13. Laina
13
LAINA
T he clubhouse feels suffocating tonight. The music is too loud, the laughter too sharp, and every movement around me grating against my already-frayed nerves. I’m trying to act normal, to keep my head down and blend in, but it’s impossible when my mind won’t stop racing without thoughts of Dagger.
I can’t stop thinking about what happened between us; wondering how I let myself get so caught up in the heat of the moment. I should feel shame and regret. But I feel none. Instead, I think of the way his hands had felt on my body, remember how tenderly my name had fallen from his lips.
It’s the same way I felt with Ryder.
I keep thinking about what he said; how they all want me . Even Ash.
I grab a half-empty glass of water from a nearby table and take a sip, hoping it will clear my head. It doesn’t. Instead, my gaze falls on someone I’ve only heard about in passing but never seen in person until now.
Tessa.
She’s standing by the bar, her long, dark hair falling in loose waves over her shoulders. Even from a distance, she exudes an effortless beauty that makes her impossible to ignore. She laughs at something one of the guys says, her smile is easy, her confidence palpable. She doesn’t look like someone who’s been through hell; she looks like someone who’s thrived in it.
I freeze, gripping the glass tightly. I know I have no reason to feel anything about her, after all, I don’t even know her. But based on the way the guys seem drawn to her and from the way she seems to command the room without even trying... It’s hard not to feel small in comparison.
She doesn’t notice me. Why would she? I’m just another shadow in a place full of people who’ve seen more, done more, survived more. But my chest still tightens, and I feel a sudden, overwhelming need to get away.
Without thinking, I set the glass down and slip out of the room. My steps quicken as I head down a hallway I haven’t explored yet, the noise from the main room fades quickly with every step. The hallway is dimly lit, lined with closed doors, and feels eerily silent compared to the chaos I had just left behind. I don’t know where I’m going, but I don’t care. I just need space—somewhere to breathe, to think, to feel like I’m not drowning.
I stop halfway down the hall, lean against a wall, and close my eyes. My pulse is still racing, and my thoughts are all over the place; Dagger, Tessa, Reynolds…everything. I feel like I’m being pulled in a hundred different directions, and no matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to find solid ground.
The sound of footsteps echoes faintly behind me, and my eyes snap open in fear. For a second, I think someone’s followed me, but when I glance back, the hallway is empty.
The voices grow clearer as I approach a door that’s slightly ajar, spilling a thin line of light across the floor. I hesitate, my heart hammering. This is none of my business, and I know I shouldn’t be here, but the pull to listen is stronger than my better judgment.
I inch closer, holding my breath as I peer through the crack in the door.
Inside, a group of men are gathered around a table. Ash is at the head, a commanding presence even in the dim light. His arms are crossed, his face a mask of grim determination. The men around him; a mix of familiar faces and strangers, watch him with rapt attention.
One of them, a wiry man with a scar cutting across his cheek, speaks up, “Reynolds isn’t just sitting on his hands. He’s been picking off defectors, pulling them back into his fold. The ones we thought were out? They’re back in, and they’re loyal to him.”
Ash’s jaw tightens, his eyes narrowing. “How many?”
“Enough to make a difference,” the man replies, his voice tense. “He’s building up his numbers, Ash. And it’s not just ex-Dead Demons he’s collecting. He’s got allies in rival clubs too. Word is, he’s promising them a cut of something big.”
The room falls silent, the weight of the revelation sinking in. I feel my breath hitch, and I press myself closer to the wall, careful not to make a sound.
“What’s the plan?” A burly man with a thick beard asks the question, breaking the silence. “We can’t just sit here and wait for him to make his move.”
Ash leans forward, planting his hands on the table. “We don’t react until we have solid intel. No one moves, no one acts without my say-so. Reynolds wants us to panic, to start tearing each other apart. We’re not going to give him that satisfaction.”
The men nod, though their unease is palpable. The scarred man speaks again. “There’s more. We’ve been tracking his movements—or trying to. He’s keeping a low profile, but we’ve got a lead on a warehouse he’s been using. It’s risky, but if we can confirm he’s there...”
Ash cuts him off with a sharp look. “We’re not walking into a trap. Reynolds knows how we operate. He’s counting on us to get reckless. We wait. Understood?”
There’s a murmur of agreement, though I can see the tension in the room hasn’t eased. Ash straightens his shoulders, his gaze sweeping over the group like a predator sizing up his pack. “Tighten security around the clubhouse. Double the patrols. And if anyone so much as whispers about defecting, I want to know about it. No more surprises.”
