The taxi driver had refused to get too close and had dropped us halfway down the street. We walked up to the gates, and while I didn’t recognize the guy manning them, when I told him my name, he opened it right away.
“Nobody is going to throw you out,” I reassured my nervous friend. “They’re all nice. You’ll love it. Relax and enjoy tonight.”
She huffed but kept walking next to me instead of running back into town, which seemed to be an option at this stage. “Easy for you to say. You’re with one of them. I’m a nobody. And a lawyer.”
I chuckled and linked arms with her. “They’re not doing anything illegal in there. Maybe a little pot. But I’m sure you can ignore that.”
“Have you heard from Sebastian?” she asked, frowning at a couple making out next to the entrance.
I patted the pocket of my tight jean skirt, making sure I had my phone on me in case he called. It wasn’t like I expected him to tell me his every move. We’d only exchanged a few texts today, and I hadn’t heard from him in a while.
“He said he was at the clubhouse. Do you think he’ll be mad if I just show up? He didn’t invite me.”
Malena squeezed my arm, and we stepped into the huge building currently crammed with people. “Of course he wants you here. That man worships the ground you walk on.”
We pushed our way through swaying bodies in search of a familiar face. Talon was one of four people pouring drinks behind the bar, pushing mostly beer into people’s hands.
He winked at me when he saw us and came over. “If it isn’t the little card shark coming back to the lion's den. You want a rematch?” he shouted close to my ear to be heard over the deafening music.
“No rematch. Grim invited me. Know where he is?” I yelled back, leaning up on the bar.
Talon nodded to the right, and I craned my neck until I made out Grim’s huge form. He was talking to someone at the end of the bar, and I groaned at the thought of pushing my way through more people.
Turned out I didn’t have to when I felt hands grip me around my waist, lifting me high in the air. I yelped in surprise and found myself standing behind the bar. I turned back around and looked at Gears, who winked at me before disappearing in the crowd.
“Much quicker this way,” Talon said, tilting his chin at Malena. “She with you?”
“This is Malena,” I said. “Can you keep an eye on her while I talk to Grim?”
Talon grinned and nodded. “Of course I can.”
He leaned closer to Malena and said something to her. I couldn’t make out what it was, but my ball-buster friend blushed and nodded.
I caught her eyes and pointed to the end of the bar. When she nodded, I gave her a thumbs-up and walked over to Grim.
My face lit up when I saw who he was talking to. Sebastian was standing next to him, and Blade rounded out the group. I ducked under the bar at the end to get out and popped back up on the other side.
Grim saw me first, barreling past Blade, who stumbled to the side. The big teddy bear engulfed me in a tight hug. “Sweetheart, I’m so glad you decided to come.”
“Me too. You still haven’t told me what the party is for though.”
He put his arm around my shoulder and led me back to Sebastian and Blade. “It’s Ace’s party. He’s now officially a member.”
The smile died on my face when I laid eyes on Sebastian. He had a black eye and a busted lip. I slid out from under Grim’s arm and rushed up to Sebastian. “Oh my God, what the fork happened?”
He put his arms around me and kissed the side of my neck. I sank into him, holding him tight.
“It’s nothing. Just a scratch,” he said near my ear, his lips brushing my lobe.
I shivered at the small contact, gripping his T-shirt. “That doesn’t look like nothing. Did you get into a fight?”
He pulled back so he could look at me and kissed the tip of my nose when he saw the expression on my face. “It was payment for lying to the club.”
The look on my face must have shown my horror at the thought of at least twenty people taking a shot at him.
“Are you insane? They could have done some serious damage.”
He brushed a strand of my hair out of my face, tracing his finger along my cheek in the process. “The club has become my life. It’s where I belong. Blade and a few others knew I was here undercover, but I still lied to most of my brothers. Something that required payment.”
