I told them this was a bad idea.
Berate them later. Get a fucking grip on yourself.
I begged Eli to take me somewhere else until he and Gabe had a chance to smooth things over with Ethan, to get him used to the idea I’m back. But GabeinsistedEthan would be fine with my being at the clubhouse because his president wouldmake him okay with it.
Becausethat’show shit works, right? Someone tells you to be okay and suddenly you are.
It’s asinine.
Ethan wouldn’t be okay with me being in the same county. Yet, here I am, in his precious clubhouse. The sanctuary for all club members. The one place, had they not forced me to be right now, would still be undefiled.
I’m his enemy.
The enemy his brothers not only invited but welcomed here.
The enemy who stole his sister form him.
Okay, so it wasn’t like I was given an engraved invitation, more like theymademe come at Daddy’s request. Even though I warned them Ethan would lose his shit when he found out.
Fucking men. They never listen when you try to warn them their ideas are stupid!
Ethan charges toward me. Everything happens with a domino effect.
Eli, Cash, Walker, and Xander all file in a half circle, a muscular wall of leather formed in front of me and Ghost. My uncle stands at my back with his hands firmly planted on my shoulders, a show of solidarity to me.
That’s going to go over well.
Another proverbial knife in Ethan’s back.
Cash walks forward a couple steps, forcing Ethan back enough to create space between Ethan and Eli, making it clear Ethan won’t be disrespecting Cash’s president without repercussions.
The vein behind my eye is beginning to twitch at the amount of testosterone being thrown around in this room.
Ethan isn’t angry, he’s confused. His brothers are showing their loyalty lies with me before him.
Solidarity to an outsider.
The enemy.
Not their brother.
It’s a slap to the face.
The MC is a brotherhood. A family. Their ways don’t make sense unless you understand the loyalty and depth of friendship and familial connection they all share. It goes far beyond wearing a cut and becoming a member. Their safety, security…hell, their lives, are dependent upon each other every day. The trust they share is earned and held sacred. The patch on their back is warn as a badge of honor and a warning to any who would dare fuck with one of them. Because you fuck with one, you get them all.
Ethan’s brothers are standing before him, guarding me, his nemesis.
The woman he believes betrayed him and his family.
I’m certain by the scowl on his face he sees their stance as an act of disloyalty. Treason of sorts. He won’t understand their motives or their actions. He doesn’t know protecting me was a direct order from both his president and theirs. He wasn’t made privy to the arrangement. Not many in this room are.
“Back the fuck up, Anderson,” Eli demands.
Ethan doesn’t budge. His breathing is ragged. His eyes are burning with fire. Every muscle is taut. He’s not even seeingthem. He’s looking right through them and straight atme.
He’s the predator and I’m his prey.
Unfortunately, it’s not a bedroom situation where this kind of attention would be welcomed. Shame.