Page 127 of Crown of Lies

“You think you can handle it, vicious? What if I decide to rip your clothes off and fuck you right here in front of everyone—right up against this wall?”

She doesn’t flinch, her eyes steady on mine. “I can handle anything you throw at me.”

It’s a dare, a provocation, and my body reacts instantly. I slam her back against the wall, one hand gripping her throat as my lips crush down on hers. She moans, her hands threadingthrough my hair, pulling me closer as my tongue tangles with hers.

This kiss is pure fire, fueled by the pent-up desire and the tension of the night. I taste the sweetness of the alcohol on her lips, feel the heat of her skin beneath my palms.

Pulling back, I nip at her bottom lip, relishing the small noise of longing she makes. “You’re mine, vicious. Ours. Don’t ever forget that.”

She shakes her head, her chest heaving as she tries to catch her breath. “How could I?”

I’m tempted to do more—if not here against the wall, then at least in a darkened corner somewhere.

But not tonight.

Tonight is for all of Carnage, and I owe it to my brothers and sisters to be here with them.

Quinn and I rejoin the party, and for a while, we get swept up in the chaos of the celebration. Music blares, and drinks flow freely as our crew lets loose, celebrating our new home base.

The night wears on, and the whiskey seems to fuel the anger and resentment that have been simmering just under the surface since our old clubhouse burned down. The target of everyone’s pent-up rage?

Silas.

Yeah, he’s long dead, but that hasn’t seemed to stop anyone from dreaming up some pretty brutal punishments for him.

“I’d chain him up,” Jaden says, his eyes gleaming with a cruel light. “Make him watch while we tear apart everything he loves.”

The circle of riders nods, some pounding their drinks back and shouting their agreement.

“Fuck that,” Tyler, one of our newer prospects, chimes in. “He’s already dead. That’s too fucking easy.”

I sense the shift in mood, the energy turning darker. I shoot Nico and Killian a look, but they seem content to let this play out.

“So, what?” Tyler continues. “You’d bring him back from the dead, just to make him watch you tear some shit up? Dumb as shit.”

Jaden bristles, taking a threatening step forward. “What would you do, then, newbie?”

Tyler holds his ground, perhaps feeling the support of the other riders around him. “I’d drag his body through the streets. Let the whole fucking world see what happens when you mess with us.”

There’s a collective cheer, and someone slaps Tyler on the back. Jaden seems to relax a little, joining in the chorus of agreement. The riders feed off each other’s anger, each trying to outdo the last. It’s like a twisted game, a way to vent their frustrations without consequences.

Then Zoey stands, her voice cutting over everyone else’s in the crowd. “Hey! Don’t you all realize you’re blaming the wrong person?”

The room goes quiet, all eyes fixed on her.

“What?” Jaden looks incredulous. “Silas is the fucker who was attacking us from the shadows. This is on him, and he’s dead because of it.”

Zoey shakes her head. “No, he’s not the one who did this to us. The person who burned down our clubhouse isn’t dead.”

The silence is oppressive. I can feel the weight of everyone’s stares. Slowly, I turn to look at Zoey, my eyes narrowing.

Her gaze locks on Quinn, and I feel a tightening in my chest. “It’s her,” Zoey says, pointing an accusatory finger. “She’s the one who burned it all down.”

There’s a collective intake of breath, and Quinn stiffens beside me.

Zoey’s eyes flash with triumph. “She’s been fucking all three of them. Seducing them, one by one. Playing them against each other.” She looks around at Nico, Killian, and me, her lip curledin disdain. “And you three are fighting over her like she’s some kind of princess? Fuck that.”

For a few seconds, everyone stays silent—so quiet you could literally hear a pin drop.

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