The men nod again, their voices overlapping as they discuss patrol schedules and potential leads.
”We can’t just sit around with our thumbs up our asses,” someone grumbles. “We need to act. We have what he wants.”
I don’t move. I can’t. My feet are rooted to the floor, my body tense as their conversation takes a turn I hadn’t expected.
“She could be the key,” Ash says, his voice steady but hard. “Reynolds wants her. He’s already sent messages and made his intentions clear. We use that. Let her draw him out.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Dagger’s voice is sharp, a rare crack in his usual calm. “You’re talking about using her as bait? She’s not a pawn, Ash. She’s a person.”
Ash doesn’t back down and says grimly, “She’s a person we’re protecting. And if we don’t stop Reynolds, no one’s safe, including her.”
“That doesn’t mean we throw her to the wolves,” Ryder snaps back. “You know what he’s capable of. Do you really think he’ll just take the bait and walk into a trap? He’ll chew her up and spit her out.”
“We won’t let it get that far,” Ash says in a clipped tone. “We control the situation. We keep her safe.”
Safe? They’re talking about throwing me in the middle of Reynolds’ web, using me as a lure, and they think they can keep me safe? My chest tightens with bubbling anger. Before I can stop myself or think about what I’m doing, I shove the door open wide. My anger burning too hot to care about the consequences. The room falls silent as every head turns toward me. Ash’s furious glare could cut steel. Dagger and Ryder look like they’re caught between shock and frustration.
“What the hell, Ash?” I demand, my voice shaking with rage.
The room stays frozen for a beat before Ash’s voice cuts through, low and sharp. “Everyone out. Now.”
Suddenly, I realize I’ve made a terrible mistake.
The men hesitate, glancing between him and me, but Ash doesn’t give them time to argue. “I said out!” His bark has them scrambling to leave, chairs scraping against the floor they file past me, shooting wary looks over their shoulders.
When the door shuts behind the last man, the silence is deafening. Ash takes a step toward me, his eyes blazing, and I fight the urge to back away. He points at me, his voice like a whip crack.
“You know what the hell you’re doing? Busting into one of my meetings like this?”
I straighten my spine, meeting his glare head-on, and snap, “I know you were planning to use me as bait. Is that what you call protecting someone?”
He laughs, but there’s no humor in it. “Protecting someone? You don’t even know what that means. You think you’re helping, barging in here like you’ve got it all figured out? You don’t have a damn clue what’s at stake.”
“You’re right, Ash. I don’t know,” I snap, my voice rising to match his. “Because you don’t tell me anything. You make decisions about my life without even asking me, and then you expect me to just sit back and go along with it?”
“You have no idea what kind of danger you’re in or what kind of man Reynolds is. He’s not just some thug you can outsmart, Laina. He’s a predator. A murderer! And if we don’t stop him, he’s going to come after you. Do you understand that?”
“I do understand,” I say, my voice trembling but firm. “I’ve been dealing with him a hell of a lot longer than you have, Ash. I know exactly who he is and what he’s capable of.”
“Then you should know that we’re the only thing standing between you and him,” Ash snaps, taking another step closer. His presence is overwhelming, his anger a palpable force. “You think I like the idea of using you as bait? You think that’s my first choice? It’s not. But we’re out of options, and you busting in here, questioning my decisions, isn’t helping anyone.”
I glare at him, my fists clenched so tightly that my nails dig into my palms. “You don’t get to talk to me like I’m some reckless kid who doesn’t know what she’s doing,” I say furiously. “I’m not the one treating people like pawns in a game.”
“And I’m not the one who just made a spectacle of herself in front of my men!” he roars. “You want to survive this, Laina? Then you need to learn how to follow orders. You don’t get to play by your own rules here.”
The heat in my chest rises to a breaking point. “I’m not part of your club, Ash! You don’t get to give me orders.”
“You’re damn right you’re not part of my club. But you are my problem. And if you don’t want Reynolds to tear you apart, you’d better start trusting that I know what I’m doing.”
“Trust goes both ways, Ash. Maybe if you treated me like someone who has a say in her own life, I’d consider trusting you.”
For a moment, he just stares at me, his jaw clenched so tight I think it might shatter. The silence stretches, heavy and charged, until finally, he takes a step back.
“You’re done here,” he says coolly, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. “Go back to your room. Next time you decide to throw a tantrum, think twice before you step into my space.”
I glare at him, refusing to back down. “Your space? Your men are the ones keeping me here, Ash. You act like I chose this.”
