Page 6

CHAPTER

FOUR

HARLOWE

I pull away from Crue, even though every part of me protests.

There’s something about him that calms me and causes my body to respond in ways it never has before.

I didn’t date in high school or college.

Guys used to call me an ice queen. I just never felt the butterflies that have been erupting in my stomach since the moment he called me his.

But I can’t let these newfound feelings interfere with my plan.

I move to the edge of the long table, pressing my hand to it as I lean forward, making sure Rylan knows I’m serious. I look him in the eye, not afraid of him at all.

“I’m trained better than most of these men,” I say.

“I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time.

Daddy made sure I could protect him and myself.

The only reason I didn’t help him fight was because he shoved me into the safe room before I had the chance.

I can shoot. I’m not afraid to kill if I have to. ”

I stand up to my full height. With the four-inch heels, I’m nearly five ten.

“I’m getting a job and finishing my degree. I’ve studied too hard to throw that away. Daddy wouldn’t have wanted me to give it up. Besides, where have you been the last ten years? Oh yeah, here, partying.” I wave my hand around the room.

I watch as the brow, which I don’t remember having a scar through it, drops and Rylan slowly stands from his chair. He’s so much bigger than I remember. So is Crue, but Rylan is even taller. He’s got to be almost a foot taller than me in my heels.

“You’re lucky, sister, that you are the princess.

You’re very lucky I’ve become a calmer man.

For ten years, I’ve been away from my family, unsure of where they were, and fighting the man who put a price on their heads.

I’ve been here building an empire that our father never lived to see.

His MC is not only feared but one of the richest in the area.

I mean legally rich too, as in money reported to the tax men every year.

I don’t party. This bar makes our organization money. ”

He moves around the table toward me. Men push their chairs forward, afraid of him, and that’s when I no longer see my big brother but a determined, angry man.

“I’ve missed you very much,” he says, stunning me. “I didn’t get to be there to pound the boys I knew must have been chasing after your ass.”

We both turn when we hear the deep grumble, and I realize it’s Crue.

“You promised me, Shock,” my brother says.

“I know.” He steps back, and I’m bereft for some reason.

“I’ll let you get a job and go to school, but you will have my men on you until I put Aaronov in the ground.”

“No.” I shake my head. “I’ll put him in the ground.

I watched his men torture our father.” Tears build up behind my eyes, and I blink them away.

“I watched what they did to him. I watched them cut his throat. I saw them put that bullet between his eyes when he refused to give them access to me. I will watch the life drain from his eyes for that. Only then will I finally rest.”

I hear the rustling as the men sit up straighter at my words. Even though my father hasn’t led these men in years, he’s still respected. Hearing how he died, along with what I witnessed, doesn’t sit well with them.

Crue steps close to me and places his hand on my shoulder. But I’m so far in my head that I don’t think. I react.

Gripping his hand, I spin and flip him onto his back onto the floor.

“Holy fuck, that was hot,” one of the guys says.

Crue is up and on him in a flash. He grabs him and slams him against the wall.

“Hold on, Aftershock. Don’t blow up on me because your girl is hot as fuck kicking your ass.

” The man has long hair, a full beard, and wears glasses pushed up to the top of his head, holding his hair back.

He’s the epitome of a biker—until you notice the nerdy glasses. It’s a complete contradiction.

“Vortex, remember she is mine.” Crue turns to look at me, then walks over. “If I hadn’t promised your brother, you’d already be over my shoulder and on your way to my room.” He steps back, and I turn to Rylan.

“Rylan, please.”

“Compromise,” he says. “You’ll take the guards, and I’ll decide on the rest later.”

“Deal.” I hold out my hand to shake his, but he wraps his large, callused hand around mine and pulls me into his body.

“Welcome home, Low Low,” he says.

I sink into the hug as tears flow from my eyes. Fezzik shifts and presses into my side. I hear shuffling around us, but I ignore it. I just feel the love from my brother and the pain of losing our father.

The memories I locked up for years flash behind my eyes of him being the best big brother a little sister could ask for.

“It’s okay. I got you now.” His arms tighten around me, and I don’t know how long we stand like that.

When I finally pull away, Crue hands me some tissue, and I blow my nose and then take another to carefully wipe my eyes.

“This whole time, I thought you didn’t care,” I say to Rylan.

