LOGIN~Lily~I knew something was wrong the second Jace texted me Thursday night.“Hey babe, big news. My family wants you on the run tomorrow. Couples thing to celebrate my patch. My friends orders. You in?”My stomach dropped straight through the floor.Run. Couples thing. Family of brothers orders.Bullshit.They never let outsiders on runs. Ever. Old ladies stayed home unless it was a family picnic. And that guy suddenly wanting me there? After I’d already grabbed audio gold and slipped out at dawn last lockdown?No way.They were testing me.Or worse.I stared at the text for ten minutes, thumbs frozen, heart hammering so loud I swear the neighbors could hear.How the hell did they know?I replayed everything.The recorder went missing sometime after midnight. I noticed when I was sneaking footage download purse felt lighter. Thought maybe I’d dropped it in Jace’s room. Didn’t panic then because I’d already transferred the files.But someone took it.And the only person who’d been clos
~Ryder ~I sat at the head of the table in the chapel, cigarette burning between my fingers, staring at the door like it owed me money. ‘Church’ was supposed to start ten minutes ago, but half the crew was still dragging their asses in, hungover from last night’s lockdown bullshit. Jace was already here, though, sitting two seats down, knuckles busted open, eyes fixed on the table like he could burn a hole through it.I’d known something was off the second I saw that little girlfriend of his floating around the cookout. Too smiley. Too quick with the shotgun beer. Too good at remembering names she shouldn’t give a shit about. And then last night, during lockdown, I caught it, a glint of something in her purse when she thought nobody was looking. Tiny red light. Recorder. Maybe a camera pen. Bitch was wired.I didn’t say shit then. Too many people, too open, prospectives getting patched, old ladies doing lines off the bar. One wrong word and the whole place would’ve exploded. So I wait
~Lily~Jace came home that night looking like he'd swallowed a lemon, phone still in his hand, jaw tight enough I could see the muscle jumping.I was on the couch in his hoodie, pretending to scroll TikTok, but really refreshing the department's internal tips line for the hundredth time.He dropped his keys in the bowl too hard, metal clanging loud."Hey," I said, all soft and sweet, patting the cushion next to me. "Rough day?"He flopped down, rubbed his face with both hands. "Yeah. You could say that."I crawled over, straddled his lap slowly , hands sliding up his chest because I knew it short-circuited his brain every time."Tell me," I murmured, kissing his neck light. "You look like someone kicked your puppy."He groaned, hands settling on my hips automatic. "It's the club. My friends have been texting. They want to meet you."I pulled back, blinked big innocent eyes. "Meet me? Like... officially?"He nodded, looking anywhere but my face. "Cookout this weekend. Family only. Pros
~Lily~I woke up with this huge stupid grin on my face, the kind that hurts your cheeks if you hold it too long, and I couldn’t stop because last night Jace looked at me like I’d handed him the whole damn world when it was just a lopsided cake and some cheap balloons.He was still passed out on the couch, one arm flung over his face, mouth open a little, snoring soft. I stared at him for a minute, feeling that warm fuzzy rush hit me again, then remembered everything I actually knew and almost laughed out loud at how good I was getting at this fake-happy bullshit.I slipped out from under his arm, padded to the kitchen in his tee, started coffee because today was his actual birthday and I’d invited a few people from work over for cake and beers nothing big, just enough normal cops to make it look legit.My phone buzzed on the counter. Text from Marcus: On our way. Bringing pizza and that dip you like. Sarah’s driving so we won’t die.I snorted. Perfect.I texted back: Door’s open. Don’
~Jace~My phone buzzed in my pocket right as I was walking out of the clubhouse, the air still thick with that post-church bullshit tension, guys shooting me side-eyes while pretending to laugh at something on their phones.I pulled it out, saw Lily’s name, and my stomach dropped straight to my boots.Ryder was two steps behind me, lighting another smoke. He clocked my face. “Who is it?”“Lily,” I muttered, thumb hovering.He exhaled hard. “Answer it.”I hit accept, put it to my ear. “Yeah?”“Hey.” Her voice sounded normal, too normal, like she was trying extra hard to keep it light. “You busy?”“Uh, just leaving the club. Why?”“I was thinking maybe you could swing by? I got off shift early and… I don’t know, I kinda miss you.”My heart slammed against my ribs. Miss you. After the night I just had, that felt like a trap wrapped in a bow.Ryder leaned closer, trying to hear. I turned away a little.“Yeah,” I said, voice rough. “I can come by. Everything okay?”“Totally!” She laughed,
~Jace~Ryder’s cigarette snapped between his fingers.I saw it happen in slow motion, ash flying.“Don’t,” Ryder warned.Diesel shrugged. “Just asking the question we’re all thinking.”Hammer nodded slowly. “He ain’t wrong.”I couldn’t breathe right. My chest felt tight, fists clenched so hard my nails dug in.Grudge spoke again. “I say we vote. Put it to the table. Do we handle the cop permanently, or do we keep playing house and hope she gets bored?”“No,” Ryder barked. “She’s off-limits. She’s my girl's family.”“Family?” Tank snorted. “She’d put a bullet in any of us and sleep fine.”“She’s Skylar’s blood!” Ryder roared, standing now too. “That makes her ours, like it or not!”“Ours to protect?” Diesel asked, voice mocking. “Or ours to shut up?”I moved before I thought, grabbed Diesel by the cut, slammed him back against the wall hard enough his head bounced.“Say it again,” I hissed in his face. “Say we touch her.”He grinned, blood on his teeth already. “You are gonna pick her







