"She ain’t lying,” I say quietly to Fury and whoever is close enough to hear.
A long pause. Brothers shift. The ol' ladies watch with expressions I can't read.
Chaos nods once. “Let her in.”
Chapter 3
London
My legs threaten to give out, but I force them to keep moving. A part of me wants to turn and run—a very large part of me. But I’m here, I’ve been let in, and it’s time I suck it up and see this through. I really want to meet my father. And… Well, I have nowhere else to go.
The place is huge. I see why they call it a compound. There are several buildings, the largest of which looks as though it may have been a motel at one time. Motorcycles are lined up in perfect rows, and security lights seem to cast everything in deep shadows.
I nervously scan the hard faces. Is one of them my dad?
The man who told them to let me in—I’m pretty sure I heard him called Zeus—stands a few feet away. He's massive. Tall and broad, with shoulders that could block out the sun. Dark blonde hair, olive skin, and his brown eyes are boring into me like he’s studying me. He looks mean, and I want to shrink under his gaze, but I don’t. I know better than to show that kind of weakness in front of these men.
His gaze drops to the gash on my face. Oh, god, I forgot about my messed-up face.
His jaw tightens, his eyes darken. "Who did that to you?"
"It's nothing." The lie comes automatically.
His eyes narrow and his expression suddenly looks even meaner. “That's not what I asked."
Before I can answer, three women materialize in front of me, forming a buffer between me and the wall of intimidating men behind them. One is small and curvy with honey-colored hair. Another is a petite blonde with pink tips and an easy smile. The third is tall with dark-brown skin, kind eyes, and a leather vest that says "Property of Demon" across the back.
"I'm Rowan," the curvy blonde says, her voice warm. "This is Sarah and Kayla."
Rowan loops her arm through mine. "Come on. Let's get you inside."
Zeus opens his mouth like he might protest, but the dark-skinned woman gives him a look that shuts him down.
"We've got her from here, Zeus,” she says firmly.
The three of them guide me away from the wall of hostile, suspicious bikers and toward the main building. I glance back once. Zeus is still watching me, hands in his pockets, expression unreadable.
Inside, the clubhouse overwhelms me. Music pounds from speakers. The air is thick with smoke and the smell of alcohol and marijuana. There are bodies everywhere—men in leather, women in next to nothing, all of them laughing and drinking and moving like they own the world.
My eyes must be as big as saucers because Kayla smiles sympathetically and pats my arm. "Don't worry. We got you."
They steer me away from the worst of the noise.
"It's a big weekend," Sarah explains as we navigate through the crowd. "Another club's visiting and this is my graduation celebration."
"You graduated?" I ask, latching onto the normal detail like a lifeline.
"Nursing school." Sarah's smile is genuine. "It's been a journey."
We weave through hallways until we reach a quieter section. Kayla pushes open a door to what looks like a break room with smaller couches and a kitchenette. It’s blessedly empty.
"Sit," Rowan orders gently, pointing to a couch.
I sink into it, my legs giving out with relief.
Sarah disappears and returns with a first aid kit. She kneels in front of me, her expression softening as she takes in the cut on my face.
"May I?" she asks, holding up an antiseptic wipe.
