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11

ATOM

“ H ow on earth did you pick this book?” I hear Ember say when they all finally sit down to discuss it.

I’ve been sitting at the breakfast bar for the last hour. Catfish went to my house and picked up some things I need: additional weapons, clean clothes, and my laptop.

At first, I was messaging with Vex and sending him all the files so we can find as many details about these men as possible. It was hard to get hold of him, at first. Still in Sturgis, the New Jersey brother was throwing back the beers. Took Vex a while to answer, even longer to sober up enough to help.

When the members of the book club first arrived, there was a lot of concern about whether Quinn and Ember were both okay. They’re both really shaken and scared. The feeling we somehow let our small town down doesn’t sit well.

Wraith told me that Sheriff Tanner Radcliffe was in Butcher’s face earlier, telling him to stay out of his way while he investigates. Butcher told him he stood a better chance of becoming a professional pole dancer than of us staying out of it.

“Hey, if we have to read a romance book about secret soldiers mixed with animal DNA to make them fighting machines that also like fucking humans, you do too,” Dawn says as she grabs a cracker from the platter Raven brought.

“That’s a succinct summary of what we just read,” Quinn says.

Raven tucks her feet beneath her on the sofa. “Yes. But look me in the eye and tell me you didn’t love it.”

I glance back to my laptop, but I hear Ember laugh. Sweetest fucking sound. “Fine. Yes,” she says. “It was hot as all hell. And I’ve already queued up book two.”

Hearing her say something was hot as hell is like an adrenaline shot to my dick. So is being in her orbit. Over the years, I’ve done my best to stay away from her. Even when we lock down at the clubhouse or at one of the family cookouts.

But now, I’m fully immersed in her. I’m in her apartment, amongst her friends, sleeping in bedding that smells of her laundry detergent.

I need to remember I’m here because I’m the one her father trusts to keep her safe. I’m the one my president trusts.

“I’m on book three,” Raven says. “We’re so bad. But given Wraith was supposed to be away, I was happy to have a series to binge. Fen asked me what I was reading, and I sort of lied to him a little. He said it sounded boring, then shot back to the den to play with the Legos Wraith got him before he left. The unfortunate thing about parenting is sometimes you want to yell that books about humans bred with lion DNA who become man lions that have big tongues and purr when they go down on you are amazing, not boring. Yet you have to keep that all inside and simply nod.”

“There’s a lion in book three?” Ember asks.

And now I’m perversely curious about what exactly is inside the romance books I see at the store. I assumed a regular, everyday couple. Human, at least. But guess I’m very wrong about that.

I glance over again, just as Raven puts her hand over her mouth. “Sorry, I’m a one-woman spoiler machine.”

“And he purrs?” I ask her.

Raven chuckles. “His name is Valiant, and he can smell that she’s ovulating.”

I reach for the beer I’ve been nursing and take a large gulp. “Sweet baby Jesus. Wish I’d never asked.”

“I’m gonna read as many as I can, mark ‘em up, and put them in the library,” Raven says.

“I love how ‘library’ is code for books Wraith can flip through to see what you want him to try,” Dawn adds.

“That’s a detail I didn’t need to know,” I say.

Ember raises one eyebrow. “Maybe if you weren’t listening in on a private book club, you wouldn’t hear things like that.”

“You want me to go sit in the hallway or the balcony?” I ask. “Because I could do without being here to babysit your ass.”

I don’t know where my return to form comes from. It’s habit, to snap at Ember, to make her feel less, to make her appear invaluable to me when the exact opposite is true.

“Yes. The balcony would be a perfect solution.”

I shut my laptop down, grab the gun that was sitting next to it, and pick up my beer. “Fine.”

I stride out the door, slamming it behind me, straight into a wall of heat.

Fuck, I miss the air conditioning of Ember’s apartment immediately.

From here, I look down at the small lot behind the bar where Ember got hurt. Then, I look up at the stars.

“What the fuck do I do?” I mutter.

Life as a biker is supposed to mean living outside the rules. Creating a life you want. Maybe it’s not so wrong to want your president’s daughter.

Maybe I come to terms with the fact I want Ember to be mine. I’ve always loved the way she appreciates the outdoors the same way I do, the way she rides. But I also love her commitment to things. To the bar, to her friends, even to challenging me.

She’s not willing to accept small pieces of me, and I respect her for knowing she deserves better.

The door opens, and Raven steps out, a fresh beer in her hand. “Here.”

I chug the last two mouthfuls of the one I was nursing and take the fresh bottle from her.

“Sorry,” I say. “Ember was right; I shouldn’t have been listening in on your conversation.”

