Derek backs toward the door, face twisted with impotent fury. “This isn’t over, Marley.”
“Yeah, it is,” Victoria says flatly. “Come near her again, and you’ll see how degenerate these bikers can be, firsthand.”
Derek huffs, then spins, storming out.
The moment the door slams behind his ass, the clubhouse erupts, not in anger, but laughter, the brothers all lowering their weapons in unison.
“Did you see his face?” Sage doubles over. “He looked like he was going to piss himself!”
“That was so fucking hot,” Beck chimes, fanning himself. “Seriously, all of you, the hottest thing ever.”
But as I turn to Marley, she’s shaking, my hands tighten on her to pull her closer, but then she breaks out into a fit of laughter. Laughing so hard, tears stream down her face.
“Oh. My. God.” She gasps. “The look on that dick’s face when you all raised your guns…” She dissolves into a fit of giggles.
Relief floods me, and I lift her off her feet. “You okay, Small Town?”
“I’m perfect.” She wraps her arms around my neck. “That was amazing. You’re all amazing.”
“He’s never coming back,” I promise. “If he even thinks about it, we’ll handle it.”
“I know.” She presses her forehead to mine. “I feel so safe with you. With all of you.”
The party resumes, but the energy has shifted, protective, familial. Marley is surrounded by people who love her, who’d go to war for her.
And I’m about to make it official.
Even though I don’t deserve her.
Even though I’m keeping this secret from her.
Tell her,my conscience screams.
Tell her now, before you do this.
But I can’t.
I’m too afraid of losing her.
So, I’m going to claim her first, bind her to me in front of everyone, and pray to God that when the truth comes out,and it will,she loves me enough to forgive me.
It’s a dick move.
I know it is.
But I’d rather be a dick who gets to keep his woman than an honest man who loses her.
I set her down and pull out the small, wrapped box.
Her eyes widen. “Nitro, you didn’t—”
“I wanted to.” I hand it to her. “Open it.”
She smiles up at me as she unwraps it, revealing a velvet box. When she opens it, her breath catches.
Inside is a white gold bracelet with a single charm—a tiny flute engraved with her initials and today’s date.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispers.
