Page 51 of Ivory's Ruin Romance

Heated seats would’ve been nice, though.

???

As the sun set and dusk took over the snowy roads, even his thick leather felt more like a piece of paper. He cut the engine off a block away from Beta Rho and rolled his bike behind a cluster of evergreens, careful not to leave a scratch.

The snow sparkled and his footfalls crunched on the unshoveled sidewalk. Most of the lights were on inside the house, but it didn’t look like they had a crowd tonight. It was probably a casual evening full of the brothers and their personal guests. The back porch had been abandoned to drifted snow piles, much less inviting than the last time he’d been here. A handful of voices drifted out of cracked windows framed with red string lights.

He wondered why Jace would waste his time with a bunch of privileged brats who didn’t give a shit about true brotherhood—but then again, this was Jace, the precious baby who could inherit the Yu legacy without lifting a finger.

Everyone knew their father gave Jun all the real work, which left Jace with enough freedom and leniency to wind up here. Flaunting expensive jewelry and wearing the club’s symbol like a runway model was clearly more important to him than learning the family business. With all that partying, Adrian doubted a college degree would teach him what he actually needed to know, especially with the underworld.

All the better for him, though. Jace was close enough to the Dragons to know things he shouldn’t and foolish enough to spill details he didn’t realize were significant. Like who gave him that ring.

It might not be much of a lead, but it was something, and at the moment, that was all Adrian needed.

Creeping around the side of the house, he spotted Jace’s uncovered bike parked next to the red Mercedes he drove in the winter. What a waste. The bike would be rusted by spring. Silver skull accents on the handlebars were unpolished but still gleamed in the faint light, and the dark red stones set into the eye sockets glared back at him. Red and black leather covered the seat and a small pack on the side, protecting at least some of it from the elements.

A damn nice bike, one that must cost twice as much as his.

With a solid kick, he sent it crashing to the ground. The metal clanged against the Mercedes and left behind a decent-sized scar. Someone shouted from inside, and the blinds rustled on a nearby window.

Ducking behind a tree trunk, Adrian hid out of sight and waited.

“Shit, man, it’s the bike,” a voice called out from the back door, cracking it open enough to let out a sliver of light.

“Fuck,” another replied. “Jace! Someone fucked with your shit!”

“Hey man, I’m not sticking around to catch the blame,” the first said. The second cursed and replied something indiscernible, then their heavy footfalls raced up the stairs. Left hanging on its hinges, the door swung open as a gust of air swept through the yard. Snow blew across the deck and whipped past Adrian’s face.

Then the door slammed against the siding of the house, and Jace marched outside with a string of curses. His hands balled into fists, displaying three silver rings, one bigger than his largest knuckle and plenty easy to spot despite the dim light.

A tall blonde appeared in the door frame, pulling a sweatshirt down her arms. “Jace, what happened?”

“Fucking hell, Serena. Get inside,” Jace spat, squatting down in the snow to right the fallen bike. “I didn’t ask for your help.”

She huffed and slammed the door shut, leaving him alone.

Just what Adrian had been waiting for.

“Aw fuck no,” Jace hissed, his attention now on the Mercedes. “Fucking dammit, he’s gonna murder me.”

“Looks like someone’s toys got a little damaged,” Adrian said, moving out of the shadows enough for Jace to see half his face.

“Son of a bitch,” Jace cursed, turning away from the vehicles to stomp over. Razed hair exposed a vein on the side of his temple. “You’re gonna fucking pay for this.”

Jace cracked his knuckles. Adrian laughed under his breath. A flash caught his eye, the details of the large ring now clearer. A serpent clinging to a red gemstone.

“No one touches my property,” Jace snarled, curling his lip. “Especially not you.”

Adrian stepped back and led them both further under the trees. “Too bad. Looks like I already did.”

“Don’t think I forgot about last time—payback’s a bitch.” Jace lunged forward with the first swing, but Adrian dodged. Fighting blinded by rage wasn’t much better than being drunk and high.

“Pretty boy thinks he can have anything he wants, doesn’t he?” Adrian taunted, ducking to the side. A little fun before the real questions never hurt anyone.

Jace’s eyes narrowed. “You think because you got my sloppy seconds, that makes you better than me?”

Damn.

---