Page 6

Elizabeth

Two Weeks Later

Sin has been distant since our ride a couple of weeks ago, only talking to me when I need to ask him questions. I’m not sure if it’s an avoidance technique for his benefit or mine. Either way, we’re in a weird place—maybe that’s for the best. I need to stay focused, no distractions. My priority is gathering information—on the club, my brother, and whatever illegal operations they’re running.

I know they’re up to something.

I just haven’t figured out what.

Yet.

It’s a week away from New Year’s Eve, and the club is in full-on planning mode. With their annual toy drive coming up and the club girls throwing a party to bring in the new year, I’ve even been helping with some of the preparation while I’m not focusing on digging around. Sometimes, you have to delve deeper into other aspects of the club. The entertaining things to find hidden truths—though, to be honest, I am not really finding anything newsworthy when I search those avenues either.

All I am seeing is a club that genuinely supports and loves each other—people who are here through thick and thin. The problem is it doesn’t ring true to me, especially after Sin’s little charade the other night on the bike.

Sitting in the main clubroom at a table with the club girls and Millie as we pack toys and gifts into the bags for the children, I honestly had no idea the club did this for sick and disadvantaged children at the end of the year. Again, it’s another thing I have learned about the club. Their giving and nurturing spirit, which, as outsiders, we honestly have no idea is there. For some reason, Las Vegas Defiance keeps this philanthropic side of themselves out of the spotlight, and I am still yet to discover exactly why.

Music plays through the speakers while the brothers mingle sporadically, casually drinking, playing pool or darts. It’s a typical afternoon before the dinner rush.

“So… what’s this crazy tension between you and Sin, Lizzie?” Ro asks, sending a chuckle through the girls.

Widening my eyes, I place the tube of glitter I’m decorating a card with on the table. “Tension? What tension?” I snap, probably a little too damn defensively.

They all giggle as Jessa bumps her shoulder into mine. “Did he start something and then ditch you?”

Swallowing a lump in my throat, I furrow my brows, picking my glitter back up to continue working on the card. “No,” I reply, but it comes out like a pouty teenager would answer.

The girls chuckle again as Ro leans forward, yanking my card away from me and causing the glitter to fall all over the table. “Hey!” I snap.

“Oh, you’ll get over it. Listen, I have known Sin for a really long time. I have seen women come and go, and the only time I have ever seen him push a girl away was this one time. One time, Elizabeth.”

Furrowing my brows, I sigh, curiosity getting the better of me. “Okay… I’m listening.”

“So, he got close to this one girl back before he was the president. He did the same thing, got close, then started pushing her away. She was so confused, but then the FBI raided a couple of days later. The president at the time was taken into custody. He’s still in prison, and that’s when Sin took over as the pres,” Ro states.

Widening my eyes, I shake my head. “I don’t think I follow.”

“We had an idea something was coming, but we had no idea who from the club was going to be taken in. Sin thought he might be getting locked up, so he pushed her away for her own protection. Then when he took on the presidency, he figured the danger for her was far worse, so he let her get on with her life…” She sighs. “He’s a really good fucking guy, Elizabeth. Always puts everyone else before himself. Even if he has to hurt their feelings to do exactly that.”

My heart pounds harder as I glance over my shoulder at Sin.

Did he push me away because he thinks something is coming for him?

Did he call in a reporter to change the narrative on the club because he’s trying to get the police off the scent of whatever the club is really up to?

A wave of nausea rolls over me as I turn back to face the girls, my face obviously turning pale.

“Oh gosh, Lizzy, are you okay?” Ro asks.

Inhaling deeply, I look at her, knowing now feels like the right time. “During some of my digging, I came across the name Marcus. He was prospecting for the club…” I pause, thinking carefully about my next words. “Can you give me any information on what happened to him?”

The girls jerk their heads back, their eyes wide like there is no way I should know anything about him. “How do you kno—”

Suddenly, an alarm starts blaring through the clubhouse, making my already pounding heart feel like it’s about to burst out of my damn chest. I snap my head around as the brothers rush to the front of the clubhouse.

“Ghost, talk to me!” Sin yells while reaching for a long gun from under the nearest table that I didn’t even know was there.

Ghost moves to the security feed by the bar, checking the cameras, and lets out a low growl. “Fuck! It’s the Alliance. They’re approaching, and by the look of it, they aren’t coming for beer and a chat.”

The rumble of V8 car engines grows louder and louder, sending a chill through the afternoon air.

