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Dana - two weeks later.

“O h God, I need to leave,” I whispered to Lindsey. My eyes widened, and I paled.

Lindsey turned around, looking confused. We were in Hell’s Rage, a bar owned by Rage and Hellfire MC. The presidents of the clubs were cousins, and the MCs were not only legacy MCs, but tied tight by unbreakable bonds.

This was my first night out since the chase, and it took serious guts due to lingering nerves. Phoe and everyone had rallied, and Drake had picked me up at the office with the girls.

They’d been outraged when news of what happened hit. The Rage old ladies, being the beautiful people they were, had blown up my phone alongside the Hawthorne Females. They’d finally badgered me into attending tonight, assuring me that the bar would be full of Rage. And Dylan had pushed me, too.

With some of the Hawthorne team also present, I’d felt safe—until now.

“Why?” Lindsey asked.

“Just have to.”

I stepped a bit behind Lindsey in case someone looked in our direction, and then I put my glass down on the table. Keeping my head down, I began hurrying away.

Shit, I had worked myself up into such a state I didn’t spot the wall of muscle stepping into my path, and I smacked straight into Ezra.

Hands shot out and steadied me as I peered up into Ezra’s gorgeous brown eyes. He held a concerned expression as he gazed around to see who was chasing me. Not seeing anyone, Ezra turned his attention back on me, confused as he took in my too-pale face.

“Honey, what’s up?” Ezra rumbled and pulled me slighter closer.

Anxiously, I shook my head, unable to speak. I always was at a loss in his presence.

Ezra frowned, and little lines appeared on his forehead. Oh, that was adorable. Did I just call Ezra adorable?

There was nothing cute about Ezra, freakishly hot and stunning, not cute!

Yes, I was shy; the whole MC noticed it, but I was happy with my part-time girl posse. I was familiar with the old ladies and had gone out with them before as a member of Hawthorne Females. Between them and the Rage Old Ladies, they were pretty damn famous across Rapid City, and so were their old men. It was lore now: when a brother fell in love from Rage, Rapid City had better buckle up.

Bullets, kidnappings, running away, knives, beatings were all words that sprang to mind when news hit the streets a guy had fallen. There had been shoot outs, disappearances, street wars, blood spills, long hospital waits, and much more.

Now, they faced a threat to everyone’s entire existence, and yet the women refused to let Fury scare them. Phoe insisted they continue to live their lives.

The old ladies had sucked me in after I got involved in Lindsey’s shit and then saw Silvie, Carly, and Autumn through theirs. Dylan had been pretty supportive of my going out with them. However, I realised that he and Davies had warned the brothers not to mess around with me. The women let me join them when I wished and left me alone when I didn’t, but not tonight. Everyone had forced me out.

While I partied little, preferring a quiet life, I usually joined Rage and the Hawthorne females once a month so I wouldn’t cause offence. That was something Dylan encouraged. Hell, Dylan knew I didn’t have much in the way of friends, so he made certain I had some girl-on-girl time, which was sweet of him.

“Hey, honey?” Ezra asked, drawing me even closer to him, and my throat closed as I got a whiff of him. He smelt freaking good!

Ezra put a finger under my chin, and his eyes narrowed. I knew he saw the paleness and, no doubt, shock and horror written on my expression. Davies often told me I was useless at lying, as I couldn’t control my facial expressions.

“Ezra. I have to leave, Ezra, please. Before they notice,” I whispered, sensing Ezra wasn’t going to release me.

Ezra’s grip tightened on my arms, and he drew me into his chest and held me tightly.

I gulped. Oh wow, Ezra was amazing. My hands rose of their own accord and placed themselves on rock-hard muscles.

Ezra began sidestepping and moved me out of the crowd and toward the end of the bar.

“Before who sees you? Dana, honey, talk,” Ezra ordered firmly.

I tilted my chin toward a large group of people sitting at two tables that had been dragged together.

“Them,” I murmured while my hands twisted in his tee.

Ezra didn’t seem too bothered that I was creasing his top. He glanced over, studied them, and then peered back at me.

“Talk, Dana,” Ezra demanded.

“The blonde in the centre, that’s my sister. The guy sitting with her is my ex-fiancé, Shania’s husband. It’s a long, nasty, horrific story, and I don’t want to see them,” I told him.

Ezra looked again, taking a sidelong glance at the tables filled with laughter. A frown crossed his brow. Then he focused his attention on me.

“Come on, honey, trust me,” Ezra coaxed.

Anxiously, I bit my lip, really just wanting to get away from the embarrassing scene Shania—and our mother—would no doubt cause.

