The Riders’ Reign (Verona Falls Riders #3)

1. Camile

CAMILE

A popcorn kernel hits the side of my head, and I suppress a smile.

“You’re going to be in trouble for that,” I say.

I pluck a piece out of my own tub and throw it back at Ace, who is sitting opposite. He ducks and chucks another one, and we both laugh.

The compound has felt quiet since the guys went on their ride out. Even though lots of people stayed behind, a strange calm has descended. Maybe everyone just needs to chill after everything that’s gone down.

Ace promised Jack that he would spend time with me today, to make sure I was safe while the guys were out on their bikes, so we’re hanging out at my, albeit temporary, place until they’re back.

My thoughts flit to the men on their ride, and the one in particular that takes up far too much time in my head, Jack.

It's a shame he can't realize that his overprotective, controlling ways toward me mean something deeper. It's clear his feelings are getting serious, but he still won't act on them.

The popcorn fight forgotten, Ace stands and stretches, his t-shirt rising to reveal an impressive set of abs, then heads into the kitchen.

“Drink?” he shouts from there.

“Coke, please.”

He returns with two cans of Coke. He hands me one, drops back into his chair, and takes a long pull from the can. I watch his throat work, and it’s impossible not to find it sexy.

He has one ankle crossed over the other knee and his foot is tapping. It’s not like Ace to be nervous. Does he have something he wants to say to me?

“Give it some time,” he blurts eventually.

“Sorry?”

“Jack. He needs time.”

I snort at that. “He’s had a lot of time, Ace. If he isn’t coming around now, he never will.”

It strikes me how I can talk to Ace about this so comfortably. “You don’t mind, do you? About sharing, I mean.”

He shrugs. “Maybe at first, I had my doubts it could work, but we’re family, right? All of us. Those guys are my brothers, and you’re… well, I don’t know what you are.” His gaze searches mine. “Girlfriend seems like such a tame word for all the things I feel for you.”

Goddamnit, Ace. Why do you always tear my heart out?

I fiddle with the ring pull on my can and keep my gaze averted. “Is everyone talking about me? I guess people know I’m hooking up with you and Rook? But maybe not about Ghost?”

“I'm not sure if it's common knowledge, but I figure a fair few people know. They’ve got eyes. Even if they haven’t seen us come and go from your house, they must notice the way I look at you. And as for Rook...” He chuckles.

“What about Rook?”

Ace grins. “Come on, Camile. He stares at you like he wants to fall and worship at your feet. The man has it bad.” Then he adds, almost under his breath, “We all do. Maybe Jack most of all.”

His words stun me, and they hang in the air until, finally, I raise my eyes and look him square in the face. “What do you mean?” I try to keep my voice casual.

“I can safely say I've not seen Jack this twisted up about a woman ever. You know it, too. Look at that flirtatious display today, when they were about to ride off.”

Heat floods my face. Is he judging me? I resist the urge to press the cool can against my cheeks.

“I think Jack is just very overprotective of me because I'm his daughter’s friend.” I shake my head. “He thinks I’m too young for him.”

“Yeah, and you probably are.” He holds his free hand up in a placating gesture.

“Hey, no judgement. You just said it yourself, though.

There's a big age gap between you guys. I think if I'm reading this situation correctly, it’s part of the reason he's holding himself back. Despite being the leader of this motley gang of ours, Jack is a morally straightforward guy.”

“I understand that.”

Impatience crawls over me. All I keep hearing about is how on the straight and narrow Jack is in so many ways, but he’s not. I know what he did to me in the clubhouse, and during our mutual masturbation session, and I am so close to blurting it out to Ace.

Your hero finger fucked me in the clubhouse then sneaked away like a thief in the night.

“I'm not sure you do understand.” Ace taps the edge of his can with one finger. “I think you are head over heels for the prez, which means you're not being realistic when it comes to how you view him.”

“So, it’s hopeless?” I sigh.

“Nah. You want that man, and I think you're a girl who gets what she wants.” He grins cheekily at me.

My eyes widen a little in shock at his words. Does he think I’ve somehow trapped him, Rook, and Ghost into doing what I want?

“Camile, my gorgeous girl, that's not a criticism. Getting what you want in this world is a good thing. I just think you know how to twist a man around your finger. Hell, you’ve got three of us there right now.”

I shift uncomfortably at his words, because he’s not wrong, is he? I have wrapped them all around my little finger. All of them except Jack, that is. And now I want him there, too.

“Does that make me a bad person?” My voice is small.

“Hell, no. I’m only saying you might have more of a challenge with the prez, is all. In the end, you’ll win out. You just need patience.”

His face grows serious, and I sit up a little straighter, sure he’s about to say something I’m going to hate.