Defiance territory is supposed to be secure.

That’s the promise—Sin’s promise.

But promises are fragile things in this world, and as I stand, rushing over to the dusty window of the clubhouse and peer through, I watch the Alliance approaching, their black-and-silver insignias shimmering in the sunlight on their Mercedes Benz.

The Hidden Hand Alliance has come for retribution.

And I stand frozen.

The tension in the room is electric like a wire pulled too tight and ready to snap. The Defiance members spring into action—a chaotic orchestra of yelling and commands.

But Sin moves differently.

He’s not just fast, he’s deliberate. His eyes narrowing as he cocks his gun and barks orders, his deep voice cutting through the panic. “Nitro, make sure the weapons are hot. Will, take Millie to the bunker…” I snap my head around, widening my eyes. They have a bunker? “Koa, get the blockades ready. Mace, get everyone into formation. Ro, you know what to do!”

Everyone follows his orders without hesitation as I watch him, transfixed by his calm amidst the storm, his movements like a wolf scenting the first signs of danger.

The Sin I know is relaxed, a little broody though sarcastic, the kind of guy who teases me with a smirk when things are quiet.

This Sin—the one I see now—is something else entirely.

Suddenly, Ro is behind me, reaching for me. “Lizzy, we gotta go. It’s not safe for you out here.” She starts pulling at me as I turn back to Sin. He marches with the rest of the guys toward the front of the clubhouse. My heart leaps into my throat at the thought of him getting hurt.

“Wait, no. I need to stay. I need to see this,” I blurt out, not understanding why I want to be a part of this danger, this fight that is ahead.

Ro shakes her head. “Don’t be stupid, Elizabeth. We need to go. Now!” She yanks on my arm just as Sin turns to face me. The look in his eyes startles me. It’s not anger, it’s not desperation—it’s fear.

“For fuck’s sake, Elizabeth, do what you’re fucking told for once in your damn life… please!” The anxiety in his tone has me moving instantly into Ro’s arms as she begins to drag me away.

Sin’s shoulders slump as if he’s relaxing at seeing me leave—as if you can be relaxed in this kind of situation. He turns back to the front door with his brothers when suddenly, the first gunshot echoes, and I duck instinctively, my breath hitching as a bullet flies straight through the clubhouse window. The glass breaking into shards right where I was standing moments before.

“Shit!” I blurt out.

Ro and I don’t have time to make it to wherever we were going, so we slide down under a table.

“Tell me where they are, Ghost. I don’t want to be sitting fucking ducks in here,” Sin calls out.

Ghost checks the cameras, and he nods. “They’re about to breach the gates, Pres.”

Sin glances at Nitro and tilts his head. “You thinking what I’m thinking?”

Nitro chuckles, pulling out another gun from his waistband. “Fuck yeah, let’s take this party outside!”

Sin chuckles, shooting me a quick glance under the table before shoving the clubhouse doors wide open. The Defiance members spill into the parking lot, taking cover behind parked cars as they draw their weapons. Anxiety ripples through me, but I can’t sit back and not know what’s happening, so I slide out from beneath the table and take off.

“Fuck, Lizzy. Stop! Jesus Christ,” Ro yells, rushing up behind me as we pull up just behind the doors, peeking out, watching as the Alliance break through the clubhouse gates, moving in with brutal precision, their intent clear—they want to send a message, and that message is painted in violence and revenge.

No words are spoken—both sides know what this is about.

Defiance came into the casino, into the Alliance’s turf, without prior warning and got nothing in return.

I know how the underworld works.

You don’t get nothing for nothing.

Lorenzo, flanked by Dante and more of his men, barges through the parking lot, guns raised high as the Defiance brothers seek shelter behind carefully placed barricades. Objects I never realized were placed in the lot for moments such as this, but now I’m witnessing it firsthand, it makes so much sense.

The chaos of bullets begins to rip through the air. Ro and I duck as rogue bullets whizz past us into the clubhouse. My breathing quickens as I watch this real-life battle for power play out in front of me.

Sin moves through the parking lot with an intensity that makes my chest tighten. Every order he gives is purposeful, his eyes darting between his brothers, always watching, always calculating. And then, before I have a second to realize what’s happening, he’s next to me, his hand on my arm, his eyes dark and fierce. “Elizabeth, get down, now!”

