Page 58 of Victorious: Part I

The way her face lights up when she smiles makes my insides ignite in a way theyreallyfucking shouldn’t.

Man, this girl is stunning.

Clearing his throat, Alpha captures my attention, and I snap my eyes away from Clover and face my president. “You got your burners?” Alpha asks.

Nodding, I gesture to the truck. “Yes, sir. Multiples. Just in case.”

“And you have the location of the Las Vegas clubhouse?” Alpha asks.

Again, I confirm. “I do. I memorized it and also wrote every detail down I thought would be important in a notebook for Clover. Which is sitting in the passenger seat just in case anything happens and we get separated. Whichwon’thappen. But, it’s best to be prepared for all outcomes.”

“You did that… for me?” Clover questions, her brows furrowed.

I glance at her and dip my head. “I did.”

Alpha glances at Maverick, raising his brow. “Satisfied?” Alpha asks.

Maverick lets out a long exhale, then reluctantly nods. “All right, I have to admit, you’re kinda impressing me. But only a little bit. Don’t let it go to your head or anything. Just make sure you fucking protect her.”

A sense of pride and accomplishment washes over me, my eyes shifting to my sister’s. All I have ever wanted was to feel like I belong somewhere. Like I fit in. Sadie has been able to make a home for herself, to make a life for herself. And while I’m so fucking happy for her, it’s left me still wandering adrift.

I was never a part of the Serpents, and Defiance has yet to fully trust me in their inner circle.

But maybe this is a good first step.

“With everything I have, brother.”

Haven winks at me, then races forward, practically tackling Clover, and pulls her into a tight embrace. “You have areallygood time, okay? Have fun. You’re going to Vegas, baby,” she chimes, pulling back and looking at her little sister, waggling her brows salaciously.

Clover snorts out a laugh. “I’m eighteen. I can’t do shit in Vegas.”

Haven chuckles. “Babe, you’re literally a member of a biker club. You can do whatever the hell you want in Vegas—”

“Okay, calm down, psycho. Just because you’re the wild child of the family doesn’t mean our baby sister has to go be crazy in her youth. She’s responsible, and she’s there to work.Notparty,” Maverick glaresreallyfucking hard at me, making his point heard.

Haven groans, moving back to Alpha with an exaggerated eye roll. “God, you’re so fuckingboooring. It’s not like she’s gonna get married to some random by Elvis or something, for Christ’s sake. Just let her have a little fun. How do you put up with his grouchy ass, Sadie?”

She shrugs with a smirk. “For some reason, he seems to listen to me.”

Haven widens her eyes. “Then will you knock some sense into him.”

Clover shakes her head. “Honestly, it’s fine. I don’t plan on doing anything other than what I’m supposed to be anyway. It’s going to be completely mundane. Just stopping to take videos and images of the tourist attractions I need for the content. And then, of course, annoying Phoenix with my music choices along the way.”

I can’t fight the small smile that creeps across my face as she side-eyes me. “Can’t wait,” I drone mockingly.

Maverick huffs, crossing his arms across his chest. “I’m sure I don’t need to remind you when it comes to social media, the club’s going to war. We’re sending you away for a reason, Clo. Please, for the love of God, only post from the account you’re doing the content creation for—”

“I know, Mav. Incognito mode activated. I got it. Don’t let anyone know where we are.”

Haven groans under her breath. “Jesus Christ! How am I even related to you two? You both are so—”

“Sensible?” Maverick retorts.

Haven tilts her head. “Vanilla,” she mocks, her tone sounding like she has a bad taste on her tongue.

Maverick scowls as Alpha draws Haven closer to him. “Okay, Little Lamb. We get your point. You want Clover to have fun and live dangerously. But she isn’t you, and she doesn’t need to be. Lord knows we don’t need more of you running around. We already have a mini version of you inside with Poppy—”

Haven spins to face Alpha, her arms locking around him, her fingers gripping tightly in his hair. “You wanna reword that, Big Guy, so it doesn’t sound insulting, and it comes across the way youactuallyintended it?”

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