d dreamed of the desert highway, the gunfire, the bikers. But the cot beneath her was stiff, the r

rning sunlight leaked through the slats, cutting the room into sharp stripes of gold

and wide-eyed. She looked like someone else en

nd of boots and laughter drifted d

m. The clubhouse felt different in daylight-less like a den of predators, more like a place wher

ng, a steaming mug in his hand. His blond hair was damp, like he'd already showered. He gave her

drawled. "Sleep

ned. "Don't c

He gestured broadly. "Cinderell

She crossed her arms, hoping it

ding a cornered mouse. "Feisty. Go

e last night. That doesn

tle?" Ace sipped his coff

's voice cut in. "S

His dark eyes tracked her like a hawk's, unblinking, and quiet. He didn't smirk like Ace or fidget lik

erself to lo

and set it on the bar with a grin that actually reached his eyes. "Morning," he said, his voice warm

tark contrast to the night before that Ashle

you're gonna spoil her. Next yo

the back of his neck

eople hurt," J

, I'm supposed to grovel? Hide in that lit

calm. "You're supposed to

silence. "He's not wrong. You walked into a war, princes

idn't walk into anythi

of people," Ace said with a shr

use being trapped with four armed bikers i

ze stayed gentle. "It's not like

t for a world like this. And the way he kept sneaking glances at her, quickly looking away

mirked knowingly. "Carefu

turned red

cut he wore creaked as he moved. "Nolan wants a word when he's back," he sai

ed, dark and unreadable, befo

d been holding. Ace hopped off the stool, swagge

over his shoulder. "Stick around long

heart pounding in a confu

Don't let him get under your skin

mile. "I'm starting

iling shyly. "If you nee

nerves just enough to notice the little details... the way Ace's jacket hung carelessly over a chair, the scuffed floorboards, the old photographs nailed to the wall

time. She moved to the window and peered out, catching a glimpse of dust curling up from

lightly, like he knew whatever came next wasn't

r something in between. The mood in the clubhouse grew tense and