Aiden Bates

“There’s nothing to deny,” I said.

“Denying his denial.” Raven nodded sagely. “Impressive.”

“I’m not denying it!”

“So you do love him?” Blade asked.

I threw my hands up. “I won’t be ganged up on like this. It’s not fair.”

I’d be left unmoored, completely adrift, if he ever decided to let me go.

Maybe it wasn’t just him I’d been protecting all these years when I was keeping my distance.

Braxton Grant was almost my exact opposite in every way—except I could appreciate his passion for law. And that would be the only passion of his I’d spend my time admiring, because I certainly didn’t have time wade through the minefield of opposites attracting, nor did I intend to try. Nothing would ever come of my odd attraction to Braxton.

He was what I thought a cop should be: someone who wanted to bring whatever justice they could to the world. Someone who wanted to protect the vulnerable, not take advantage of them. If I’d known someone like Rebel back then, maybe what happened—wouldn’t have happened. I couldn’t change the past. But maybe I could have that someone now.

“All right, listen, I’m going to impart some serious club knowledge to you. There are three ways to a biker’s heart: His stomach, his dick, or his ride.”

“Oh, jeez. Well, I’ve got two out of three covered, I think.”

“Oh? Which two?”

“Not the bike.”

Raven cackled.

“I’m coming to get you. I’ve got a good idea.”

At least I’d gotten out when I did. Grace wouldn’t remember any of this. He wouldn’t be anything to her except a nightmarish stain on my past. She wouldn’t know his face, or his fists, or the terrifying way his voice carried when he was angry. I’d make fucking sure of that much.

He just didn’t get it. And although I’d been the one who needed the time, I kind of didn’t get it, either. I didn’t understand my own problem. I just knew I needed to work through it alone. Alone without Saint. Even though he was the person I most wanted to discuss it with.

Part of me wanted to throw my door open and chase him down the hall, grab hold of him, and never let go. But the other part of me never wanted to face him again. How could I? How could I possibly look into the eyes of the man I’d just hurt so deeply?

To the Vipers, I was the elitist firstborn, the guy who got an unfair leg up. To my department, I was a Viper at heart, born into it, who could never truly be one of them. And to Hell’s Ankhor, I was an untrustworthy undercover agent.

But I couldn’t. I closed my eyes. Saint’s rule… Saint’s rule… Saint’s fucking rule. I’d never expected it to apply to me. I was stronger than that and Saint’s brothers weren’t my type. Until they were. Until one was. Until Jamie.