Page 2 of Rage

I grab a plate, piling it with food I know I won’t eat.My stomach’s too knotted with anticipation.

A shadow falls over our table.I look up, my breath hitching.

Mason.Up close, he’s even more devastating.

“Ladies,” he says, his voice rough.“Mind if I join you?”It should be a crime for someone to look like that and sound the way he does.

Why is he a bad boy when technically every guy in the MCs are bad boys.What makes him different?

He doesn’t wait for an answer and sits down directly beside me.I try to keep my breathing calm so he doesn’t hear how nervous I am.

I peek up to my dad to see if he notices who’s sitting next to me and boy does he notice, along with my grandpa standing beside him.

I wince internally and Tiana looks like she’s trying to fight back laughter.

Carter makes his way over to us and sits down beside Mia.His family was close to our MC and he just became a prospect with the other guys.

“How have you been, Mason?”Carter asks the unfairly attractive guy sitting right beside me.

I note I’m bland compared to him.Mason is huge, muscled, and looks like he totally escaped the awkward stage of puberty, while I happen to still be in that stage.

I’ve always been the nerd, the quiet one with her nose in a book, and that just made everyone feel like they needed to protect me all the more.

Mason’s arm brushes mine as he leans back, stretching out his long legs.“Can’t complain,” he drawls, his eyes never leaving my face.“Things are now looking up.”

I duck my head, pretending to be fascinated by my untouched plate.The heat from his body radiates against my side, making it hard to breathe.

“Meadow, right?”His voice is low, meant only for me.“I’ve heard about you.”

I look up, startled.“You have?”

He nods, a slow smile spreading across his face.It transforms his features, softening the hard edges.“The club princess.Smart as hell.Going to be a doctor.”

“OB-GYN,” I correct automatically.

His eyebrows shoot up.“Ambitious.I like that.”

Carter clears his throat loudly.“So, Mason, how’s the bike running?”

Mason’s eyes linger on me for a moment longer before he turns to Carter.“Like a dream.You should come by the shop sometime, check it out.”

As they fall into bike talk, I chance a glance at my dad and grandpa.They’re both watching our table.Dad takes a step forward, but Grandpa puts a hand on his arm, shaking his head slightly.

I look away quickly, my heart pounding.What am I doing?This is madness.I should get up, walk away.But then Mason shifts, his thigh pressing against mine under the table, and all thoughts of leaving vanish.

“So, Meadow,” he says, his voice dropping even lower.“Want to go for a ride later?”

I open my mouth, not sure if I’m going to say yes or no.But before I can speak, a commotion erupts near the clubhouse door.Everyone’s heads swivel toward the noise.

Three men in leather cuts and patches I don’t recognize are squaring off against some of our guys.Tension crackles in the air like electricity.

Mason is on his feet in an instant, his easy demeanor replaced by something harder, more dangerous.“Stay here,” he tells me, then strides toward the conflict.

I watch him go, my breath catching in my throat.This is who he really is, I realize.Not the charming guy at the table, but this—a man walking into danger without hesitation.

And God help me, it only makes me want him more.

one

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