He doesn’t wait for me to answer. Instead, he pulls me outside, into the lot, behind the cover of a concrete barrier, just as a bullet ricochets off the clubhouse door where I was standing. My back slams against the barrier, Sin’s hand still around my arm, his body positioned between the chaos and me. His breath is harsh and ragged, muscles tight as he leans in, his body flush against mine. As he scans the parking lot, tension radiates off him, making me feel things I shouldn’t in this moment. His jaw is clenched, his gaze unyielding.

“Stay here,” he commands, his voice low but urgent. “Don’t move unless I tell you. Do. You. Understand. Me?”

I nod, my throat too tight to speak. But then a moment of panic sweeps over me as I snap my head back to check on Ro. She gives me a quick wave from the doorway to let me know she’s okay, then she ducks inside, clearly retreating from this anarchy and chaos. Letting out a relieved sigh, I turn, watching as Sin steps back into the fray, his focus never wavering. He holds up his arm, slamming it straight into the neck of one of the Alliance members, knocking him off his feet in a blur of motion. Then turns, his eyes scanning, always searching for threats. He’s relentless—and he’s protecting me. Every movement he makes seems calculated to keep me safe, and as I crouch behind the barrier, I feel an unfamiliar, gut-wrenching mix of emotions.

Fear, yes, but also something deeper—something that makes my chest ache.

Time seems to stretch and warp, the sounds of the fight blurring together into a cacophony of shouts, gunfire, and the roar of car engines. I lose track of how long it lasts—seconds feel like minutes, minutes like hours—but I know that can’t be the case, and this has only been short-lived.

All I know is that Sin keeps coming back, checking on me, his eyes locking with mine each time, a silent promise in his gaze.

And then, suddenly, it’s over.

The Hidden Hand Alliance is retreating, their cars roaring to life as they peel away, leaving dust and the stench of exhaust in their wake.

Sin doesn’t chase them, nor his brothers. He stands in the middle of the road, chest heaving, his knuckles bloodied, watching until the last of their enemies disappear from sight.

My breath catches as the Mercedes fades into the distance, and with the celebratory cheer from the guys, I finally relax my shoulders when Sin’s eyes find mine again. He crosses the distance between us in a few long strides, his expression unreadable while our chests heave with the tension. “You okay?” he asks, his voice rough.

I nod, but the truth is, I’m not sure.

I’m not sure about anything anymore.

He pulls me to my feet, my legs shaky beneath me. I stare at him, my heart still pounding, and I see the way his gaze softens as he looks at me, the way his hand lingers on my arm, just for a moment, before he pulls away—again.

There’s something raw in his eyes, something vulnerable beneath all that fierceness, and it makes my chest tighten all over again.

He’s scared to let anyone in, scared to lose someone to the dangers of this life—scared to lose me.

That thought hangs heavy on my soul as I take a further step away from him.

Sin notices, weakly smiling at me as we walk toward the clubhouse in silence, the other members trailing behind, some nursing wounds, others talking in hushed voices. He stays close, his eyes scanning our surroundings, never quite relaxing. The adrenaline begins to ebb, leaving exhaustion in its wake. My hands tremble, and I clench them into fists, trying to steady myself.

Inside, the atmosphere is tense but relieved. People check on each other, and I find myself standing to the side, watching as Sin walks off to meet his men, clearly talking to them about what just happened. He’s back in president mode, his posture a little less rigid, his voice quieter, but there’s still an edge to him, a sharpness that wasn’t there before.

I swallow hard, my eyes stinging. I came here to understand this world and the people in it. But now, as I watch Sin, I know it’s more than that. This isn’t just a story. It’s real, it’s dangerous, and it’s tangled up with emotions I hadn’t expected to feel.

I didn’t just see the brutality today.

I saw the heart beneath it, the care, the fierce protectiveness, and it makes me question everything I thought I knew about Sin, about Defiance, about myself.

I’m not sure where that leaves me. All I know is that things are different now. The lines I’ve drawn in my mind, the boundaries I set between myself and this world—they’re blurring, fading. And as I look at Sin, his head bent as he speaks quietly, probably coming up with a plan of counterattack or vengeance, I feel something shift inside me, something I can’t quite ignore.

But my time to get information back to my superiors is running out. So, I am going to need to make a choice. I have to find solid information on the club to run with soon, or I need to let this go before I fall any farther down this rabbit hole. And we all know that Alice nearly got beheaded when she wandered off in Wonderland—the last thing I need right now is to lose my damn head.