Chapter 1
CHAPTER ONE
Miles
Present Day . . .
The air is thick with sweat and smoke.
Music pulses through the walls, vibrating in my chest.
Outside the club, some dumb fuck is causing a scene. He’s yelling, flailing his arms like he’s in a damn movie.
“Yo!” I shout, cutting through the noise. The guy stops. He turns, eyes wild. “You gotta fuckin chill, man!”
“Get outta my way! My girl’s in there!” he snaps, jabbing a finger at my chest.
I size him up—he’s not as big as some of the other bouncers, but he’s all bluster. I keep my stance steady, legs slightly apart, ready.
His breath reeks of booze and something darker.
“Not if you’re gonna be a problem,” I reply, firm.
He takes a step closer, nostrils flaring.
“Yo!” I yell again, voice sharp. “Back the fuck up. I’m not in the mood today, man.”
“Or what.” He takes a step forward, nostrils flaring.
“Or I will toss you outta here like last week’s trash.” My body tightens, instinct kicking in.
“Look, I know she’s cheating,” he hisses, voice low but shaky.
I just wanna talk to her.”
“Yeah? If it was my girl in there, I’d do the same. But I’m not letting you in.” My pulse quickens. Every muscle tightens. I see the anger boiling, ready to spill over.
“Fuck you!” He lunges at me, ready to cause a bigger problem.
Time slows. I sidestep, grabbing his wrist, twisting. A sharp movement, and he’s on the ground, gasping.
“Get up, man,” I say, stepping back.
A couple of my co-workers rush over, eyes wide.
“Get the fuck outta here!” one yells, while the other hauls him up by the collar.
“Yo, you okay?” Damian asks, glancing at me.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I grunt, shaking off the adrenaline.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, pulling me from the moment of chaos.
I dig it out. The screen lights up—Siren.
I can’t remember the last time she said anything to me. It’s been too damn long.
“Long time since I’ve heard from you,” I answer, the noise around me fading.
“Miles,” she breathes, heavy and frantic. “I need you. It’s Stiletto… she’s been taken.”
My heart drops, slamming into my stomach. “What? What do you mean?”
My breath catches. Stiletto. Memories surge—a fierce spirit wrapped in laughter and loyalty.
“By who?” I demand, urgency creeping into my tone.
“An enemy of the club.”
“Fuck.” I glance at Damian, his brows furrowing as he watches me.
Panic grips me as I wait for her to say something, anything.
“I can explain more later. Please, you have to come to Montana. I need your help, Miles.” Her voice trembles.
“I’ll leave tomorrow on the earliest flight,” I swallow hard. “But I got stuff to handle out here first. Okay?”
“Thank you so fuckin’ much,” she whispers, relief mingling with fear.
The call ends, leaving silence in its wake.
I stare at the screen, feeling the weight of what Siren just asked me.
I know her and her sister are part of this big, bad biker club . . . so why does she need me?
I scan the street, heart still racing. This job, it’s always like this—chaos wrapped in noise. But for me, it’s just another night in the Bronx.
The dumb fucker is gone, but the adrenaline still thrums in my veins. Between that and knowing Stiletto is missing, my mind is running around in a constant loop.
The bass from the club vibrates through the pavement, and I take a deep breath to steady myself.
“You did a damn good job, Lion,” Damian says, clapping me on the back.
“Yeah, well, it’s not like I had much of a choice,” I reply, eyes scanning the crowd.
“Your old man would be proud,” he chuckles, but there’s a bite to his tone.
“Chip Lion doesn’t know half of what I’m doing out here,” I mutter, pushing thoughts of my father aside.
“Still got that podcast?” Damian asks, eyebrows raised.
“Every damn week.” I roll my shoulders. “He’s always nagging me to get back into the ring.”
“Why don’t you?” He leans against the wall, arms crossed.
“Because this is my life now.” My voice is sharper than I intended.
“Right.” He smirks. “Because dodging fists at a club is way better than fighting for a title.”
