d say you’re an A-plus student.” “I think you’re right.” We arrive at our destination, and I’m really excited to try out this new place. “Why are you moving around so much?” he asks me, watching me do a little happy dance before I open the car door. “I’m excited,” I explain. “I really love checking out new restaurants.” His eyes soften, and it’s a beautiful sight. “If this is what makes you happy, we can go out to eat every damn day.” “Don’t spoil me,” I tease, getting out of the car. “I might get used to it.” “You should get used to it,” he says as we walk up the stairs to the entrance. He opens the door for me and waits for me to enter first. “You’re not just Ace’s princess.” My heart melts just that little bit more. And he’s right, I’m not.

That night, Ace has to work. Don’t ask me where, because I have no idea, but it’s only for a few hours. He leaves with Knuckles and Rogue, so I feel a little better knowing they would never let anything happen to him. I wander outside and sit on the grass, a glass of red wine in my hand. I remember what Dad said when we sat here last, he told me not to go into the forest at night because there’s some panther that roams around. I smirk at the memory, then stand up to head back inside. I run into Dreads at the door, he’s got his hands full with a tray of mangoes. “Where did you get those from?” I ask him, eyeing the fruity goodness. “I went to the market to get some fruit to make smoothies with,” he explains. “But I forgot about them and left them in the car. Took me three trips to carry them all in. Do you want one?” “Yes, please,” I say, taking one from the box and bringing it to my nose to smell. “This one is perfect.” We head into the kitchen, where I glance around at all the fresh produce. “You like smoothies, then?” He laughs. “Yeah, I do. I like making up new recipes and making everyone try my creations, like the one I made today. Want to try it? It has strawberries, mulberries, and apple.” “Sure, it sounds delicious.” He hands me a cup, and I sit down and smell it. “This one might be a winner.” “I hope so,” he replies, also sitting down with me. “They can be the perfect hangover cure.” I take a sip, and then a few more. It’s just as tasty as I thought it would be. Except then, I freeze and drop the cup, my hands going to my throat. Something isn’t right. Before the darkness takes me, all I see are beautiful whiskey-colored eyes. Beep. Beep. Beep. I can hear people talking around me, but I can’t open my eyes. “Is she going to make it?” “She’s strong, she will pull through.” “You don’t know that.” “She died, and they brought her back.” I hear what they’re saying, but the voices all sound the same. I don’t know who is talking. What do they mean I died? Is this a dream?

Ace? Where is he? Darkness pulls me under once more.

31 I open my eyes and rub them. My whole body hurts, and I feel like absolute shit. Next to my bed this time are both my dad and Ace. When they see my eyes open, my dad starts crying. “Thank God.” Ace quickly places a kiss on my forehead. “You are one tough fighter, princess. Fuck, I told you not to scare me like that again.” “I’m so sorry,” Dad says, wiping the tears away from his face. “This is all my fault, I had no idea she’d be capable of doing something like this.” Wait, what? “Who?” I ask him, confused and disoriented, but I know there’s something not right about what he’s saying. “Veronica. She tried to poison you again with one of her smoothies. She’s the only one who makes them, and that’s what we found lying next to you when you passed out on the kitchen floor. She must have made a batch, then added something into yours.” Veronica makes the smoothies? Not . . . Oh, fuck. Guilt and panic fill me. Veronica is being blamed when it wasn’t her, and this time I know that for sure. “It wasn’t her!” I tell them, touching my throat with my hands. “Dad, listen to me, it wasn’t her. It was Dreads.” Ace and he share a look. “Motherfucker,” Ace growls, punching his hand into the wall. “Mac? Are you sure, Erin? How do you know this?” “Positive. He told me he’s the one known for making smoothies, but he must have just been trying to frame Veronica,” I say, looking between them. I don’t know how Veronica is going to forgive us this time. We’ve really fucked up when it comes to her, especially me. I’m the worst

unofficial stepdaughter to ever exist, and I know I’m going to have to make it up to her. I don’t know how, but I’m going to try. “Where is he now?” “At the clubhouse.” “Does he think I’m dead? That’s the only reason he’d think it was okay to stay there.” They share a look. “You stay here with her, I’ll handle Mac,” Dad says to Ace, and gives me a quick kiss on the top of my head. “And after all of this is over, you should probably apologize to Veronica,” I point out. “I think I’ll worry about that later,” he says, expression hard. “No one betrays the Cursed Ravens, and no one fucking goes after my baby girl.” He storms out, and I kind of feel bad for Dreads. Not bad enough to stop anything that’s about to happen to him, though. “Why do you think he did it?” I ask Ace, lying back down and closing my eyes again. “I thought he liked me.” “I thought he did, too,” he replies, looking a mixture of furious, hurt, and disappointed. I move over and make room for him on my hospital bed. “Come on.” He slides in next to me, and I rest my head on his chest. “We have to stop meeting like this.” “You need to stop ending up in here.” “I tried. Stupid delicious poison-infested smoothie.” “You’re crazy,” he breathes, kissing my temple. “I love you so much, Erin. If you had died, I don’t know what the hell I would have done. Probably would be in prison for killing anyone I’d suspected of hurting you.” “I’m like a cat.” I yawn. “Nine lives, baby.” “Well, put the rest in a bank, we don’t need to use them right now. I think you’ve scared me enough for the next decade,” he states. My eyes start feeling heavy. “I’m tired.” “Sleep, princess. I won’t leave your side,” he whispers, kissing my cheek. “Ever again.” “What do you mean, ever again?” I ask sleepily, eyes closing. “I have to leave you on Monday.” “It is Monday,” he says. “You were in and out of consciousness for days.” “What? No.”

