Page 12 of Jace

I lead him through the crowd, my hand on the small of his back, a silent claim to anyone watching.

My brothers notice—Arch raises a brow from the bar, Razor smirks like he knows something I don’t—and I feel their eyes on him, sizing him up.

He’s not like the boys who hang around here, chasing patches and thrills. Caleb’s real, smart, with a life outside this shit. That makes him a curiosity, and in a place like this, curiosity can be dangerous.

We grab drinks—whiskey for me, a beer for him—and I steer him to a quieter corner near the pool tables.

“Follow me,” I say, sensing the wildness in the air.

Caleb sips his beer, his eyes darting around, taking in the tattoos, the leather, the couple making out against the wall.

“So this is your world,” Caleb says, his tone half-curious, half-wary. “Loud, messy, and…intense.”

“Pretty much,” I say, leaning against the wall, close enough that my arm bruhes his. “You regretting coming?”

Caleb tilts his head, studying me, and that spark flares again. “Not yet,” he says, a teasing edge to his voice. “But the night’s young.”

I laugh, and it feels good, like he’s cutting through the weight I’ve been carrying.

The club’s been on edge since the Iron Vipers hit our lookout, and Clay is pushing for retaliation.

I should be focused on that—planning, fighting, keeping my brothers alive. But right now, with Caleb’s scent—that damned vanilla and flowers combination—filling my head, all I care about is him.

Caleb surprises me by stepping closer, his fingers brushing my arm, tracing the edge of a tattoo.

“What’s this one mean?” he asks, his touch light but electric, pointing to the wolf inked across my forearm.

I catch his wrist, gentle but firm, holding his gaze.

“Strength,” I say, my voice rougher now. “Loyalty. The pack. A bond that can’t be broken. Not even in death.”

His skin’s soft under my fingers, and I’m fighting the urge to pull him against me, to show him exactly what he’s doing to me.

Caleb’s eyes flicker with something—nerves, desire—and he doesn’t pull away.

“And this one?” The boy asks, nodding to the flames curling around my bicep.

“Burning through the bullshit,” I say, smirking. “You want the full tour, boy… it’s gonna take a while.”

Caleb laughs, soft and bright, and it’s like a light in this dark, grimy place.

“Maybe I do,” he says, bolder now, and fuck… I’m all done holding back.

Before I can make a move, a shadow falls over us.

It’s Snake, one of the newer guys, all swagger and no brains. He’s drunk, his eyes raking over Caleb like he’s on the menu.

“Who’s this, Jace?” Snake slurs, stepping too close. “Didn’t know you were intosissylibrarians.”

My jaw tightens, and I step in front of Caleb, my body a wall between him and this asshole.

“Back off, Snake,” I say, my voice low, deadly. “He’s with me. And you’ll show some fucking respect if you value those teeth of yours.”

Snake laughs, but there’s a nervous edge to it. “Just makin’ conversation, man. He don’t look like he belongs here is all.”

Caleb surprises me, stepping out from behind me, his chin lifted.

“I can speak for myself,” Caleb says, his voice sharp. “And I’m exactly where I want to be…Snake.”

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