Chapter Fourteen
ELIZABETH
New Year’s Eve
After the attack on the club, I have learned that even though I’m nervous, the Alliance will be back, and the club doesn’t waste time on being anxious.
They have things they need to get done. And the brothers weren’t going to cancel the toy run, whether the Alliance is an issue or not.
Sin wasn’t going to let those assholes stop the kids from getting the gifts they needed.
I actually found it admirable that Sin put club business aside for the sake of the kids—and they all got their gifts this morning.
The footage was amazing to watch. Sin also said that no matter what shit was headed their way, the club girls had gone to a hell of a lot of trouble planning tonight’s New Year’s Eve party, so the Alliance could be dealt with in the new year, which is technically only a few hours away at this point.
But tonight, the club wants to party and bring in the new year in style—the theme is ‘Chrome and Midnight.’
As I stand in the middle of my bedroom, I let out a long breath. After the events of today, I need to let off some steam, so a party at the clubhouse actually sounds like a damn good idea.
I need to de-stress!
Spinning, I glance at the photograph of my family on my dresser. My mother, father, my brother, Marcus and I, before everything changed. Before I went to Columbia University to study journalism, and left Marcus here to fall in with the wrong crowd.
Sadness washes over me that I abandoned him, even though I knew he was struggling.
I left to follow my dream, and he died because of it.
If I had never left home to study journalism, I would have been here to watch over Marcus.
To stop him from joining the club. Instead, I was away, enjoying my life.
And when he died, when I heard the club had a hand in his death, I dropped out of Columbia University and went straight into the Police Academy, so I could help bring down the assholes who took my brother from me.
Now I’m involved with the very club that took his life, and I can’t find anything or any reason to help me prove it was them.
It’s so frustrating, especially when I went into this full of enthusiasm to bring Defiance and Sin down, but now, after being with these people and learning about them—after getting close to them, to Sin—it feels like maybe I have the wrong side of it.
Maybe.
I don’t know.
My mind is all over the place.
All I know is I need to dig deeper.
I am missing something.
Clearly, with that locked file in Ghost’s den, there’s more to it.
And this thing with Sin, whatever it is, is clouding my judgment. So perhaps I need to get him out of my system so I can get on with my job.
Exhaling, I walk over to the photograph and run my finger across the image of my brother. “I will find out what happened to you, Marcus. I swear.”
Nervous tension rolls through my stomach as I step back from my dresser and run my hands over the frills of my long black dress.
The silver sequins in the fabric give it that shimmer for the chrome feel of the evening.
My almost see-through black lace bodice is tight against my torso as delicate black lace straps fall along my biceps.
The silver sequins glistening along the lace make the entire dress feel like a starry night.
As I stare at myself in the floor-length mirror, I even think I look beautiful, and I lean over to reach for my chrome half-mask.
The split in my dress parts, showing my leg almost all the way to my panties, and I can’t help but smirk, knowing I chose this dress specifically for Sin.
Shaking my head with a smirk, I take my mask, a simple filigree pattern with diamantés. It covers one eye, then stretches over the top of my other. A kind of half-eye mask, if you will. My version of ‘I’m only showing the club half of who I truly am,’ only they don’t know that.
Taking a bobby pin, I fasten one side of my mask to my hair to keep it in place, then repeat the process with the other side. Once my mask is firmly attached, I take one last look at myself and smile. “Here we go, Elizabeth. Time to bring in the New Year with a bang!”
Reaching for my trusty bag that has my recorder and notepad located inside, I take off to my car to head for the clubhouse.
I have a feeling that tonight, with the liquor flowing and everyone in a good mood, I can truly start to press for more information.
I just have to remember not to push too hard.
Otherwise, they might figure out what I am really up to, and that won’t be good for anyone.
Making my way to the car, I hop in, my dress taking up more room than I had anticipated. It’s hard to drive when there’s material clogging up the entire front seat and half the view of the windshield.
With my anxiety high, I pull out of my driveway, turning on Marcus’ playlist as I drive.
A slow frown crosses my face as “Smoke and Mirrors” by Imagine Dragons plays through my car speakers.