“I care. Father said I wasn’t allowed to see you or contact you, that Aaronov would find you if I did.”

“He never told me that.”

“It’s okay. Come on. Let me take you home.” He takes my hand, and I look over to Crue. I pause for a moment, not sure what to say or do.

“I’ll be over to see you soon. Spend time with your brother.”

“I left my stuff at a hotel. And what about Fezzik?”

“He’ll come with us. Let’s go get your stuff. You aren’t staying at a hotel,” Rylan says as he leads me and Fezzik from the room.

When we step across the threshold, all the other guys are standing there, waiting.

“Cuz, welcome home,” Aksel says and pulls me into his arms. I sink into this hug too, glad to finally have the family I’ve missed so much.

“Low Low, I need your room key. Which hotel are you at? I’m sending a couple of prospects to grab your things and bring them to my place.”

“My suitcases are still packed, along with Fezzik’s things.” I pause for a moment, thinking about what he said. He’s taking me to his place. I’m not leaving my truck here. “My truck is outside. I’ll meet you at your place.”

“No. We’ll have someone follow in it.”

“Uh, no! No one is driving my brand-new truck but me. I’ll follow you.” I hand him my room key. “I’m at the Best Western.”

Rylan turns and addresses his men.

“Did I hear you say your dog’s name is Fezzik?” Loki asks me.

“Yes.” I can’t hide the smile. A few people know what the name is from.

“That was our mothers’ favorite movie.” I hear the wistfulness in his voice.

“I remember. How is your dad?” I can’t wait to see him or Crue’s dad.

“Well,” he starts, then takes a deep breath and lowers his head for a moment before looking at me. “He died.”

“Oh my God.” I pull Loki into my arms. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”

“It’s okay. It happened shortly after you left. He couldn’t stand living without Mom.”

“No. He wouldn’t have left you.” I know deep in my soul that his father wouldn’t have done that.

“It’s true. He rode his bike off a cliff.”

I shake my head, convinced he’s wrong. “I just can’t believe it.”

“Where is she?” A deep voice I remember rumbles through the room.

I look up to see his tall figure pushing through the men. His dark hair is brushed back just as I remember. He’s still extremely handsome.

“Princess.” Cy’s voice holds so much emotion. Pain, loss, and hurt. I fall into his arms, tears welling again. “Baby girl, I’m here now. I got you.”

“He missed you so much,” I say.

“I missed him too.” Cy is Crue’s father and was my father’s best friend.

“Do you think I can get a hug now, Starlight?” Crue’s voice comes from beside us, and I pull away and turn to him.

When he held me earlier, my legs turned to jelly. I almost moaned when I felt his cock against my ass.

I bite my lip and nod as he pulls me into his arms. His scent engulfs my senses, overwhelming me for a moment. He smells like mountain air after a rainstorm, the leather of his cut, and something that has always been Crue.

It takes everything in me to step back when we finally part.

“I’ll be there soon. Don’t give up on me.” He chucks my chin and then walks away from me. I’m upset and about to holler at him that I don’t want to wait when his father starts laughing.

“That boy is ready to take you home and never let you go.” Cy chuckles and turns away from me.

“What?” I look between him and where Crue headed.

“Okay, boys, load up,” Rylan says as he leads me through a different door.

We step outside, and the sun has finally gone down. The parking lot is lit by overhead lights. From the sound of it, the party is in full swing inside the bar. Then the roar of several bikes starting up draws my attention to the side of the clubhouse.

“I don’t need an escort. I’ve been doing things by myself for a few months. Daddy always said I’d have to be tough to make it in this world. I can do more than other girls can.” I stop walking, and Fezzik sits at my side.

“Yes, you do,” my brother says, his voice firm and leaving no room for argument. “Aaronov isn’t going to try taking you out up close. The asshole is a coward. He uses long-distance shots or runs people off the road. That’s how he killed Mom and Aunt Clarice.”

It warms my heart that he still thinks of her as his mom.

His biological mother was long gone by the time Daddy and my mom got together, but Rylan had warmed up to her and called her Mom.

She loved him just as much as she loved me.

The only difference she ever acknowledged between us was that I was a girl.

“Okay.” I give in.

He helps me into my truck after we load up Fezzik, and I watch as he walks to his bike. Another motorcycle pulls up to my driver’s side, and I turn to see Crue’s blue eyes staring back at me in the darkness.