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“Where do you plan on going, sis? You know when Tyson wakes up he’s going to have his whole crew out looking for you.”

“I know. I’m sorry for getting you involved in this.”

“Don’t be sorry. I’m your brother. I’ll do anything to protect you. I would have been came over and checked that nigga if I knew he’d been putting his hands on you.”

Rebel was only eighteen years old and fresh out of high school. I was sure he meant every word he said, but there was really nothing he could do to help me.

Tyson was the Southside Burners’ second in command, which meant he was well connected. Right or wrong, his whole club would be behind him no matter what. There was no way Rebel could stand against them by himself, which meant I only had a few hours to figure out what the fuck I was going to do. Going home wasn’t an option.

“Where we going?”

It felt like Rebel was driving in circles. I honestly couldn’t blame him if he was. Neither of us had a plan, but I appreciated him for coming when I called.

“I’ma take you to God’s Alley. There’s only one person I know that can help us. I just need to get close to him.”

“Since when did you start hanging out on God’s Alley?”

God’s Alley was the home of the notorious Steel Gods Motorcycle Club, but they were more of a gang than club. Anybody who believed different was a fool.

“When I joined as a prospect.” Rebel reached into the back seat with one hand and held the steering wheel with the other. He pulled back a vest and tossed it in my lap. It was a simple black vest with the word prospect written across the back.

“Are you out of your damn mind? You can’t join the Steel Gods. You know it’s a gang, and that is not the kind of life you want to live.”

“I just want to ride, Tash. Besides, they don’t let prospects get into all that.”

“And what happens when you become a full member?”

“I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.”

Rebel parked his car and hopped out.

“Come on.” He motioned with his hand. “Aye, don’t forget the vest. Gotta put that on.”

I’d never been on God’s Alley. Even though it wasn’t too far from where we grew up, I never needed to come this way. I had no idea how many people spent their night walking up and down the dark streets around their clubhouse until I walked them myself. I immediately knew I didn’t belong here.

The air held the stench of weed and bad decisions. “Sticky” by Tyler, The Creator boomed from the speakers of an old school Monte Carlo parked two spaces down. Engines revved high as bikes raced past us on the street. Every time my eyes glanced in a different direction, it was something else I couldn’t believe.

The temperature outside was every bit of thirty degrees, and women were walking around in G-strings and high heels. Hairstyles ranged from lace fronts and braids to locs. The men acted like hounds as they chased every tail that walked by. I was sure I looked out of place in my pink jogger set and Ugg boots.

I walked in Rebel’s footsteps and held on to his shirt as he dapped up everyone on his way up to the clubhouse. I could hear the whispers as I walked through crowds of men. Trying to make it to the door was like fighting your way through the lion’s den. I was starting to think coming here was a bad idea.

“Welcome to Gods’ House.” The bouncer stared me down after letting my brother in. He stood in front of me, blocking my entrance. “Who you got with you, Rebel?”

I twisted my nose up at his question. There was no way in hell he thought I would be interested in him.

“This my sister.” Rebel turned back and grabbed my hand to pull me past him. “She’s good. We just came to see Solo.”

“Cool, but he’s up in his office. You already know they not about to let you up there.” He laughed before focusing his attention back on me. “Maybe you and me can make our own fun down here.”

I rolled my eyes and kept walking.

“Big Ray, stop smiling at my fucking sister. It’s plenty of hos on their way up in here.”

“Alright, bro. You got it.”

“Don’t talk to anyone while we’re here, sis. I’m going to find you a seat at the bar while I try to get upstairs. They keep security tight here, and Solo only allows one person in his office. As you probably already guessed, I am not that one person. I got to try to make him see this is an emergency, or we will be waiting on him to come down all night.”

“Okay, but please don’t be long. I already feel like this is a bad idea.”

“It’s going to work. Trust me.”

“I trust you.” My brother kissed my forehead before leading me to the bar.

“Just sit here,” he said, looking around like someone was watching him. “And remember, don’t talk to anyone.”

“Rebel, who am I going to talk to?”

“I’ll be back in ten minutes tops.”

He walked away, and I settled into my seat. The smoke in the clubhouse was so thick everyone had to have their own blunt. The music had the crowd moving, and everyone looked to be enjoying the vibes—except me. I was ready to go before the smoke got stuck in my hair.

“A pretty lil thing like you shouldn’t be sitting all by herself.” A man walked up beside me before draping his arm around my neck. “Can I buy you a drink?”

