Chapter 13
I backed fast into the living room, heavy boots nearly skidding clean over the polished boards. Chest heaving like I’d run ten miles, hands half-raised like I was retreating from a live grenade.
“Jesus Christ help me,” I muttered, scrubbing both hands hard over my face, trying to shake off that stupid sharp panic that had just seized me throat-tight.
On the little sofa, Tiny and Swift were still sat shoulder to shoulder like two overgrown schoolboys. The second I stepped back in, they both looked up, and a hesitant smirk tugged at Tiny’s jaw. Swift pushed his sunglasses up onto his head, eyes dancing with mischief.
“Got a bit too close to the blast zone, did you, Enforcer?” Swift teased, keeping his voice low but grinning like crazy.
“Shut your mouth, prospect,” I grumbled, though there wasn’t any real bite in it.
I dragged over a wooden chair, flipped it round, and sat resting my forearms along the backrest. “She threatened to cry. Looked at me with those big watery eyes and asked if I didn’t trust her.
I’d rather face a dozen armed men in a dark alley than one five-foot-two pregnant Thorn when her hormones are running wild.
Pres would have my hide flayed if I made her shed a single tear. ”
Tiny let out a deep rumbling laugh that shook the whole sofa. “She’s terrifying, boss. Walked in, gave me one look, and I swear my balls just shrank up into my stomach. I’m six-foot-nine and she makes me feel like I’m five years old getting scolded by my nan.”
“It’s the eyes,” Swift added, leaning forward and tapping one finger against his knee. “Doesn’t even have to raise her voice. Just goes stone-cold dead-pan and you start rethinking every life choice you ever made. You just gotta surrender.”
He paused for a second, twisting the little cross bracelet Thorn had given him round his wrist. Thinking out loud. “Maybe we should start using these crosses on her instead…”
I burst out laughing before I could stop myself, and both boys looked up shocked. “Nah,” I chuckled, shaking my head. “That’d just give her more power. I’d pay good money to see the look on her face though.”
My grin faded slow. I glanced toward the quiet hallway where Danika and Thorn had vanished, and something warm and fierce settled heavy in my chest.
“She’s earned the right to run this club, boys,” I said, voice dropping to that rough tone that always shut things down.
Tiny and Swift stopped smiling straight away. Their faces went serious, respectful – exactly how every brother spoke about the President’s old lady. They knew the story. Every patched member, every prospect who’d ever mopped the clubhouse floors, knew the legend of Rose, our Thorn.
My mind drifted back through the years, memories rising sharp and clear. When she first came to us, she wasn’t this force of nature. She was quiet, broken, like a ghost. A fragile shattered thing who’d spent half her life being hurt, beaten down, told she was worth nothing.
I still remember the day we followed her to her house.
We thought we were going to save a victim, someone sold.
Instead, we walked straight into a bloodbath.
Thorn – nothing but pure survival instinct left – had driven a scalpel straight through her buyer’s throat.
We thought she was damaged beyond repair, that her mind was too fragile to ever heal.
Even after we brought her back to the club, the nightmares wouldn’t let go. She’d flinch at loud noises, hide behind Leo’s arm for months. We all truly thought that bright spark inside her was gone forever.
But look at her now.
Tiny spoke soft, breaking the quiet. “To go through all that hell… to fight so hard just to breathe… and now she’s sat there helping Miss Danika pick out clothes. She’s the toughest woman I’ve ever met.”
“Yeah,” I nodded, jaw tight with equal parts pride and protective fire. “That’s exactly why we stand up when she speaks. She earned her place at this table. And that’s why we make sure no one ever hurts Danika either. Thorn sees a sister in her. She wants to help her.”
Swift nodded sharp, that usual jumpy energy turning cold and determined. “Those London pricks won’t get within a mile of this lane. Me and Tiny will hold the line.”
“You better,” I rumbled, leaning back in my chair.
Just then, I heard the soft click of a door, and quiet voices drifted down the hall. Every muscle in my body went instantly taut.
Danika stepped out first. The second the sunlight hit her, it felt like all the air got sucked clean out of the room.
The oversized jumper and messy hair were gone.
She’d showered, pulled on dark fitted jeans that curved perfect over her hips, and a soft cream knit jumper that made her green eyes glow bright.
Her hair fell in wild soft waves around her face, freckles standing clear across her nose.
She looked put-together, beautiful… and so sharp it made my heart hammer hard against my ribs.
Danika caught me staring, and that lovely flush rose up her neck. She looked down at her hands, that sweet shyness coming right back.
Thorn stepped out behind her, grinning like she’d just pulled off the best plan ever. She looked straight at me, then at Danika, and gave a tiny knowing wink. “You’re welcome, big guy.”
I stood up slow, looming tall over everything in the room, but my gaze stayed soft on her.
All those monsters in her past tried to break her, tried to lock her away.
But standing here right now, surrounded by people who’d burn the world down for her, I knew it was over.
Sterling could send whoever he wanted. We were ready for war. And I was never letting her go.