“Dude, you have no idea what you’re talkin’ about,” I shoot him a glare. “You think just because he was champ, I want to follow in those footsteps? Nah.”
“Can’t deny you’ve got skills.” His tone shifts, more serious now. “You could go far.”
“Maybe.” I flex my fingers, feeling the burn. “But I don’t wanna be Chip Lion’s kid forever. I want to be out from under my father’s shadow.”
“Is that why you won’t call him back?” Damian presses.
“Not this again.” I shake my head. “I can handle my own shit.”
“Sure, but he’s just trying to help. You know how he is.”
“Help or pressure me into something I don’t really want?” I retort, clenching my jaw.
“Same thing, right?”
“Not even close.” I glance at the street, watching a couple stumble by. “I’m not fighting for anyone but myself.”
“Then do it.” His voice softens. “Prove to him that you can do it on your own, without his help.”
“Yeah, maybe one day.” I shrug, but the thought sits heavy.
“Someone’s gotta step up.”
“Not tonight.” I shake off the weight, forcing a grin. “Tonight, I’m just a bouncer. That’s all I need.”
“Right. Just a bouncer.” Damian laughs, but there’s truth in his words.
“Let’s see if we can keep it that way.” I lean back against the wall, heart still racing, ready for whatever comes next.
“Everything okay? You seem a little off, and I think it has to do with something other than your father,” he asks, voice low.
“Not sure,” I reply, heart pounding.
I run a hand over my face, the world spinning around me. Stiletto—kidnapped. It feels unreal.
“I need to leave tomorrow,” The words tumble out, heavy with fear and fury. “To Montana.”
“Montana?” Damian raises an eyebrow. “What the hell is in bumblefuck Montana?”
“The twins,” I say, barely a whisper.
He stiffens, eyes widening. “You mean Suyin and Song?”
Damian has known me for years and he too grew up in the Bronx. Almost everyone knew the twins, or their mother, Susu.
“Yeah.” My fists clench at my sides.
The news hit like a gut punch—unexpected and brutal.
“They need help,” I add, feeling a surge of protectiveness for them.
“You going out that way to help?” he asks, eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
“I have to.” My voice is steady even though my insides are churning with worry.
There’s a long pause before he nods slowly.
“You’ve got guts, man. You just gonna leave here like that?”
I shake my head, “No, you know I’m not that kinda guy. I’ll let the boss know I’ll be gone for a while, finish up a few things, you know.”
Damian claps me on the back, “Well, Lion, I didn’t take you for a hero.”
“Fuck off.” I shoot back with a smirk. It’s easier to banter when the fear is gnawing at your insides.
“You gonna go out there and save the day?” He raises an eyebrow, his eyes glinting with humor in the dim light.
I draw a deep breath, contemplating the cold reality of the situation. “I’m gonna do what I can,” I admit finally, my gaze drifting off into the distance.
There’s a moment of silence between us before Damian breaks it, his voice softer now. “You care about them, don’t you?”
I glance at him sharply. He meets my gaze straight on, his expression unreadable.
A loud group stumbles out of the club, laughter echoing down the street and I use the distraction to avoid answering his question.
“I gotta finish up here,” I mutter, my hand instinctively reaching for the thick chain that hangs around my neck.
A memento from Stiletto she’d given to me years ago.
“Of course,” Damian nods, patting my shoulder with a knowing glance before he heads back into the faded neon glow of the club.
I rake a hand over my buzz cut, the cool night air suddenly not cool enough.
I feel like I’m burning up from the inside out. Stiletto, taken. And here I am, miles and miles away, surrounded by drunks and loud music when all I want is silence to just think.
The rest of the night passes in a blur of noise and movement.
It’s always been like this—a storm of people thirsty for release, seeking refuge in their vices.
I’ve never once minded it before, but tonight it feels suffocating.
As soon as the last patron stumbles out into the breaking dawn, I know I’m in the clear to bounce for the night.
The sooner I can get home, the sooner I can get my ass to Montana and find Stiletto.