Ky busied himself with making calls, while Styx drove ridiculously fast back to the compound. I could not speak and Styx was clearly furious. I could tell by his gritted teeth and white knuckles gripping the wheel.

As we turned into the compound, half of the brothers were outside, loaded with huge guns. As we stopped, they whipped open the doors of the truck and dragged Rider out of the back seat and into the clubhouse. An older fat man holding a large black bag puffed behind them. Doctor Brett, I presumed.

Styx walked round the truck and picked me up, running straight inside the bar.

Beauty came barreling over. “Jesus Christ! What the hell happened? One minute Lois was alive and breaking her heart crying, the next, f**kin’ carnage!” She stilled, her hands beginning to shake. “Fuck. They killed Lois…” she whispered. “Poor bitch… she… she…” Beauty trailed off, unable to finish her sentence.

The bar quickly filled with brothers and Styx held me against his hard damp body as Beauty pressed something against my wound, fighting back tears.

Fuckin’ drive by! Ky’s voice shouted. I realized Styx was furiously signing, his arms tight around my shoulders as Ky translated.

What the f**k! First the f**kin’ Russians drop the deal. Then we get a f**kin’ drive by!!! Styx looked right at me, Ky following his ASL, and he ran his cheek along the top of my head. Lois took a slug between the eyes and they even fired at Mae. WHAT. THE. FUCK???

I shivered in fear as I listened to his harsh words. Beauty hugged me close.

“Styx, you’re scaring the f**kin’ shit outta her,” she said quietly. I could not stop picturing Lois’s shocked face in my mind, her lifeless body slumping to the ground. Why did you have to come here… I have nothing left…

Poor Lois!

Styx bowed his head and he was handed a drink by Bull, which he threw back in one. He still did not let me go, his arms tight around my neck.

Styx slammed his hand on the tabletop twice and the room grew silent, all eyes on him, Ky, as always, moved beside him to translate.

Bull, Tank, Smiler—find out what you can from the good sheriff. He should know if any new f**kers have moved into our territory. Asians, mobs—any new movement. Someone is playing on our turf and the f**kers don’t even have the balls to do it face to face. Bastard Balaclavas. Shit keeps going south and we’ll be on lockdown.

There was a mixture of firm head nods and miserable groans around the club. I had no idea what a lockdown was, but I could hazard a guess.

Some f**ker’s trying to mess with the club and I won’t rest ’til we have f**kin’ answers and some ass**le dead!” Bull placed another drink in front of Styx and he tossed that one back too, then he went back to signing.

We find out who it is and take them out. Styx pointed at Tank, Bull, and Smiler, who were preparing to leave. Under the radar, yeah? The last thing we need is that ass**le Senator Collins breathing down our neck.

The three men nodded their understanding and went out the front door, the sound of their bikes soon fading in the distance.

Finally, Styx turned to the rest of the men in the room. Mae—Styx pointed at me, Ky’s voice loud and stern as if Styx were saying something important—is under my protection and y’all know what that means.

I frowned and looked to Beauty, who offered me a watery smile. My heart broke for her. She had lost a friend today and she was hurting. The entire club was.

Mae was nearly killed today… Lois f**kin’ was. We were either tailed by the f**kers from compound or someone leaked intel last minute. And by Christ, it better’ve been the first or I’ll rip the rat apart limb by f**kin’ limb.

I shivered at his threatening words. The men in the room were clearly uneasy too.

Rider’s been shot in the shoulder. Doc’s with him now. I’m f**kin’ raging at this whole cock-sucking mess!

Ky’s cell phone rang, cutting through the heavy atmosphere Styx’s words had generated. “Yeah?” he answered, and after a few seconds looked up at Styx, slamming the phone back shut.

“Flame, the faux-hawked motherfucker, just caught him some Balaclava meat. The cunt who killed Lois.” That devastatingly handsome smirk spread on his face.

Styx tipped his head back and sighed in pure relief. ETA? he spelled out, Ky voicing his question out loud.

“‘Bout an hour. Told Flame to take him out back. You want the honor, right?”

A hungry grin tugged on Styx’s lips and he cracked his neck as he rolled it from side to side. I did not need this response translated. He had a look of revenge in his eyes. Glancing around the room, he signed, We find these cunts… Then we send them to the boatman, right to Hades.

Styx had quick words with Ky and a few other men I did not know, then came to me. He took my hand and dragged me away.

When he entered the main door to his apartment, he sat me down on the bed, meeting my gaze. “Y-you okay?” He nodded toward the graze on my arm that Beauty had packed and bandaged.

“It is just a graze.”

He began to pace before me on the hardwood floor, each step becoming more and more angry. “Wh-why the f**k d-did they attack?”

“I… I do not know?” I whispered, keeping my head down. I did not like this side of Styx. I suddenly understood why he was feared by so many people—he had a dark side… a frightening side.

Walking to a large panel of wood that separated the bedroom chamber of his rooms, Styx screamed loudly and punched his hand straight through the wood, leaving a large hole, his fall-colored eyes untamed and wild.

Unable to conceal my shock, I shrieked and covered myself on the bed. Styx ignored my fright and disappeared through to the linen closet. He came back with a towel, throwing it on my lap.

“G-get in the shower and clean that f-f-fuckin’ blood off you.”

Losing the battle with my trembling lip, I took the large white towel and scurried into the bathroom. As soon as the door shut, I let my emotions flow freely. Styx was so angry. His attitude toward me had turned cold and sour—just like every other man I had ever known.

I honestly believed that Styx was different.

The man outside was Styx, the Hangmen Mute, the president of an outlaw MC, the man capable of killing with zero remorse. The man outside was no longer the man I knew.

He terrified me.

I walked to the mirror, staring at my rough appearance: wounded arm, messy hair, scratched skin, and dirtied clothes. I was a mess, but all I could think about was Rider injured, Lois dead… and Rider had saved me. Jumped in front of me and saved me. He saved my life. He could die and I—