“Yes, Erin. Now get some rest. Your body has been through hell and back again.” “He’s not very creative,” I point out. “Using poison twice. Unless the first time wasn’t even him and he wanted to mimic it.” “We will have to be careful. Never once in my life did I think I’d see the day a Ravens member would betray us,” he admits, rubbing circles on my arm with his thumb. “Never once did I think someone would want to kill me. Twice,” I admit, falling asleep. I don’t even hear his reply. A few days later I’m back at the clubhouse, catching up on my lectures online. Luckily my professors have been cool about my missing a few days, since I told them I had food poisoning. My mother took it as well as an overprotective mother would, but I assured her that I was fine, and I’d be home as soon as I can. I can’t stay here forever. Dreads wasn’t at the clubhouse when I got back, and it was like he never existed at all. His picture is off the wall, and his room is empty. I think I’ll ask Ace what happened to him when I’m ready. Ace did tell me something though. Dreads’ family originally owned Bravo’s, and after the club purchased it, Dreads always assumed he’d get it back. But at a club meeting, Dad had told them all how he has added me to his will, and everything he owns will go to me. Bravo’s included. I think this must be why Dreads wanted me dead. Ace also told me that Dreads was basically in love with Paulina, and he would’ve done anything for her. He’s been wanting to make her his old lady, but she was always holding out for someone better. He wasn’t too pleased when he found out I hit her. He probably thought she’d reward him for offing me. He clearly has shitty taste. So that, along with the fact that I was basically going to get his family legacy, apparently pushed him to poison me. Ace and my father seem to think the case is closed, but something just doesn’t add up to me. I thought Dreads was a cool guy, but now I’m just questioning my judgment with everything and everyone. “Is Veronica talking to you yet?” I ask Dad as he enters my room with a tray of food. It’s like still being in the hospital, but with better food options and company. “No,” he replies. “But she will get over it.” “You locked her in a room,” I remind him. “She’s lucky that’s all I did.” He winces. “Or maybe I’m lucky that’s all I did.” “The latter.” He sits down on my bed and hands me the tray. It has cereal, toast, juice, coffee, and a fruit salad on it. Without any of the women around to do shit for them, it’s funny to see the men

trying to fend for themselves. Knuckles has been in the kitchen more than the others, but everyone is stepping up. A man’s gotta eat. Dad or Ace usually brings me breakfast every morning, something one of them has prepared; it’s very sweet. And unnecessary. But sweet nonetheless. Ace is going to drive me back to college when I’m ready. He said there’s no way in hell he’s letting me get on the bus after everything that has happened. I hope this means that I’m safe now, because I want to be able to come back here. This is my home too. I wave ’bye to everyone out the window, and watch as they all fade away. I know I’ll be coming back when I get my break, but it’s still sad to leave my dad and Knuckles, and after Ace drops me off, he will leave tomorrow morning. At least I get one extra night with him, which is better than nothing. “Do you want to get something to eat before we leave the city? You know after that it’s all gas-station food,” he reminds me, taking my hand in his as he drives. “I think I’m good,” I tell him. “How about you?” “I’m okay,” he says, bringing my fingers to his lips and kissing them. “So I was thinking, how about I start giving you some driving lessons?” “No, thank you,” I say instantly, without even thinking about it. “Why not?” he asks. “Because the thought of driving terrifies me,” I admit, looking out the window. “But you’re fine when someone else is driving,” he points out. “So it’s not a fear of being in the car, it’s just being in control of the car?” I nod. “Yeah, I guess I just don’t trust myself in the driver’s seat, and it really scares me to think of me doing it again.” “Have you ever tried to learn, or are you just being a stubborn ass?” “Yeah, I tried. And I was actually pretty confident on the road in the beginning. I know it sounds ridiculous, but it’s a phobia. If you look at it that way you can see why I haven’t gotten back behind the wheel,” I try to explain. “I had no idea it was that bad,” he admits, eyeing me from the corner of his eye. “What happened that made you feel this way?”

“When I was learning I was in a car accident,” I tell him, shifting in my seat. “And after that I just never tried to drive again.” “Everyone crashes,” he says, kissing my fingers again. “I was pregnant when I crashed,” I blurt out, needing to tell him the truth. “And the crash made me lose the baby.” He stills and gives my hand a squeeze. “Fuck, I’m sorry, Erin. Whose baby was it?” “Clint’s,” I say, looking down at my hands. “He was my only boyfriend before you, and I was young and stupid, but losing the baby really traumatized me. My actions behind the wheel did that, and I’m just not someone who should be on the road. It’s safer for everyone that way.” “Bad things happen,” he says to me gently. “And people crash every day, Erin. Maybe if you had a good driving instructor who was patient with you, you might feel comfortable enough to try again one day.” “You aren’t let down by what I told you?” I ask him in a small voice. “I’m not going to judge you,” he replies, frowning. “We’re all human, and none of us are perfect. Do you think I haven’t done a million stupid things growing up? My list is much longer than yours.” “I can imagine,” I reply, licking my dry lips. “I didn’t even know if I wanted to keep the baby, you know? But when I lost it, I knew that I would have. I was so upset, and sad for this little life that I made, then killed it without even giving it a chance.” “It was an accident,” he reminds me. “You didn’t crash on purpose, Erin. Stop blaming yourself. Bad things happen to good people, it’s just how the world works.” “That’s depressing.” “That is life, princess. But life can also be fuckin’ amazing,” he adds, looking at me. “At least when I’m with you, that’s what it feels like.” “Stop being cute.” “I can’t,” he murmurs. “Maybe we can just stick to you learning to ride. You seem to feel okay with that. Who needs a license when you can zoom through the streets on your black beauty?” “That sounds like an idea I can get on board with,” I say. “See. Compromise,” he replies, flashing me a smile. “But by the way, if I ever run into Clint again, I’m going to punch him in the face, like I wanted to the first time.” “Ace!” “What?”

“He didn’t do anything,” I tell him, swiveling my body toward him. “What are you going to hit him for?” “For knocking you up? Not wearing a condom? The fact that he fucked you in the first place when you were mine.” He sounds dead serious, too. “I didn’t even know you then,” I huff at him. “You are unbelievable.” “I get that a lot.” “Of course you do, because you’re ridiculous,” I tell him, but even I can hear the smile in my tone. “You can’t hit every guy who wants me.” “You can’t punch every woman I’ve slept with,” he says, reminding me I’m the one who’s gotten physical and not the other way around. “Yeah, because I’d need a team of people to help me, or I’d be tracking down your women for the rest of my life,” I mutter, pursing my lips. “You’re my only woman, Erin, and I love you. But it’s a little cute when you get all jealous,” he replies, chuckling under his breath. “I love your attitude.” And I just simply love him.

