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His brow arches. “Of course you fuckin’ do.”

“Trust me, bro, girls like that are trouble,” Riot says as he moves around us.

He’d know. My foster brother is a fucking slut. His eyes are already following two dancers who were hidden by the stage area.

Nicky’s gaze roams around the room, taking in thedank walls. “I don’t know why the fuck Crank wants this place. We’d make more money selling it and letting it be someone else’s problem.”

He’s right. The club already has a whole portfolio of legitimate businesses that we use to wash money through. We don’t need another fucking strip club, but Crank is forever making questionable decisions. I don’t know his reasons for wanting to keep Temptation, but he’s President and what he says goes—at least while he’s still wearing that crown.

“We’ll only need to be here for a few weeks to make sure everything is running smoothly.”

He snorts. “I can tell you don’t handle the business side of fuckin’ nothing. That ain’t ever how shit works.” He shakes his head. “Let’s get what we need and get the fuck out of here.”

He walks away, and I make to follow him, but before I do, my gaze strays towards the door Maylie disappeared through. I want to go after her, but I force myself to follow my best friend instead. The last thing I need is to get caught up in pussy.

“Nicky’s right,” I mutter under my breath. “This place is gonna be fucking trouble.”

FIVE

MAYLIE

Steve gives me a lift home.He drives with one hand on the wheel, the other pressed to Bella’s thigh, and I can feel the tension coming off them both.

I have no idea what happened back there, but my heart is still doing somersaults. I’d been stupid, reckless, and we all know it. The fact Steve and Bella are not giving me shit for it is a miracle. I deserve it.

Normally, I would fill the awkwardness with mindless chatter, but my own brain is in overdrive. What was I thinking? I could have been killed for my actions, but I couldn’t stand by and watch them hurt Sam in front of me.

Kill him, you mean.

I brush that aside. I don’t know that they would have done that. No one in their right mind is going to kill someone with that many witnesses… right?

I don’t know what happens now, and the uncertainty looms over my head like a black rain cloud.

“I think you might be crazy,” Bella says, breaking through the silence.

It’s directed at me, and I’m not even sure I can argue it. “I just… reacted to the situation,” I say.

“Yeah, well, take my advice, Maylie. Don’t get in the way of those bikers again. The Sons are fucking dangerous,” Steve says. “You’re lucky you didn’t get hurt.”

A chill runs up my spine. “You’re lucky they didn’t kill you,” Bella adds. “Seriously, Maylie, you need to start looking after yourself.”

She’s right, of course, but I can’t change who I am either. “I do, but I was scared they might kill him.”

Steve snorts. “Sam ain’t a good man. He doesn’t deserve your protection.”

“He’s always been good to me.” It’s the truth. He gave me this job when no one else would employ me.

“Fuck,” Steve mutters, turning off the main road and onto the long street that leads to my flat. “This is a fucking disaster.”

“Are they going to kill him?”

“I don’t know, but you should stop worrying about him and worry about yourself.” I wish it were that easy. I’ve always been empathetic. “He was sitting around the back of the club when we left,” he adds. “Bruised but still very much breathing.”

My chest loosens. “Do you think they’ll open the bar tomorrow night?” I ask, my voice hopeful. I have no idea how I’m going to make up the money I’ve lost by being sent home early.

“I don’t know,” Steve admits, his fingers tightening on the steering wheel as he concentrates on the road ahead of us. “I think all of us should start looking for new jobs though.”

“Really?” Bella sits up straight. “You think it’s gonna be that bad?”

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