Page 105 of Held-

I can tell she doesn't want to be here. Hell, I don't want to be here either. But Joe was clear. We can't hide away like we're ashamed or guilty.

“I know you'd rather be anywhere else right now,” I tell her, reaching over to squeeze her hand. “But remember what Joe said. We need to keep living our lives normally.”

She nods, but her eyes are fixed on the church entrance, her shoulders tense. “What if Ethan shows up?”

“Then I'll handle it.”

“Brayden...”

“Legally,” I add quickly. “I'll handle it legally. They granted your protective order, remember? He can’t come within a hundred yards of you without violating it, princess.” I scan the parking lot, relief washing through me when I spot several familiar vehicles. Domino and Big’s trucks. “Seems like we have some visitors.”

“Wait, what?” Cece's eyebrows shoot up as she follows my gaze. “Your club brothers? Here? At the church?”

“Apparently.” I'm just as surprised as she is. I hadn't called anyone, hadn't asked for backup. But here they are.

“Come on,” I say, unfolding myself from her car with a groan. “Let's see what they're up to before your father tries to perform an exorcism or something.”

We walk toward the church entrance, my hand resting protectively at the small of her back. The moment we step inside, I hear them before I see them. Big's booming laugh echoes through the fellowship hall, followed by Skelly's distinctive cackle.

“You guys here for the monthly exorcism?” I call out.

Four heads turn my way, and Domino's face breaks into a grin. He's wearing his cut over a hoodie, looking like he just walked off a biker magazine cover rather than standing in a church fellowship hall. Big and Skelly are to our left setting up several long tables. Wrecker walks out with a large box in his hands. A Santa hat on his head peaking over the top of the box. “Ho Ho Ho, asshole,” he calls out.

“You’re in a church, dumbass. Watch your language.”

“I can’t say asshole, but you can call me a dumbass. Rude.”

“It’s not swearing if it’s your legal name.”

Wrecker starts to shoot me the bird just as a few of the church ladies shuffle in from the side entrance. He reels it in fast before one of them catches him desecrating the house of the lord with his vulgarity.

Cece and I walk over towards Big, who meets us halfway. “Nice to see you again, heathen.”

“Heathen?” Cece blinks at Big, confusion flickering across her face. “When did you call me that?”

Big chuckles, his massive frame making him look comically out of place among the church's modest decor. “At the party afew nights ago. After your third tequila shot, you said your daddy would have a heart attack if he knew you were hanging with the 'heathens' as he calls us.”

“I don't remember that,” she says, her cheeks flushing pink.

“That's because you were three sheets to the wind, darlin',” Skelly calls over, grinning as he unfolds another table. “Started singing some church hymn, but with dirty lyrics. It was impressive.”

She turns to me. “Please tell me I didn’t.”

I shrug. “I plead the fifth of tequila, princess.”

She smacks me hard in the arm. “You should have told me.”

“And miss seeing your reaction? Well worth the bodily harm.”

“What are you all doing here anyway?” I ask, looking around at my brothers scattered throughout the church hall.

Big scratches his beard. “Your aunt called me, said your girl here ran into some trouble. Figured we'd come help with the distribution to make sure her ex stays well away from her.”

I stare at Big for a second, my brain stuck on one bizarre detail. How in the hell did my aunt have Big's number? It's not as if the club keeps a phone tree printed off somewhere. My aunt is full of surprises, but this connection makes zero sense. I've been careful to keep my club life and family life separate. And yet somehow my aunt is calling up the club president like they're old friends?

“Wait. Since when does my aunt have your number?”

Big's laugh rumbles through the church hall, drawing curious glances from a couple of older ladies setting up a refreshment table. “Since about three years ago, she needed some help with a project.”