32 You got poisoned?” Clover asks again, her eyes wide in shock. “By a fellow MC member? Who the fuck does that?” “A hippie with dreads, apparently,” I say as I sit on my bed cross-legged, an open textbook in front of me. “And now I have to play catch-up, and it’s fucking hell.” “What did they do to him?” she asks me, sounding curious. “I don’t know. He was just gone when I got back, and no one seems to want to talk about him anymore. It’s like he’s just been erased from life.” “Probably because he’s dead,” Clover says casually, looking at me with concern in her eyes. “Is there anything I can get for you? Or any way I can help you? What a shitty thing to have happen to you in your first semester.” “I’m okay, but thank you. And thank you for teaching me how to throw a punch—that came in handy, too.” “Do I even want to ask?” she murmurs, her phone ringing for the third time. She ignores the call. “My dad keeps calling me.” “Why aren’t you picking up?” I ask her, curious. She never talks about her family, or life back home. She’s an enigma. So mysterious. “I came here to try to do things on my own, away from everyone. I told them that, but they still try to call me every day,” she explains. “That’s not giving me a break and letting me work out my life on my own.” With my mother, I can relate. “They probably just miss you,” I say, but then imagine if my mom or two dads were calling me every single day. Yeah, that would annoy me, too. “Maybe tell them to just call once a week. Set some boundaries.” “Yeah, I might try that,” she decides, studying me for a second. “Thanks for the advice, Erin.” “Sure.”

“Now come on, you get to work, and I’ll make some coffee.” She puts the kettle on, and I open another textbook. I must push through. Ace comes back to see me the next weekend when I’m all caught up on my workload. “So, I’ve been thinking,” he murmurs, as we lie next to each other on the motel sheets. “Maybe I should buy us a house here? That way we can stay there whenever I’m down, and you can live there instead of living on campus, or whatever is convenient for you. Either way, the option will be there, and you’ll never have to worry about not having a place to crash. You could even have parties there with your friends.” I blink slowly. “You want to buy us a house?” He nods, like it’s a casual everyday thing. “Yeah, I’ve seen a few nice ones close to campus that are available, so you could just walk there. What do you think?” “I think we should wait until I’m earning money, so I can contribute to this,” I say, rolling over onto my stomach and lifting my head up to look at him. “It’s unfair, otherwise.” “I have plenty of money, Erin,” he assures me. “You don’t have to worry about contributing to anything. And I want to do this, it’s not just for you, it’s for me, too. We won’t have to stay in these crappy motels anymore every time I visit.” “So . . . we’re buying a house then?” He grins, and butterflies appear in my stomach. “Yeah, princess. We’re buying a house.” We start house hunting and find a beautiful house just a five-minute walk from campus. I tell Ace it’s too expensive, but he doesn’t want to hear it. I find myself wondering how he’d be able to afford all this, but then, just like a lot of things with the club, I don’t really want to know. “Why do we need four bedrooms?” I ask him when we’re driving back to the motel. “You need to look at it as an investment. We can always sell the house down the line.” “Does my dad know you’re buying us a house?” I ask him. “Yeah, I told him. He loved the idea,” he says. “I have another surprise for you, but that’s going to have to wait until the house is officially ours.” I clap my hands. “Oooh. I love surprises. What is it? Can I have a clue?” “No.” I pout. “Ahh, come on. Give me a hint.”

“No.” “Fine,” I reply, glancing over at him as he drives. An idea comes to me. “Has anyone ever given you head while you’re driving?” I ask him, as the thought pops into my mind. “That wouldn’t be very responsible,” he replies, lip twitching. “So that’s a yes, then?” I gather, rolling my eyes. “Is there anything you haven’t done?” “Yeah, been in love,” he murmurs. “Until you. So you might not have been my first for all the sexual shit, but you’re my first for that, and that means more than all the other stuff.” “You’re too charming for your own good, sometimes,” I mutter, crossing my arms over my chest. “How am I ever going to stay mad at you?” “You won’t.” “I love you, Ace.” “Thank you, Erin.” I slap his arm. “Speaking of being responsible, I’m ready to sit for my learner’s permit test.” I’m not going to let any fear stop me from getting what I want. I may or may not ever get my driver’s license, but I know for sure that I’m going to be riding, and not just on the back of someone’s bike. I’m going to get my motorcycle license, and I’m going to go about it the right way. Black Beauty will be on the road in no time. My winter break arrives, and I’m back at the clubhouse the next day. Veronica comes into the kitchen, where I’m drinking a coffee and contemplating life, and it’s the first time I’ve seen her since she was accused of trying to kill me. I feel badly because I kind of also thought it was her. If I hadn’t seen Dreads with my own eyes, I would have assumed it was her or Paulina. “Hey,” I say, offering her a small smile. “Can I make you a coffee?” I can see she’s about to decline but then changes her mind. “Yeah, sure. I’d love one.” I get up and make her one while she sits down. She must truly love my dad if she’s still here. He locked her in a room and told her he would deal with her when he got back. I have no idea what he would have done to her, but pretty sure we never would have seen her again, either. Placing the coffee in front of her, I say, “I just want to apologize for everything that happened. I know Dreads framed you, and it kind of looked bad. But I feel so shitty that you were accused of something you didn’t do.”

“But I did do it,” she whispers, turning to me with an evil glint in her eyes. “At least the first time I did.” She wraps her hands around my neck and starts to squeeze, trying to strangle me. I struggle to breathe, dots appearing in my vision, before it disappears completely. I suddenly wake up, alone in the darkness, panting. It was a dream. Holy fucking shit. I pull the sheets up to my neck, as if that can save me. I’m alone in the dorm because Clover has gone home for a few nights. Shit. Maybe dreams have hidden meanings. Or is it my guilt at what happened to her hitting me when I’m most vulnerable? I’m back at the clubhouse the next weekend, and as soon as I walk through the doors, I can tell that something isn’t right. “What’s wrong?” I ask Dad, who is sitting in the kitchen with a bottle of whiskey. No glass. I give him a quick hug while still standing and then sit down next to him. “What is it?” I ask when he doesn’t reply. “Well, you know how we put the cameras in the clubhouse? We didn’t tell everyone about those. Only a few members knew about it, really. Me, Ace, Knuckles, and Rogue. We were going through all the recordings and found Veronica and Mac having a conversation about you.” “What were they saying?” I ask, a bad feeling in my stomach. “You’re right, it was her who tried to poison you the first time.” “Oh,” I whisper, a shiver going up my spine. My dream was right. How freaky is that? Maybe I’m a psychic now. “Can I see the footage? I want to hear and see it for myself.” “Erin—” “I’m involved in this, so I should get to see the footage,” I tell him, voice hard. He hesitates, but then stands up, and nods toward the door. I follow him to a room I’ve never been inside. The room has a huge, solid wooden table, and plenty of animal skulls on the