“No,” I said simply before removing his arm.

“Don’t be like that, pretty girl.”

“Come on, Tash. He’s not up there.”

Rebel came back just in time to save me from whatever this was.

“What up, prospect? This your girl?”

“Nah, Tone. This is my sister, Tasha. Tasha, this is Tone. He’s the second in command here, and the only person allowed in Solo’s office.”

Tone looked at me with a smug look as if hearing that would somehow change my mind. It didn’t.

“Have you seen Solo? I need to talk to him about something.”

“He’s at the pool table.”

Tone pointed behind the bar where I could see a crowd forming. Rebel walked toward the crowd, and I was right behind him. There was no way he was leaving me there with Tone’s sleezy ass.

“What about that drink, sweetheart?”

“Maybe next time,” I tossed over my shoulder and quickened my step to catch up with my brother.

It felt like the building got colder the closer we got to the pool table. There were men standing around wearing their Steel Gods vests. Each of them had women on their arms who looked no older than Rebel. They were either turning up a bottled or pulling on a blunt between their lips.

“Solo, I need to talk to you.”

“Slow down, prospect. Run it by me first.” A big dude held Rebel in place with his gigantic hand.

“Six stripes, corner pocket.” Solo’s voice was deep and intimidating without being raised.

He never looked up from the pool table before shaking his head to Rebel’s request. He looked different now from when I first stared at him from across the courtroom the other day. The suit and glasses he wore gave him a sophisticated look, but he wasn’t wearing either of those things now. Tonight, I was up close and personal, and I could see him clearly.

His caramel skin was painted with tattoos. His fade was home to the deepest waves I’d seen in a long time. The diamond earring in his ear accentuated his side profile, and his thick beard made the cutest shadow around his pink lips. I didn’t know if the tattoos on his face made him look dangerous or delectable, but the fight to stop looking was hard fought.

I tore my eyes away from him just in time to see Rebel drop his head. The disappointment on my brother’s face was evident. He’d put all his hopes in Solo being able to help us, and this bastard couldn’t even bother to look at Rebel when he spoke. He was high on his horse, but I wasn’t trying to be a part of Steel Gods, which meant I had no problem speaking my mind.

“My brother came here because we need your help. He had so much faith in you, and you can’t even look at him when he’s talking to you.”

I knew opening my mouth to Solo wasn’t smart. I’d spent more than a week getting the rundown on all the horrible things he’d done, but I had very little to lose.

“Chill, Tash. Let’s go.” Rebel tried to grab my arm, but I pulled away.

“No. You’re wearing his prospect vest. The least he could do is hear you out when you have something to say.” I took my eyes off Rebel and focused them back on Solo. “Is that the kind of leader you are? One who doesn’t give a shit about the men trying to join his club?”

I placed my hand on my hip and rested my weight on one leg. His eyes traveled up before he stood. I could tell he was over six feet when he was fully upright. For a moment, he just stared at me, and I did the same. If we were having a staring contest, I refused to back down. I only knew what I’d heard about him from other people. He was a ruthless thug, but I also knew any real man would respect the stance I took for my little brother. After all, I was the whole reason we were here.

“Take your sister home, Rebel. I don’t want to mistake her for one of my girls.”

He spoke to my brother, but his eyes never left me. I watched them travel up and down my frame before a corner of his mouth curved into a half smile.

“That would be impossible,” I snapped.

His smile widened. His teeth were perfectly straight and insanely white. I was envious of people who had the perfect smile but not him. I was sure his smile was rarely being used and probably going to waste.

“Tash, please… let’s go,” Rebel begged, and I finally listened.

After we were away from them, I glanced in Solo’s direction one last time.

“Run away, little girl,” Tone, who’d made his way from the bar, chimed in, making the rest of the crowd around the table laugh.

I didn’t care what any of them thought of me, but I wasn’t looking forward to walking back out that door.

“Let’s just get a drink.”

I nudged my brother in the direction of the bar, and he followed. Once we were there, I ordered a lemon drop, and he ordered a shot of Crown Apple. He tossed his back as soon as the bartender placed it in his hand.

“Damn, sis. I really thought this was going to work.”

“It’s okay, Rebel. This is my problem. You don’t have to try to solve it for me.”

“I don’t want you going back to that house though, Tash. No man is about to be putting his hands on my sister.”

“I’m not going back. I just have to figure something else out.”

