Page 9 of Deceiver

“I’m trying,” I snap again.

I take a deep breath and flatten myself out as much as possible as the car comes to a stop.

“Well, hey there, handsome. I heard there is a party here tonight?”

“Heard right,” a gruff male voice comes through the car. “Just you?”

“Just me. I’ve got friends here, though.”

“Park your car down the back, out of the way.”

“I will do, thank you.”

Luna begins to drive again, and I pop my head up, peeking out the window as we go past the clubhouse that is already full of people, a large fire roaring in the yard. Music blares through the speakers, and my heart skips a beat. I don’t know if this is going to work, but I’m praying it does because I’m running out of options.

Luna comes to a stop, and then we both climb out of the car. We’re down the back of the lot, out of the way, and more cars are coming in and parking. I pull my black hoodie up and over my head as Luna steps up beside me, her eyes scanning the compound. “Wow, I’ve never seen a clubhouse before. This is awesome.”

“Yeah,” I murmur, staring around. “It is. What is the plan?”

“You’ll see. Come on, let’s find Western.”

Taking a deep, long breath, I follow her toward the clubhouse.

It’s safe to say we’re noticed right away, I would be shocked if we weren’t. Putting my head down, I take Luna’s hand, and we move as quickly as we can toward the house, praying Western is there. A familiar voice calls my name—Fury—but I don’t stop. We pick up the pace, shoving past people until we get inside. Eyes scanning the room, I see him. He’s sitting over on a sofa toward the back behind the pool tables, Hazel by his side, her legs slung over his lap.

My heart cracks a little more, and my breathing becomes tight as my eyes zero in on him. Everything about him just makes the emotion inside me swirl around that much stronger. I want to go to him, run my hands through his dark hair, kiss his lips, tell him how sorry I am, and, yet, at the same time I want to scream and punch him for acting as if I never existed, as if what we had was simply nothing more than a fling. We both know that isn’t the case. At least, I hope that’s the truth.

“You ready?” Luna asks, just as Western’s eyes lock onto me and his face hardens.

“I guess I don’t have a choice,” I say, softly.

“Got some nerve, comin’ in here.”

Colt’s voice comes from behind me, and I turn quickly to see him standing, arms crossed over his chest, giving me a look that is more than a little terrifying.

“I don’t want any trouble, Colt. I just want to talk to him.”

“Think he’s made it clear he don’t want to talk to you. Do you know what I would normally do to someone who came into my club without permission?”

“We won’t be long,” Luna interrupts, unbothered by Colt’s terrifying demeanor.

“Get. Her. Out.”

Western’s voice comes out like a whip. Slowly, I turn back toward him. He’s standing right in front of me, rage filling his dark brown eyes. Hazel is standing next to him, clutching his arm, giving me a look that tells me she’s more than a little ready to throw down once more. I take a shaky breath and square my shoulders before saying, “I’m not leaving until you talk to me.”

“Thing about that is,” Colt pipes up, “we’re quite capable of makin’ you.”

“If he wants me gone, Colt,” I say, not moving my eyes from Western’s, “then he can do it himself.”

“Get the fuck outta my club,” Western grinds out, the rage in his voice more than a little terrifying.

“Not until you talk to me, and if one of you so much as thinks about touching me, I will throw down. In a big way.”

Western’s eyes flash.

I stand my ground.

Luna takes hold of my arm, but I don’t stop to see what it is she’s doing. Western is standing so close, his eyes locked on mine, that neither of us notices when she snaps a pair of cuffs on his arm, then jerks mine so quickly I’m caught off guard, snapping the other end to me. Then, taking a step back, she smiles. “Well now, I guess you get no choice.”

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