Raven smiles and takes a sip of wine. “Doesn’t bother me that my friends know I mark-up books with my fave bits and let Wraith find them. It’s a fun game we play and gets past the fact I’m not great at verbalizing what I need.”

“I’m surprised Wraith can even read,” I tease.

“I guess he’s better at reading books than people,” Raven says.

I turn and lean back against the railing. “What do you mean?”

Raven smiles. “What I’m trying to say is I know the cost of marrying the wrong person. Whatever the reason that prevents you from being with the person you love, it’s not worth it.”

I’m confused, and it must show on my face. “Understood.”

Raven chuckles. “Men. You really are clueless. You understand nothing but don’t want to admit it.”

She walks to the door and lets herself back inside.

I guess he’s better at reading books than people.

What I’m trying to say is I know the cost of marrying the wrong person. Whatever the reason that prevents you from being with the person you love, it’s not worth it.

Wait.

Was she talking about me?

Does she know about Ember and me?

I shake my head. There is no Ember and me. Ember will go off and marry fucking Rocco, and I’ll…

Shit. I got it.

Whatever the reason that prevents you from being with the person you love, it’s not worth it.

I look into the apartment. Dawn and Quinn are playfully and loudly bickering over something in the book. Quinn lifts her copy, reads something out loud, and then slams it shut as if it proves whatever point she’s trying to make. Ember chuckles at whatever is being said, but her grin fades when her eyes meet mine through the window.

Putting my weapon in the back of my jeans, I take the steps down to the lot and walk around the exterior of Whiskey Fever. The streets are busy, but not as lively as they are on the weekend.

There is nothing untoward on Main Street. The sun is finally down. The buildings that should be closed are. The lights are off in Quinn’s bakery up the street. None of the cars match the truck that appeared last night.

I walk to the back of the building, checking the rear alleyway that runs behind the property. From down here, you can’t see into Ember’s apartment. The balcony is wide and provides cover over the rear of the kitchen. No one could see in without taking the stairs, and I wonder if we should install an alarmed gate at the base of them that would go off if someone tried to open it.

In fact, Ember could do with a whole heap more early alert signals. The door on the ground floor up the internal steps to Ember’s front door, we could alarm that. There is no reason for anyone to go up those steps from the bar except Ember. And I need to double-check if there are dead bolts on it, because she locks them from the inside.

I head back up the stairs and take up my spot on the balcony. There are worse places to be. She has a clear view right out to the mountains, and the sky is the kind of midnight blue that looks backlit by the moon.

The beer is still sitting there, and after a quick inspection to make sure no flying critter decided to dive in, I take a drink.

The book discussing, drinking, and debating is done by eleven.

“The estrogen got a little strong for you in there?” Wraith asks as he climbs the stairs to join me.

“Learning that you go through your woman’s romance books to come up with kink ideas made my ears bleed. Figured there were many things I’m better off not knowing.”

Wraith spins his keys on his finger and chuckles. “Don’t knock it until you try it. One thing I know for sure is that everyone is kinky. Maybe they don’t ever act on it. Maybe they’re scared of asking for what they want. This way, Raven tells me what she’s looking for in a way she can handle. And, honestly, she’s surprised the shit out of me. The other day, she asked?—”

“Nope! Nope, nope, nope,” I shout over him, cutting him off. “I don’t want to hear another word about anything you tried.”

Wraith laughs as Raven, Quinn, and Dawn choose that moment to step outside.

“Hey, sweetheart,” Raven says, stepping up onto her toes to kiss her man.

He kisses her back, sweetly. And I’m struck by a spear of envy at how open they are about their relationship. I glance to the doorway, where Ember is watching her friends leave.

“You girls want a ride down the street?” Wraith asks.

“Would love one,” Quinn says. “Especially after the visit from those guys yesterday. I’m staying at Dawn’s tonight.”

“You got any video footage?” I ask.

She nods. “I already made copies to give to Sheriff Radcliffe. Can easily send it to you.”

“Thanks. I’ll let Ember know how you can send it to me.”

Her shoulders drop. “I actually feel better knowing you’re looking into it too.”

Wraith tips his head in the direction of the two bikes pulling onto the lot. “Got a patrol started. Old-timers with prospects. First up, Duke and Shane. They know to call you inside if they see anything. They’ll switch in the night to Charmer and Haynes.”

“Good to know there are external eyes.”

It takes a minute for all the goodbyes and for the four of them to leave.

“Can I come back in now?” I say to Ember.

She doesn’t answer, but pushes the door open wide so I can follow her.