So after kissing the shit out of Jade, I eventually let her leave the room so we could go find food. Now that she’d agreed to be only mine, I was a happy man.

We decided to get out of the heat and play a few games of pool. It started as a joke— the cousins had challenged Razor and I to a game. We’d winked at one another, thinking we’d let them win the first few games before beating them. It turned out these girls were a formidable team. I could see the other guys were impressed as fuck.

“Are you boys a little afraid we’re going to clean up the table?” Lexi asked, quirking an eyebrow at Razor, who was so cunt-struck he was just the worst partner I’d ever had. I sighed. What a pathetic pair we made.

Ratbag answered before anyone else. “Never. Ain't no Sheilas ever beat Ryder and Razor.”

“Well, then, watch history being made tonight,” Jade said, with a sweet butter-won't-melt-in-my-mouth kind of smile, as she sank the next ball into the pocket. I whistled beneath my breath. Princess had mad skills. Looking at her, I’d assume she wouldn’t have a fucking clue how to even hold a cue, never mind play like a fucking pro. Her and Lexi were winning and not just because they were using their sexual charms, but because they actually really knew how to play the goddamn game.

Jade leaned over the table, and in those shorts, her legs seemed to go on forever. And fuck me, if every guy in the room wasn’t salivating as they gawked at her, probably fantasizing about being between those sexy pins. Note to self: Forbid Jade to wear shorts to the compound again. Fuck, Hammer and Ratbag were perving so hard on my woman, I wanted to fucking punch them. I gave them a warning glare to back off, which they understood and grinned sheepishly at being caught in the act.

Finally, it was my turn to play. The balls had been set up in such a way that I had to concentrate really hard to get the angle right, but I was determined to sink this number nine. Just as I was about to hit the ball, Jade leaned over to pick up the chalk she had ‘accidentally’ dropped, teasing me with her perfect tits. Her eyes locked with mine for a split second, and fuck, I missed.

Razor smirked. “Ryder. Fuck, man, you could do that move in your sleep. Stop staring at your bitch and play the fucking game.”

We should have quit while we were ahead. Each game, we doubled the bets. Each game, we got further behind. By now, half of the club was inside the bar, howling with laughter that Razor and I were getting our asses kicked by two women.

Razor and I were just about to win our first game when Ox came storming in to the clubhouse. Hi expression was murderous. His face was flushed, and thick veins were popping on his forehead. Was he furious about Razor and Lexi? When Ox was angry, anybody who valued their life thought twice before they challenged him—it would be a seriously dumb mistake.

“Ox? What’s up, brother?” I wanted to diffuse any problems before it got ugly. Today was not the day for fights about pussy.

“Fucking cops at the gate. They have a search warrant. And one of them is acting like a raving lunatic, threatening to kill me if I don’t open the fucking gates.”

Cobra was the first to react.

“Jesus. Fuck. Can’t they just leave us alone for one day? I’ll go talk to them.”

Mia stepped in front of Cobra. “No honey, please. You’re not . . . ah, God . . . please let somebody else handle this?” Her voice was filled with panic. I couldn’t blame her after what they’d been through.

I put an arm on Cobra’s shoulder in an attempt to settle him down. “Hey, time I stepped up to the VP challenge. Let me talk to the fuckers. OK?”

He was still staring at Mia’s face when he nodded. Guess she got to him.

“We’re coming with ya.” Razor, Hammer and Ox fell in behind me as I turned to leave.

I stopped Ratbag from following. “Look after the Sheilas, bro,” I ordered. “Keep them safe.”

Ratbag swallowed hard. Realizing that he’d been given the most important job of all, he nodded his head. A deep frown marred his brow. I guessed that the enormity of the responsibility was sinking in, yet I knew I could trust Ratbag to do as asked.

Marching to the gate, I was mad as hell. We were having a family barbeque, for fuck’s sake. Why did the fuckers think they needed to come and ruin the party? It was sunset, and we’d had a peaceful day so far, everyone enjoying the day, being together as one big happy family. Until this intrusion. Fuck.

The big motherfucker with his hands on the gate, his knuckles white because he was gripping so tightly, caught my eye first. He was a brute of a man, and I was used to big guys like Ox.

He wasn’t dressed in uniform. Instead he wore black jeans and a black T-shirt. A beanie covered his head and his jaw was set in stone as he glared at me, hatred burning in his eyes. As I drew closer, I noticed the tattoo on the inside of his muscled forearm. Underneath the scales of justice were the words: “Justice for all.”

Angry cop. Fuck.

“Open this gate. Now,” he commanded, a sneer on his face as he held up his badge.

I sucked in a breath when I read his name. Very fucking angry cop. Harrison fucking Summers. Jade’s brother.

Shit just got real.

Chapter 17 ~ Ryder

I couldn’t signal to Ratbag to hide Jade and Lexi in the safe place. Jesus, why hadn’t I thought of that before coming out? I should’ve guessed it was a matter of time before her brother came to the compound to snoop.

Did he know that Jade and Lexi were here?

Hammer caught my eye, and by the frown on his face I knew he’d worked out that this was connected to Jade. He’d helped me look up information on Jade and her cop brother online after Jade had told me the story about the incident, so he’d recognize his name.

I nodded ever so slightly. Hammer was the smart one, like my brother, Max, who was usually two steps ahead of everyone else. He turned on his heels and walked slowly back to the clubhouse. I knew it took every inch of control for him not to run. But if he did, it would raise alarm bells. Acting as if he was just bored was far smarter. But inside, my guts were churning.

