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CHAPTER ONE

Violet

“Hey, Violet,” Cillian Fitzpatrick, one of Kieran’s younger fighters, greets as he enters the gym for his afternoon session.

“Hey yourself.”

“You’re looking good today,” Cillian says. He’s always been a flirt with everyone, but he’s also a liar. I know for a fact I have dark circles under my eyes, and my messy bun is just that, messy.

A low growl rumbles behind me, scaring the crap out of me.

“Oh, hey Dec.” Cillian says, looking like a kid who has just been scolded. “Good talking to you, Vi.” Cillian hoists his bag over his shoulder and scampers off to the ring.

“Hey there, Dove.”

“Jesus, Declan. Don’t sneak up on me like that. You know Ethan doesn’t allow anyone behind the front counter. You shouldn’t be back here.” I attempt to reprimand, but my complaint falls short when he cages me in with his arms and said counter.

He leans in, his face so close to mine I can smell the minty gum he always chews.

“I’m not anyone. I’m a brother. Ethan knows he can trust me to be back here. The one who seems to struggle with trusting me is you, Dove.”

This man both excites and terrifies me on a level I don’t understand. He’s been sniffing around me and my son for months now. Only recently, he has become more embolden with what he wants or has to say.

His eyes trace over my face, and his forehead scrunches. With the softest touch, his finger grazes my cheek. “You haven’t been sleeping well.” It’s not a question, so I don’t answer.

He’s not wrong. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep since we all took a trip to Devil’s Canyon to watch Ronan and Cillian in their first fights. The night I was stabbed in a crowd of people panicking to get out of the building over a misunderstanding. The same night Skyler was kidnapped, and Lilah was found. Things haven’t been the same since.

“When did you last eat?” Declan’s simple question catches me off guard, pulling me from the memories.

“I-I, uh, I had breakfast with Carter this morning before I took him to school.” I stutter. This man, being this close, rattles my brain. The warmth of his body so close to mine is doing things to me. Things I shouldn’t be okay with. Like making my core clench.

The disadvantage for me is how good Declan is with my son. My son adores Declan. He thinks he’s cooler than Batman. Which, for a ten-year-old boy, is pretty freaking awesome.

When I first started working at the gym, Carter came in here talking about wanting the guys to teach him how to kick butt so he can protect me. He’s got everyone around here’s respect for taking his position as man of the house, but I wasn’t sure I liked the idea of my son learning something as violent as fighting. I later decided it was better for us both if we knew how to at least defend ourselves from a would-be attacker.

I’ll never forget the way Carter’s face lit up when Declan pulled him into a ‘private club meeting’ in the locker room several months ago. He and some of the other Kings, including their president, Gabe, gifted my son a cell phone with all their numbers and a hoodie with their logo, making him a little King.

Carter has spoken to all of them from time to time on the phone, but he speaks to Declan the most. Declan is always asking him if he’s doing his chores and helping me with things around the house or doing his homework. He even came to the gym one afternoon when Carter got out of school to help him with his math while I finished my shift.

Declan’s sweet words and constant flirting I can resist. But teaching my son how to be a respectable man. How to love his mother and take care of his responsibilities—all the shit his own father was supposed to teach him — those are the things that make this man damn near impossible to deny.

“Grab your things. We’re going to lunch.” Again, he isn’t asking. Declan gave up on asking for things about the same time I was stabbed. Before the events of that night, he was gentle, soft-spoken, although he was still very clear about his interest in me. But something changed after he spent the night holding my hand and watching over me at the hospital. I’d be lying if I said I don’t like it. But the idea of a man like him being genuinely interested in me frightens me just the same.

Declan is not a small man by any means.

He’s well over six feet tall, towering over me in both height and width. I can stand at my full height and his chin wouldn’t even touch the top of my head. I feel so small next to him, yet he never makes me feel intimidated by it.

Quite the opposite, actually.

“Dove. Get your things. We’re leaving.” Declan places a soft kiss to my temple, then pulls back, giving me space to move.