“Okay, a quick overview of the situation. Shania is my older sister by two years, and Patrick’s the same age. But Patrick and I got together when I was eighteen, and he was twenty. Honestly, I thought Patrick loved me, but he didn’t. Patrick was sleeping around the whole time we were in a relationship. He desired a sweet little homebody who would do as she was ordered.”

Ezra made a noise that sounded like a growl. “Carry on,” he snarled.

“The day before the wedding, I’d been staying at Mom’s, you know, all that shit about not seeing the groom. However, I forgot something, drove home and found Patrick giving my sister it up the ass in our bed. They didn’t notice me, as I took some photos on my phone as proof…” Embarrassed, I broke off, flushing red, and swallowed.

That moment’s humiliation came rushing back.

“Shania claimed I was a boring lay and Patrick was a virile man, so what did I expect, me being the wallflower I was? Five years Patrick and I were together.”

“Fuck,” Ezra swore.

Hurt rising, I carried on not seeing Ezra’s anger, lost in a nasty memory.

“Heartbroken, I ran home to Mom and Dad and announced the wedding was off. Naturally, they went mental. Not at Shania, but at me. Asking if I knew the money they’d spent and the time dedicated to organising everything.

“I explained what I’d discovered, Patrick fucking Shania up the ass, and my mother hit me. Mom actually slapped me. She screamed I was a liar, so I pulled out my phone and sent her the pictures. Then I demanded to know if she wanted me to send them to everyone on my contact list. Mom shut up, then.

“Shania and Patrick had followed me home, and I informed Patrick the wedding was off. Shania laughed and wondered how stupid I was. It was obvious I couldn’t keep a man like Patrick happy. Shania declared that instead of me getting married the next day, she’d marry Patrick. They’d been sleeping together behind my back the whole five years that we’d been in a relationship.”

“Your mom hit you?” Ezra growled out, anger clear in his voice.

“Yeah, as hard as it is to believe. Shania was the favourite, but I’d never been struck until then. Mom virtually slapped me again when she told me if I had kept Patrick happy, then I would be marrying him tomorrow instead of Shania. They wed the following day with Mom and Dad’s blessing. You see, it didn’t matter which child wed; they had spent a fortune, so one daughter would get married. My parents, sister, and Patrick are rabid social climbers.

“Dad even tried advising me privately on how to please a man intimately. I left that afternoon. Naturally, I did not hang around to attend the farce of a wedding. It was humiliating.” Tears welled in my eyes.

Ezra’s arms clenched, and he looked furious.

“I haven’t seen or spoken to them in two years. Luckily, I had my job at Hawthorne’s and kept my head down. Hell, I don’t even think they know where I live now.”

Ezra

Ezra took a deep breath, barely holding on to his anger and stopping himself from going over and punching the guy out who had hurt Dana so badly. He’d tried making approaches to Dana, but she appeared so horrifically introverted they’d been rebuffed—or she ran away.

Ezra had been determined to break through, and whenever they were around each other, he attempted to pin her down. Dana wasn’t just shy; Ezra realised she was also protecting herself from feeling that kind of hurt again.

But Ezra had her number now. There’d be no more running.

“Honey, I hate to tell you, but they are looking over here. I’m gonna help you out, but you’re going to have to play along,” he said as Dana’s eyes rounded in surprise.

Dana looked like a scared rabbit as she nodded. The desire to save her from new humiliation surged to the fore.

“Gonna start with this,” Ezra murmured and bent his head.

Dana

My eyes widened as Ezra’s mouth hit mine, and the world exploded. His lips were firm and gentle, and he coaxed my lips open before his tongue plundered my mouth. Yes, plundered! There was no other word for it.

Large, warm hands slid down my back, cupping my butt and pulling me firmly against him.

Ezra left one hand on my ass as his other moved to tangle in my hair and slant my head so he could deepen the kiss. Our tongues teased each other, notching up the desire. The heat between us sizzled, and I felt lost in his embrace.

Ezra ended with slow swirls of his tongue and stared into my eyes. There was a smug, self-satisfied look on his face, and I’m sure I looked pretty dazed.

His expression suddenly shot to alert, and he glanced over my shoulder.

“Yeah?” Ezra snarled, angry at being disturbed.

Slowly, I twisted my head and saw Shania, Patrick, Mom, two of Shania’s best mates, and three of Patrick’s friends standing behind me.

“Ezra,” I murmured, my lips feeling swollen from being kissed so soundly.

The fact we had an audience didn’t bother me at all. Damnit, I wanted another kiss!

