Prologue
Charlie
“Something just isn’t right,” I snap, glaring at Six.
Six’s eyes narrow on my face.“You don’t think that I don’t fucking see it too?It’s my fucking club.”
I turn away from him, pacing the room, trying to wrap my mind around what Six just told me.
“Goddamn it!”he bellows before I hear his fist connect with the wall.“He has convinced everyone that the risk is low and the money is too good to pass up.I keep pushing the vote out, but I don’t know how much longer I can keep doing that.NOS has them convinced that it’s the best thing and with half of them so fucking high most days they can barely function eventually I’m going to fucking lose.Losing could mean more than just a vote for a new business venture.I have no doubt that NOS will be out for blood.Sunshine, maybe I should just …”
His tone makes it sound like it’s something he is considering.I spin around angrier at this man than I’ve ever been in the ten years we’ve been married.“You cannot even be considering this.”
We stand there just watching each other, and I truly take in the man in front of me.He looks tired in a way that isn’t just physical or mental.Six looks soul-worn and tired.His thick jet-black hair is more salt and pepper than solid black, and his beard is nearly all gray.He isn’t standing tall and proud but seems to be shrinking in on himself.
Six sighs, leaning back against the wall behind him with arms crossed over his chest, looking at the floor.“You know I would never do something like that willingly, but what the fuck do you expect me to do if the brothers vote yes?I might be the president of this club, but that doesn’t mean a fucking thing when it’s a majority vote.”
I move without thought, walking over to him and going up on my toes to wrap my arms around his neck.I bury my face in the crook of his neck, just breathing him in.Six wraps his arms around me, pulling me tight to his chest, just holding me.My anxiety and stress fade, as always happens when I’m wrapped in his arms.
He kisses my neck before pulling back, looking me in the eye, “I’m going to give you a name and number.I want you to hide the card somewhere you can get to if you ever need it.This man will help you and make sure you're safe.”
I shake my head, “I don’t want it.Nothing is going to happen.The other brothers will see what is right.It’s going to work out, I know it!”
Devastation like I’ve never seen fills his eyes.“I wish I could say the fucking same right now, but I can’.Take the card, Sunshine, and put it where only you can find it.”
He shoves the card into my hand, and I finally take a look at it.It’s a white card with nothing but a phone number.No name, no hint of who or what the number is for.I flip it back and forth a couple of times before raising my eyes back to Six.He reads something on my face because, before I say anything at all, he answers my unvoiced question.
“That number one day will be the only way you will be safe.I need you to fucking trust me and not question me on this one.”He drops his hands on my hips, squeezing slightly.I give him a slow nod before sliding the card into the pocket of the pants that I’m wearing.
Six searches my face for doubt, and I fight every internal reaction to keep him from seeing the genuine fear that is trying to suck me under.I give him a soft smile before leaning in to kiss him.He runs his hands down my sides and over my hips, cupping my ass.Six uses the hold on my ass to pick me up.I wrap my legs around his waist as the kiss intensifies.It’s as if we’re trying to take in everything about each other, kissing as if this were the last time.
I get lost in the kiss of the man who owns every part of my life and soul.The one that pulled me out of a life that was out of control and on a road to destruction.He pulled me into a life that showed me what it meant to have family, people at your back, and somewhere to belong.It wasn’t easy, and we’ve had our fights, but in the end, he never faltered or bent to anyone’s will.I’m not blind and know that his soul and that of the other brothers of Lucifer’s Knights Motorcycle Club aren’t clean.They are stained with the blood of those who have crossed the club, hurt women and children, and played fast and loose with club property and product.That was the way it was until it wasn’t, and now we’re fighting the battle to keep the club grounded and to stop the inevitable downfall of our current trajectory.
Six lays me on our bed, pulling back to look down at me with more love and devotion than I’ve ever seen from him.What causes true terror to take hold is the absolute fear I see hiding deep within his eyes.A single hot tear scorches its way down the side of my face and into my hair.
“Don’t cry, Sunshine,” Six whispers across my lips.“Never let the fuckery of the world dim your light.”
My eyes slide closed at his words, as I try to hide the turmoil of emotions I can seem to lock away.He kisses me, stopping me from denying him the way I’ve done a thousand times.The kiss deepens, burning me from the inside, slow and aching.When Six runs his hand under my shirt, it’s as if he is trying to ground us both.His movements are slow and unhurried, like he is trying to commit it all to memory, as if this moment is all we’re going to have.Then three hard knocks stop us cold, and a familiar chill settles in my chest, because nothing good ever comes from that kind of knock.
“Prez, we need you out here.”
Six drops his head onto my chest and groans.“I swear they’re like fucking children and know the exact moment to fucking interrupt.”
Reaching up, I dive my fingers into his hair, scratching his scalp.My laugh starts as a quiet chuckle, building to a full belly laugh at the absurdity of it all.Six picks his head up, mock-glaring at me before grinding his rock-hard cock into my thigh.
“I do not find the fact that I’m going to walk into who knows what with my cock so fucking hard there is no way to hide it hilarious,” he grinds through clenched teeth before kissing me hard and pushing off me.
Rolling over onto my side, I prop my head on my hand, watching the love of my life walk towards the door.Just as Six reaches out to open the door, he turns back, looking at me over his shoulder.Our eyes meet, and he gives me a small, honest smile before the mask of the hard-ass Motorcycle Club President falls into place.
“Sunshine, believe me when I say no matter what, I love you with everything I have.When I walk out this door, you make sure that card I gave you is hidden, but where you can get it if you need to.Because when I’m no longer here to protect you, he will be a lasting safeguard, ensuring your light continues to shine brightly.”The look in his eyes makes my chest squeeze so tight that my head spins from it.
“I love you too, and I know it’s all going to be okay.”I give him what I hope passes for a convincing smile.
Six gives me a sharp nod.“Promise me, Sunshine.You remember that card and where you hid it.”
My heart sinks because the look in his eyes is fear once again.Fear like I have never seen.“I promise, Six, I will hide it and never forget it.”
Three hard knocks come again before he can pull the door open to find the Enforcer standing there high as fuck and snarling in anger, “Fucking took you long enough.NOS is calling for church.”
