Page 63 of Held-

None of that is what stops me cold.

It's the naked women. Everywhere.

At least three stripper poles have been set up around the main room, each occupied by a woman in various stages of undress, their bodies glistening under colored lights. Between the poles, topless waitresses weave through the crowd carrying trays of shots, their breasts bouncing with each step. In one corner, a girl wearing nothing but a G-string is giving some prospect a lap dance while his brothers cheer him on.

This isn't just a party. It's a fucking strip club on steroids.

I feel Cece freeze beside me, her hand going rigid in mine. When I glance down, her face is drained of color, her expression wide with shock as she takes in the scene.

“Shit,” I mutter, already pulling her back toward the door. “We’re leaving.”

But before we can make our escape, Big’s voice booms over the music.

“Bray! You made it, brother!”

The club president barrels toward us, arms outstretched, clearly three sheets to the wind. His massive frame parts the crowd, and there's no slipping out unnoticed now.

“—and you brought company!” Big’s grin stretches across his bearded face as he zeroes in on Cece.

I instinctively pull her closer to my side, my arm wrapping around her waist. “Just stopping by for a minute,” I say over the thumping bass. “Didn't realize Domino's party was tonight.”

Big laughs, the sound booming even over the music. “Surprise, motherfucker!” He throws his arms wide, sloshing beer from his bottle. “And who's this pretty little thing?”

I can feel Cece's body tensing under my arm, but her face remains composed when she extends her hand. “I'm Cece.”

Big’s eyebrows shoot up as he engulfs her hand in his massive paw. “The preacher’s daughter?” He turns to me with renewed interest, a knowing glint in his eye. “You here to save our souls the way your daddy tries to, sugar?”

“That’s more my father’s specialty,” Cece replies smoothly. “But if you’re hunting for redemption, I can give you his number.”

Big throws his head back and roars, the sound booming through the room as he smacks his thigh in approval. A few people glance over, curious about the commotion.

“I’m telling you, Bray—this one’s a keeper!” He jabs a thick finger toward Cece. “She’s got fire in her belly.”

I feel her relax slightly beside me, but I know better than to let my guard down. Big can flip from jovial to threatening in the space of a heartbeat, especially when he's been drinking.

“We're just passing through,” I say, trying to steer us toward the bar where it's marginally quieter. “Thought I'd show Cece around, but we picked a bad night.”

“Nonsense!” Big booms, throwing a heavy arm around my shoulders and nearly knocking me off balance. “No better night to see what we're all about. The family is all here!”

Some family. I glance around at the chaos. Wrecker doing body shots off a blonde's stomach while Skelly cheers him on, Hammer getting a very public lap dance in the corner, and atleast three prospects I don't recognize passed out on various tables.

“Come on,” Big insists, already dragging us deeper into the madness. “You need to make the introductions.”

I shoot Cece an apologetic look, but she surprises me with a small nod.

I can already tell she's putting on a brave face, and I'm not sure if I should be impressed by her guts or terrified by what she's about to witness. Either way, my protective instincts are in overdrive as Big hauls us toward a group of my brothers near the makeshift bar.

“Listen up, assholes!” Big bellows. “Bray brought his woman!”

Fuck.This is exactly what I’d been afraid of—and what some twisted part of me knew would happen.

The second Cece steps inside, the whole clubhouse shifts. Heads snap up, eyes rake over her like slow, hungry hands. Fresh meat. Exactly what they see. Exactly what I didn’t want.

Brothers nudge each other, heat sparking in their stares, and it makes my pulse slam—rage and desire tangling until I can’t tell them apart.

She has no clue what she does to a room. What she does tome.I step closer, claiming space at her side, every instinct roaring the same thing.

Look all you want. She walked in with me.