“Honey?” he asked, dipping his head.

Ezra’s eyes warmed as he saw what I needed, and with devilment in his eyes, he re-enacted the kiss, ass grabbing and all!

The man stirred such heated emotions that I nearly climbed him like a monkey. Shit, I now understood why Artemis was prone to yelling monkey sex at Ace!

Ezra broke off a second time and sent me a grin before scowling.

“For fuck’s sake, what is this? A peep show?” Ezra demanded over my shoulder.

Warily, I twisted in his arms again to face the people watching us.

Ezra promptly wrapped one arm around my waist and the other around my chest in a claiming gesture. That was something I recognised from Rage men and their old ladies. They loved to hold their women like that.

Shania stood there, eyes narrowed, pouting, looking beautiful. Patrick behind her, appearing smug but slightly off-centre, while Mom seemed shocked. Shania’s two friends had their resting bitch faces on, and Patrick’s three buddies were staring with a different expression, one of interest.

“Hello, I’m Shania, Dana’s sister,” Shania finally said.

Ezra stared her up and down, and Shania stretched a leg out and thrust a hip out. His lip curled in a sneer, and Shania’s face took on a shocked look. My sister was used to men falling at her feet. I didn’t ever recall a guy sneering in response to her before.

“Yeah, you’re not Dana’s sister,” Ezra snapped.

Mom stepped forward. “Shania is her older sibling,” she hissed, looking Ezra up and down and clearly finding him lacking.

“Nope, that bitch ain’t nothing to do with Dana. Wanna know why? Easy, no sister I’m aware of fucks her sister’s man the day before the wedding and then marries him in her place. That’s no sister, that’s a cunt,” Ezra said loudly and bluntly.

Shania, her friends, and Mom gasped, and Mom’s hand shot to her throat in shock.

I stifled a giggle. And I saw Taylor, Patrick’s best friend, grin.

“No sister, I know, fucks her sister’s fiancé for five years behind her back. That’s not only a cunt, that’s a whore and a skank,” Ezra continued.

It was a struggle not to smirk at Ezra’s blunt words. If he was aiming at making an unforgettable impression, he was succeeding. I was completely amused now.

Shania looked appalled, her mouth open and shock spreading across her face. Nobody had ever pulled Shania on her bullshit before, so I was beyond bemused that Ezra was.

Taylor’s grin grew broader, but Ezra wasn’t finished.

“So, lady, that is not Dana’s sister. That’s a cunt and whore who stole my woman’s man, not that Dana is grieving his loss. True sisters, who genuinely love one another, don’t do shit like that to each other. So that makes her a cunt, a whore, and a bitch but not a sibling,” Ezra emphasised.

Mom and Shania looked completely horrified.

However, I was totally amused. Ezra's straightforward approach was not well-received.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Ace approaching as Ezra’s volume grew louder.

“Now listen here, that’s my wife,” Patrick said, stepping forward.

“No, that’s your whore,” Ezra retorted, grinning.

“How dare you call her that?” Patrick demanded.

“Dude, I call it as I see it. Bitch fucked you behind Dana’s back for five years. That’s a slut. She married you the day after Dana caught you fucking her up the ass. That is a cunt. She’s a money-grabbing whore for taking Dana’s place one day later in the wedding. So, big man, what you gonna do about it?” Ezra sneered.

“That’s the cunt who tried to destroy Dana by banging her man?” Ace chipped in, and everyone looked at him.

Shania stared at Ace and his wild handsomeness.

“Shit, man, are you blind?” Ace asked.

“What?” Patrick stammered.

“How the hell could you fuck that skank when you had beauty in your bed? Look at your bitch wife; she’s trash. The whore has nothing on Dana,” Ace said cuttingly.

Shania winced as a second, devastatingly good-looking guy cut her down.

“My daughter is stunning,” Mom cried, grabbing Shania’s hand.

Ace glanced at Shania and then at me. We’d now been joined by Rock and Manny. They both did the same.

“No wonder the dude did bitchface up the ass,” Rock drawled. “I’d hate to look at that face, too. Bet the bitch has had more dicks than a streetwalker. Her pussy lips are probably looser than those on her mouth,” Rock finished rather crudely, I thought.

What the hell, who cared? Rock had my back!

Mother swayed as if she was gonna pass out.

Carly popped up and looked at Rock. Carly’s twinkling eye foretold further impending trouble.

I struggled to contain my emotions. I barely knew the Rage men, and here they were throwing down for me. Naturally, I’d expect it from the women, but not the brothers. Their support touched me deeply.

