Chapter Ten
Evie
This has been the best week of my life.
Mitchell has taken me out to either breakfast or lunch every single day before heading off to work. Sometimes, it’s a cozy dinner. Other times it’s a little café tucked away in a corner of town I didn’t even know existed. Each time, he surprises me with something different. A walk in the park, a stop at a bookstore, or just sitting and talking over coffee.
However, I’m confused.
I don’t know if he’s interested in me as more than a friend or if he’s just being... kind. Generous. Whatever this is. He’s been the perfect gentleman, and while I appreciate it more than I can say, it leaves me unsure of how to feel.
Because, despite all the laughs and sweet moments we’ve shared, I haven’t even gotten so much as a real kiss.
Oh, don’t get me wrong. I’ve gotten plenty of soft, lingering kisses on the backs of my hands. There’s been a couple brushed against my cheek and even a few pressed gently to my forehead.
But he’s forgetting the most important part of my face.
My lips.
The part of me that’s practically begging for attention every time he looks at me with those intense, stormy eyes of his. The part that tingles whenever he leans in close, only to retreat at the last second, leaving me breathless and confused.
It’s infuriating. And intoxicating.
I don’t know if I want to grab him by his shirt collar and demand an explanation or just take matters into my own hands and kiss him senselessly.
Either way, something’s got to give.
Because if this man thinks he’s going to keep waltzing into my life, making my heart race and my head spin, without following through?
Well, he’s got another thing coming.
“You okay, Princess?” Mitchell’s voice pulls me from my spiraling thoughts as we sit on one of the worn leather couches in the clubhouse lounge.
I glance around at the semi-bustling space. It’s nothing like Thanksgiving when the place had been packed wall-to-wall, but there’s still a steady hum of activity. Some of the women are here, chatting in small groups, and the kids, at least the ones old enough, are presumably at school. The men are gearing up for their meeting, the air electric with whatever business they’re about to discuss.
But all I can focus on is him. Mitchell, sitting next to me, relaxed and yet somehow commanding every ounce of my attention.
“Why do you call me that?” I ask, catching him off guard.
His brows lift, and for a second, he just looks at me as if he’s weighing his words carefully.
“I mean,” I continue, fiddling with the hem of my shirt, “I am far from princess material. So why?”
Something flickers in his eyes, something I can’t quite name, but it’s gone just as quickly as it came. He blinks, and his usual unreadable mask slides effortlessly back into place.
“You don’t see it, do you?” he says softly, his voice carrying an edge of disbelief.
“See what?”
“You’ve got more strength in you than most people I’ve ever met, Evie.” His tone is serious now, his gaze locked onto mine like he’s trying to drive his words straight into my soul. “You’ve been through hell and back, and you’re still here. That makes you a damn queen in my book. But Princess? That’s my way of reminding you that you’re worth being treated like one. You truly are my Princess.”
The air catches in my lungs, and I feel my cheeks flush. For once, I’m at a loss for words.
He smirks, leaning back against the couch like he hasn’t just rocked my entire world. “Besides, you look too good sitting on that throne of stubbornness not to be royalty.”
I swat at him half-heartedly, but my heart pounds in my chest. He always has this way of saying something so unexpected, so real , that it leaves me spinning.
“Well, you better be careful how you address royalty,” I manage to say, trying to regain my composure. “We tend to be temperamental.”
His grin widens, full of that roguish charm that’s equal parts infuriating and irresistible. “Good thing I’m not afraid of a challenge.”
I roll my eyes, but the smile tugging at my lips betrays me.
Mitchell leans in a fraction closer, his voice dropping to a low rumble meant just for me. “So, you good, Princess? Or is there something else on your mind?”
If only he knew.
Mitchell
“Where’s King?” Ghost asks, his sharp gaze sweeping the room as we all settle into our seats around the meeting table.
“He’s getting Maddy and baby Aubree set up beside Evie,” I reply. “He’ll be in here in a minute.”
