But Millie’s voice pulls me from my thoughts.
“I know it sounds bad,” she says quickly, her tone almost pleading. “But they saved me, Elizabeth. My dad doesn’t trust anyone easily, but he trusts them. And honestly, so do I. They’re more than just a club, they’re family. They protect their own. And with that money, they dogood things… like that toy drive for those underprivileged kids, and Queenie, Nitro’s grandmother. The gold money helps her and the Sunset Manor Senior Living Community, and they couldn’t doanyof that without my father’s help.”
Her words make my chest tighten. I force myself to nod, to keep my expression neutral. “That’s… a lot to take in,” I reply, my voice soft. “I see why you feel so strongly about them.”
Millie smiles faintly, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “They’re not perfect, I know that. But they’re good men. They’ve saved me more than once, and I owe them everything. So does my dad.”
I nod again, her words echoing in my mind as I offer her a small smile. “Thanks for telling me, Millie. That can’t have been easy.”
She shrugs, her smile turning brighter, though it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “You’re part of our family now, Elizabeth. I thought you should know.”
Family.
That word feels heavy, almost suffocating.
I smile again, but inside, I’m reeling.
Millie’s story changes everything.
The club’s operations, their ties to Jonas McClane, their war with the Alliance—it’s all so much bigger than I realized.
It’s not black and white.
It never is.
Millie and I continue to chat, our conversation changing direction, and for that, I’m glad. I was sent here to find out information on the club, to dig for secrets. But now that I’m finding some information and reaching my goals, it doesn’t sit as well with me as I thought.
And the main focus I have been searching for, my brother, is still no closer to being figured out. Everyone I approach about him shuts down. A clear sign that they’re hiding something. I need to push harder, but I have time, and tonight, I need to tune out of research mode and enjoy the end of this year with the friends I have made.
If you told me coming into this that I would ever have considered the people at this club to have turned into my friends, I would have laughed in your face. Now, there are people here I care about. One in particular I can’t seem to stop thinking about. My body is always desperate to be near him.
As the night stretches on, I catch glimpses of Sin, his eyes finding me no matter where I am. It’s like he can sense me, his gaze burning into mine across the room. When he finally approaches, sliding an arm around my waist, the air shifts.
Everything else fades.
It’s just him and me.
And I hate how much I crave this—crave him.
“You okay?” he asks, his voice low, intimate, like it’s meant only for me.
I nod, swallowing hard. “Fine,” I lie. My voice betrays me, trembling with the weight of everything I can’t say.
His grip tightens, his lips brushing against my ear. “Stay close,” he murmurs, his tone possessive, protective. “I want you with me when it hits midnight.”
I don’t trust myself to speak, so I nod again, letting him guide me through the crowd. His hand is firm on my back, a silent claim that makes my heart race and my mind scream at the sametime. Every step with him feels like a step closer to the edge—a point of no return.
As midnight approaches, the energy in the air shifts, crackling like static before a storm. The crowd pours outside, a river of laughter and excitement spilling into the chilly night. The sharp bite of the winter air hits my lungs, shocking away some of the haze from the warmth and chaos of the clubhouse. Conversations buzz around me, mingling with the occasional pop and whistle as fireworks launch into the sky, testing the silence before the main event.
I stand beside Sin, his presence grounding me, his arm a solid weight around my waist. My dress flutters slightly in the cold breeze, and I shiver—not entirely from the temperature. The hum of anticipation grows louder as the crowd shifts, jostling for the best view. The fireworks stand ready in neat rows, their pointed tips aimed at the heavens. Each time a spark hisses into the sky, the crowd erupts in cheers, the sound reverberating in my chest.
“One minute to go!” someone yells, and the announcement sends a ripple of excitement through the gathering. The voices grow louder, people clapping and whooping, some already beginning the countdown even though it’s far too early. Glasses clink as drinks are raised, and the music, though distant now, pumps from the clubhouse speakers, fueling the party.
Sin leans in close, his voice a low murmur against my ear. “Cold?”
I shake my head, but the truth is, I don’t feel the cold—not with him beside me. Not with the heat of his body seeping into mine, his arm pulling me closer as though he’s afraid I might drift away. “I’m okay,” I reply softly, though my heart pounds louder with every second that ticks by.
The countdown begins at sixty, voices chanting together, an exhilarating roar that swells with each number. Fireworks beginshooting into the air in quick succession, loud booms echoing like thunder as they explode into cascading streams of color. The sky is alive with bursts of crimson, sapphire, and gold, their brilliance painting the darkness with fleeting moments of light. Each explosion vibrates through my chest, matching the rhythm of my racing heart.
