LOGINMy hands tightened on the steering wheel. “I noticed the dress.”“Did you?” she asked, and her voice had taken on a teasing quality. “Because you barely looked at me all night. Too busy with handsy Sienna.”“I did look at you,” I replied, my tone more intense than I meant it to be. “Trust me, I noticed. That dress—every guy in that room was staring at you. I almost got into a few fights just walking through the crowd.”“Because of my dress?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.“Because of how they were looking at you while you wore it,” I clarified. “Like you were something they could grab, something they could take.”“But I’m not theirs to take,” Alina said softly. “Am I?”Her question lingered between us, heavy with meaning that I wasn’t ready to dive into. On impulse, I pulled over into an empty parking lot and turned off the engine.“What are you doing?” Alina asked.“Making sure we don’t crash,” I replied, turning to face her. “Because I need to focus on this conversation, and I can’t
Jaxon’s POVGetting Alina to the truck felt like trying to move a very stubborn cat that had clearly had too much to drink. “I can walk,” she insisted, even though she tripped over nothing three times in just a few minutes. “Clearly,” I replied, catching her elbow just before she almost fell into a parked bike. “You’re doing great at it.”“Don’t talk down to me,” she muttered, but she let me help guide her to where I’d parked the SUV. The loud music from the warehouse was fading behind us, but I could still feel the weight of what had happened inside pressing down on my shoulders.Sienna. That fucking game. The look on Alina’s face when she’d walked away.We were about halfway to the truck when she decided she was done cooperating. She planted her feet, yanked her arm out of my grip, and crossed her arms in a gesture that would have been more intimidating if she wasn’t swaying slightly.“I changed my mind,” she said firmly. “I’m not going with you.” “Too bad,” I replied. “You alrea
Alina’s POVThe night air was icy and sharp, cutting through the fog of alcohol and anger swirling around me. I stumbled a bit as I stepped out of the warehouse, my boots catching on the uneven ground, the drink in my hand threatening to spill. The music was muffled out here, replaced by the sound of bikes revving and distant conversations and my own breathing that seemed too loud in my ears.“Easy there, princess.”Maddox appeared from nowhere, his hands catching my shoulders to steady me. His dark eyes were concerned as they tracked over my face, taking in whatever mess I looked like right now."I'm fine," I insisted, but my voice came out wrong—too brittle and sharp."You're drunk," Maddox said gently. "And you look like you’re about to cry or lash out. What’s going on?""Nothing," I lied. "I just needed some fresh air.""Alina—" “Your friend Jaxon is in there with some girl all over him,” I blurted out, unable to hold back my feelings. “She called him ‘baby.’ She was all over h
Alina’s POVThe group noticed me before Jaxon did. I could see the moment they recognized me; their conversations slowed, and their eyes darted to Jaxon to see how he would react. The girl next to him glanced up with a casual curiosity, her hand resting possessively on his thigh.Then, Jaxon finally saw me. His amber eyes widened just a bit, and I could sense a mix of emotions flicker across his face—surprise, guilt, maybe even anger. Alongside him was a petite blonde in tight leather, who immediately assessed me with a look that screamed jealousy. “Look who decided to join us,” one of the guys named Razor said, someone I’d seen at the compound before. “Alina, right? The Commissioner's daughter?”“Just Alina,” I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt. “Is it okay if I sit down?”“Actually—” the blonde started to say, but Jaxon interrupted her. “She can sit,” he said with a calm voice. “We’re just playing cards—nothing exclusive.” The blonde’s expression soured, but she
The door opened, and I heard him stop. Actually stop mid-step, his breath catching in a way that was extremely satisfying.“Jesus Christ,” he said quietly.I turned to face him, watching his eyes track over me with an appreciation that was both flattering and slightly overwhelming. “Too much?”“Not even close,” Maddox replied, and his voice had gone slightly rough. “You look… Alina, you look incredible.”Heat flooded my cheeks despite my best efforts to stay composed. “The dress is doing most of the work.”“The dress is just leather,” Maddox said, stepping closer. “You’re the one making it look like that.”We stood there for a moment, the air between us charged with something I didn’t want to name. Then Maddox cleared his throat and stepped back, breaking whatever spell had been weaving itself around us.“We should go,” he said. “Everyone’s waiting.”The truck was different from what I’d expected—a massive black SUV that screamed “don’t fuck with us” in the most subtle way possible. M
Alina’s POVThe knock on my door came mid-morning, crisp and authoritative in a way that could only be Ronan.I’d been lying in bed staring at the ceiling for the better part of an hour, replaying last night’s disaster on an endless loop. Jaxon’s mouth on mine. His accusations. The taste of whiskey and desperation. The way he’d walked away like I was…. toxic and he needed to escape.“Come in,” I called, not bothering to sit up.Ronan entered looking immaculate as always—pressed shirt, perfectly styled hair, that aura of controlled precision that made everything he did look effortless. His green eyes swept the room, taking in my rumpled appearance and the fact that I clearly hadn’t left my bed yet.“We’re having a gathering tonight,” he said without preamble. “It’s a tradition after races. All the clubs come together on a neutral ground, no territory disputes, just bikes and business and keeping the peace.”I finally sat up, pulling my knees to my chest. “A party.”“A gathering,” Ronan