“Babe, no need to be rude. Everyone can see what type of trash she is. Now we had a game going before you, and Manny decided to play dunk the skank,” Carly said, grinning.

I saw Shania take in Carly’s stunning beauty.

Patrick did as well.

Idly, I wondered if Rage and their old ladies were telepathic with the way they were all getting in on this.

“How dare you talk to my wife like that in front of her mom?” Patrick snapped.

Jeez, was that all Patrick could say?

“Easily. Mind, you gotta admit, I’d have nightmares seeing you fuck her up the ass. Did you?” Ezra questioned my mother. The feeling hit that Ezra was enjoying this.

Manny appeared from nowhere and smiled.

“Stop talking about my wife like that!” Patrick demanded, now going red.

“What you gonna do about it?” Manny asked curiously.

“Apologise,” Patrick replied.

Ezra leaned back against the bar, moving my body with his. He waved a hand carelessly. “Have at it,” he said magnanimously.

“What?” Patrick spluttered.

“Say sorry to Dana for your wife being a cunt and whore while you were being an unfaithful dick who thinks his shit doesn’t stink when it does. Have at it, but hurry up. Me and my girl got stuff to be doing, and we ain’t got all day,” Ezra airily replied and grinned at Patrick.

“Oh God, what have you ended up with?” Mom demanded in horror. “Patrick leaving clearly messed you up beyond belief. That man is foul and awful. What would your father say?”

“Unsure if I care about Dad’s opinion, as we haven’t talked in two years. The guy I’m dating is more a man than Patrick,” I answered, pointing at Patrick, who sneered.

“Dana, honey, I understand you didn’t take it too well when I ended things—”

I cut him off. “Woah, I’m sorry, you finished our relationship? Patrick, I caught you fucking Shania up the ass the day before the wedding. Neither of you ended shit.”

“Is that what you’re telling people?” Shania gasped in horror. “Dana, you know Patrick called it off when he realised he loved me and not you. Yes, it was the day before the wedding, but we were in love.”

Anger hit hard, and I leaned forward and got my phone out.

“Anyone want to see time-stamped and dated images of Patrick fucking Shania up the ass the day before my wedding?” I asked the crowd that had gathered. “I have them right here. Truth is, I ended shit, not Patrick, who was standing spineless in the corner when the arguments broke out,” I snapped at Shania, leaning forward as she went pale.

Patrick’s best friend, Taylor, finally spoke up.

“You have pictures?”

“Time-stamped and everything, plus the video. Also, I have a voice conversation on record, informing my mother that I was calling the wedding off. And Mom’s reply was clear, telling me that she didn’t care which daughter got married, as long as one did as she’d spent so much.”

“Nah, I have to suffer that bitch dressed. Don’t really wanna see Shania naked.” Taylor grinned and winked.

Patrick turned to him in surprise.

“Oh my word.” I recognised a voice and saw my Aunt Joan in the crowd. “Hi, Aunt Joan.” I waved.

Ezra nuzzled my neck, and I knew my eyes glazed over.

“It doesn’t matter what happened, it ended. You can do better than a—” Mom spluttered for words. “Than a biker ,” she sneered.

My spine stiffened in outrage. What was wrong with a biker apart from Mom’s snobby standards?

“Yes, Mom, we all understand you’d rather have someone like Patrick, who is fake and false, than a real man,” I shot back, infuriated.

“Hey, Dana! I’ve been looking for you. You know those Louboutins you wanted, the purple ones with the straps that were two k? Ezra bought them this morning for you, so don’t go back and get them tomorrow like you planned to. Ezra said his woman doesn’t wait for shit like that. Can you, like, wear them once quickly? I wanna borrow them for next weekend,” Lindsey asked, popping up and handing Ezra a credit card.

Lost for words, I gazed dumbly at Lindsey. What on earth was she talking about? I hadn’t been shopping with them this morning. Lindsey shot me a wink and wrinkled her nose at my family. Oh, I saw what she was doing; she was making out Ezra bought me expensive items.

“Thanks,” I muttered.

“Hey, wait, Ezra got them for Dana?” Phoenix demanded, approaching. “I was going to get Drake to buy them.”

“Yeah, I bought them to fuck Dana in them, not for you lot to steal.” Ezra grunted.

Phoe and Lindsey pouted.

I spotted my sister’s mouth gaping wide open. Guess Patrick didn’t purchase Shania purple Louboutins for two thousand dollars. Then again, Ezra didn’t for me.

“Screw her in them?” Patrick chuckled loudly. “Dana’s frigid.”

My sister laughed, finally thinking this was a big joke.