“I can’t leave. I have work to do and Skyler isn’t back yet to cover for me. She left an hour ago for her doctor’s appointment with Ethan.” It’s the truth, but it’s also an excuse, and Declan’s scowl tells me he knows it.

Declan stands back, arms crossed over his chest and a small smirk playing on his lips.

“Yo, Kieran.” He calls out.

“Aye.”

“I’m taking Violet for lunch. She’ll be back in an hour or so.” Again, not a question. He’s not seeking permission. Declan says what he’s doing and to my utter shock, Kieran doesn’t argue.

“Aye. Go ahead, Lass. Enjoy yourselves. Anna and I have got it covered.”

My chin falls open. Declan smiles wide, his eyes dancing with triumph. With his finger, he leans in and gently lifts my chin, closing my mouth.

“Let’s go, baby. Get your coat. It’s a little chilly on the bike today.”

“On the … oh no. We can take my car. I’m not getting on the back of that death trap with you. I have my son to think about.” I grab my coat and sling it around my shoulders, putting my arms through and zipping it closed.

Declan’s hands grip my waist from behind. His beard prickly against my cheek as he whispers in my ear. “You’re safe with me, baby. I’d never put you at risk, Dove. I know how much Carter means to you. But you should know, I’m never careless with what I consider to be mine.”

I turn my head to look at him.

“I’m not yours.” I whisper.

I want to be.

I almost let the words slip. But I hold them back. I have trouble on my heels and baggage no man should have to deal with. The secrets I carry come at a price and it’s one I’d never ask another person to pay.

Declan smirks but doesn’t argue.

“Come on.” He takes me by the hand and leads me outside to his bike. I come to a stop and stare at him defiantly.

“I’m not getting on this thing.” I cross my arms and stand my ground, only to be taken off guard by his large hands plucking me up off the ground and settling me onto his bike anyway.

Declan keeps his grip on my hips, holding me to the seat. “Put your leg over the other side and when I sit down, wrap your sexy little body around mine. All you have to do is hold on tight and lean when I do. I’ll do the rest. Got it?”

“Do I get a choice?”

“No.” He leans in so close. Our noses are touching. My pulse picks up, and a small gasp escapes me. Declan chuckles. “I got you, baby. Just hold on to me.”

“Okay.” It comes out in a whisper, and I want to scream at myself for letting him get me all tied up in knots over his close proximity. I can’t find it in me to say no.

You did say no. He just didn’t accept it.

The thought should anger me, but somehow, I find his unwillingness to take no for an answer to be flattering.

God, what’s wrong with me?

Declan climbs onto the bike and reaches back to grab my hands, placing them around him, clasping them across his abdomen.

Holy fucking six pack Batman.

I groan unexpectedly and again the man chuckles. I begin to pull my hands back and loosen my hold, but his meaty hand grips mine, holding them in place.

“Don’t even fucking think about it, Dove.” He says over his shoulder. He reaches up to the handlebar and grabs his helmet, handing it back to me. “Put this on.”

“I’ll need my hands back to do that.” I sass.

“Good point.” He twists himself, keeping one hand on mine, and places the helmet on my head with the other. “Don’t let go.” He lifts his hands, and I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling. Declan clips the strap and tightens the helmet to fit.

“There. That’s better.” He taps my nose, then turns back around, one hand back on mine as he starts the bike.

We take off out of the parking lot and I hum at the feel of my soft parts pressed up against all of his hard. The man is a wall of muscle, front and back. The smell of leather from his cut and the citrusy scent of his cologne mingle in the air around me as we drive. The brisk air would probably be too much if not for the warmth radiating off his body.

We travel down the road to Magpie’s diner. It’s a staple in this town. The perfect place for comfort food. It has a classic fifties feel to it. With pictures on the wall of James Dean and Marilyn Monroe. The booths are white vinyl with vertical teal stripes down the center. The tabletops and bar are stainless steel with tiny jukeboxes and condiments on top. The bar stools are the same teal as the stripes on the booths, and the floor is black-and-white checkerboard.

