Page 7 of Ride or Dies

Harley’s eyes grew colder. “I was leading the Cobras before you could wipe your own ass. You best show me some respect.”

To my left, Mason took a step forward, just enough to remind Harley that I wasn’t here alone.

“Got to give respect to get it.” I stood, planting my hands on the table. “Now, get your ass out of my clubhouse.”

Harley stood and walked away like it’d been his idea the whole time, but I just rolled my eyes. A true leader didn’t need to make noise for people to know he was in charge.

“What an asshole,” Mason said as he dropped into the empty chair. “I can’t believe you actually met with him.”

“It’s better than having the Cobras try to take more territory by force,” I said. “We can afford to give up that block. It was neutral anyway.”

“You don’t think he’s going to try to take a mile ’cuz you gave him an inch?” Tucker asked.

My phone rang and I dug it out of my pocket. I had it on Do Not Disturb and only family could get through, which meant it was either Jenna or Mom. Jenna’s name flashed on the screen when it rang again. I answered, putting it on speaker.

“What’s up, Jenna?”

“Can one of you guys come to my place? Evie’s ex is here and I don’t think he’s gonna leave without some help.”

My brothers and I were halfway to the door before Jenna finished her question. Family was the only thing more important than the MC, and no way in hell was I going to let someone put Jenna in danger.

I ignored the spike of fear I’d felt when Jenna said it was Evie’s ex causing the problems. Evie was more or less family too. Like another little sister. An annoying brat, always watching us with those big eyes of hers, but still family.

I took point as my brothers and I roared out of the clubhouse parking lot. We weren’t far from Jenna’s place, but we ignored the speed limit anyway. Neither of my brothers said a word about what we were going to do when we got there, but I knew they’d follow my lead with this just like they did everything else.

As we got closer to Jenna’s house, I could see figures standing in the driveway, the light on Jenna’s garage bright enough to let me know where all the players were standing. I went straight for Evie and the guy who was getting way too close to her.

Heads turned in our direction as I parked my bike and heard my brothers do the same. I caught a glimpse of relief on Evie’s face before it was replaced by annoyance. Fine. Let her be annoyed with me. I still wasn’t going to let some asshole harass these women.

“You need to step away from her,” I ordered.

The man looked up at me and scowled. “I’m allowed to talk to my girlfriend.”

“We broke up,” Evie said. “You need to go.”

“You heard the woman,” I said. “Leave.”

“Fine,” he said. “But she’s coming with me.”

Then he grabbed Evie’s arm and I saw red. I clenched my hands, but Mason got to the guy first. He grabbed the other man’s collar and yanked him back hard enough that the guy made a choking sound.

“Don’t strangle him, Mason!” Evie shouted.

The guy smiled at her as Mason loosened his grip. “I knew you still—”

“A dead body would be hard to explain.” Evie glared at him and his mouth snapped shut. “Just make him leave.”

“You frigid bitch!” the man snarled. “I would ask if you were whoring yourself out to these guys, but—”

Even as Mason cut off the bastard’s air again, I was moving. Not toward him, but toward Evie.

I had a moment to see surprise on her face and think Yeah, this is shocking the hell out of me too, and then I was kissing her.

If I’d actually put thought into it, I would’ve faked enthusiasm and just mashed our lips together, but my big brain wasn’t working right now. No, everything was being run by that primal part of men that thought in simple terms like want, take, have. If she pushed me away, I would’ve gone with a laugh and a cutting comment, but after a second of stiffness, her mouth softened under mine, and I was done for.

I buried one hand in her hair and palmed her ass with the other, grinding against her until she gasped, and I took advantage, plunging my tongue into her mouth.

Fuck, she was sweet.

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