THE BIKER'S ACCIDENTAL LADY

"Damien's pets usually know better than to wander without a leash."The man was too close. His breath reeked of beer and violence. Two others flanked him, blocking my path to the back where Damien had disappeared."I'm not his pet." I tried to sound confident. My voice barely held steady."Even better." His hand reached for my arm. "Fresh meat."I jerked back, but my heel caught on the barstool. I would have fallen if Jake had not materialized beside me, his massive frame a wall between us."Back off, Creed. She's under protection."Creed laughed. "Damien's protection does not mean shit anymore. Or did you not hear? The Kings are moving in. Your club is dead, old man."The temperature in the bar dropped twenty degrees. Every head turned our direction."What did you just say?" Jake's voice was deadly quiet."You heard me. Victor sends his regards. This territory belongs to the Savage Kings now. Starting tonight." Creed's smile was all teeth. "And I think I will start by taking Damien's

"Room service. I have towels for you, miss."My heart hammered against my ribs. The hotel room suddenly felt like a cage. I grabbed my dress from the floor, pulling it on with shaking hands."I did not order anything.""Complimentary, miss. Hotel policy."Lies. Everything about that smooth, practiced voice screamed lies.I backed toward the bathroom, my phone clutched in my hand. Should I call Damien? The police? My mother?The lock clicked.They had a key.The door swung open, and a man in an expensive suit stepped inside. Not hotel staff. His cold eyes swept the disheveled room, landing on me with predatory satisfaction."Miss Winters. Your fiancé has been very worried about you.""Get out or I will scream.""Please do not make this difficult." He closed the door behind him. "Mr. Ashford simply wants to talk. He sent me to bring you home safely.""Richard sent you?" My voice pitched higher. "He does not know people like you.""His father does." The man's smile never reached his eyes

"A weapon?" The word tasted like ash. "What are you talking about?"Damien released me, pacing the small office like a caged predator. "Marcus Ashford has been secretly funding the Savage Kings for months. Real estate deals, money laundering—he provides the clean front while they do his dirty work.""That is impossible. Richard's father is a legitimate businessman—""Is he?" Damien spun to face me. "Think, Flora. How does a developer acquire prime real estate in contested neighborhoods without problems? How do his projects never face union issues or delays?"My stomach turned. "The Kings intimidate people for him.""Exactly. And in return, Marcus helps them expand their territory. Our territory." His fist slammed against the desk. "They have been systematically destroying everything we built. Now I know who is behind it.""So what does that make me? Bait?""Leverage." A knock interrupted him. "Come in."A man entered—older, with silver threading through dark hair and cold authority in

I woke to the smell of expensive cologne and leather seats.My head pounded. Nausea rolled through me in waves. I forced my eyes open, immediately regretting it as fluorescent light stabbed through my skull."Easy now. The chloroform takes time to wear off."That voice. I knew that voice.Richard sat across from me in what I slowly recognized as the back of a luxury car. His perfect hair. His perfect suit. That practiced expression of concern that had fooled me for two years."What did you do?" My words slurred. "Damien—I saw him—""Shot. Yes. Quite dramatically too." Richard leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "Victor has excellent aim. Your biker is likely dead by now."The words hit like physical blows. Dead. Damien was dead."No." Tears burned my eyes. "You are lying.""Why would I lie? It is over, Flora. This ridiculous rebellion ends now." He reached for my hand. I jerked away. "Come now. We have a wedding to plan."Rage cut through the grief and drug haze. "You think I will ma

"You want to take down Marcus Ashford with paperwork?" Damien's skepticism was palpable despite his weakened state.The woman crossed her arms. "I want to take him down with evidence. There is a difference.""And you are?" I asked."Cassidy. Bull's wife." She shot a look at the massive biker, who suddenly looked sheepish. "The wife none of you knew about because he thought keeping me secret would keep me safe. How did that work out, baby?"Bull rubbed the back of his neck. "Can we discuss my failures later?""No. We are discussing them now." Cassidy's voice was steel. "You have been riding into wars without telling me, coming home bleeding, and thinking I did not notice? I am a forensic accountant, not an idiot.""I was protecting you—""By lying? By making me think you worked construction?" She turned back to the rest of us. "I found his cut two months ago. Did my research. Figured out exactly what the Iron Wolves were into. And I have been quietly investigating Marcus Ashford ever s