I grinned, bolstered by the old ladies and Rage brothers. For whatever reason, they had my back, and I felt brave. No matter what Shania threw, I could handle it.

Shania’s merriment faded. “Patrick wouldn’t have fucked me if she’d been willing to let go a bit.”

I smiled again and looked Patrick up and down and then clearly compared him to Ezra, making Manny chuckle.

“Frigid?” Ezra murmured, disbelief in his tone. He tossed his head back and roared with laughter. “Did you miss those kisses, man? You call that frigid? Dana lights up like a Christmas tree. Just kissing turns her into a wildcat. Fuckin’ scratches I got down my back. Shit! If Dana gets anymore frigid, I’m gonna need a splint for my dick.”

Ezra leaned forward, his face gloating.

“Ezra!” I snapped, blushing.

Surprisingly not, Ezra ignored me. “Am I lying, honey?” he finally asked, turning.

My mouth popped open a fraction.

He gave me a wink and then turned back to Patrick. “Dana goes wild. If I ain’t quickenough, the woman’s pinning me down and taking what she wants like a greedy child. Dana has no fear of claiming her needs. Screams so fuckin’ loud when I make her come. Fuck, she wears me out. And those sounds Dana makes when she’s coming. You understand how sexy they are?” Ezra looked at Patrick and laughed again.

Mom made a horrified noise, and I grinned. This was a horrific car crash, but for once, I wasn’t the victim, which made it fun.

“Nah, you don’t know those noises, do ya? You never made an effort to motivate Dana. You were shit in bed, and you’re shit out of it. Walk into my bar, my fuckin’ bar, like you’re the big man with his bitch, whore, cunt of a wife, and you diss my beauty?” Ezra roared. “Don’t see your cunt wearing two-thousand-dollar shoes or a dress that costs one k. But my woman? Yeah, Dana wears that because she’s worth it.”

“Ezra,” I said, stunned, putting my hand on his chest.

Ezra looked down at me. “You are fuckin’ funny, honey; you’re sweet and cute and so damn loyal. You’re kind, loving, and the way you bloom around me—I’m the luckiest man alive. Shit, I’m guessing dickhead here can’t say that, but I can. Baby, I thank God for everyday you’re in my life.” Ezra’s eyes stared piercingly into mine.

“Dana may be all that, but she isn’t a fighter; she’s weak. I took her guy; I’ve always taken her boyfriends.” Shania flipped her hair. “Look at me and then her. Dana’s a mouse. I’d even steal you.”

Shania’s words stabbed deep.

Patrick shot her an irritated glance.

“In your dreams. Hell, I wouldn’t touch you if you laid naked, begged, and paid me a million bucks to fuck you,” Ezra sneered.

With a wave, I glanced at Shania, revealing a hint of my hurt.

“You may have stolen every boyfriend I ever had, even taken my fiancé, but you will never take Ezra. Ezra’s a real man. One that sees through you, and you could never get the likes of him.” I motioned at Patrick. “You got that? I got this.” I waved a hand at Ezra, and his eyes lit up happily.

Mom snorted. “I don’t see why Dana thinks there’s a comparison between you and Patrick; there’s clearly an uneven balance between the two of you.”

“Yes, one in which Ezra is a real man and isn’t fake or false or wears a constant public persona. You might like fake mother, I don’t,” I snapped.

“Dana, pretend all you want, but there’s no way an alpha male would be interested in a timid dormouse like you,” Shania interrupted.

“Mouse?” Ezra said, peering at me. “The woman who chased a kidnapped woman to save her from men holding her captive. Then, there are rogue bikers chasing her through the streets, and she leads them into a trap. The girl who sounded the alarm on men trapped with no escape in a shooting situation is no mouse. That’s a lioness!” Ezra declared.

“Kidnapping? Chases? What criminal activities are you involved in?” Mom screeched.

I grinned, happy with the next sentence I spoke. “Mom, I work for Dylan Hawthorne. If you paid attention to me at all, you’d have known that. Even in your limited world, you’d have heard of Hawthorne’s Investigations. I’ve been a member of Hawthorne’s since before I left Patrick. But Patrick never noticed the job I did and nor did you. Dylan values me,” I said, blowing my own trumpet.

That was true. Dylan would be lost without me organising the office. I was valuable in a certain way. I was absolutely positive about that. The office would be in anarchy—and the guys in disarray—without me to book their appointments and keep their calendars and so on.

Hell, I even reminded them when to pick up their dry cleaning and when their mother’s birthdays were. I was vital to the guys and knew it. This time, I could blow my own trumpet, and I intended to do that!