With one final sobering breath, I made my way to the bar. When I stepped in, most of the men were back from their rooms and Pit was back serving behind the bar, the brother still avoiding my eyes. My teeth clenched with suspicion, but I decided to leave it for now. Too much shit went on tonight and the brothers needed a break. I scanned the crowd looking for Mae, when Beauty’s blond hair and Letti’s big build caught my eye.

Making my way over, Ky fell into step beside me. “Tank’s still on the road. Gonna contact the payroll inside the senator’s office, see what he can scope out.”

I gave a curt nod and Ky headed for the bar. His favorite slut, Tiff, almost creamed when he approached. I couldn’t help but smirk. He sure had no problems finding pu**y.

Letti nudged Beauty when I reached their table and she smiled. Something was off.

Thought you were pissed at me? I signed.

Her fake-ass smile dropped. “I am.”

Yeah? Then why the smiles? I deliberately glanced around the room. And where’s Mae?

Yup, there was her weird smile again.

What? I signed to Beauty, my jaw beginning to tick.

Ky slung his arm around my neck from behind, slammed my beer on the table, and asked, “Why does everyone look so damn pissed?”

I gripped Beauty’s arm and signed again, What you acting f**kin’ weird for? Where’s Mae?

“She’s with Rider,” Beauty whispered nervously.

I swear it was like the movies when the music cuts and everything stops. Rider?

Ah, shit!

“We went to check if he was okay. He let us stay. Then they started spouting some Christian shit at each other and she refused to leave. They seem pretty damn close.”

I squeezed my eyes shut. Close?

Snapping my eyes back open, I asked, Why’d she refuse to leave?

“‘Cause she don’t wanna see you!”

“Christ, you sure know how to f**k things up!” Ky laughed.

Pushing Ky aside, I powered through the bar in the direction of Rider’s room. Beauty tried to pull me back. “Styx, wait. It won’t do no good, you bustin’ in there like that!”

I pulled back my arm and barged into the room, the pair of them sitting on the couch, side by side, laughing at some shitty movie… and, f**k, Rider was half naked.

As I stumbled in, Mae and Rider sat up straight, staring in disbelief at me as I thundered toward them. What the f**k is this? I signed, pointing at them both on the couch. Rider translated for Mae, which just f**kin’ pissed me off.

“Not what you think, brother,” Rider said quickly. Too quickly. Mae’s ice-blue eyes burned. At that moment, she looked so f**kin’ beautiful my chest ached.

But when I noticed his clothes on her body, fury instantly possessed me. Yeah, then why is she here with your shit on, in your f**kin’ room… Alone! The about-to-become-dead brother translated again.

Mae shot to her feet and screamed, “Because… I… do… not… want… to… see… you!”

Shocked, I ran my fingers through my hair a couple times. So… what? You gonna be Rider’s bitch now?” Mae looked to Beauty, who reluctantly relayed what I’d signed.

“It is not like that,” she snapped. “I just cannot see you right now. You hurt me, Styx. I need space.”

Fine. But you’re in my room. If you’re in my f**kin’ club, you’re in my f**kin’ room. That’s the way it is. Let’s go!

On hearing my orders voiced by Beauty, I stabbed out my hand. Mae didn’t take it. I watched her cast a shocked look at Rider. Well, that just pissed me off even more.

Now, Mae! I ordered again, no translation required. I knew I was being a possessive dick… but I didn’t like the way she was looking at Rider and him at her.

We got a problem, brother? I signed to Rider.

“No problem,” he replied.

“I want to stay in here,” Mae announced quietly.

Not f**kin’ happening. Rider again translated, looking more like a dead man by the minute.

“Then I shall leave!”

I froze. Much to my annoyance, so did Rider. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t know what the f**k to do. I could see in her eyes that she meant it. Sure as hell, I didn’t want her to leave.

Fuckin’ classic. A Mexican standoff!

“She can have the bed. I’ll take the couch until I can get back home,” Rider offered.

Like f**k she can. I fumed.

“What did he say, Rider?” Mae asked, measured menace in her voice. She had more edge to her than I’d given her credit for.

“He don’t want you staying with me,” Rider replied neutrally.

Her ice-blue eyes narrowed. “Agree to it or I leave. I mean it, Styx. I cannot stay with you right now. You must take responsibility for what you have done!”

I laughed to myself. Karma’s a bitch, ain’t it? You know what, Mae? Do what the f**k you like. I then pointed at Rider. You touch her, I kill you.

Threat made, I turned sharply.

“You hurt me!” Mae blurted, her voice breaking.

I froze.

“You made me feel ashamed of myself… my past… things that I had no control over.” I slowly turned around and saw the f**kin’ shredding pain on her face, in her stance. Christ. Mae folded her arms across her chest, dropped her gaze from mine, and moved to sit next to Rider on the couch… right next Rider.

My jaw clenched as her head fell on his shoulder. The brother looked shocked, but I watched that shock turn to a whole lot more. I walked forward and placed my hand on her shoulder.

She tensed and shrugged my hand away.

“Just go, Styx…” she whispered, and my heart f**kin’ sank.

I was such a dumb f**k.

With that, I left, intent on drowning my sorrows in my room with my buddy Jim Beam…

…Far, far away from any club sluts called Dyson who wanted to suck my cock.

Chapter Fifteen

Styx

Lois was buried five days later: black-and-chrome casket, dimes on her eyes, and laid to rest next to her folks in our compound’s cemetery—too many bodies filling that space of late.

Every brother and their old lady attended… and so did Mae. She linked arms with Rider, propping the brother up and fussing over him like a goddamn nurse. It took everything I had not to launch over the open grave and empty a 9mm into Rider’s skull. But even a sinner like me can respect the funeral service of a sister. Mae was stoic throughout the whole thing, Rider’s eyes constantly watching her and me always watching him.