He narrows his eyes and says through gritted teeth, “And these same men are the only reason you’re still breathing. You think Reynolds is just going to forget about you? You’re a target, Laina. We’re the ones keeping you alive.”
“I’d be safe with the Hellfire Riders,” I fire back, crossing my arms.
Ash laughs sharply, “Yeah? They’re willing to believe you, are they? Trust me, they’re not exactly known for their open hearts and second chances.”
My stomach twists as the words hit home, but I refuse to let him see it. “So, what? I’m just supposed to trust you? The guy who wants to use me as bait?”
“I’m the guy who’s keeping you one step ahead of Reynolds,” he says in a deadly serious voice. “You think the Riders will believe you? Or worse, think you’re lying about him being back?”
“Maybe!” My voice rises, but the crack in it betrays my frustration.
“Stop acting like you’re invincible. This isn’t a game, Laina.”
I open my mouth to argue, but his next words leave me completely speechless.
“And don’t think I don’t know about you and Dagger.”
Heat floods my face, and I stiffen. “What are you talking about?”
His eyes are sharp and piercing. “You think I don’t see what’s going on around here? This is my clubhouse. My rules. I see everything. They tell me everything.”
I swallow hard, embarrassment crawling up my neck. “Is that a problem?”
For a moment, he doesn’t say anything, just stares at me like he’s trying to decide what to do next. Then he steps forward, closing the space between us in one fluid motion.
“Maybe,” he says in a low growl. “Depends.”
“On what?” I whisper, my breath hitching as he moves closer.
“On whether or not you’re going to keep making my life hell,” he murmurs. His face is only inches from mine. His gaze flicks to my lips, and I feel the air between us shift, heavy and charged. He grasps my chin forcefully, driving my gaze up to meet his dark eyes. “So tell me, Laina. Are you going to make my life a fucking hell?”
I swallow hard, my heart pounding erratically as I stare back at him. His hold on my chin is firm, but not cruel. The heat between us is suffocating, making it difficult to breathe, let alone think straight.
“I’m waiting,” he whispers, running his thumb along my jaw to my lips, pushing my bottom lip open.
I force myself to meet his gaze, my voice a barely audible whisper. "I don't want to make your life hell, Ash."
His hand tightens slightly as if gauging my sincerity. "Then start acting like it," he growls. "No more sneaking around, no more barging into meetings you don't belong in. Understand?"
I nod, unable to form words as his gaze remains locked on mine. Slowly, I manage a scarcely audible “Yes."
“Now, I’m happy to keep you safe and let you live under my roof until we deal with Reynolds, but do you understand what that means?”
Unable to break eye contact, I nod again, more emphatically this time. "Yes," I manage to gasp.
“Don’t just say yes, say it.”
“I’m not one of your biker whores,” I bite back.
A calculated smile curls on the edge of his lip. “Well, that’s a strange thing to say. No one said anything about that. Are you Dagger’s?”
“Fuck you.”
Ash leans a fraction of an inch closer, his warm breath caressing my face. I can smell the faint scent of whiskey on his breath, and I swallow hard.
"You're right, you're not one of my biker whores. But you are a liability to this club. If you want help with the Puppeteer, you do what I say. You understand?”
His hand moves from my chin to the small of my back, drawing me even closer to him until we’re practically touching. His eyes rake over me, stopping at the pulse pounding in my neck.
I don't know what I had expected, but it wasn't this. The way he's looking at me as if daring me to make a move, makes my stomach flip in a way that's half terrifying, half exhilarating. I remind myself that I can't afford to get distracted by him, no matter how inescapable his presence is. This man could be using all of this as a ploy to gain my trust and then turn me over to Reynolds the second my back is turned. I refuse to let him see how he affects me.
"Fine," I say through gritted teeth. "I'll do what you say... for now ."
Ash smirks, and for a brief moment, I catch a glimpse of the cocky man from our first meeting, before the mask slides back into place. "Good girl." He sounds almost amused by my defiance as if he already knows he's won.
“Open your mouth, Laina.”
My pulse races as I stare at him, my lips sealed together in a thin line. The heat of his touch on my back is almost unbearable, and I fight the urge to either punch him...or something else entirely. I don't know exactly when things started to shift, but the line between dislike and something else had blurred, and now I couldn’t trust my feelings.
Hesitantly, I part my lips, heart pounding in my ears louder than the roar of the engine outside.
He smiles, watching me under half-hooded eyes.
Then in one quick motion, he steps back. His hand loosely wrapped around my wrist he starts leading me towards the exit. "Now, if you don't mind, princess, I have club business to attend to."