"Shadow. Grace." Damon gestures to the table where he and Dixon are sitting. "Sit. We need to talk."
We sit.
The leather chair creaks under me, and Grace's hand immediately finds mine under the table. Her palm is clammy, nervous.
Damon looks at me for a long moment, assessing. "So, you're the enforcer who married Shiver's sister and pissed off Copperhead Kings."
"Ex-enforcer," I correct. The word still tastes bitter. "And yeah."
"Tell me about the threat. From the beginning. Don't leave anything out."
So I do. I lay it all out. All of it.
Bronco buying Grace for four million dollars when she was barely eighteen.
Phantom arranging the marriage for ranch security and cash.
The three days Grace was engaged before Bronco raped her in the clubhouse.
Shiver finding her, killing Bronco in a rage.
Nine years of peace while Grace tried to heal and Shiver lived in exile.
And then Copperhead Kings deciding to collect on what they saw as a debt.
The meet where Flint laid out his demands—return the money, hand over Shiver, or give them Grace. Phantom refusing.
Me claiming we were married to protect her.
Getting kicked out of Shotgun Saints.
The bounty on Grace's head.
Running to Vegas for protection.
Damon listens without interrupting.
His expression doesn't change, but I can see the way his jaw tightens when I mention the rape.
The way Dixon's hands curl into fists when I explain Flint's belief that Grace is his property.
When I'm done, Damon leans back in his chair, arms crossed.
"Copperhead Kings think they own her because of money paid years ago."
"Yeah."
"And now you've married her, which voids their claim legally, but pisses them off even more."
"That's the theory."
Dixon speaks up, his voice rougher than I expected. "What's your read on Flint? Personal vendetta or club business?"
"Both," I say. "It's personal for him—that's his brother who died, even if Bronco was a piece of shit. But Venom's backing him, which makes it official club business. They're not backing down."
Damon's quiet for a moment, thinking. "Copperhead Kings are coming for you. That's not a question anymore. The question is: where do you want to fight them?"
I look at him. "What do you mean?"
