Page 13 of Jace

I almost laugh—my boy’s got fire, alright—but Snake’s not smart enough to back down. “Feisty,” Snake says, leering. “I like that.”

That’s it. One step too far. Time for Daddy to put a stop this right here and now.

I grab Snake’s collar, yanking him close, my fist itching to connect with his face.

“You don’t look at him, you don’t talk to him, you don’t fucking think about him,” I growl. “Walk away, or I’ll make you crawl.”

The room quiets, heads turning, and I feel Caleb’s hand on my arm, light but grounding.

“Jace,” he murmurs, and it’s enough to pull me back from the edge. Snake stumbles back, muttering something, and slinks off into the crowd.

“Wolf! Wolf! Wolf!” Arch calls out, a knowing smile on his face over in the corner with a beer in hand. “Wolf! Wolf! Wolf!”

The tension breaks, and the party roars back to life, but my blood’s still humming.

I turn to Caleb, expecting him to be shaken, but he’s looking at me with those big hazel eyes, a mix of worry and something hotter.

“You okay?” I ask, my voice softer now, but my hand’s on his waist, possessive.

“Yeah,” Caleb says, his voice a little breathless. “That was… quite something.”

“You held your own,” I say, proud as hell. “I told you you’re tougher than you look. And now that idiot Snake knows too.”

Caleb smiles, but it’s shaky, and I know this place is getting to him. I don’t blame the boy, it’s the kind of place that takes more than a little getting used to.

I need to get him out of here, away from the noise and the eyes.

“Come on,” I say, taking his hand. “Let’s find somewhere quieter.”

I lead Caleb through a side door to the clubhouse’s back lot, where the air’s cooler, the stars bright above the silhouettes of parked bikes.

It’s just us now, the thump of music muffled, and I pull him close, backing him against the wall, my hands on either side of him.

“You’re mine tonight, Caleb,” I say, my voice low, commanding, letting my Daddy side take over. “No one else gets to look at you like that. Understand?”

His breath hitches, but he nods, his eyes locked on mine.

“Yours,” Caleb whispers, and it’s like a match to gasoline.

I kiss him, hard and hungry, claiming his mouth like I’ve wanted to since the lookout. He melts into me, his hands gripping me, and I deepen the kiss, my tongue teasing his, my body pressing against his slender body.

Caleb’s all fire and sweetness, and I’m guiding him, setting the pace, showing him how good it can be when he lets go. My handslides to his neck, my thumb brushing his pulse, and he moans softly, a sound that drives me wild.

I pull back, just enough to look at him—flushed, lips swollen, eyes dark with want.

“Fuck, boy,” I murmur, my voice rough. “You’re gonna ruin me.”

Caleb laughs, breathless, but before he can respond, my phone buzzes again.

I curse, checking it—Razor, with a text about the Vipers planning something big. The club’s pulling me back, and I hate it.

Caleb sees the shift in me, his brow furrowing…

“Lent me guess… club stuff?” he asks, a knowing look in his eyes.

“Yeah,” I say, shoving the phone away. “But I’m not going anywhere yet.”

Caleb looks longingly at me, and I see it—the fear, the questions he’s not asking. I want to tell him it’s fine, that I’ll keep him safe, but the truth is, my world’s a minefield, and he’s standing too close to the blast.

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