Hurry the fuck up, Hammer. Get Jade and Lexi to the safe place. I was struggling to keep my exterior cool and relaxed. As if this was nothing unusual. I had to buy time.

“So, what do you want to see?” I baited.

“Just open the fucking gates, asshole. We’ll talk inside,” he growled, even baring his teeth as a feral animal would to show his intent of ripping anything that stood in his way apart.

Ox groaned behind me. He was struggling to remain calm. I knew he was just dying to lay into the angry cop. If I weren’t careful, we’d have a fucking fistfight on our hands. Well, maybe that wasn’t such a bad idea . . . Only problem was, we were outnumbered three to one and besides, that would just alert them into thinking we had something to hide, and make them even more determined to snoop around the compound.

“Yeah? I don’t give a fuck what kinda badge you wearing. If you’re on my territory, you don’t talk to me like that without getting your fucking nose broken.” I squinted and stared him down. Harrison’s hand went to his nose instinctively. That’s when I noticed it was already screwed. He must’ve had it broken before.

Jesus. A cop with a death wish. There was nothing worse. They were the kind of vigilantes that took the law into their own hands—shooting first, and questioning after. I had to stay calm for Jade’s sake. As much as I wanted to punch the fucker in the face and make his nose bleed, I had to rein it in.

Harrison shook the bars in front of him. “I’m counting to three. If you don’t open the fucking gate, we are shooting it open.” As if that was a signal, the uniformed cops lifted their guns. Jesus, Harrison wasn’t playing a game of chicken. He had balls of fucking steel. I had to admire that about a man, even if he was on the other team.

I nodded to Razor. He knew the drill. Pretending to be so nervous that he forgot the code and kept punching in the wrong numbers. Razor hated playing scared, because he was a really mean motherfucker. Ever since he and Cobra saved me all those years ago, I’d never seen Razor scared of anything.

Harrison saw straight through the ruse. “Quit stalling,” he barked at Razor. Razor rolled his eyes back in his head, clenching his jaw as he aggressively punched in the right numbers. Fuck, Razor wanted to go to town on the cops. He was even wearing his custom shoes with the razorblades imbedded into the soles. We’d have a fucking bloodbath on our hands.

“Razor, chill,” I reminded him. That was the great thing about being brothers. We only needed a word to convey a whole message. Razor shook his head, like a wet dog would, as if ridding himself of his thoughts. He had just as much at stake here, even though he wasn’t aware that Harrison Summers was related to the girl he was sweet on. I hadn’t told him that part yet. Fuck, I hadn’t known before earlier today that he was soft on that bitch.

Why the fuck was Harrison Summers here?

Was it coincidence, or did he know his sister and cousin were here? I just hoped that none of the brothers or their bitches would say anything out of place. None of them were aware of this situation. Not even Cobra or Mia. Fuck.

Once the gates opened, Harrison strode forward, pushing Razor out of the way with one hand. Fucker was strong. Razor growled, ready to retaliate, but I shook my head, showing him to back off—for now, at least.

Where is she?” Harrison growled, indicating with a nod toward the clubhouse. The cops immediately raised their weapons and stalked the clubhouse.

I held up my hands. “She? Who are you talking about?” Jesus, he was here as Jade’s brother, here to protect her. But she was my woman. I wanted to protect her, too. This was all kinds of fucked up.

“Jade. My little sister. I’m taking her home with me.”

My mouth went dry. Fuck, he’d just commanded up ten fucking cops and a search warrant to help him fetch his sister? He didn’t mess around. He meant fucking business.

“And Lexi, my cousin. I know she works here. Well tonight, that changes.”

I gripped Razor’s T-shirt and fisted it tightly, holding him back. I wasn’t sure how much longer I’d be able to keep everything under control. Praying that Hammer had gotten Jade and Lexi to the safe place, I watched the cops burst into the clubhouse. Only a few steps behind, I wanted to see if the girls were gone.

The boys were playing pool, some hanging by the bar, others around the dartboard, as if nothing unusual was happening. A few women were chatting away on the couches, holding their kids on their laps.

Thank fuck. All those drills in the past had paid off. Everyone was acting as if this was just any Sunday night at the clubhouse. I swallowed hard. Fuck, I loved these people.

Harrison nodded toward the rooms. “Open every door. We won’t rest till we find the girls. I know they’re here. The sooner they come out, the better for everyone. I’ll tear this place to fucking pieces if I have to.”

I believed him. Rage was radiating in waves from every pore in his body.

I just hoped that Ratbag got it right.

Chapter 18 ~ Ryder

My heart nearly jumped out of my chest.

“Hello, cousin. Fancy seeing you here.” Lexi’s sultry voice behind me sent goosebumps scattering across my skin. Jesus fucking Christ. Why was she still here?

“Lexi,” Harrison growled, “Where’s Jade? Is she still in the bathroom?” His gaze went to the door from which Lexi had just emerged.

“Nah, she went home ages ago. Jade and me had a huge fight. As usual. She stormed out of here, saying she’d never go anywhere with me again. Sorry, Cuz,” she looked at him from under her lashes, all apologetically, as if she knew she’d done wrong.

“Jade’s left? How come I didn’t know that? This place is under surveillance 24/7.” Smirking, he grinned at me. “Yeah, just in case you didn’t know,” he said, a clear warning in his tone.

“Yeah, I convinced her to come to the barbeque with me. You know, after what happened with Marcus, I thought she should get out a bit. So I dragged her here. Then we had a fight, and she went home. Probably sulking in her room now.”

Harrison dialed a number on his phone. Smart fucker. My hands were clammy as I fisted them by my sides, my heart racing, pumping adrenaline through my body.