walls. He leads me through yet another door, where there’s a long desk against the brick wall of the room, with all the camera surveillance, big screens, and two office chairs. I sit down on one as he fiddles with the mouse and pauses at a certain part on one of the videos. When he presses PLAY, I hold my breath. “I know it was you who tried to poison Erin,” Mac says to Veronica, in that casual way of his. He opens his palm to reveal a little vial, which must contain the poison she used or something, because I can see the shock on her face. “Where did you get that?” she replies, rushing her words. “So what if you have the bottle? That doesn’t mean that I used it.” “It fell out of your bag when I was moving it, and Paulina was there when I found it. So that’s two against one.” “All three of them are out of the clubhouse and our lives forever, so you’re safe now,” Dad admits, anger in his tone. The video continues. “What do you want, Mac?” Veronica asks him. “You haven’t told Gage yet, so there must be a reason.” “You owe me,” is all he says. “And when I call in the marker, you will do whatever I ask.” She stays silent for a few seconds, then nods. “Fine.” Mac smiles, evilly, then leaves, vial in his hand. Dad stops the footage, then looks to me. “Why did Veronica do it?” I ask in a small voice. I remember that day I left the house. How she saw me leaving. She wasn’t helping me. She was probably grateful I was leaving. “I don’t know why she hated me so much. I didn’t even do anything to her, and she still had you, she just had to share you a little.” “I don’t know. I think everyone felt shitty about the will situation, but also she felt she was forgotten, and everything was now about you, which she didn’t like,” he admits. “Where is she now?” I dare to ask. “She’s packing her shit as we speak,” he says, taking a drink straight from the bottle. “She’s never going to step foot in this place again.” He pauses, and then mutters under his breath, “Or any other place.” “What are you going to do to her?” I whisper, eyes going wide. He stands and flashes me a small smile. “Don’t worry about that. I’m just glad you’re okay, Erin, and all the fucking traitors to the MC are gone. All I want is for you to be safe and to be able to call this place your home, without any fucking jealousy.”

He kisses the top of my head, grabs the bottle, and walks out of the room just as Ace enters. “Why didn’t you tell me what happened before I got here?” I growl at him. He takes the spot Dad was occupying. “It only just happened today, and Prez said he wanted to talk to you first.” “I can’t believe this shit. I get it that she didn’t like me showing up out of nowhere, but why did she have to go to this extreme?” “I guess she thought she was the woman in power and control, as she was the president’s girlfriend, but he never made her his old lady. And with you here, I don’t think she knew what she was meant to be doing, or what her place was.” “So she tried to kill me?” I whisper-yell. “She’s fucking crazy. Now Dad can find a nice woman, someone who isn’t such a psychopath.” Ace chuckles. “Don’t worry about your dad; it’s not hard for him to find a woman.” “Yeah, but we want quality, not quantity,” I remind him. “I’m going to set him up with someone,” I declare. “I should open an online-dating profile for him.” “He will kill you. Besides, you can’t, because as you can see, it’s hard for us to find people we can trust. Only a certain type of woman will cut it for an MC president.” “Well, I’m on the lookout,” I tell him. Something occurs to me. “Are you still going to be VP one day?” He nods slowly, shifting on his seat, clearly uncomfortable with my questioning. “The day your dad steps down, Rogue will become president, and yeah, I’ll be the VP. But it’s not about you, Erin. Apparently it was always going to be that way, even before you walked through those doors.” I move to sit on his lap, and rest my head on his shoulder. As his arms come up around me, he murmurs, “Right where you belong.” I smile, but then my mind wanders back to the information I just found out. Veronica tried to kill me. As if right on cue, my dad returns, but he’s not alone. “What do you say to my daughter?” he grits out between clenched teeth. “You’re going to regret this,” Veronica replies, tears dripping down her face. “No one will love you like I do! No one else will put up with your shit! And that little bitch is just going to take everything from you, everything that you’ve worked so hard your whole life for. You’re already giving her everything, Gage. You need to be smart about this. I love you; don’t do this.” “You knew how I felt about her coming here. How I felt about being a father,” he says to

her, tone deathly. “You knew. And you tried to take my daughter from me when I just found her. That’s not love, Veronica. And if you think it is, you have something seriously wrong with you. And if you call my daughter a bitch again, I won’t be held responsible for my actions.” With my hand to my chest, I look her in the eye. “My father deserves so much better than you, and he will find it. We won’t even remember who you are when you’re gone.” I stand up and walk right to her. “You are weak and selfish. I’m so sorry that my dad has had to go through all this just because of your jealousy. I don’t care if I don’t get anything he has; all I want is him in my life. Blood is stronger than anything, Veronica. I actually pity you for being so petty that you tried to come between that. You are no Raven.” Knuckles appears, steps up, and grabs her other arm, the icy look in his gaze sending a shiver down my spine. “Let’s go. This is the last time you will see the inside of our clubhouse.” She starts to cry harder, but I don’t feel any sympathy for her. My gut instinct was right the whole time. I’m never going to doubt it again.

EPILOGUE ONE MONTH LATER I don’t have many friends to invite,” I tell Ace, wrinkling my nose. “But my sister, Celina, Clover, Mona, Glen, and Roger will come. Mom and Brock too. And everyone else will be the MC members, which is plenty for a party anyway, as we all know.” “It’s your birthday, Erin. You can invite whomever you want. Do you want to ride in on your bike to show off your new skills?” Ace and Dad both taught me to ride, and as of last week, I officially passed my riding test. I’m the first woman associated with the MC to have her own bike and license. Even Clover was impressed. “I think my mother would have a heart attack,” I grumble, otherwise loving that idea. “I organized a DJ, and Knuckles is sorting out the caterer for you. We just need to buy the alcohol, and I think we’re good. Your dad is getting the place decorated for you.” “How exciting is it that I made it to twenty-two?” I ask him, squealing when he lifts me up in his arms and throws me over his shoulder. “Babe, you’re going to make it to a hundred. You know why?” “Why?” I ask warily. “Because the evil live forever,” he says, chuckling at his own joke. “Excuse me,” I say, outraged. I slap his delicious behind with my own palms. “You’re the evil one out of us, thank you very much. I’m the sweet, innocent girl you’ve corrupted.” “You keep telling yourself that, hellfire,” he says, throwing me down on the couch and covering me with his body. “You’re perfect for me, you know that?” “Thank you for throwing me a birthday party,” I tell him, smiling. “It’s the first one I’ll have had since I was a kid.” “You’re welcome,” he sings in the tune of the Moana song. I burst out laughing. “Not you too.”

