Page 20 of Trigger's Temptation

“There is, but only if you feel like today is a good day to talk,” Zach answers. His voice is warm and gentle toward Denise.

“What do you want to know?” she asks, her voice steady but cautious.

Zach speaks first. “Before you start, I need to give Aerianna some context. She’s working undercover to take down the people who did this to you. She just found out her best friend is dead, killed by the Black Market Railroad. She thinks the Royal Bastards might be involved. Can you share your story?”

“Sure.” Denise clasps her hands on the table and begins speaking. “Last year, I was at an end of the school year party. I didn’t have anything to drink, being the responsible one, but that didn’t matter. The man I was seeing showed up, and beforeI knew it, I blacked out. When I came too, I wasn’t at the party anymore. Instead, I was tied to a bed, naked, beaten and raped several times. This went on for, I think, three weeks. It was hard to tell. Each day, hour by hour, these men would come in and do things to me. Things I don’t want to remember. I thought I was lost, that there was no hope for me. That this would be my life. Violated day in and day out by men who had no right to touch me.” Tears stream down Denise’s face, breaking my heart. “One night, it was late. I was handcuffed to the bed and passed out from the pain of the man who raped me a little bit ago. I wanted to end my life, I was done, checked out, but that was before they rescued me.” Denise stares right into my eyes, deep into my soul. “Then, one night, they came for me. The Royal Bastards. They got me out and brought me here. Like they’ve done for all the women in this house.”

Her words hit me like a freight train. Everything I thought I knew about the Royal Bastards shatters. I stand abruptly, the untouched coffee and food forgotten.

Everything I’ve found points to them, so why would they save this young girl? Am I going at this all wrong? Can they help me instead of stopping me? My gaze cuts to Zach, and he nods his head. Yes. Yes, you can trust them.

“I need a minute.” I step outside, the fresh air doing little to clear the storm raging in my head.

The Royal Bastards aren’t the enemy. They’re trying to save women like Denise, women like Allison. And I’ve been fighting the wrong battle.

Not anymore.

I stare into the woods, resolve hardening in my chest. The Black Market Railroad took everything from me, and with the help of the Royal Bastards, I’m going to burn them to the ground.

Chapter 10

TRIGGER

Riding through the quiet streets after the fight, Tiny silent at my side, I can’t stop replaying that kiss. Her lips were soft but demanding like she wanted to claim me, and the heat of her body felt like it burned straight through to my soul, making my heart pound against my chest. Time stood still when her lips claimed mine. Her taste still lingers, something sweet and dangerous. I can hear her soft voice speak to me. What is it about this woman I can’t get out of my head?

When we pull into the Clubhouse gates, Seth nods us through without a word. The hum of the engines fades as we park in the garage, but the tension between me and Tiny feels loud enough to fill the silence. His eyes are on me, sharp and unrelenting, and I know that look, it’s the one he gives when he’s about to tear into someone. Probably me.

I climb off my bike, hang my helmet on the handlebars, and shoot him a glare. “What?” I ask.

“How long has this thing between you and that woman been going on?” His voice is even, but the weight of his accusation hits me like a punch.

I scoff, walking past him. “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”

“Bullshit.” Tiny replies.

I walk past Tiny and head down the corridor into the bar. It’s quiet in here tonight, thank fuck for that. I go behind the bar and grab a bottle of Crown and two shot glasses. Pouring two fingers in each, I slide one to Tiny. I knock mine back in one smooth motion, the burn doing nothing to numb the storm in my chest. I think about what to tell him. I knock back another shot before I say anything. Tiny still hasn’t touched his drink. Instead, he is still staring at me, leaning against the bar, arms crossed, waiting for an answer.

I sigh, “Fuck. Man, you’re relentless.” I come around to the other side of the bar with the Crown in my hand and take a seat. “That was the first time I even touched that woman.” Tiny raises an eyebrow in disbelief. “Yeah, tell me about it. That’s the woman who ran me over a while ago and wrecked my bike.” I confess with a sigh. I watch Tiny out of the corner of my eye, waiting for his reaction.

“No, shit?”

“No shit,” I rub a hand down my face, exhaling hard. “Her name is Aerianna. I don’t even know who she is just that she’s a crazy ass driver and now works at the casino as a dealer.” I scrub my hands down my face. “I don’t know what to make of this.”

Tiny snorts, finally taking a sip of his drink. “I don’t either, but the way she clung to you like a spider monkey tonight makes me think she isn’t all in the head.” Tiny laughs.

“You’re such as asshole.” I shake my head, but his words pull a reluctant smirk from me. I take a swig of the Crown in my hand and set the bottle on the bar top. “I’m going to check on my sister and head to bed.”

“Ok, Brother. I’ll see you in a few hours. Remember we have Church at ten.” Tiny reminds me. “To talk about what we found out tonight.”

I salute him lazily, smirking as I turn and head down the hallway toward Elise’s room. Pausing outside her door, I listen for any sign she’s awake, but the silence reassures me that my sister is asleep. It’s late, and the last thing I want is to wake her. Tomorrow, I’ll check in properly. For now, I need to deal with the storm brewing in my chest.

When I reach my room, I close the door with a soft click and lock it behind me. The weight of the night settles over me as I shrug off my cut, Aerianna’s scent still clinging to the leather. It’s faint, but it’s enough to stir something primal in me. I hang it on the back of the door like I’m trying to preserve it, even though I know it’s just an excuse to keep her close. My boots hit the floor with dull thuds as I toe them off, followed by the rest of my clothes until I’m down to my boxers. I bypass the bed, my body too wired to crash just yet, and head straight into the bathroom.

The hiss of water fills the small space as I crank the shower on, letting the steam build until it fogs the mirror and wraps around me like a second skin. I step in when the water’s hot enough to sting, hoping it’ll wash away more than just the blood and grime of the night. But the heat does nothing to ease the ache twisting inside me. My muscles are sore, but that’s not what’s eating me alive. It’s her, Aerianna. That woman is in my head, under my skin, and no matter what I do, I can’t seem to shake her.

The way her body brushed against mine earlier. The memory ignites something deep and dangerous. She looked at me like I was the only man in the room, and when she kissed me, it was like she was daring me to lose control. I remember the feel of her lips, soft, demanding, full of fire. If Tiny hadn’t barged in whenhe did, I’d have taken her right there on that filthy floor without any fucks given.

The thought alone is enough to stir me, and before I can stop myself, my hand wraps around the hardness she’s left in her wake. Closing my eyes, I see her on her knees, her grey eyes locked on mine, her lips parting to take me in.

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