Ghost nods, leaning back in his chair. “Good. Before we dive into this other business, let’s talk about something else first.”
The room quiets, and I can already feel the tension creeping up my spine.
“Let’s talk about Evie,” Ghost says with a knowing smile that makes my jaw tighten. “You two a thing?”
Every pair of eyes at the table lands squarely on me.
I shift in my seat, trying to keep my expression neutral. “Not really comfortable with this conversation, Prez,” I say, keeping my tone measured.
“That’s not a no,” Blaze pipes up, smirking from across the table.
“Yeah, not a yes either,” Steel adds with a low chuckle.
I shoot them both a glare, but they don’t seem fazed. Typical.
Ghost leans forward, resting his elbows on the table as he studies me. “Mitchell, we’ve all noticed how you are with her. You don’t bring just anyone around the club. Hell, you’ve never brought a single soul here. So, what’s the deal? She yours or not?”
I take a slow breath, clenching my fists under the table. I don’t know how to answer that. Hell, I don’t even know the answer myself.
If I say yes, she’s mine, then I’m tying her to my past life. A life that’s dangerous, messy, and filled with enemies who would use her against me in a heartbeat. But if I say no... if I let her go... I’m not sure I’d survive the loss.
“She’s... different,” I admit finally, my voice quieter than I intended.
The room goes silent, the weight of my words settling over the table.
Ghost raises an eyebrow. “Different, how?”
I glance at him, then at the rest of the table. These men are my brothers, but this isn’t something I can just lay out on the table. Not yet. Not when I haven’t even figured it out myself. I know why he wants to know. If I say yes, Knox sits her down and gets her fitted with a piece of tracking jewelry. She gets warned of the dangers of not just this part of my life but the dangers my job can also cause. Add in my past, and she doesn’t stand a chance.
“She’s been through a lot,” I say, keeping it vague. “I don’t want to add to her problems by dragging her into mine.”
Ghost nods slowly, his expression unreadable. “Fair enough. But you know as well as I do that keeping her on the outside doesn’t guarantee her safety. If she’s part of your life, Mitchell, she’s already a target. Which means we need to know to keep her protected.”
The truth of his words hits me hard, and I hate it. Because he’s right. More than he knows.
I run a hand through my hair, frustrated. “I don’t know, alright? I don’t know what the hell I’m doing.”
Ghost smirks again, but there’s a softness in his eyes now. “Figuring it out as you go. Welcome to the club, brother.”
The rest of the men chuckle, the tension breaking slightly, but the weight on my chest doesn’t budge.
Because I know one thing for sure. Letting Evie go isn’t an option. Not anymore.
“We’re going to take the look on your face as a yes,” Venom smiles. “I’ll have Knox meet up with her tomorrow.”
“No need,” Knox says, waltzing into the room with King. “Already talked to her. Well, Em is out there doing most of the talking, but she’s game. And very confused.”
Fuck. I knew they would do something like that. I don’t want to scare her.
Wait…
“Confused about what?” I ask.
“She thinks you only want to be her friend,” Knox smirks. “Something about going on many dates but not so much as a goodnight kiss.”
The laughter that ripples through the room makes my chest tighten, but I hold my ground.
“She deserves respect,” I say, my voice firm, cutting through their teasing. “I’m not going to rush her or push her into something she’s not ready for.”
The room goes still, and for a moment, no one says anything. Then Knox clears his throat, leaning forward.
“She might not need rushing, brother. She might need a sign. Women like Evie don’t stick around unless they care. But if you keep holding back, she’s gonna start thinking you don’t want her. And that’s a dangerous line to walk.”
His words hit home, and I hate that he’s right. I’ve been trying so hard to protect her that I’ve been keeping her at a distance.
“She’s mine,” I say finally, the weight of those words settling over me like a vow. “I just need to figure out how to show her without scaring her off.”
Ghost nods, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Then figure it out fast. If she’s part of your life, she’s already part of this family. And family? We protect what’s ours.”
