Page 25 of Trigger's Temptation

Capone’s smirk deepens. “We’ve met before when I had to pick up one of my guys off the side of the road.”

I swallow hard. Shit. I never told Zach about that.

Zach lifts a brow. “Something you want to share?”

I force a shrug. “I can explain.”

“I’m listening.” Zach crosses his arms over his chest, waiting.

“I, uh, kind of hit one of them with my pickup a while back.” I shrug my shoulders. Way to appear unaffected.

Capone laughs. His dark eyes sparkle with mischief. “Kind of?”

“It wasn’t my fault!” I defend myself. “He came out of nowhere and ran into the side of my truck.” That’s not exactly true. I wasn’t paying attention and nailed Trigger, but there’s no way in hell I’m admitting that.

“Interesting.” Zach rubs his hand on his chin. He knows I’m lying, but I hope he doesn’t call me out on it.

Before he can press further, a woman steps out of the garage. “Dad!” She has long, highlighted brown hair and striking, multi-colored eyes, one blue and one green, just like Zach’s. She wraps her arms around him, and he smiles, his expression softening in a way I haven’t seen before.

“Lil’ K!” Zach embraces her, giving her a fatherly hug. He smiles down at her when they release each other. His eyes crinkle at the corners with happiness. This must be his daughter who is married to one of them.

I scan the crowd to see if I can figure out who she is married to. Standing in the back is a mountain of a man, built like a human battering ram with arms as thick as tree trunks and a neck that could put any man’s thighs to shame. Every inch of him is solid muscle, covered in ink that tells stories only he understands. His brown hair is kept just long enough to run a hand through, and his thick beard frames a face both rugged and striking. But it’s his piercing blue eyes that stand out the most, sharp and intense, like he sees everything and forgets nothing. When his gaze lands on Kensi, I know she belongs to him.

“What are you doing here?” she asks, glancing between Zach and Capone.

Zach glances at Capone, who nods his head in return. An unspoken answer to Zach’s daughter’s question. “Capone called me in for Club business.”

Her frown deepens when she spots me. “Who’s this?”

Before I can introduce myself, Zach beats me to it. “This is a friend of mine. Aerianna, meet my daughter, Kensi. And that big fucker behind her? That’s her husband, Aftermath.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” I hold out my hand, but Kensi ignores it, turning her attention back to her dad. She raises an eyebrow, and Zach shakes his head at her.

“Listen, Dad. I’m going to be out of town for a while. Aftermath is taking me to Hawaii for our honeymoon, and Red and Nadia are going with us.” The excitement in her voice makes Zach smile.

“When are you leaving?”

“This afternoon.”

“Stay out of trouble, Lil’ K. I don’t have reach in Hawaii to bail you out of jail,” Zach responds with a smirk.

Everyone around us chuckles like they know something I don’t, which they probably do.

“I’ll do my best,” Kensi says while rolling her eyes.

Zach turns back to her. “I have to meet with Capone. Will you show Aerianna around and make her feel at home?”

Kensi shrugs. “I guess.”

What the fuck is her problem? I didn’t do anything wrong. I open my mouth to say something when Zach shakes his head. Fuck.

“Thank you, Lil’ K.” He kisses the top of her head before walking off with Capone and the other Royal Bastards.

Kensi crosses her arms, eyes narrowing. “Well, Aerianna.” I hold my breath, waiting for her to unleash her attitude. “Looks like we’ll be getting to know each other.”

I follow her through the garage doors, down a long corridor, and into a room that looks like the club’s main hangout. There’s a bar, a pool table, dart boards, massive TVs, and plenty of seating.

Five women are gathered in what I assume is the living area, their gazes full of curiosity. One has long blonde hair cascading down her back, and she is seated next to a dark-haired girl, probably a young teenager. Another woman with curly, dark, highlighted hair and matching eyes sits nearby. A slender blonde with a shy smile watches over a boy and a girl coloring at the coffee table. At the bar, two stunning women sit with kids in their laps, one child around two years old, the other barely six months old.

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