“Fucker’s creepin’ on Prez’s property; that’s what he’s been doing,” Ky said, cracking his neck from side to side. Styx and Ky were going to hurt Rider… all because of me.

Why the f**k’s he naked? Styx furiously signed, drawing my attention. I now understood some ASL through Styx’s intense tuition, and I most certainly did not need his question translated. Styx’s palpable emotions alone conveyed his rage at the scene before him.

“We weren’t f**king, if that’s what you’re getting at,” Rider hissed out in a stabbing tone.

That response obviously got to Styx, and I screamed as he dragged Rider to the wall, slammed him up by his throat and, ripping Ky’s gun from his hand, inserted the barrel into Rider’s mouth.

Rider was a dead man.

I ran over to Styx, trying to lower the tension. I tried to take hold of his arm, but he shrugged me off. I rubbed his back, but he stiffened and shrugged me off again. Styx focused only on Rider. I knew I had to get through to Styx, to help Rider, so I did the only thing I could think of. Walking to his left side, I pulled his arm from across Rider’s throat and, wrapping my index finger around his, lifted it up high and pressed it softly to my lips.

With a hard exhale, those beautiful fall eyes I adored so much finally focused on me. “I burst in on Rider… He was with a girl. Having relations with a girl. It was my fault he is like this… free of clothing. The blame is all mine.”

“Then why the hell was he all over you, pawing at your f**kin’ face, trying to get in your pu**y, a pu**y that’s owned by Styx?” Ky asked from behind. Styx stiffened once more and pushed the barrel farther down Rider’s throat. Rider was completely unafraid. In fact, he seemed to be resolved when he closed his eyes and bit the barrel with his teeth.

I paled.

“Styx! Stop!”

Mouthing something to Rider that I could not make out, Styx pulled back his gun and tucked me under his arm. His hold was consuming and Rider watched us heatedly, until his expression hardened.

Rider ran his hands down his face. “You know what, Styx? Fuck this! I f**kin’ love Mae and I needed her to know. So, I kissed her, and I would’ve done more if she’d a’ been into it. I wanna be her goddamn future… not you.”

Styx released a feral growl.

My head fell. Rider had just signed his own execution.

It all happened so fast. Fists and the weapon went flying. Rider and Styx became a blur of tangled bodies in a fight.

“NO!” I screamed, but Ky gripped my arms and pushed me back toward the door. I struggled to get free as Styx and Rider hit the floor, but Ky pushed me into the hallway, locking us both out.

“Ky, let me back in!” I yelled as I ran at his chest, but he was like a granite boulder barring my way.

“Reel it the f**k in, Mae. This has been coming a real long time. Shit’s just hit the fan.”

“Styx will kill him!”

He shrugged nonchalantly. “Probably.”

“Ky!”

Ky rolled his eyes and gripped my arms. “Listen up, bitch. You being in Rider’s room, not cool. Him being buck-ass naked, work it the f**k out. Styx needs this. Maybe if you were more concerned with your man than f**kin’ Rider, we wouldn’t be here right now!”

“Screw you, Ky!” I bit back, shocking myself with my choice of language.

His blue eyes widened at my outburst, then we quickly resumed our silence.

The bedroom door suddenly crashed open and Styx carried a bloodied and beaten Rider by his neck. Styx was mostly unmarked, and he threw Rider to the floor, right at my feet.

My hand flew to my mouth and I choked out a cry.

Get the f**k outta my club. You’re done. Leave your cut and patch at the door, Styx signed.

“Styx—”

“Just shut the f**k up, Mae!” Rider ordered from the floor, slowly getting to his feet. Blood from his mouth and nose pooled on the floor. My gaze shot to Rider’s eyes. All I saw was disappointment in his stare. Styx threw a pair of jeans and boots at Rider’s face and Rider shoved them on. As he stood, he looked me dead in the eyes and held out his hand.

“Mae…” he whispered, looking so broken stood before me, imploring me to choose him. I drank in his large frame, his brown eyes, and his soft rugged beard. His long straight brown hair hung wild over his broad shoulders and his Hades tattoos stood out proudly against his tanned skin. This was it. I knew I would not see him again after this moment. I was losing another friend and it was killing me.

“Rider…” I cried as I turned my head to Styx, who was watching me intently, a hint of fear in his beautiful hazel-eyed gaze.

“Mae?” Rider pushed again, and facing him once more, I repeated, “I’m so sorry… I’m so sorry…”

Rider smiled in disbelief and shook his head. “You’ve chosen wrong, Mae. You’ve chosen so f**kin’ wrong.”

In a flash, Rider stormed out of the door and out of the club. The loud thrum of a Chopper’s engine disappeared into the distance.

Rider was gone—for good.

Styx stood before me, panting, glowering, his ripped muscles bulging under his black T-shirt. He lifted his hand, wiping blood from his lip.

Ky hightailed it from the hallway, leaving us all alone.

“Styx—”

Styx flew at me and slammed me back against the wall, his mouth crashing to mine. I broke away, palming his chest. “How could you do that? How could you hurt him like that? He is broken-hearted! You did not need to beat him!”

His eyes seemed to burn. “Fucker d-deserved it. I’m d-done with the c-cunt trying to have you. You’re mine.” Styx’s fingers ran over my mouth and my eyes rolled back at his gentleness. “I own th-these perfect d-damn lips.” His fingers then ran across my cheeks. “Th-these wolf e-eyes.” Then he cupped my face and kissed my nose. “This f-f-fuckin’ t-twitchin’ nose!” Styx leaned in and his tongue ran around the shell of my ear. “You n-need to let him the f**k g-go. This is m-me, Mae. This i-is wh-who I am! You w-want this… us… you t-take me as I am.”

“Styx—” I cried as his hands crept up to fist in my hair, my tears falling at his words, and he locked me in his embrace. I could not move an inch.

Styx’s lip ring scraped against my lips as his tongue fought and plundered its way into my mouth. His tongue found mine and it dominated, demonstrating his absolute control. He was so raw, so unrestrained when it came to me, and my thighs clenched together in need. Lord, I wanted him so much… exactly how he was.