The agreement that ripples through the room is steady and unwavering, but it doesn’t ease the pressure in my chest.
Because now, more than ever, I realize what’s at stake.
And losing Evie? That’s not an option. Not now. Not ever.
“Alright, on to business,” Ghost says. “Taylor?”
“I have a client who has asked for sanctuary.”
Immediately, my entire attention is on Taylor. Seeing as how I work for the man, I’m surprised to just now be learning about this.
“She only just met with me this morning, or I would have told you sooner,” he says, looking at me and Reynolds. “Anyway, she says that someone is after her, and she’s willing to pay handsomely if we can change her identity and set her up with a new life.”
“How did she hear about us?” Reynolds asks.
“She said she found us online,” Taylor answers. “I know we don’t advertise our business, but it’s not as if we keep it a secret.”
“Who’s after her?” King asks.
“She didn’t say.”
“How are we supposed to keep her safe if we don’t know who to keep her safe from?” I ask.
“She doesn’t want us to keep her safe,” Taylor says. “She wants us to make her disappear.”
The air in the room shifts, tension settling in as Taylor lays out the situation. Ghost leans forward, his brows furrowing.
“Disappearing someone isn’t exactly our forte,” Ghost says, his voice low. “We protect, not erase. Why doesn’t she want protection?”
Taylor shrugs. “She didn’t say. Just made it clear she’d rather vanish than face whoever’s after her.”
Reynolds crosses his arms, a scowl darkening his features. “Sounds like she’s running from more than just a group of someone’s. What aren’t we being told?”
Taylor holds up his hands. “I’m not saying I trust her completely, especially after the last person who came asking for our help. But she seems desperate. She offered a small fortune to make it happen, and if we don’t take the job, someone else will.”
Knox clears his throat, his face grim. “We’ve seen this before. People running scared, too afraid to tell us the truth. If we agree, it could bring a storm straight to our doorstep.”
“Or worse,” Blaze adds, his tone serious for once. “She could be lying about what’s chasing her and bring that storm on purpose.”
The room grows silent as we all remember that exact thing happening not very long ago.
Steel nods. “We don’t know her. We don’t know her enemies. This is a gamble.”
Ghost rubs his temples, the weight of leadership clear in his posture. “Taylor, how much do you trust her?”
Taylor hesitates, glancing at me and Reynolds before answering. “Not much. But she’s got a story in her eyes, Ghost. That kind of fear doesn’t come from nowhere. I think she’s hiding something, yeah, but I don’t think it’s because she’s a threat. I think it’s because she’s fucking scared.”
The room falls silent, the weight of Taylor’s words lingering.
Ghost finally looks at me. “Mitchell, you’ve been quiet. What’s your take?”
I meet his gaze, thinking through the layers of risk and the woman I haven’t even met yet. “We don’t turn people away just because their stories are messy,” I say finally. “But we also don’t walk blind into traps. If we take her on, we vet her thoroughly. We figure out who’s after her and why.”
“And if she’s lying?” King asks, his voice steady but cold.
“Then we handle it,” I reply simply.
Ghost leans back, his gaze sweeping the room. “Alright. We’re in, but this stays tight. Taylor, you and Mitchell take the lead on vetting her story. Reynolds, Knox, I want you two digging into her background and figuring out who’s chasing her. Blaze, Steel, set up a safehouse. No one makes a move without clearing it with me first.”
Taylor may be the owner of Obsidian Security, but when he brings a case to the club for help, Ghost is in charge.
“What about me, brother?” Venom grins. “What can I do?”
“Order fucking dinner.”
The table hums with agreement. The plan is set.
“Taylor, set up a meet,” Ghost orders. “I want to see this woman for myself.”
“She’ll be here at six,” he says. “Figured it would be best to get this meeting done as soon as possible.”
As the meeting shifts gears and Ghost moves to the next item on the agenda, my thoughts linger on this mysterious client.
A woman willing to risk everything to disappear usually has secrets that can get people killed.
I should know.