“It’s catchy.” We share a smile, and then he kisses me gently, deeply, and I fall in love all over again. I step outside to get some fresh air, and the sight before me brings tears to my eyes. Both of my fathers, shaking hands. “Thank you for looking after her all these years,” Dad says to Brock. Brock smiles sadly. “You don’t need to thank me; I love her like she was my own.” “And that makes you a good man,” Dad replies. “She’s lucky to have you.” “And you,” Brock replies, ducking his head. “Thank you for welcoming her when she came and dropped the bomb on you. She loves you, and I can tell she feels like this is where she belongs.” “I guess she has two homes now,” I hear my father say in reply. Is it possible to have two happily-ever-afters? Because I don’t think I could be happier. When Rogue sings the Sam Smith song I’d asked him for the first time I heard him sing, I can’t help it, I start to cry. These men can be so thoughtful. They remember things, just small things, and then use it against me to make me all emotional. “Oh my god, his voice . . .” I sob, ruining my makeup as I rub my eyes. “He is fucking amazing. That’s it, I’m going to record this and send it in as an audition to The Voice.” “He’s . . . wow,” Celina whispers, her eyes wide as saucers. “He is so talented.” “And good-looking,” I say, nudging her with my shoulder. “And single.” “Don’t you start,” she warns me, but when I look back at her, it’s not Rogue she’s looking at. It’s Knuckles. Interesting. I grin, my tears stopping, as I look around—all my loved ones, all here to celebrate with me. My heart is so full, and I don’t even know what to say. When the song finishes, we all clap and cheer, and Rogue steps aside as Ace takes the microphone. “So I can’t sing,” Ace murmurs, making everyone laugh. “And I’m not much of a dancer either. But what I can do better than any other man is love Erin. So in front of all her close friends and family, I want to do this.”

He walks up to me, and gets down on one knee. “Erin Moretti, will you make me the happiest man alive and marry me?” I nod. “Of course I will.” The crowd goes wild, cheering and clapping as Ace slides on a rock the size of my thumbnail. It’s a beautiful pear-shaped diamond, with a halo of diamonds around it, and it’s simply stunning. “It’s beautiful,” I say, the tears returning. “Don’t cry,” he whispers, kissing me. “This is the best day of my life,” I tell him when he pulls away. “So far,” he adds. “The best day of your life so far.” Rogue starts to sing Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect,” and Ace and I slow dance together. A more perfect night never existed. When I walked through those doors and into the lives of all these men, I never thought something like this would happen. They put me through every emotion possible, but in the end, we became a family. We’re far from perfect, and we’re all going to butt heads now and again, but it doesn’t matter, because at the end of the day, they’d have my back in a second. Carson Kendrick is the love of my life. Our journey wasn’t an easy one, or a typical one, but I’d do anything and go through anything to get to the point where I am today. Where I am right now, so adored, and engaged to the love of my life. Engaged at twenty-two. But what can I say? Ace stole my heart.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS A big thank-you to my editor, Marla Daniels, and Gallery Books. I love every second of working with you. Kimberly Brower, I’m so lucky to have you as my agent! Thank you for everything you do— we make such a great team and you truly go above and beyond. Natalie Ram—Thank you for being the most versatile best friend ever, from helping me proofread to making me swag. I appreciate everything that is you. I know I can always count on you to have my back, or help me when I need you. I kind of adore you, and I don’t know how I survived before I had you by my side. You’re my one-woman army, and I love you heaps. Rose Tawil—I really don’t know what I’d do without you. I can’t say thank you enough for all the work you put in to support my dreams, and you never ask for anything in return. You truly are one of the best people I’ve ever met. You also kick my ass whenever I need it. Love you infinity. Arijana Karcic—Thank you for all that you do for me. You’ve been with me from the very beginning, and you just amaze me with your talent, kindness, and wit. You are one of a kind, Ari. My sisters—I love you both. And I miss you both so much while you’re on your adventures overseas! C—You came into my crazy life so unexpectedly, and now I don’t know what I’d do without you. You look after me when I burn myself out, take care of me, and bring so much fun and laughter into my life. I love you. To my three sons, my biggest supporters, thank you for being so understanding, loving, and helpful. I’m so proud of the men you are all slowly becoming, and I love you all so very much.

Keep reading for a sneak peek of the next sizzling installment in The Cursed Ravens MC series

KNUCKLE DOWN Coming Summer 2018 from Pocket Star Books!

1 CELINA “Holy shit, Celina, I still can’t believe your article made the second page,” my best friend, Akeira, says, yelling into my ear. “I’m so proud of you! I’m going to frame it and put it on my wall.” I hold the phone slightly farther away and smile. She probably would too; she’s always been my biggest supporter. As a journalist, making the first few pages of the newspaper is a huge deal, especially considering it’s my first time to do so. “Thank you. I’m pretty thrilled about it. But you don’t need to put an article about the high crime rate among the homeless on your fridge. That’s kind of depressing.” “I don’t care, you wrote it,” she huffs. “Next time, it will be the front page, I just know it.” “That’s the plan,” I sigh dreamily, before we say our good-byes. I’m more than determined to get my name on the front page one day; I just need to find a story worthy enough in my boss’s eyes to put me there. It’s not a matter of if but when. I will get there eventually. This is only the beginning of my career, and I’m determined to succeed and become the type of journalist who brings real issues to light. “Well done, Celina,” Robert, my least favorite person and a senior editor, says as he wanders toward my desk. “Thank you,” I reply, a little warily. Unlike my best friend, Robert isn’t one of my fans and is probably hating the fact that I’ve accomplished anything. “I’m really happy Tim chose to put it on page two,” I continue, rubbing it in a little. “I wasn’t expecting it.” “Me either,” he admits, shrugging and sliding his hands into the pockets of his beige chinos. “Must’ve been a slow week. Don’t think you’ll get that lucky again. You’ll need something huge to break the cover, and I don’t think homelessness is going to do it. Keep dreaming though.” He turns and leaves, too fast to hear me mutter the word asshole. I do prefer to write about topics that can help our city, or at least let people know what is going on and how they can help, unlike Robert, who prefers celebrity gossip, or any kind of

scandal. I know those kinds of things sell, but surely that isn’t all that everyone wants to read about with their morning coffee. I pack up my desk, not letting my jerk of a colleague ruin my buzz, my mind wandering to tomorrow night for my cousin Erin’s birthday party. She’s chosen to have it at the Cursed Ravens MC clubhouse, where her boyfriend is a member. I haven’t met him yet, so I’m curious to see how that goes, and I have to admit, never in my life did I think I’d be walking through those infamous clubhouse doors. It actually is a dream opportunity. I’m going to walk into a place that not many will ever see the inside of, and those who will, will never disclose any information about it. The public knows so little about the Cursed Ravens MC, and I know that if I wrote a story on them it would make the front page and leave Robert licking his wounds. I could find out about the parties they throw, what their clubhouse looks like, or even how many people belong to the MC. Whatever it was, people would eat it up. I wonder if they know they’re letting a journalist in? I guess I will soon find out.

