Chapter 21
Old school rock thumped loud from the neon-lit jukebox, the bass thrumming right up through the floorboards. Every corner of the common room had burst into wild, joyful chaos. I sank back into the deep leather sofa, cider cold in my hand, watching it all unfold like something from a dream.
My old world and family would call men like this animals. Lawless. Dangerous. They’d look down their noses in fear and judgment. But standing here, seeing what they really were… all that hypocrisy hit me like a fist.
These weren’t monsters. They were men. Beautifully, fiercely human.
A soft smile tugged at my lips as I watched Bones step up behind Ivy. He didn’t care who was watching. Wrapped his arms tight round her, pressed a gentle kiss to her hair, hand resting light and protective over her bump – his whole posture a silent warning: touch her and you die.
Over by the billiards table, Pres had Rose pulled close against him too. One hand resting firm at her waist, the other laced tight through hers, head bowed close like the rest of the world didn’t exist. Hardened Enforcers and leaders turned so soft for the women they loved.
They were husbands. Fathers. Men who would burn the world down for their own. My father’s circle talked of honour and decency, but it was all lies. These men got their hands dirty, yes – but they never flinched from fighting for what mattered.
“Look at him,” Ivy murmured, nudging my shoulder as she walked over and nodding toward the bar. “Hasn’t blinked once.”
My gaze snapped straight there. Sure enough, Rage was leaning against the edge, beer in hand, eyes locked right on me.
He looked devastating in the dim light. Cut stretched tight over broad shoulders, dark hair falling just enough over his eyes. That intense, simmering focus never wavered – like the rest of the room had just fallen away.
But he wasn’t alone. Bear, Shadow, Hawk, Tank and half a dozen others had crowded round him, grinning like wolves on the hunt. Bear slapped a heavy arm round his shoulders, saying something that sent the whole group roaring with laughter.
Rage didn’t crack a smile. Jaw set tight, he took a slow, heavy sip of his drink, and I saw the faint flush creep up his neck – a pink that stained his ears showing he was flustered.
“Sat in that corner booth for a whole damn month!” Bear boomed loud enough to cut through the music. “Terror of the London underworld having to jump in, as our boy here too scared to just order another coffee! We had to plan a whole extraction just to bring her home!”
“He nearly flipped his chair over when Thorn asked if you were moving in!” Shadow called out. “Easy there, Rage, you’ll snap a muscle going that hard.”
My breath caught. Heat flooded my cheeks, and for a second I almost looked away – until I saw the way Rage was staring at me, equal parts embarrassed and so fiercely proud it took my breath away. That old, quiet part of me that was taught to shrink back sparked right to life.
I set my glass down with a sharp clear clink.
“Leave him alone,” I called out, voice ringing steady and sharp enough to cut through the noise.
The room went dead quiet. Every head turned my way – Rage included eyes wide with shock.
I leaned forward, a wicked little grin spreading across my face. “If we’re picking on people for being jumpy, shouldn’t we be teasing Tiny and Swift? They were practically shaking in their boots the other week when I walked down the garden path.”
A roar of laughter exploded through the room.
“Atta girl!” Bear bellowed, thumping the bar top. “She lays down the law!”
Tiny went bright red, scratching awkwardly at the back of his neck, while Swift folded his arms and tried to look tough.
“Hey now,” Swift protested. “That ain’t fair! We were running security detail! We weren’t scared!”
“Scared of Rose, more like,” I shot back, raising an eyebrow. “You practically scrambled out of the window seat when she said something. My poor sofa is still recovering from you too on it.”
The laughter went up another notch. I couldn’t help grinning too – this, was better than any fancy dinner or polite party I’d ever been to.
I turned to Tiny next. “And I’ve been dying to know… how does a six-foot-nine mountain of a man end up with a patch that just says ‘Tiny’?”
He rubbed the back of his neck, looking almost shy. “First day here, lads said if I kept growing any bigger I’d take up half the clubhouse. Said Tiny was the only name that’d keep my ego in check. Stuck ever since.”
“It suits you,” I laughed, then nodded toward Bear. “I don’t even need to ask yours. One look and it’s obvious – you’re just like a great grizzly wandered out the woods, put on a leather vest and decided to stay.”
Bear threw his head back and laughed so hard the walls seemed to shake, then raised his bottle in a salute.
“Fierce little thing isn’t she?” he called over to Rage. “I like her. She’s got teeth!”
Ghost stepped up next, Bear started teasing about his name, kept calling him Casper and soon the whole room was caught up in it.
I looked back to Rage – he was still leaning there, but the tension had all gone.
Just a slow, genuine smile spreading across his face, watching me like I was the only thing in the room. Proud.
The music picked back up, drinks kept flowing. Rose and Ivy settled back beside me, grinning and high-fiving me for putting the big tough bikers in their place. The last little piece of the old me, the quiet obedient girl raised in cold silence, crumbled away for good.
I was born a Sterling. But sitting here, with this loud, messy, loyal family… I knew in my heart I was already one of the Iron Angels.