Chapter 51
The
The going to the clubhous
Crimson Reaper”
- place I’ve been forbidden to go my entire life, both by my father and Gray. The closer we get, the more tension builds in my chest, like a
adphones you can’t untangle
wing your lip off back there. Stop in Kine says firmly.
Mason is silent beside me, but I can feel his eyes on me, studying me in that quiet, intense way he does.
1 pause in hip–biting and let out a heavy sigh. “I don’t know why I’m so nervous. I just want to make a good first impression, I guess. I don’t want everyone to see me as Gray’s weak, defenseless little sister”
“Speaking of that” Nike cuts in with a teasing smirk in his voice, “everyone’s probably going to give you shit. You can handle a bit of teasing right.
their bullying. I guess I’ve learned how to take it.
“I guess so.” I mutter, g
garing out the window as the streets whit by
7know
And that means T
we can’t step in and defend you” Niko adds.
p for success
open my mouth toask why, but he continues. You said it yourself—you don’t want to be seen as weak. Gray hasn’t exactly set you up i thút department, so you’ll need to stand your ground. You’ve done it with Gray twice now. You can do it with anyone else.”
I really do that? Stick up for myself in a room full of hard, intimidang bikers?
- me. “What if someone threatens me or something?” my voice comes out smaller than I intended, and I hate it
1 frown doubt creeping
“Then I kill them.” King interjects coldly, the malice in his body making my spine tingle Knowing he’s being completely serious makes me feel safe, but then I remind myself that they’re expecting me to be strong to stand up for myself. How can I do that if I keep on relying on them?
“No ones going to threaten or harm you.” Mason Enally says, his voice gentler but no less reassuring. “You and Zuri are a part of the MC
His words soothe my nerves. Then, I remember last night, he’d sent me a text I hadn’t answered, and guilt twists in my gut. Not because I was too tired, but because I was having a threesome with two of his friends. I don’t want him to know that, even though I don’t regret what King, Niko, and I
Im sorry I didn’t answer your text last night. I passed out pretty early” I lie, biting my lip again.
Mason glances at me
at me, his expression soft. That’s okay, linle warrior, he murmurs in response. I just wanted to scare off any bad dreams.”
My heart flutters. “Well, thank you,” I reply, returning the smile. Our gazes remain locked for a second too long, and I notice how striking his green eyes are behind his glasses. I swear, all the men in this car have beautiful eyes that pull you in and make you forget whatever you are thinking
“Motherfucker, use your goddamn turning signal” King’s sudden outburst jolts me from the moment, and I stifle a laugh as Niko scolds him.
“Language, King. The baby is back there.”
I glance over at Zun, who’s too busy gnawing on her teether to notice anything else.
“She’s okay. She didn’t hear King’s road rage,” I say with a giggle, which makes them laugh,
“Gray’s got you that on edge, huh? Niko asks, his tone shifting back to serious
King’s grip on the wheel tightens. “I just want to know what the hell he’s planning”
“We’re the only ones who know about your sexual relationship with Alyssa. So it’s safe to say Gray’s not planning to execute all of us in front of her,” Mason says, a dry humor in his voice.
“He’s not the only one now, Niko says, turning to me with a full grin. “Huh, sweet girl?
Heat flushes my cheeks, but I can’t even find the words to respond. Mason knows now. Is he judging me? I can’t even force myself to look at him and see, scared that if I do, I’ll see disappointment or disgust.
Chapter 31
“Hey, who do you think I am? Ka
“King“” Niko aska, sounding half offended half |
f–playful. “Tios, it isn’t just about sex with her. We’re together now
“And she agreed to this? Mason asks, his voter even.
Together. It sounds an strange hearing it out loud for the fra time.
1 steal a glance at Mason from the corner of my eye, my breath catching as I find his jaw night, teking rhythmically. He’s not disgusted. He’s pissed. But why? Is it because of me! I know my relationship with King and Niko puts him in a tough position, but this feels like something else Jealousy! No. It couldn’t be. Or could in
The
stretches between us, uncomfortable and tense. Finally, after what feels like an eternity, Mason breaks it. “When Gray starts torturing and killing you both, don’t beg me to help you, because I won’t,” he says with a leveled voice, but there’s an undercurrent to it that I don’t miss wonder if the others packed up on it too.
Fuck. He must be upset that our relationship puts him at risk because he knows a
about it and didn’t inform Gray
Look Mar, 1 say, my voice softer 11 Gray Bnds out, you can pretend you didn’t know anything Til vouch for you.” Treach acro fingers brushing has hand resting in his lap. He flinches at the touch but doesn’t pull away, allowing my hand to settle over his
It’s not about that,” he mutters under his breath, barely loud enough for me to catch
Then what is it abour!
the seat, my
Before I can ask Mason changes the subject abruptly, as if to shift the focus away from himself. “Tve been thinking about it, and Gray likely invited Alyssa to the clubhouse to gain her trust. That’s the only reason I can think of
“It’s not like we could know for sure.” Niko chimes in. “Ir doesn’t trust us anymore. Especially King”
King releases an unattresied sigh. “Well, we’ll tell him what he wants to know after the Iron Serpents situation is handled.”
what! They actually plan to tell my brother about us? Like the three of us
King catches my gaze in the rearview mirror, smirking. “Are you against that, kitten? Do you want us to stay your dirty little secrets!”
1 lick my lips, my mind spinning “No, I just want you guys to stay safe”
Nần snorts. “I think King cares more about being able to claim you in public than safety. And I’m okay if it’s just him doing the claiming if you don i wani Gray knowing about both of us. In public, you’ll be King’s, but in private, you belong to us both”
My eyes widen, my cheeks flushing. “You’d really be okay with that?” I ask, my voice trembling slightly. The idea of being claimed by King in public,
shile Niko shares me in private, feels confusing How would that even work!
Niko chuckles, his voice low and teasing. “Sweet girl, as long as I can hold and play with you every day, I’ll be happy”
Before I can think more about it, I feel Mason shift beside me, his fist balling beneath my hand. His silence feels louder than any words he could have spoken. There’s definitely something going on with him, something he’s refusing to say. I glance at him again, hoping for a hint of what’s rome on in his head, but his mask is back on
But he doesn’t push my hand away. Instead, after a moment, he relaxes his fist, allowing me to slide my fingers between his. It’s a small gesture, but I can feel the tension casing out of his body. I don’t know what I’m doing, or why it seems to help, but it does.
I leave it there, our fingers loosely intertwined for the rest of the drive. Even though we don’t speak, the silence between us feels different now. Warmer Confortable. Like something it shouldn’t
