Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 43787 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 219(@200wpm)___ 175(@250wpm)___ 146(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43787 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 219(@200wpm)___ 175(@250wpm)___ 146(@300wpm)
By the time we pull into the lot, the boys are already waiting. They don’t say anything as I park the bike and help Alaina off. She’s stiff, her eyes wide, but she doesn’t pull away when I guide her inside.
“Come on, sweetheart. Let’s get you settled.”
She nods, but her grip on my cut tells me everything I need to know.
This ain't over.
Not by a long shot.
I don’t waste time. As soon as Alaina is settled in my room, I shut the door behind her and head straight to the chapel. The boys are already inside, waiting. When I step through the doors, all eyes turn to me.
“Church,” I announce, and the murmurs die instantly. The air in the room shifts, tension thickening. They know whatever I’m about to say is serious.
I take my seat at the head of the table, planting my palms flat on the wood. “We’ve got a problem,” I start, my voice low and even. “Dimitri Morozov.”
A few curses slip from the mouths of my brothers. Looney, our enforcer, leans forward, arms crossed, his brows furrowed. “What the hell does a Russian mob boss have to do with us?”
I glance around, making sure I’ve got their full attention. “Alaina,” I say. “She’s tangled up in this, and that means we are too.”
Grit exhales sharply, shaking his head. “Shit.”
“He’s coming,” I continue. “Konstantin might be holding back for now, but Dimitri? He won’t. He doesn’t take kindly to people stepping on his toes, and right now, we’re in his way. I took away his power over Konstantin.”
Riot slams a fist on the table. “So what’s the play?”
I look each of my brothers in the eye. “We lock this place down. No one comes in or out without us knowing. We stay armed, we stay sharp, and we don’t take any chances. Riot you get Kelly here to prevent any leverage on Alaina.”
The room hums with agreement. No one argues. They know what’s at stake.
I lean forward. “This ain’t just about Alaina. This is about the Kings. We let one of these bastards think they can step into our territory and call the shots? We’re as good as dead.”
Silence stretches for a beat before Mellow nods. “Then we make damn sure they know exactly who they’re messing with.”
A slow grin tugs at the corner of my mouth. “Damn right.”
It’s time to get ready for war.
CHAPTER 14
ALAINA
The clubhouse feels smaller tonight, suffocating. Smoke curls in lazy ribbons toward the ceiling, the scent of whiskey thick in the air. Voices murmur in low conversations, the occasional burst of laughter breaking through, but I can’t focus on any of it.
Not when my world feels like it’s closing in.
I sit on the worn leather couch in the common room, staring at nothing. Damian is across the room, talking low with a few of his guys. His posture is loose, easy, like what happened earlier didn’t rattle him in the slightest. Like he didn’t just threaten my grandfather with a gun. Like he didn’t just show me exactly how dangerous he is.
I can’t stop seeing it—the way he smirked when those men pulled their weapons, how he laughed like he had nothing to lose. Like he didn’t care if he died. Fearless men are dangerous.
And maybe that’s the part that scares me the most.
I wrap my arms around myself, trying to shake the feeling off. But it lingers. Heavy. Unrelenting.
I’m in over my head.
I need air.
Pushing off the couch, I weave through the room and head for the door. The cool night air hits me like a shock, crisp against my overheated skin. I inhale deep, sucking it into my lungs like it might be enough to ground me.
Footsteps sound behind me.
I don’t have to turn to know it’s Damian.
“You running outside like this, people are gonna think you’re trying to leave,” he says casually, stepping up beside me.
I keep my eyes forward. “Maybe I am.”
I feel his gaze on me, burning. “You’re not.”
I shake my head, exhaling sharply. “You don’t know that.”
He lets out a short laugh, but there’s no real humor in it. “Yeah, I do.”
I finally look at him, irritation sparking. “And how’s that?”
Damian tilts his head slightly, his expression unreadable. “Because you had a choice back there, Alaina. You could’ve walked out of The Velvet Hall and told me to kick rocks. You could have stayed right there with your grandfather and told me to never look back.” He leans in slightly, his voice lower. “But you didn’t.”
My stomach twists. “That doesn’t mean I’m okay with what happened.”
His jaw tightens, a flicker of something dangerous passing over his face. “Good.”
I blink. “Good?”
“I don’t want you to be okay with it,” he says, his voice rough. “You shouldn’t be. Because this isn’t some fairytale, Alaina. This isn’t a world where things magically fix themselves, where the right choice is always easy to make.” His gaze darkens. “This is a world where you do what needs to be done. Even if it makes you sick. Even if it haunts you. Even if you have to take a life to save the life of someone you care about.”