Chapter 51
-Hailey-
The air was electric when We
poured back into the clubhouse. Full of relief and barely contained rage.
Monty was back, but Becker’s shadow loomed over all of us.
Scarlett shoved a bottle of whiskey into Monty’s hands before he could even take a breath, her grin wild and dangerous. “Welcome home, babe.” Her voice cracked just enough to show the worry.
Monty didn’t hesitate. He tipped the bottle back, the whiskey glinting in the dim light as it disappeared
The club erupted in cheers, and the tension was temporarily drowned out by the clink of glasses and the roof voices.
Logan leaned against the bar beside me, his arm brushing against mine as he poured shots. He held one up and cleared his throat. “Here’s to Monty! This place wasn’t the same without you, brother.”
The club cheered again as everyone toasted to Monty. Then Monty climbed up on a chair, bottle of whiskey in hand, and looked over at me and Logan.
“Nah, fuck that,” he held up the bottle with a smirk. “To Hailey. Without her, I’d probably still be rotting in that cell.”
Everyone cheered again, tossing back their drinks.
I smiled, glancing around the room. I could feel heat creeping into my cheeks.
“Drink up, Ace,” Logan murmured, sliding a shot of whiskey toward me.
I downed it without hesitation, but the burn in my throat didn’t fully chase away the chill Becker’s words had left behind.
The music was already loud. The kind that made your chest vibrate and your thoughts blur. Then someone cranked up the volume on the jukebox, and suddenly I couldn’t hear myself think.
I watched Monty grab Scarlett by the waist, spinning her around before pulling her into a kiss that was more teeth than lips.
Logan nudged me with his shoulder, dragging me out of my head. “Quit thinkin“,” he said, his voice loud as he leaned in close enough for me to feel his breath against my ear. “Today’s for celebrating. Tomorrow’s for worrying.”
I nodded, forcing a smile as I leaned into him. But the weight of Becker’s words lingered, a constant hum beneath the noise of the party.
“I know what you need,” he said after a minute. “Wait here.”
I watched him stride across the room toward River. He said something in his ear, and River’s eyes lit up. disappeared into the back room.
Then they
They reappeared a few minutes later carrying a long table, and the room erupted into shouts and whistles. Scarlett went to the kitchen and came back with a pack of party cups and a bucket of ping pong balls.
I watched them set up the table in the middle of the room. Scarlett grinned as she poured beer into the cups, lining them up in perfect triangles. Somebody turned the music down, and the energy shifted, focusing on the beer pong setup.
Logan caught my eye and smirked. He jerked his head toward the table, a silent invitation.
I hesitated, but the pull of him was too strong. I couldn’t help it. I made my way over, pushing my way through the crowd until I was standing next to him.
11:38 Tue, Dec 30 JR
Chapter 51
“You and me, Ace,” he said. “Let’s show these clowns how it’s done.”
I raised an eyebrow, trying to hide the smile tugging at my lips. “You’ve got a lot of faith in my aim.”
He chuckled, leaning in close. “I don’t call you Ace for nothin‘”
Before I could respond, Scarlett was shoving ping pong balls into our hands. Her energy was infectious. “Alright, lovebir she said. “You’re up against me and Monty. Try not to embarrass yourselves,”
90
Monty grinned, pulling her into his side as they took their place across the table. “You’re goin‘ down. Don’t think I’m gonna take it easy on you just ‘cause you got me outta jail.”
I could see the competitive glint in Logan’s eyes as he smiled at me. “You go first.”
I took a deep breath, focusing on the cups. The room seemed to fade out, the noise dulling as I lined up my my wrist, sending the ball arcing through the air.
It landed with a satisfying *plink* in their center cup.
I flicked
The room erupted in hoots and hollers again, and Logan’s arm slid around my waist, pulling me into him. “Nice shot,” he murmured against my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.
Monty groaned dramatically, downing the beer in the cup before handing the ball to Scarlett. “Lucky shot,” he muttered, but his grin betrayed him.
The game went on, and it was in full swing when the clubhouse door swung open. I glanced over, not sure who I was expecting to see.
Kat Sterling stepped inside, her crisp pantsuit immaculate against the grunge of the clubhouse. She looked like she’d walked out of the boardroom and into a war zone.
My stomach flipped at the sight of her another reminder of Becker’s world bleeding into ours.
Behind her was a younger woman, mid–thirties maybe, dressed similarly but with a nervous energy.
Kat surveyed the room with her usual no–nonsense expression, her eyes landing on Monty. “Maverick. It’s good to see you back where you belong.”
Logan smirked, tossing the ball in his hand. “Kat. We were just schooling Scarlett and Monty. You want next game?”
Kat chuckled, raising an eyebrow. “I’ll pass. But I did bring someone I want you all to meet.”
She gestured to the woman beside her, who offered a polite smile. “This is Veronica Larson. As we are all aware, I’m getting older and crabbier. Hell, I can already taste my retirement. When that time comes, Ronny will be taking over my role as the club’s legal counsel.”
Ronny stepped forward with a small wave. “Nice to meet you all.”
There was a long pause, and then the club whistled and cheered in unison. “Ronnayyyy!”
She smiled sheepishly, glancing around the room with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. “Thanks. Kat’s been… thorough in preparing me for this.”
Kat snorted, crossing her arms over her chest. “Have to be. But I’m not retiring yet. Ronny’s going to shadow me for a while, learn the ropes. And if you idiots need me after that, I’ll still be around. Someone’s gotta keep you all out of prison.”
Monty raised his whiskey bottle. “Here’s to Kat. The real MVP!”
Kat rolled her eyes through the cheers, but I caught a hint of a smile. She clapped Ronny on the shoulder, steering her
11:38 Tue, Dec 30 JR
Chapter 51
toward the bar. “Now, let’s get you a drink. You’re going to need it.”
90
As the day wore on, the drinks flowed faster, the laughter grew louder, and the tension Becker had sent home with us started to fade or maybe it was just buried under the haze of alcohol.
–
Monty held court at the pool table, his presence magnetic as he regaled the club with stories from his time insi
Logan and I stood at the edge of the crowd, his arm slung casually over my shoulders as we listened. Monty’s voice was steady, but his words were slurring a little.
“They try to break you,” he said, his eyes dark as he scanned the room. “But they don’t know who they’re fur! brothers out here who’d burn the world down for me. And that’s somethin‘ they’ll never understand.”
I got
The club erupted again, fists pounding tables in agreement.
Logan’s hand slid down my arm, his fingers intertwining with mine as Monty’s voice carried on. “They can lock me up,” he said, his tone sharper. “They can try to bury me. But they’ll never take what’s mine.”
Scarlett stepped forward, her hand finding Monty’s as she raised her glass. “To family,” she said, her voice steady despite the tears glistening in her eyes.
The club raised their glasses one last time, the words echoing through the room like a battle cry. “To family.”
Logan’s grip on my hand tightened, his lips brushing my temple as he murmured, “You’re one of us now, Ace. Don’t forget that.”
I nodded, my throat tight as I clinked my glass against his.
But as the cheers died down and someone turned the music up again, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Becker’s shadow was still lurking in the corners of the room waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
–
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