I slide out of my car, closing the door behind me and glancing around the busy parking lot. There are men standing out front near the gates asking everyone for their names before they allow people to drive through. It seems like a bit of overkill. I don’t know how many people Erin invited, but I know our whole family is coming. Maybe the security is so no one tries to gate-crash? I don’t pretend to know how motorcycle clubs run, but I wasn’t expecting this. I pull on the hem of my favorite little black dress, sliding the strap of my Givenchy Pandora bag, the one Akeira bought me for my twenty-first birthday, over my bare shoulder. I’m about to text Erin to tell her I’m here when she rushes out the entrance doors, a big smile on her face, her blue eyes sparkling. And then her arms are around me, and her warm presence has me suddenly feeling at home even though that couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s been a few months since I’ve seen her, but, as always, it’s like we’ve never been apart. I guess that’s what is so special about family—no matter what, the love never changes. “You look beautiful,” she says, hands on my cheeks. “Wearing your signature red lipstick, I see.” “Did you expect anything else?” I ask, smiling. I happen to be fond of a bloodred lip, and she knows it. As she lets go of my cheeks, I open my bag and pull out a red-wrapped present, a black bow stuck to it. “Happy birthday, Erin.” “Thank you,” she replies, taking the gift and eyeing it greedily. “I told you not to get me anything.”

“I know, but I couldn’t not,” I tell her, looking toward the clubhouse, a nervous energy flowing through my body. “And I know you secretly love getting presents,” I continue, as she leads me toward the entrance. “This is true,” she responds, laughing softly. “And you always give the best gifts.” “Hey, Erin, who is this?” A man asks, coming over to us before we get inside. He’s dressed in all black and has brown eyes with short dark hair. “This is my cousin, Celina. Celina, this is Shack,” she says, nodding toward the man. “And, Shack, don’t even think about it.” “Why not?” he asks, smirking. His eyes return to me. “Nice to meet you, Celina.” “You too,” I call back as Erin drags me inside. I eat the place up. I take in every detail, unable to stop myself from going into journalist mode. We walk down a small hallway and into a spacious room that must be their living area. It’s been turned into a makeshift stage, dressed up with decorations, balloons, signs, and ribbons, and is filled with leather-clad men. It’s surprisingly . . . normal. It just looks like someone’s house. Not a place I would think bikers hang out and live. “What do you think?” Erin asks, taking in the room with me just as a tall, handsome man approaches us. His eyes are zeroed in on my baby cousin. “It’s perfect,” I tell her as the man stops in front of us, turning his attention to me. “You must be Celina,” he murmurs, offering me his hand. “I’m Ace. It’s nice to finally meet you.” I take his hand and smile up at him. “Nice to meet you too, Ace.” While I’ve heard a lot about Ace during my phone call catch-ups with Erin, meeting him is a whole different story. With his light gray eyes and light hair, I can see why Erin is so taken. He’s extremely good-looking, but also has a Don’t fuck with me or you’ll regret it vibe that any woman would find appealing. But I can instantly see how much he adores Erin—the way he looks at her with such love and devotion. The two of them make a stunning couple. “Isn’t he dreamy?” Erin asks, checking out her man. “Seriously, who knew they made them like this in real life?” Ace chuckles and pulls Erin into his arms. “Can I get either of you a drink?” “We’d love one,” Erin replies. Ace kisses the top of her head and heads to the bar. “That was a bit cute,” I tell her, arching a brow. “I can see why you’re so smitten.”

“I don’t know how it all happened, but here I am,” she says, puffing out a breath. “And I’m so happy you got to meet him. It was so weird that he hadn’t met you when you mean so much to me.” Erin and I have always been close, and I consider her one of my favorite people in the world. I love seeing her so happy, especially after everything she’s been through recently. From finding out that her mother—my aunt Louise—never told her that Brock, the man who raised her as his own, wasn’t Erin’s real father, to the fact that her biological father is actually the president of a motorcycle club, she’s had a rough go of it this year. None of us knew the truth. At least I sure as hell didn’t. My father, Louise’s older brother, also denies knowing the truth. I can’t deny being shocked, finding out that straitlaced Aunt Louise once dated a badass biker guy—but hey, it’s always the ones you least suspect. “You must be the cousin,” a man with blond hair and blue eyes interrupts as he appears next to us. “I see beauty runs in the family.” “The cousin has a name,” I reply, my hand going to my hip, a smirk playing on my lips. Erin nudges me with her arm. “Celina, this is Rogue. Rogue, Celina.” “She does have a name. And a beautiful one at that. About time I officially meet you, Celina,” he says, shaking my hand, blue eyes pinned on me. “Erin’s been going on about you all day.” “It’s not every day you bring your family to a biker clubhouse.” She shrugs, not ashamed by the fact. “I’ve been excited all month, counting down.” “I know,” Rogue replies in a dry tone. He looks at me. “She sends out email notifications reminding us, and with a checklist of shit we have to do. Do you get those too? Or are we the only unlucky ones?” “Oh, I get them all right,” I tell him with a short laugh. “I’ve been getting them since she got her first phone when she was twelve. I believe the first one I received was a wish list for her birthday, and the number one thing she wanted was a puppy.” He winces, but I don’t miss the amusement in his gaze. He cares about Erin, and to be honest it’s kind of hard not to. She’s just one of those people you instantly adore. “Ahh, shit. I’m gonna go save Erin’s mom from Shack,” he murmurs, touching my shoulder briefly and saying, “It was nice to meet you.” “You too,” I reply, watching him rush over to Aunt Louise, who looks extremely uncomfortable with Shack next to her. I almost want to laugh, but I don’t, because if she sees me she will probably kick my butt. I bring my attention back to Erin, who has a wide smile on her face, looking at a man onstage who is setting up a microphone. “That’s Gage. My father,” she says with pride, pointing to him.

