Page 9 of Ruthless Sin

My chest tightens. "She okay?"

"Physically? Yes. Emotionally?" Chloe shakes her head. "Just... be careful in there, Ruthless. He's not just your president right now. He's a father watching his little girl grow up, and he's not handling it well."

I nod, appreciating her candor. Chloe's been good for the club, good for Hellfire. But even she can't smooth this over.

"Reunion room, right?" I ask, though I already know.

She nods, touching my arm briefly. "Good luck."

I start toward the doors, but Crow catches my cut.

"Remember," he says low enough that only I can hear, "you're Iron & Blood. Whatever happens in there, you're family."

The walk to the reunion room feels like walking to an execution. Every step brings me closer to a conversation that could end my life in the club – or just end my life, period. But with Angel's kiss still burning on my lips, I can't bring myself to regret any of it.

I push open the doors, and there he sits – my president, my brother, the man who's had my back through war and peace. Now, he might just be my executioner.

"Close the door," Hellfire says without looking up.

I do, then stand there, waiting.

Finally, he looks up, and his eyes are cold as winter.

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't put a bullet in you right now."

"Because you know me," I say, keeping my voice steady. "Twenty years of brotherhood. Afghanistan. The Club. Everything we've been through. You know who I am."

"Yeah," he stands slowly, "I know exactly who you are. A man twice my daughter's age who was warned – explicitly warned – to stay away from her."

"I tried." The words come out rougher than intended. "Fuck, Cole, I tried. I kept my distance, avoided being alone with her, told myself all the reasons it was wrong."

"Not hard enough," he growls, moving around the table. "Because tonight, I get a call that my daughter was in a fucking bar fight with Outlaws, and who shows up to save her? You. Then she comes in here, face bruised, telling me she loves you."

The knowledge that Angel said those words to her father hits me like a punch to the gut. Makes what I'm about to say both easier and harder.

"I love her too."

He moves so fast that I barely see it coming. His fist connects with my jaw, sending me stumbling back a step. I straighten but don't retaliate. This isn't about fighting back – it's about standing my ground.

"You don't get to say that," he snarls. "She's my daughter. My little girl."

"She's not little anymore," I wipe blood from my split lip. "She's a grown woman who can make her own choices. And tonight, when she was in trouble, she chose to call me."

"Because I sheltered her too much," he paces now, like a caged animal. "Because I tried to protect her from this life, and instead, I pushed her right into it. Right into your arms."

"No," I shake my head. "She called me because she trusts me. Because she knows I'd die before letting anything happen to her. Just like you would."

He stops pacing, studying me with eyes that have seen too much, survived too much.

"You were my brother first."

"I still am." I take a step forward. "Nothing changes that. But I can't change how I feel about her any more than you can change how you feel about Chloe."

The comparison makes him flinch. "That's different."

"Why? Because you're the president? Because Chloe wasn't someone's daughter?" I press on, knowing I'm pushing my luck. "Or because you know what it's like to find someone who makes everything else fade away? Someone worth any risk, any consequence?"

Hellfire's jaw clenches, and for a moment, I think he might hit me again. Instead, he turns away, bracing his hands on the table.

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