n't s

ow that moved wrong had me reaching for my phone to call... who? The police?

le. Someone thought they could scare me off with anonymous phone calls and veiled r

led back in a bun tight enough to give me a headache. If Kane Drax thought he could

t, more whispered conversations that stopped when I passed. Parano

. He looked exhausted too, dark circles under his eyes like he'd spent the night pacing his cell. When those hazel-gold ey

ell," he said by

t my briefcase down harder than necessary, the sharp

istakable. From casual to alert in the

e call I receiv

id, hands clenching into fists on the metal table. For a moment, his eyes

phone

er hanging up. "Unknown number, refined voice, mentioned my mother by na

olutely white beneath hi

know who

he small room like a caged animal. "This is exactly what I

ept my voice level despite the fear and anger churning in my gut.

see the tension in his shoulders, the way his

was rough, dangerous. "Fine. B

y m

breath catch. Raw, desperate, like he was ab

b. We run high-stakes street races-illegal

y started cataloging the

t paid to patrol other neighborhoods on race nights, and

moved when he was agitated, the barely leashed power in every gesture.

Victo

that get people killed if they're not paid. She thought if she could

en you

mile was sharp as broken glass. "If she can't

s wasn't just about a spoiled princess's wounded ego. This was

involved in

re... other clubs. Rival organizations

es,

e a growl. "Led by Marcus Blackthorn. We've got history-bad his

rch him, though something about the name

e's behind t

, and I caught that intoxicating scent that made my mouth water despite everyth

go to t

"You think the feds are going to care about some biker's word against a sen

lose was scrambling my thoughts, making it hard to focus

you suggest?

oice was soft, but there was steel beneath the silk. "Walk away

N

lt. Kane's eyes flashed with somethi

al

narrow table. "I don't back down from fights, Kane. Especi

his careful control slipped, and I saw raw hunger fl

rstand what you

matching his intensity. "Stop trying to pro

ighting some internal battle. Finally, he reached across t

f me," he said quietly, "I

flecks in his hazel eyes, could count the individual scars mapping his knuck

aid of you,"

hitched. "Yo

voice barely audible. "W

lips parted, his eyes dark with secrets and want. Then foots

, putting distance between us just a

" the offic

are of Kane's gaze tracking my every movement.

al

ensity in his express

route. And if anyone approaches you-anyo

not trusti

mise

romi

ed like I'd hurt

r w

gaze burned with something tha

'm about to

t, the guard was escorting me out, leaving Kane alone with his