I’ve never seen her so content, and she truly looks like this is where she belongs. She’s so comfortable around everyone here, and she can’t stop beaming, happiness just radiates out of her. Home is where your heart is, I guess. “I can’t believe your mom actually came,” I say, eyes still on her, Shack, and Rogue. “And where is Brock?” “He’s getting a drink,” Erin replies, bringing her eyes back to me. “And I’m surprised too, but she’s really trying to mend things between us.” “That’s good.” I nod, knowing how hurt Erin was because of her mother’s lies. “You’re a good daughter, Erin.” “I don’t know about that,” she mutters, threading her arm through mine. “But I’m trying. I want everyone to get along, you know? Everyone has played a role in my life, which got me where I am today and made me who I am.” “Me included?” I tease. “You especially,” she exclaims, nudging my shoulder. “You’ve always been there, Celina, and even better than that, you’ve always been on my side. Loyal. Trustworthy. Honest. You can’t ask for more than that. The men here go on about loyalty, but I’ve already had that my whole life, from you.” “Ahh, come on, don’t make me get all emotional,” I tell her, softening. “This is meant to be a party.” She rolls her eyes at me. “Pretend to be a hard-ass all you want, Celina, but I know you. You’re kind, generous, loving, and, inside, soft as a motherfucking marshmallow, although for some reason, you pretend not to be.” I tilt my head to the side and flash her an unimpressed look. “But you know what? That’s a good thing, because not everyone deserves your sweet side. I know why you protect yourself; I understand it, and I don’t want to see you hurt either, so I’m glad that wall is there,” she continues, glancing up at me with a gentle look in her blue eyes. “I’m so happy you came tonight.” “I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I tell her honestly. “Even if it comes with a deep and meaningful explanation about why I’m so closed off.” She simply grins, and I turn my head as another man appears in front of us. “There you are,” she says to the bearded man fondly. “I was looking for you.” “I was doing a boundary check,” he informs her.

“Celina, this is my bestie, Knuckles,” she introduces us, and as soon as I lock eyes with the man in front of me, I can’t seem to look away. He’s tall, much taller than my five foot six, and I have to lift my face to see his brown eyes. “Bestie?” I ask with an arched brow, amused at Erin calling such a big, burly man something so girly, but the man before me nods. “I’ve claimed that title apparently. And you’re Erin’s cousin? I’ve heard about you,” he murmurs, offering me his hand, which I take while eyeing the tattoo of a Viking’s face on his thumb before bringing my gaze back to his eyes, which are locked on me. I take in his shaved head, scruffy beard, and full lips and realize why I’ve never dated a man like this before. He has heartbreaker written all over him. “I am, yes,” I say, glancing down at my baby cousin. “And I can only imagine the things she’s said about me.” Erin starts to laugh. “Don’t worry, I haven’t told them all our secrets.” I smile and shake my head, pulling my hand from his. The way he gently held mine in his rough one sent a weird feeling through my body, and I have the sudden urge to step away from him and clear my head. Ace returns with our drinks, which I greedily accept, suddenly feeling a little overwhelmed with all these huge bikers around me. It’s a lot to take in. They are a lot to take in. I’ve been around powerful men before, but mainly the professional kind. These men have a whole different vibe about them. We all chat for a little, and it’s not long before I find my glass empty. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to get another drink,” I tell them all. I’m about to step away when Knuckles stops me with a barely there touch on my arm, sending a shiver up my spine. “I’ll get it. What do you want?” Knuckles asks me in that deep tone of his, the silver in his ears catching my eyes. In any other situation, I’d have taken him up on the offer, but this drink is my escape plan. Besides, no good decisions are made after a good-looking man offers to get you a drink. Men rarely do it out of common courtesy. Maybe he wants to talk to me, I don’t know, or maybe he’s just looking for a little action after the party. No matter his reasoning, I’m not going to engage. “It’s okay; I can get it,” I tell him, offering him a small smile. That smile hopefully says, I’m fine, no hard feelings, but I can get my own damn drink. I look to Erin. “Do you want anything else, birthday girl?”

“I’m okay, thanks,” she says, looking between the two of us. “I’m going to go check on Eden. I can see Rogue talking to her, and I think she’s about to faint.” “I’ll come with you,” Ace chimes in. Eden is Erin’s younger sister but she has a more modest, gentle aura about her. I can just imagine how overwhelmed she must be talking to a man like Rogue. I grin, nod, and quickly make my exit, heading to the bar and taking a long, deep breath. “Can I have a vodka, lemon and lime, please?” I ask the young gentleman manning the bar. I glance behind me and see Knuckles approaching. I turn back to the man and say, “Make it a double.” The man smirks and ducks his head, getting to the business of making my much-needed drink. “So what’s your deal?” Knuckles asks, studying me thoughtfully. “Every time Erin talks about you, she says she admires how independent you are.” I smile at the way Erin thinks about me. If that is what comes to mind first for her, I can’t be doing such a bad job as an older cousin. “I don’t know how to reply to that,” I tell him honestly. “Is being independent a bad thing?” Because for me, it’s something I’ve strived to be. I don’t like to rely on anyone, and I’ve made it so I never have to. “No,” he replies instantly. “It’s admirable.” “But?” I ask, pursing my lips, knowing there’s more to come. I’ve heard it all before. The truth is, some men are intimidated by me. I know that sounds egotistical, but they’ve actually said that to me before. Some men don’t want a woman who is too strong, too capable. They want to be needed, wanted, and they like being in charge. I can’t change who I am though, and I won’t. I’m sure there’s a man out there for me who will be proud of the woman I am and not want to tone me down to make themselves feel more like a man. He laughs, a deep, rich sound. “But . . . I don’t think it’s the main adjective people should use when trying to describe someone. Being independent is what you do and how you act, not who you are as a person.” I must admit, his comment surprises me. I hate those kinds of comments that are down on feminism. What he said actually had some depth, even if I don’t necessarily agree with him. I sigh and deflect, since I don’t know how to respond. It works every time. “Is this you being drunk and trying to have a deep and meaningful conversation?”