A song that Marcus used to have on repeat for hours.
My eyes glisten instantly, the memories of him flooding in, but I quickly blink back the tears.
I do not need them ruining my makeup for tonight’s party.
The lyrics in the song talk about a sense of feeling small in the grand scope of existence while searching for your purpose.
Hoping for a sign or something to pull you out of your struggles, and that you have been pursuing goals that may not align with your true self, whether your dreams and achievements are real or just a fragile illusion that could crumble at any moment.
The song is deep, and, at the time, when Marcus was listening to it over and over again, it used to annoy me.
But now, I see it was a cry for help.
A cry I ignored.
Sniffling, I put his song on repeat, getting my mind focused on the task at hand tonight. Even though my time at the club has been enlightening, and Sin has somehow gotten under my skin, I know I have a job to do, and Marcus’ death needs to be uncovered.
I won’t go up in flames with Sin like in my dream.
I just won’t.
Pulling into the clubhouse gates, I take a deep breath, letting the song come to an end, and then I finally turn off my car.
The thumping bass from rock music already blasting inside has a small smile pulling at the corner of my lips.
“Of course, they’re already partying,” I murmur to myself before opening my car door and sliding out, ready to get this plan underway.
As I turn to face the clubhouse doors, I jerk back in shock when I spot Sin standing in the doorway, his broad arms crossed over his chest, his usual attire of worn jeans and a tank top gone and replaced with black slacks and a black button-down shirt.
His leather cut is still on, of course, and on his face, a half-style mask.
I didn’t realize we’d be matching—the only difference is my mask is dainty and elegant, and his is solid black, covering his eye and nose, with chrome studs and chains accenting it.
I had no idea a mask could be so dangerous and yet so sexy at the same time.
My breath catches in my chest as I stare at him. This beast of a man, whose eyes are wandering up and down me in a way that he’s not hiding at all.
“Well, well, wildcat… didn’t know you had it in you to swap leather and fire for silk and shine.
Gotta say, though, I always knew you were trouble.
I just didn’t know you’d be walking in here tonight, causing this kind of trouble.
I’m gonna have to fight my damn brothers to keep them off you the second you walk in there.
You’re gonna tear this club apart, woman,” he teases, stepping off from the doorway and walking toward me, a giant smirk on his face.
Letting out a small laugh, I meet him across the parking lot, my eyes finding him, my stomach defying me as those damn butterflies flutter at hearing him talk so smoothly to me.
“Oh, you think I look nice? In this old thing?” I question as his hand comes out, gripping my waist and pulling me to him.
I gasp at the forceful nature of the move.
My body pressed flush to his as his gorgeous, multicolored eyes stare deep into me like he’s lost in the depths of my soul.
My stomach falls straight through the floor, and my entire body begins to tremble with the way he’s making me feel with one simple look.
“You don’t look nice, Elizabeth,” he states matter-of-factly, his voice low and rough, cutting through the night like a blade.
Furrowing my brows, I open my mouth to argue, but his other hand slides up, gently cupping the side of my face that’s maskless, his thumb brushing my cheek in a way that steals the air from my lungs.
His eyes burn into mine, unwavering and unrelenting.
“You look like every sinful thing a man like me should stay away from… but I won’t.
You’re dangerous, wildcat. And tonight? You’re mine to deal with. No one else gets a say.”
My heart slams against my ribcage as he leans in, his lips haunting over my ear, his voice dropping to a possessive growl. “So yeah, you’re gonna turn every damn head in there, but the only one you’re looking back at is… me. Do you understand?”
My knees tremble at the tone of his voice, not because I’m scared but because I am absolute putty in his hands.
I’m in trouble.
So much fucking trouble.
Like a goddamn inferno.
His lips slide from my ear around in front of my face, barely grazing mine. The threat of a kiss is imminent. My breathing is rushed and hard, my fingers clenching onto his cut’s leather as I bite down on my bottom lip.
“I need the words, Elizabeth. Do you understand?” he repeats, his lips gently grazing mine, giving me just a small taste.