Page 288 of Blackwood

“Nah, Knox,” I smirk. “You said this was a party to celebrate our girls…” I nod toward Bella, who’s still frozen in place, eyes wide, chest heaving from the last chorus. “So, I brought my guys here to help.”

She turns to me and for a second, I think she might cry. Then she smiles. Soft. Real.

Knox grins like a madman. “Well then, welcome to the Combs, Kings!” He slams the button. “Girls, hit it!”

The lights sync back to the music, green to red, red to green. The beat picks back up and the girls drop into the final chorus, energy exploding off them like fireworks.

Rez and the boys move toward us, hype-man level swagger, nodding in rhythm. Chase points at Ellie. DeShawn mouthssomething at Haley. Rez just watches Bella, eyes locked like the protective wolf he’s always been.

Cade turns to me, stunned. “You planned this?”

I nod. “Yep.”

“For her?”

I glance at our girl, surrounded by love, soaked in sweat and strobe lights, more alive than I’ve seen her in months.

“All for her,” I say. “I figured she needed all of our family here.”

Knox smiles, still breathless from the last number. “Damn girls. That’s one way to make Mr. Worldwide proud.”

The crowd howls.

“But I got an idea…” He turns toward some Legacy girls. “Freshmen! Bring us out three chairs, please!”

I blink. “Oh shit… here we go.”

Rez raises a brow. “What the hell are the chairs for?”

Cade leans in. “If I had to guess…” he says, cutting a glance toward me then back to Rez. “They’re for you.”

Knox grins wide. “Kings, welcome to our kingdom of temptation and sexiness here at Wexley. Since you’re our guests of honor tonight, you get the first chairs.”

Cade laughs, smug. “Told you.”

The crowd parts again as three chairs are carried out and dropped center stage.

Knox grins. “Ladies, go pick your King.”

Bella doesn’t hesitate. She grabs Rez by the arm and pulls him toward the middle chair. Ellie loops her arm through Chase’s. Haley grabs DeShawn, who just laughs and follows like a man walking straight into the fire.

Rez lowers into the chair, arms spread cocky. Bella steps forward, slow and lethal.

“Bella?” Knox calls into the mic. “You wanna explain the rules to your guests?”

“Sure thing.” She turns to face the crowd. “Hey guys. Thanks for being here.”

She spins and sinks into Rez’s lap. My jaw clenches. She leans in close, too close, and grabs a handful of his shirt.

“No shirts allowed, Rezy.”

“Fucking hell, baby.” I blurt out under my breath.

Whistles, screams, and chants echo throughout the Catacombs. Ellie’s already yanking Chase’s shirt over his head. Haley’s got DeShawn laughing as she pops his buttons one by one.

Ellie winks. “That’s rule one, boys.”

Haley chimes in, pointing at Rez. “And rule two? We touch you.You don’t touch us.Especially you,Rez. Lex already looks like he’s about to combust and that is not a good combo.”