MasukMATT POV.My eyes met that of the crybaby, and the sight of his half ear almost made me laugh—but I stiffened at once.This was not the right place or time for jokes, yet every time I crossed paths with Brandon I was forced toward a laugh. I don’t think I’ll ever stop laughing when I see that half‑cut ear.He’s such a weakling—letting a little girl chop his ear off and doing nothing in return. He dreamed of being a biker but was too soft for it. I hope he at least made it to become an attorney.He wound up the window when he noticed I’d seen him.Just as I expected: a weakling who hides from everyone.Sometimes I wish he’d show me the little girl who took his ear. I’d make her my old lady without thinking twice. If we ever married, we’d run the club together—nothing beats an old lady who’s good with handling your business and not afraid to deal with men who cross her.Once Brandon wound his window up and disappeared, I turned my attention back to the prospects carrying the prez.They
BRANDON POINT OF VIEW.I slammed the door and yanked him back. “Why the fuck is she here?” I snarled.“Do you even know who that bitch is?” My voice came out higher than I’d intended.Adams pulled away from my grip and stared at me for a long, slow second. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but she’s your brother’s old lady. I think you should accord her some respect.”“Respect?” I chuckled darkly. “You must be crazy if you think we’d let that bitch be his old lady.”“It’s too late. There’s nothing any of us can do. Mr. Warrick already signed the documents before he died.”“If you’ll excuse me now, Bran,” Adams said, reaching for the door, “I have to leave and catch up with the funeral.”He walked out and slammed the door behind him.I stood in the sitting room with my mind reeling in a hundred directions.How is Ashley Knowles my brother’s old lady? How the hell did that bitch get in here? No matter how I tried to make sense of it, it didn’t add up.It had been four years since
CHAPTER 11ASHLEY'S POV.I tightened my jaw as memories surged—sharp, hot and unwanted.Brandon. The bully. That’s what I’d always called him in college.It had only been four years, but everything was still raw. Every humiliation, every shove, every vicious laugh replayed itself in my head. Our eyes met and he raised a brow, the same look of disbelief mirrored on his face. He looked as shocked to see me as I was to see him.What is he doing here? Why is he here, and who the hell is he to Warrick? Or—worse—did he come for revenge for what I did to him?I blinked, hoping it was a bad dream. But the right half of his ear—half missing, that jagged scar—told me it was him.I remembered that afternoon at school with a clarity that made my hands go cold. He’d attacked me and I’d panicked—grabbed the electric saw on the workshop bench and swung. The blade found his ear; I’d cut it in half. I’d been expelled, reported to the authorities. They said there’d be lawsuits. I never stayed to fin
WHAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP DOES HE HAVE WITH WARRICK? ~ASHLEY’S POV~As I drew closer to the room, I realized it was Ripper.He was sobbing—openly, uncontrollably. He hugged the cold corpse gently, tears slipping down his cheeks as if they’d been waiting behind his ribs for permission to fall.My breath caught in my throat.I’d never seen a man that big cry like this.Matt didn’t cry this deep when Daisy died.Ripper knelt beside the bed, his forehead pressed against Warrick’s still chest. His massive shoulders shook with every sob. He cried like someone who’d lost something vital—something irreplaceable.He must’ve been close to Warrick.I stood frozen in the doorway, unable to move… unable to look away. Part of me wanted to help, the way he’d helped me out there. But I didn’t feel the need to interrupt him. If anything, I just wanted to watch—discreetly.This wasn’t pain without love. This was grief that came from love.He rose slowly, pressed a kiss to Warrick’s for
WHY DID HE LIE TO PROTECT ME? ~ASHLEY’S POV~He didn’t say a word to me; he walked off, and my eyes trailed him. They lingered for a few more seconds until he slipped into a room and shut the door.I’d never known much about him, but something about the Ripper drew every eye. It wasn’t just his six-two frame or the ink covering his body. Certainly not his pinkish lips or the slight tilt of his eyes. It was something else in his features—an unplaceable pull I couldn’t put into words.He’d stood up for me when the bikers demanded Warrick’s body be buried that day. Adams had said I lied about knowing of Warrick’s marriage. He’d claimed none of the bikers knew about it except him and Nonna.That looped me back to one question: why did Ripper lie and cover for me?He could have been like that asshole Matt. Or fat Bobby. Or any of the other ugly creatures who’d called me a whore. Not that I chose to be Warrick’s old lady—who would? Who would choose to be a widow plunged
CHAPTER 8.SHE CANNOT BE OUR OLD LADY. ~RIPPER'S POV~The whole place went dead silent and every eye fixed on me.I drew in a deep breath, trying to wrap my head around what was happening.He didn't tell me he’d be getting married. Our last conversation had been a kiss on my forehead.Drew didn’t tell me he’d pick up some little girl as his old lady.We had promised each other: no marriage until our reign as President and VP of SOC was over.He betrayed me. He married her yesterday—the same yesterday we’d made love over the counter.No vows, no promises—only the reassurance that he was still with the plan.Our plans weren’t much: to leave California, disappear to Mykonos where no one knows us, build a life together. No kids. Just what we’d always wanted.He’d joke sometimes about a lavender marriage—marry some random woman so the brothers would stop asking questions.It was only meant to be a joke. Only a joke… or so I thought—until now.My gaze slid to the little girl he’
CHAPTER 21 THIRD PERSON POINT OF VIEW. Rowan stood at the door of the restroom, his senses on high alert as he leaned in closely. “Maddy… Is everything alright in there?” He asked, his hand poised on the doorknob, ready to open it if she didn't answer by the third time. Though he hesitated for a
CHAPTER 17. ~~MADDY'S POINT OF VIEW~~ It was all fun and games with the daughter-father drama while I was fighting to cover up my nakedness, but now that she’s gone, what the hell is he still waiting for? I swallowed, my eyes narrowing to meet his gaze as he just stood there, staring at me. “She
CHAPTER 15. ~~THIRD POINT OF VIEW~~ Gasps ripped through the building as Maddy's blouse tore open, revealing half of her cleavage and her brown bra. For a moment, she froze, her lips parting in disbelief. She was too mortified to even look up. Sloane quickly rushed over to her, grabbing the remna
CHAPTER 16. ~~ROWAN'S POINT OF VIEW~~ My wolf growled with need at the sight of her fresh, bodacious breasts. She gasped and shrieked, but that didn't snap me out of my trance just yet; my eyes were still glued to her breasts, fixated on her pointed nipples. She quickly reached for one of the clo







