I stare at my boyfriend sleeping for a couple of minutes with a tight pain in my chest. I haven’t forgotten Ares’s threat. I know he hasn’t said anything to Chad yet because, if he had, my boyfriend would not have welcomed me back so enthusiastically earlier.
No, Ares is planning something humiliating.
He is going to wait until I think the threat has passed and then spring something on me. I just know it.
But like I vowed earlier, I’m not going to borrow tomorrow’s troubles.
Whenever Ares strikes back, I’ll be ready for him.
ChapterForty
Ashley
My face breaks into a huge smile the second I open the door. “It’s so good to see you!” I exclaim, genuine happiness lighting up my face as I pull Harlow Westbrook into a hug.
“I was thrilled when Chad called and said your birthday party was this weekend. For once, the timing was perfect!” She hugs me back, and I’m glad I popped a couple of pain pills earlier.
I knew everyone would want to hug me tonight. The brandings on my chest and arm are healing well, and I’m disciplined in applying the salve morning and night, so hopefully in a couple of weeks, I won’t feel any pain.
“You look amazing, as always,” I say when we break our embrace. Lo is drop-dead gorgeous with long, thick, dark hair, the prettiest face, and a body to die for. I know plenty of guys at our old school who were hopelessly in love with her beauty and her feisty personality.
“You went back to blonde.”
“It’s only temporary. Parental bullshit.” I roll my eyes.
“Happy birthday, Ashley,” a man with a deep masculine voice says. I stare over Lo’s head at the men currently crowding the top step. Harlow’s four husbands are the stuff of dreams.
“Thanks, Saint.” I step aside to make room for them. “Come in. The party’s in full swing, as you can hear.” Saint, Caz, and Theo pile in, giving me a quick hug or kiss on the cheek.
I’m not sure if it’s my imagination, but those guys seem to get hotter every time I see them. Caz is muscular and seriously ripped with killer biceps and a matching killer smile. Saint is the kind of bad boy who looks like he stepped off the pages of a magazine. His blond hair is longer than he used to wear it, but it suits him all messy and falling into his blue eyes. Theo has a gorgeous face and the kindest eyes. His long blond hair falls to the nape of his neck, but tonight he’s wearing it in a man bun, which is seriously freaking hot.
They are all so different in looks and personality but equally as hot as one another. Caz and Theo are holding hands, and my ovaries swoon. According to Lo, it took them forever to admit their feelings, but now they are solid, and the five of them have the kind of relationship I can only aspire too.
For a while, I tried my best to tempt Jase and Chad into fucking one another, even as an experiment, but they are steadfastly into pussy, so I had to let that fantasy go.
“For the birthday girl,” Galen adds, coming up at the rear. Lo’s other husband thrusts a box at me, and I try not to swoon. Galen has a face and body that belongs on a catwalk. He is insanely stunning with dark hair and smoldering fuck-me eyes. Like his cousin Saint, he is tall and ripped with various tats and piercings.
Lo is a lucky bitch, that’s for sure.
My friend is smirking at me with a knowing smile. I return it and some. She knows the kind of reaction the guys invoke in the female, and male, population. When they made up the junior chapter leadership of The Sainthood, they were as lusted after as they were feared. Now, they have all retired from that world, and they live an idyllic polyamorous life in Rhode Island.
“You guys! You didn’t need to bring a gift, but thank you so much.” I press a kiss to Galen’s cheek before looping my arm through Lo’s.
“Every girl deserves to get spoiled on her birthday, and we don’t see enough of one another,” Lo says as we trail behind Caz, Theo, and Saint. Galen closes the door and follows us.
“The guys are in the basement playing pool and video games,” I call out, pointing at the door to the right of the stairs. “They have beers and a weed stash down there, so knock yourselves out.”
Saint tracks back, grabbing Lo and slamming his lips against hers in a brief hard kiss. “Watch your back, Queenie,” he says. “Especially if Ares and other members of The Bulls are here.”
Lo flips him the bird before patting her thigh. “Fuck off, Saintly. I know how to protect myself.”
Caz chuckles, stepping forward to kiss her. “Behave, babe.”
Theo comes up next, hugging her tight before pecking her lips. “Love you. Stay safe.”
Galen wraps his arm around her from behind, leaning down to kiss her cheek. “We may be out of the game, but we still have plenty of enemies in Lowell. We know you can take care of yourself, but a warning is not out of order.” She yelps as he cracks a loud slap against her ass. “Later, angel.” He kisses the corner of her mouth before they all disappear down the stairs to the basement.
“Overprotective assholes,” Lo mutters as I steer her into the living room where the party is raging.
