Page 55 of Knot So Sweet

Viper’s jaw tightened, his frustration boiling over. "You don’t know what it takes to run this club. You don’t understand the stakes."

"Oh, I know exactly what’s at stake." Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest, but her eyes burned with fierce determination. "And sitting with your thumb up your ass isn’t going to fix anything. You’ve got a mole feeding the Hounds information, and you haven’t even avenged Chaos. Instead of using every resource at your disposal, you’re too busy flexing your alpha pride to ask for help."

Viper’s growl deepened, vibrating in the thick air between us. "I won’t fucking trust a Hound, Candice," he hissed. The way he said her name—sharp and venomous—sent a shiver through me. The whole scene felt like a bomb ticking down, ready to detonate.

But Candi didn’t flinch. She stood her ground, staring him down as though his size, his growl, meant nothing. "You want me to trust you, Viper? Trust is earned. So why don’t you start by at least considering meeting Sean? See what he has to say."

I could feel the heat radiating off Viper, his fury barely restrained. His growl deepened, rumbling through his chest, and I stepped in, squeezing his shoulder hard to pull him back from the edge. "Viper, calm down," I said, but my words felt like they barely reached him.

"And what exactly do you think that'll prove?" Viper snarled, towering over Candi like he could force her into submission with sheer presence. "You’re not part of this club. You made that very clear sweetheart. We don’t ask for outsider help."

Candi’s eyes narrowed, a bitter smirk pulling at the corners of her lips. "So that’s your excuse? No outsiders? Or is that your way of asking me to be a part of your little crew?" Her tone was dripping with sarcasm, challenging him as she stepped even closer. "I thought you were smarter than that, Viper."

Before he could bite back, she leaned in, her voice dropping into a sharp whisper. "I’m not asking for your permission in this. I’m telling you. I’m going to ask for Linc's help. Whether you like it or not. Lincoln Cromwell is a friend. I trusthim."

The implication was clear. She trusted the Cromwells over Viper. Over us. The Serpents. But did I blame her? Not really. Not after the way Gears grabbed her today.

Chapter 25

Ghost

Doc stood in thedoorway, arms crossed over his chest, watching the exchange between Viper and Candi with a raised brow and a look of mild amusement. He didn’t sayanything at first, just let the back-and-forth play out, his gaze flicking between them.

Doc and Viper had been friends for years, and neither of them had ever settled down, so seeing his best friend in this heated banter with Candi was probably a shock to him.

With a small shake of his head, Doc pushed the rim of his glasses up with an inked finger, his expression shifting when his sights landed on me. That smirk on his face turned into a concerned frown.

"What happened to your shoulder?" he asked. "Do you want me to take a look at it?"

At the mention of my injury, Candi stepped forward. "His dumbass decided to become a baseball and stepped in the way of a metal bat."

I gave a half-hearted shrug with my good shoulder, trying to play it off.

"It’s nothing."

But in reality, I'd do it again to protect her from anything.

Doc wasn’t convinced. His frown deepened as he glanced between me and Candi. He brushed his ash blond hair from his face and gestured for us to come inside

"Let me take a look at it."

Neither Viper nor Candi moved at first, both still locked in a battle of wills. I squeezed Viper’s shoulder again, harder this time, silently begging him to stand down. With a frustrated growl, he finally tore his gaze away from her and stormed toward the door.

As we stepped inside, the familiar scent of vanilla and honey washed over me. Doc’s place had always smelled the same, a mix of the herbal remedies he used and his beta scent.

It was comforting, in a way.

I’d spent more time in Doc’s house than just about anyone else. Growing up, Chaos and I had gotten into more than our fair share of fights, and Doc had patched me up every time.

He’d been the one to help when we started out boxing at The Ring, when over-exerting myself became the only way to prove I belonged.

"Take off your shirt and have a seat," Doc said, gesturing to one of the office chairs.

I grunted as I complied. Being mindful not to raise my arm too high.

The moment I did, Candi sucked in a sharp breath, and my cock jumped at the sound. She hovered nearby, arms crossed, her gaze locked on mine, a mix of curiosity and something deeper swirling in her eyes.

Her cheeks flushed a delicate shade of pink as her gaze traced my ink, lingering on the intricate serpent tattoo coiling across my chest—the same serpent that mirrored her own tattoo.

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