The club president, Gabe bought this place for his late wife and it’s been a big part of the Kings lives. It was Gabe’s late wife’s favorite place, and one the kids and families all grew up in together.

Declan parks the bike, cutting the engine then dismounting. He turns back to me as I’m lifting the helmet off my head, and finishes removing it for me. He chuckles, and I quickly grab my hair. The messy knot I had before must look atrocious now.

Way to be sexy, Vi.

No. I don’t want to be sexy. I don’t want Declan to think I want him in that way at all.

Liar.

I pull out the rubber band and make quick work of running my fingers through my hair and pulling it back in a messy ponytail.

That’s me. The hot mess express.

“I agree with the hot part, but I don’t see the mess you’re talking about. I think you’re fucking sexy as hell no matter what your hair looks like, baby.” I choke on my response, because what the hell do I say to that?

He takes my hand and lifts my leg over the seat of the bike, putting me between his thighs as he stands towering above me.

“I think you’re a smooth talker, Declan O’Malley, and also full of shit.”

His rumbling laughter does something to me. I cross my arms over my chest to protect myself, but I don’t honestly know what from.

Declan’s hands come up to cup my face. I melt into his touch and let my eyes close for one second, and the next thing I know, his lips are on mine. He surprises me with how gentle and coaxing he is. He’s not forcing himself onto me, but instead he sips at my mouth, slowly, confidently.

I try to fight the pull but fail when his tongue licks the crease of my lips. I open on a whimper and Declan takes the invitation and ramps things up. My arms find their way around his neck, and I grip the hair at the nape of his neck, and my tongue begins to dual with his eliciting a deep throating groan.

His hands move down to my waist, and his grip tightens as he pulls me closer to his body. I feel his hard length press against my belly, and I pull back in shock. Declan smiles, his thumb coming up to rub my bottom lip.

“I can’t help his reaction to you, Dove.” We’re both panting. Declan’s smiling as he watches me at war with my emotions.

Neither can I.

I’m terrified at the possibilities of getting close to someone like Declan. I know the club is his life and they all seem to be good men. But not all bikers are what they appear to be on the surface. Hell, men in general are experts at hiding the truth about who they are.

Hypocrite!

I shake off my internal voice and try to settle my thoughts.

It was just a kiss. It doesn’t mean anything.

“You’re thinking too hard on this, baby. Why don’t you let me in on some of those thoughts and see if I can’t help you sort through whatever has you panicking about us.” Declan says, holding my face in his palms so we’re eye to eye.

“There’s no us. There can’t be an us.” I argue.

“Oh, we’re an us. I’ve just been waiting for you to get on board with the program. But you’re taking too long and I’m starting to see the need to run staring back at me in those beautiful eyes of yours.” His smile softens, and his eyes bore into mine. “You need to know something, though, baby. If you run, I will come for you. This is happening. We are happening.”

“Declan, you can’t just …”

“I can, and I am.” He states matter of fact. “I know you have trust issues. We all do. But you’re about to find out I don’t play bullshit games and I’m not looking for a quick ride around the block. I want you. I want us.”

“You forget I come with baggage. It’s not just me.” I try to explain. I’ve never used my son as a reason to scare anyone off, but I don’t believe Declan understands what it would mean to take us on. “I’m a package deal.”

Declan’s smile widens, his grip on my face tightening just a little but not enough to cause pain. “I want you both. I’m not fucking around. Now …” He places a finger over my mouth to silence my rebuttal. “We’re going to go inside and have ourselves a nice lunch and talk. But what we are not going to do is deny that what we have going on between us deserves to be explored.”

I start to speak, and again his finger pushes in to stop my words.

“No lip.”

I narrow my eyes which only serves to make his smile widen even more. He moves his finger and nips my lip, then turns to face me toward the front door of the diner. Declan gives my ass a sharp slap causing me to jump and him to chuckle. Grabbing my hand, he starts walking toward the entrance and I follow beside him trying to figure out what the hell just happened.