Music plays through the speakers while the brothers mingle sporadically, casually drinking, playing pool or darts. It’s a typical afternoon before the dinner rush.
“So… what’s this crazy tension between you and Sin, Lizzie?” Ro asks, sending a chuckle through the girls.
Widening my eyes, I place the tube of glitter I’m decorating a card with on the table. “Tension? What tension?” I snap, probably a little too damn defensively.
They all giggle as Jessa bumps her shoulder into mine. “Did he start something and then ditch you?”
Swallowing hard, I furrow my brows, picking my glitter back up to continue working on the card. “No,” I reply sharply, but it comes out like a pouty teenager would answer.
The girls chuckle again as Ro leans forward, yanking my card away from me and causing the glitter to fall all over the table. “Hey!” I snap.
“Oh, you’ll get over it. Listen, I have known Sin for areallylong time. I have seen women come and go, and theonlytime I haveeverseen him push a girl away was this one time.One time,Elizabeth.”
Furrowing my brows, I sigh, curiosity getting the better of me. “Okay… I’m listening.”
“So, he got close to this one girl back before he was the president. He did the same thing, got close, then started pushingher away. She was so confused, but then the FBI raided a couple of days later. The president at the time was taken into custody. He’s still in prison, and that’s when Sin took over as the pres,” Ro states.
Widening my eyes, I shake my head. “I don’t think I follow.”
“We had an idea something was coming, but we had no idea who from the club was going to be taken in. Sin thought he might be getting locked up, so he pushed her away for her own protection. Then when he took on the presidency, he figured the danger for her was far worse, so he let her get on with her life…” She sighs. “He’s a really good-fucking-guy, Elizabeth. Always puts everyone else before himself, even if he has to hurt their feelings to do exactly that.”
My heart pounds harder as I glance over my shoulder at Sin.
Did he push me away because he thinks something is coming for him?
Did he call in a reporter to change the narrative on the club because he’s trying to get the police off the scent of whatever the club isreallyup to?
A wave of nausea rolls over me as I turn back to face the girls, my face obviously turning pale.
“Oh gosh, Lizzie, are you okay?” Ro asks.
Suddenly, an alarm starts blaring through the clubhouse, making my already pounding heart feel like it’s about to burst out of my damn chest. I snap my head around as the brothers rush to the front of the clubhouse.
“Ghost, talk to me!” Sin yells while reaching for a long gun from under the nearest table that I didn’t even know was there.
Ghost moves to the security feed by the bar, checking the cameras, and lets out a low growl. “Fuck! It’s the Alliance. They’re approaching, and by the look of it, they aren’t coming for beer and a goddamn chat.”
The rumble of V8 car engines grows louder and louder, sending a chill through the afternoon air.
Defiance territory is supposed to be secure.
That’s the promise—Sin’s promise.
But promises are fragile things in this world, and as I stand, rushing over to the dusty window of the clubhouse and peer through, I watch the Alliance approaching, their black-and-silver insignias shimmering in the sunlight on their Mercedes-Benz.
The Hidden Hand Alliance has come for retribution.
And I stand frozen.
The tension in the room is electric, like a wire pulled too tight and ready to snap. The Defiance members spring into action—a chaotic orchestra of yelling and commands.
But Sin moves differently.
He’s not just fast, he’s deliberate. His eyes narrow as he cocks his gun and barks orders, his deep voice cutting through the panic. “Nitro, make sure the weapons are hot. Will, take Millie to the bunker…” I snap my head around, widening my eyes.They have a bunker?“Koa, get the blockades ready. Mace, get everyone into formation. Ro, you know what to do!”
Everyone follows his orders without hesitation, and as I watch him, transfixed by his calm amidst the storm, his movements are like a wolf scenting the first signs of danger.
The Sin I know is relaxed, a little broody though sarcastic, the kind of guy who teases me with a smirk when things are quiet.
