Page 30 of Thunder

"What the hell are you doing here?" I demand, struggling to suppress my anger and surprise at seeing him again. If my hands still didn’t have the occasional twinge of pain, I’d punch him again. "Come to gloat over my failure?"

He smirks, but there's something different in his eyes—a hint of vulnerability.

Without a word, he sets the box down and turns to Chef Marcel, who has momentarily stopped her tantrum.

"Here," he says gruffly, "you can have this back."

"Marcus," I hiss, my mind racing with confusion and suspicion. "Why are you doing this? You've won, haven't you? You stole the food, sabotaged my event, you’ve probably gotten me fired..."

"Because I refuse to do anything that would hurt the people of Costa Oscura," he interrupts me, his voice firm. "If this dinner helps them, then I want to help too."

His words stun me, and I can feel the icy walls around my heart beginning to crack.

The way he looks at me now, like he's just conquered me, like I am entirely at his mercy, sends shivers down my spine. It reminds me of our night together, a passionate encounter that still haunts my dreams.

"Thank you," I whisper, my voice barely audible above the hum of the refrigerator. "But don't think this changes anything between us."

"Whatever you say, Lia," he replies, his smirk back in full force, maddening me. "Just remember, I beat you, and you’re lucky I’ve decided to be merciful."

“I'm still going to push forward with theMar y Tierraresort project," I tell Marcus, the anger bubbling just beneath the surface. “Don’t think that I owe you anything. In fact, no matter what you claim about trying to be noble, it was incredibly stupid of you to bring the food back.”

"Whoa, hold on there," he interrupts me, his green eyes locked onto mine. "You might want to hold off on thanking me, because bringing the food back isn't the only reason I'm here."

My heart skips a beat. "Why else did you show up? To gloat?"

"Come with me," Marcus says, taking my hand and leading me outside.

As we exit the event hall, the aroma of barbecue fills the air, making my stomach growl in protest. The Steel Reapers MC have set up a massive party in the parking lot, complete with grills, tables, and banners protesting the Mar y Tierra Eco Resort project. Two bikers bearing the name patches ‘Rook’ and ‘Bullet’ are manning the grills, their tattoos glistening with sweat in the afternoon sun.

"Anyone who shows up to your event will first have to walk through our little gathering here," Marcus laughs, clearly proud of his plan. "And I have to be honest with you, our barbecue smells just as good as anything Chef Marcel is going to cook."

"Is this really necessary?" I ask.

The scent of the barbecue is intoxicating, drawing me in despite myself.

Can a good brisket calm my rage? Maybe? I’m tempted to find out.

"Absolutely," Marcus replies. "We will not let the Mar y Tierra project destroy our town without a fight."

"Your little protest won't change anything," I say defiantly, my voice shaking despite my best efforts to hide it. "The resort is a done deal."

"Is it?" Marcus challenges me, his eyes darkening with determination. "We'll see about that."

“Is this everything, then?" I demand, my voice rising with anger as I confront Marcus. "You came here to return my food, and now you've brought your biker buddies and this damn barbecue to make sure I can't succeed?"

Marcus's green eyes meet mine, unyielding in their resolution. "I'm protecting what matters, Lia."

"Fine," I spit out through gritted teeth. "But know this: I'll still win. This protest won't stop me. There’s too much money, too much opportunity, too much genuine good that we can do for the community to be put off by a group of bikers."

"Bold words," he says, his face an unreadable mask. There's a pause, and for a moment, we stand there, locked in a silent battle of wills. "By the way," he suddenly murmurs, stepping closer and invading my personal space, "I came back for one more thing."

Before I can react or question him, his lips crash against mine with a passion that steals my breath away. My world narrows down to the feel of his beard against my skin, the taste of him, and the heat that ignites between us. The kiss is long, powerful, and absolutely devastating. It leaves me reeling, my heart so alive it chokes me.

As our mouths finally part, my head spinning from the intensity of our connection, I find myself at a loss for words. Marcus smirks, triumphant, as if he's just conquered something within me I didn't even know was up for grabs.

"Remember this, Lia," he whispers, his voice low and sultry. "No matter how this war ends, no matter how quickly I beat you, remember this."

And with that, he turns and walks away, leaving me standing there, heart pounding and breathless, unable to shake the feeling that my entire world has just been turned upside down by the man who wants to burn it to the ground.

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