“For you,” I say simply, making my way to the stage.
We launch into “Faithfully,” rearranged into upbeat rock with flute accompaniment that shouldn’t work but does. The clubhouse goes quiet, and I keep my eyes on Marley the whole time. Watching her expression shift from surprise to wonder to clear love. Tears stream down her face, but she’s smiling so wide it lights up the room.
The song ends to deafening applause. But I only see Marley making her way toward the stage, tears still on her cheeks.
“That was beautiful,” she says. “The most beautiful piece I’ve ever heard.”
“You’re beautiful, Marley,” I tell her, meaning it completely.
Before I can say more, the alarm for a clubhouse breach goes off. Ghost moves quickly to the surveillance as the rest of us reach for our guns, but the clubhouse doors slam open, and dickhead Derek walks in.
The music cuts off.
Every conversation stops.
Every person turns, guns drawn to stare at the asshole in the designer suit who just crashed my girl’s party.
“Where the fuck is Liam!” Sin shouts, and as if on cue, the prospect who was manning the gate stumbles inside, hand to his head, a line of blood running down his temple.
“Shit... sorry, Pres. The cunt caught me off guard. Whacked me with a baseball bat—”
Mace surges forward. “You motherfucke—”
“Mace, simmer down, the chicken shit came inside without the bat… let’s hear him out.”
“Liam’s bleeding on our fucking floor, Pres!” Mace growls.
Sin tilts his head. “Oh, I know. So you better get to the point fucking fast, Derek, or my hospitable nature is going to wear thinreal quick!”
Derek hesitates, his hands up in surrender as he scans the room, the costumes, decorations, the bikers now staring with expressions that could curdle milk.
When his gaze lands on Marley, his lip curls. “Marley,” he says. “We need to talk.”
“No…” I step in front of her, “… you don’t.” I flick off the safety of my gun.
Derek’s eyes skim me, and I see the moment he realizes his mistake. I’m six-four, two-forty, and dressed like a deranged Guns N’ Roses member. Behind me, my brothers form a wall. Their guns all flicking off their safeties one by one.
Sin steps forward, bringing his Glock up a little higher. “Wrong place, my friend.”
“Private party,” Victoria adds coldly, crossing her arms over her chest.
Derek’s face reddens, as though he wants to push the issue, but is very aware of the multiple guns aimed right at him. “I just wanted to wish Marley happy birthday.”
“After howyoutreated her?” Sage’s voice cuts like a blade. “Yeah, I wouldn’t be worried about those guns aimed at you, asshole. I’d be more worried about the best friend and the two older brothers who want to murder you because we have bikers here who can hide your body, butweget the satisfaction of taking you out,” Sage snaps confidently.
Derek swallows hard as he looks past me to Marley. “Really?Bikers, Marley?Thisis what you’ve degraded yourself to?”
The words hang like poison.
Marley stiffens behind me, her hand gripping my shirt, and rage floods white-hot through me. But before I can move, my brothers close in. Sin, Koa, Bear, Ghost, and the others form a semicircle around Derek, guns still aimed at him, expressions dark.
“Get the fuck out.” Sin’s voice is deadly calm.
Derek looks at the wall of leather and muscle, and fear flickers across his face. “You can’t—”
“We can,” Koa rumbles. “Leave.Now.”
“Before we make you,” Bear adds helpfully.
