Page 14

Mason

I knew the moment I laid eyes on Emma I was in trouble. I just didn’t realize exactly how much trouble this woman was in. Victor Kane is not the kind of guy I want to go up against, and yet that’s exactly what we’re going to have to do. Emma and Max are J-Bird’s family, which means they’re part of the Iron Serpent family and we take care of our own. No matter what.

Breaking the news to J-Bird sucked. He understandably wanted to come and get Emma and Max and put them on the first plane out of the country. Unsurprisingly, Emma refused. I have to admire her bravery. I think perhaps she’s hoping that it isn’t Victor Kane behind it after all, I know I am.

J-Bird immediately went round to Emma’s apartment to check her mail. He confirmed that a letter from the attorney had come through confirming our suspicions, Max was the sole beneficiary to a sizeable inheritance with Emma having access as his guardian until he turns twenty-one. Good news in normal circumstances, fucking terrible if Victor Kane thinks he’s owed the money.

“So how are we supposed to find out if Kane is behind all this? We can’t exactly walk up to him and ask,” Jax points out.

“And we wouldn’t want to put ourselves on his radar if it isn’t him,” Ty adds bleakly.

“I have an idea, but you’re not going to like it,” Bess says, looking at me.

Bess and I have known each other since we were teens in foster care together. She knows me better than anyone. If she’s saying I won’t like her plan, I’m going to fucking hate it.

“What is it?” I ask reluctantly.

“Venom used to work with Kane. I can go and speak to him,” Bess says.

I can tell from her expression there’s more to her plan than she’s letting on.

“Who’s Venom?” Emma asks, confused.

“Venom is the vice president of the Hell Riders,” Ty explains.

“Would he speak to you? Share information?” Emma asks hopefully.

Again, Bess glances over at me. I already know what she’s going to say.

“No,” I grunt.

“Mason, it’s the only in I’ve got. I think it’s up for Emma to decide,” Bess insists.

“Decide what?” Emma asks her beautiful face scrunching in puzzlement.

“Venom will only speak to me if I bring a friend to entertain Breaker, the president of the Hell Riders. Breaker’s got a rep for being a womanizing scumbag, but there’s no way I can talk to Venom if I go in alone, I’d be stuck talking to Breaker,” Bess explains.

“And you want me to be the friend?” Emma surmises.

Bess nods, “Only if you’re comfortable with it. You won’t have to do anything with him, just keep him distracted. Smile and laugh while I talk to Venom.”

The thought of Emma having to deal with Breaker’s wandering hands and lecherous gaze makes me feel an overwhelming sense of rage.

“No. We’ll find someone else,” I insist.

Emma glares at me. “You don’t get to make that decision for me. I’ll do it,” she says determinedly, nodding her head at Bess.

“Mason’s right, Emma, it’s too risky. We won’t be able to come in to protect you,” Jax points out.

“The Hell Riders are our rivals, we’re not welcome on their turf, not without starting a war,” Ty adds.

“If they realize who you are… your connection with the Iron Serpents, well then it won’t just be Kane you have to worry about,” I explain, imploring Emma to see sense.

But she’s too stubborn, her focus is on Max alone with no regard for her safety.

“Bess, is there any other way to get to Kane, to find out if he’s behind this and how we can resolve this?” Emma asks.

“I wish there was…”

“Well, then it’s decided. We’re going. Tonight,” Emma declares, glowering at me.

“Emma…” I start but she interrupts me, holding up a hand.

“Save it, Mason. Nothing you can say will stop me. Max is my son, and you can be damn sure I’m going to do whatever it takes to protect him.”

“Emma, Breaker isn’t like us…” I warn.

“I’m a big girl, I can handle myself,” she insists. “Maybe you’re just afraid Breaker and I will hit it off,” she teases.

“Emma, this isn’t a fucking joke,” I snap.

“Don’t get your panties in a twist, Mace. Emma said she’ll be fine,” Bess insists. “Besides, I’ll be right there. I’ll make sure nothing happens to her.”

“I need another beer,” I grunt, abruptly getting up and stalking out of the room.

I can’t deal with this bullshit. I open the fridge and pull out a beer, slamming it shut and aggressively twisting the top off before taking a slug. In the next room, I can hear the others planning what Emma and Bess will do. They agree that Jax, Ty, and I will wait outside in case things go sideways, and the girls will wear mics for us to hear what’s going on. Bess isn’t keen on the idea, but thankfully the guys insist on the compromise. If we can’t go in, we want to at least know what’s going on. They agree that there’s no point in waiting. The girls will go to the Hell Riders’ club tonight. I hear Emma making a call, presumably to Jess, who by the sound of it confirms Max can stay the night. The final hurdle to their plan traversed.

“Come on, Emma, if we’re going to the clubhouse we need to look the part,” I hear Bess say followed by the sounds of their footsteps going upstairs.

I don’t like this plan one bit.

Throwing Emma into the lion’s den. This is exactly why getting involved with Emma was a bad idea. She’s too good for this lifestyle. Too pure. I’m supposed to be protecting her and yet at every turn I’ve done the wrong thing for her.

I stalk back into the living room, tossing the guys a beer.

Jax chuckles, “You really hate that she doesn’t listen to you, don’t you?”

“If she had any sense she would,” I grumble. “Emma has no idea what she’s getting herself into. We should call J-Bird and tell him. He’ll put a stop to this.”

“And then what? We just sit around waiting for Kane to make his move?” Jax replies. “Look, I don’t like this plan any more than you do, but it’s the only one we’ve got.”

“Emma’s tougher than you think,” Ty says quietly.

The sounds of laughter drift down from upstairs as the women bond. I don’t know how to feel about Emma and Bess meeting each other. I’ve never introduced a woman I’ve dated to Bess before. Not that Emma and I are dating, but to say the situation between us is simple would be a lie. It wasn’t just sex, and she’s not just our Prez’s sister who I’m tasked to protect. As much as I might want to convince myself that’s all this is.

“Worried they might be hitting it off a little too well?” Jax teases, waggling his eyebrows.

I roll my eyes at him. I should never have told him about Bess and me. When I was younger, I thought I was in love with Bess. We were each other's first time. I was her last man. She realized pretty quickly that she was attracted to the fairer sex. These days it feels crazy to me to think of Bess as anything other than a sister. We love each other, but it’s totally platonic. But that doesn’t stop Jax from winding me up about it constantly.

When the girls finally come back downstairs, my jaw hits the floor. Emma looks drop-dead gorgeous.

I have to hand it to Bess, she’s been creative in dressing Emma, given the fact she’s several inches taller and far more curvaceous. Emma’s wearing an oversized band-tee as a dress belted with peekaboo cutouts that show off her sharp collarbones, and thigh-high fuck-me boots. Bess has spiked Emma’s hair into a punk-rock-fairy style and lined her eyes with kohl, making her already strikingly blue eyes pop. Her lips are enhanced with bright red lipstick.

Jesus Christ, she looks like sex on a stick.

There’s no way this plan is going to end well. The way Emma looks tonight is going to start a war. Our very own Helen of Troy.