“The thing is, Camile, if you get him—if we get him—will it break him? Maybe he’ll choose to join us, but then what if he finds it hard to look at himself in the mirror each day?”

I nibble at a piece of dry skin on my lower lip. “Perhaps I'm just a foolish romantic, but I believe if you really love someone, it can overcome all kinds of odds.”

I’m aware I’m talking about love in reference to Jack, and it feels like such a huge word to bandy around, especially when I’ve already told both Ace and Rook that I love them.

Ace sighs. “Just ignore me,” he says. “I get freaked out.”

“What about?”

“The same old worry I always have, that if he does decide to claim you, but makes you choose, he’ll win. I’ll lose you.”

His mouth twists, and I’m up and out of my seat before I have time to think. My arms go around his neck, and I bury my nose in the spot where throat meets collarbone. His scent is so healing to me. Ace is like home.

Something profound hits me.

I pull back to look in his face. “You said earlier that we were like family, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, family doesn’t let go that easily. And, Ace, I think you were the one who decided I was your family from the very beginning.”

“From the minute I saw you,” he affirms with a quiet whisper.

Some people might say that’s crazy, but it’s just pure Ace. Impetuous, and driven by his emotions, but with a heart as deep as the ocean.

I smile. “See? There’s no way I would ever turn my back on that, not for anyone.” My smile grows cheeky and I wink at him. “And as you say, I can be very persuasive, and you can be even more persuasive. We’ll win him over, and we won’t break him when we do. We’ll heal him.”

I’m convinced of that.

Ace doesn’t look quite so sure, but he returns my smile anyway, and I get the same flutter I always do when I stare at him too long.

He’s like the sun, too bright to look at for any length of time.

I lean forward and kiss him before I can stop myself. He groans into the kiss and deepens it, our tongues tangling. I shift on his lap, wanting more, always wanting more with him, even though I’m still a little sore from being with the three of them not so long ago.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

“Oh, my God.” I jump at the pounding on the door, my hand going to my throat.

“Christ, are they trying to break it in?” Ace grumbles. “Wait here.”

He ambles out of the room and toward the front door. “It’s open, assholes,” he shouts.

I grin and shake my head. As he talks in a low voice to whoever is at the door, I smile to myself and take his place on the chair, curling up and soaking up the warm feeling flowing through me.

“Camile.” Just one word from Ace, and all the warmth leaves me. His tone is dark, desolate.

I straighten. “What?”

He’s returned and is standing in the living room doorway, but I can’t read his expression. “Something’s happened.”

My stomach lurches. “What?”

“I don’t know,” he admits. “Rook called ahead to say they’re due back in a few minutes. I’m heading to the gates. Stay here.”

He turns on his heel and vanishes from view.

I jump to my feet. Oh, no. No way am I staying put when something might have happened to any one of them. They only set off a while ago and aren’t due back for ages.

Wait. Why did Rook call? Not Jack?

Oh, shit. Please no, don’t let anything have happened to Jack.

I race after Ace and catch him at the front door, pulling on his boots.

“You promised not to leave me alone,” I throw at him.

“Something’s going down, and I don’t know what. Big Mike is on his way over to sit with you, and there are your guards. I’ll be back as soon as I can, Princess.”

He pulls me in and kisses my mouth, then turns and walks out of the door. I stare after him for one beat before I make up my mind.

I grab my cardigan from the hook by the door, for a chill that has nothing to do with the weather and everything to do with the icy fear washing over me. I slip out of the house, pulling the front door shut behind me.

Ace glances back at me, and he slows his stride, letting me catch up.

“You know that one of these days Jack will for real spank your ass if you keep on disobeying orders.”

I try to muster a smile, but as we walk toward the gates of the compound, I hear the low rumble of bikes in the distance, and my stomach twists.

What the hell has happened?

Two huge bikers are pulling the gates open to let them in, and Big Mike saunters over, along with Saul.

Some of the ol’ ladies are gathering, too.

Felicia is one of the women, and she’s not her usual glam self.

I guess she’s just come from staying over with Tank because she’s in no make-up, her hair is pulled back into a ponytail, and she’s wearing an oversized t-shirt.

She looks younger and more vulnerable like this.

I smile at her, unsure, and her returning smile is also a little scared.

Surprising me, she comes to stand by me and takes my hand to squeeze it before letting go.

The first bike roars in, and I’m shocked to see it’s not Jack, or even Ghost, but Phoenix, and, next to him, Rook. The others follow, and as Rook dismounts, moving with an unusual stiffness, a strange rushing fills my head.

I can’t stop staring at Rook. He’s covered in blood. Why is he covered in blood?

Has he been shot?

Where’s Jack? Where’s Ghost? But then Rook opens his mouth and the roaring only gets louder at his words.

“We were hit. Cars with blacked-out windows and men in masks. They shot Jack and have taken Ghost.”