“I’ve only had one drink,” he shoots back, nodding to the bar. “And yours is waiting for you. Jasper makes some fuckin’ good drinks.” I pick up my glass, taking a long sip. “Thanks, Jasper!” I call out to my hero, who has already moved on and is making someone else’s glass of salvation. He lifts his head and flashes me a charming, very amused smile. “So you only like men who bring you alcohol? I’ll have to remember that.” I bring my attention back to the delicious, completely infuriating man before me. “Are you insinuating I don’t like men who don’t?” Because it sounds like he is. And if that’s true, I don’t know how he’s gotten this impression that I don’t like men, but he’s not the first to think this. On the contrary, I love men. From their smell to the power in their touch, there’s no feeling better than when you have that chemistry and connection with a good man. “You didn’t seem to like the idea of me offering to get you a drink. Don’t like chivalry either?” Okay, now he’s just being an asshole. “Because I wanted to get my own drink?” I ask him in a dry tone. “Well, aren’t you a charmer. If you must know, I don’t let strangers—especially strange men—get my drinks. We live in a time where people can put drugs in a drink. If I recall, I think something like that happened to my cousin here. So excuse me for being cautious about my drinks, especially within these walls.” Does he think I’m an idiot? These are modern times and women have to be cautious nowadays. Besides, I heard Erin’s crazy story about being poisoned. I’m not taking any chances. And I know his type. He’s an alpha male, used to getting his way, and assumes his word is law and will be listened to at all times. He’s demanding and in control. Used to taking charge. Has a woman ever told him no? I sincerely doubt it. He’s a dangerous mix of confident and good-looking in a rough way, and let’s not forget his place here in the MC. He’s the fucking trifecta of the male race. And he knows it. “Whoa,” he replies with his hands in the air. “Just trying to understand you,” he adds with a casual shrug. “Don’t mean any offense.” “And why would you want to try to understand a woman you’ve just met, Knuckles?” I ask, putting emphasis on his name. I can only imagine how he got the road name, and as I run my

gaze over his scarred hands, I know I’m right. He’s a brute. And he’s standing here and judging me, trying to pass it off as curiosity. You know what this man needs? A filter. “Maybe because the woman in question is the first one who has caught my eye in years,” he admits, gaze unwavering, pinning me with its intensity. “And of course I’m fucking up my first impression.” He shakes his head as if he’s in a fog. My eyes flare, taken aback by his reply and his stark honesty. “Well, I wasn’t expecting that,” I say, tone gentling. I don’t know what else to say. I’m the first woman to catch his eye in years? I find that kind of hard to believe, but I guess I’ve been making assumptions about him all night, and we know that people aren’t always who we expect them to be. “Why don’t you let me make it up to you by taking you out to dinner sometime this week?” he continues, leaning against the bar and scanning my eyes. “Oh,” I blurt out. “I can’t,” I say, forehead furrowing as I think of an excuse to make. “I’m sorry.” If there’s one thing I pride myself on, it’s my self-control. I’ve always made sure to go for men who will be good for me. If they aren’t adding something to my already fulfilled life, then I don’t want them. I don’t want trouble, and I don’t want any kind of drama. And I sure as hell don’t want a bad boy. Unfortunately, I can’t help whom I’m attracted to. What I can do though is control who I allow to get close to me and which men I give a chance to. An icy glass clasped in my hand, the condensation making my palm and fingers numb, I offer him an apologetic smile and make a quick exit, seeing Erin on the dance floor and heading straight for her. “Did you save Eden from Rogue’s good looks?” I joke, casually glancing back at Knuckles, only to see him still standing alone in the same spot I left him, staring straight back at me. Fuck. I push away the slither of regret that slides over me and bring my focus back to Erin. “Yeah. She really needs to work on her game. She was just standing there, wide-eyed, not even replying to his questions because she was so distracted by his looks,” Erin says, amusement

dancing in her eyes. “Although, I guess I can’t really blame her.” I laugh and wrap my arm around her. “No, you can’t. You know, when you told me about this whole MC thing, this is not how I pictured it.” I mean, I had all these misconceptions about Erin’s life here, and after meeting these people, I realize I’m wrong for judging so quickly. I thought the men wouldn’t be as nice and as welcoming, and I didn’t picture them going out of their way to decorate the place for Erin. They are a family, and I’m getting a glimpse of that. Don’t get me wrong, I imagine it’s not all parties and laughter, but I can just feel the bond between everyone and it’s contagious. The vibe here is something else. “Me either,” she admits, holding on to my waist. “Thanks for being open-minded about it though.” “Are you kidding me? I’ve always wondered what it looks like in here.” I grin, teasing her. “And you know that anywhere you go, I’ll follow. You’re one of my favorite people in the world, and I’m here for you if you need me.” “I know,” she says with a soft smile. “I wanted to call you a few times when I was first here, but I don’t know, I guess it was something I needed to face on my own. I can’t always expect someone to bail me out; I’m not a baby anymore.” “No, you’re not, are you?” I mutter, squeezing her tighter. I might have only six years on her, but growing up, that felt like plenty. As we get older, the gap is closing though, and soon it won’t feel like she’s much younger than me at all. How time has flown. I remember Erin on her first day of high school and how she’d asked me to drop her off. Not her mom, or her dad, she wanted me. As we sat in the car, I could tell how nervous she was. So I’d said, “I’ll pick you up at three, okay? You have nothing to worry about. You’re beautiful and smart, and if anyone gives you any shit I’ll make their lives a living hell.” She’d smiled, taken a deep breath, and nodded. “You’re right, I’ve got this.” She did. And now she’s in college. This time though, she doesn’t need me to drop her off. We’re all so busy in our own lives that sometimes we forget to stop and enjoy the present. I look back at Knuckles, who is still watching me, and then turn to face the stage, where Rogue is about to sing. I want to be in the present, not be reckless. When I was invited to this party, I admit that it briefly crossed my mind that I could write a story about the Cursed Ravens. It would be a firsthand account, and I know my boss, Tim,

would eat it up. And Erin never said anything about keeping what I see “off the record,” but ultimately, she didn’t have to. I love my career, but I love my family more. I’d never do anything to betray Erin, especially because of how much faith she has in me. It’ll be like I wasn’t even here.

Don’t miss the rest of the sizzling Cursed Ravens series, coming from Pocket Star Books Summer 2018! A single father struggles to change for his daughters and the woman he loves in this second book in the Cursed Ravens Motorcycle Club series from New York Times bestselling author Chantal Fernando.

Knuckle Down CLICK HERE TO ORDER

Love blossoms in the most unexpected of places in this sweet and steamy Cursed Ravens Motorcyle Club novel featuring a hunky bad boy and a charming nurse.

Going Rogue CLICK HERE TO ORDER

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The Conflict of Interest Series Breaching the Contract* Seducing the Defendant Approaching the Bench* Leading the Witness

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Pocket Star Books An Imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc. 1230 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10020 www.SimonandSchuster.com This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Copyright © 2018 by Chantal Fernando All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information, address Pocket Books Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020. First Pocket Star Books ebook edition June 2018 POCKET STAR BOOKS and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc. The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event. For more information or to book an event, contact the Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau at 1-866-248-3049 or visit our website at www.simonspeakers.com. Interior design by Davina Mock-Maniscalco Cover design by Patrick Kang Cover image © Alisksandr Zosimau (bike) ISBN 978-1-5011-7296-0 (eBook)