I sipped my drink while I let my mind wander. I didn’t want to stay at Rebel’s because that would be the first place Tyson looked. I also didn’t have any money for a hotel and using a credit card was out of the question. That would sure enough lead him straight to me.

“You think you can loan me some money for a hotel? I need it in cash.”

“Yeah. Come on. I’ll take you to an ATM then help you find somewhere to stay. I’m sorry I couldn’t do more.”

The cold air smacked us in the face as soon as we stepped out into the night. The scene pretty much looked the same from when we walked in besides the straight line of headlights that lined up at the top of the alley.

“I guess someone else is about to race again.”

“Nah, that’s too many headlights for a race.”

My brother grabbed my arm and quickened his pace toward the car.

“Come on. Let me get you inside.” Rebel held my hand as we walked toward the car, but before we could cross the street, the trail of lights was headed straight for us. My heart almost fell out of my chest when I saw the first vest with the words Southside Burners printed on it. He’d found me.

The line was so long it stretched from one end of the alley all the way to the other. Tyson parked his bike right in front of us and walked straight over to me.

“Let’s go, Tash.”

“My sister ain’t going nowhere with you.” Rebel spoke up before I had a chance to. He pushed me behind him so his body was a barrier between Tyson and I.

“Can’t you see adults are talking, Reb?”

“Nah. You put your hands on my sister. You got me fucked up.”

Rebel reached back and swung a fist across Tyson’s face. He stumbled backward, knocking his bike over. Rebel was outnumbered, and I knew once the bike hit the ground this wouldn’t be a fair fight.

I ran back into the clubhouse in search of Solo. He had to do something, or my brother wouldn’t make it out of the shit I’d dragged him into. I found Solo in the same place we left him, fully immersed in a game of pool.

“Solo, please come. The Southside Burners are jumping my brother. You have to help him! They are going to kill him. Please! This is all my fault.”

The crowd surrounding the table moved at the mention of the Southside Burners, but Solo held up one hand that stopped them in their tracks. I could see looks of frustration on their faces, but no one said a word. Everything around him moved or stopped at his command.

“He is your prospect, and the Burners are on our side of town,” Tone spoke low, but I could still hear him.

“I’m at peace with the Burners. Prospects know that.”

“Still, they came here. Pulling up to our club without an invite is an act of war.”

“That’s slight. I’ll overlook it. You know what I got going on right now. I can’t risk bringing attention to myself or this clubhouse.”

“I’m on the jury!” I yelled, pulling his attention back to me. “For your trial… I-I’m on the jury. If you protect us, I’ll make sure you get a not guilty verdict.”

He finally dropped the pool stick and walked in my direction. Stopping just in front of me, Solo lifted my head with one finger.

“I knew you looked familiar, Peach.”

It was the color of the outfit I’d worn to court today. I hadn’t noticed the tattoo that ran down his forehead before this moment. His eyes had never looked so dark either, but with only inches of air keeping our faces from touching, I saw him more clearly. The more he stared into my eyes, the more tears pooled.

“Please! This is all my fault,” I begged, letting the tears fall freely from my eyes.

Solo pushed past me without another word, and it seemed like the whole club followed him outside. I watched as he found my brother in the crowd and pulled Tyson off him. Tyson swung and struck Solo in the mouth before even looking to see who’d grabbed him. Once his eyes met Solo’s, they widened.

The blow Solo released made my stomach churn. The sound his fist made when it connected with Tyson’s face was sickening. Tyson’s body hit the ground with a loud thud. This was not what I wanted. I’d left home in search of safety and ended up in the middle of a gang fight.

Two shots rang out, bringing everyone’s attention to the shooter. Everyone stood in silence waiting for the shooter to speak.

“Solo, we have had over ten years of peace. If you don’t let Natasha leave with us tonight, that peace is over.” It was Burner, the Southside Burners leader.

I recognized him, but besides his name, I didn’t know much about him. Tyson was good at keeping me away from that side of his life.

“I thrive better in war. Rebel is a prospect of this house, and Natasha belongs to me. From this day forward, she’s my property.”

“Burn, you can’t let him do this,” Tyson said, finally getting up off the ground. “Tash is my wife.”

“Not anymore,” Solo announced before turning to me. “Let’s go.”

What did he mean by I belonged to him? I hoped he didn’t think he was going to have me walking around like one of his branded hos I’d seen inside. I’d just left one man for putting his hands on me, and now, I was attached to another who thought he owned me. What did it mean to be his property? If I wasn’t scared before, I was terrified now.