Page 108 of Nash

Before he sits, Nash pours three shots of clear liquor—vodka, I assume—and offers one to Nadine and then me.

They raise their glasses silently, so I offer my usual toast: “Here’s to staying positive and testing negative.”

Nash almost spews his shot while Nadine laughs before throwing hers back. I do the same, loving the smooth fire down my throat.

“I always knew you’d fit in,” she says, pausing, “but only if you want to.”

“I want to!” I blurt. “I want to be Nash’s queen.”

She nods. “Has he told you the tradition? How you’ll have the protection of two kings? Him and one of my sons?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“You must know…” she says, sitting in a jade velvet chair, looking regal in her fuchsia Chanel suit. “It’s an honor to be a second king and husband. Of course, Nash will be your first and only unless something happens.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I parrot. “I understand.”

“A king can only take a queen if it’s what she wants. She has to want himandher second king.” She lowers her tone. “That was not a choice given to me, but it wound up saving my life and all my sons’ lives. They were destined for violence and young death like I almost experienced had it not been for my second husband.

“Now, the tradition makes sense to me. Now, it’s sacred to us. My sons choose to do it out of honor. That’s how I raised them. They honor their queens. They never hurt them. Do you understand?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

But now I’m wondering who the hero is—or was. Who was her second husband? How did they escape the clutches of an evil, powerful man? And how has he not found her?

I can’t imagine a man that violent and tyrannical not coming after his six sons.

But I dare not ask. Nadine Faye could intimidate the salt out of the ocean.

But I do ask, “What’s my test?” Nash said there was one, followed by the initiation.

She turns to him, chiding, “Is that what you boys call it?A test?”

He winces like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. “Sorry, ma’am.”

Shetsksbefore turning to me. “It’s not atest, but of course, men have to turn everything into a competition. It’s aritual, a way to be sure it’s what all want, particularly the queens.”

She twirls the large, opal sapphire ring on her wedding finger. It looks rare and worth thousands.

“I was inspired to open this club so that I could offer people a life very different than the one I endured,” she explains. “Here, we enforce consent and celebrate pleasure. I told my sons they must do the same. They must make sure their queen knows their bond and tradition and that she gives her consent to join them.”

She flits her hand toward Nash. It’s funny. “They come up with the ritual, the way to do it.” She lifts her chin. “I’m a very proud and sex-positive woman now, but I don’t get involved in theirtestor the initiation. It’s bad enough one of my sons can’t control himself in my club. No mother wants to see that, and I don’t. I roll my eyes and look away.”

Grant.It has to be him.

Like a protective wingman, Jace would always accompany me and Blair here, but I never saw Jace hook up, not at the club.

Axel? If he were here, I never noticed him. Then again, you can’t miss Axel. He’s a dick, but he’s a very big and smoking-hot one.

So it’s not him, and I know it’s not Nash. I had no idea he was watching me from up here all this time. That breaks my heart and turns me on at the same time.

Damn, these are some complicated feelings.

But I’m sure it’s Grant. Women can’t resist him, and he loves them on their knees. Clearly, they love it, too, because I’ve seen him and his groupies here, sharing him like a lollipop.

Told you. These Bratva brothers are hot.

It makes me brave enough to ask, “Who are your other sons? Nash said there are six, but I’ve only met four.”

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