Page 65 of Light

"It means you're my woman. My it. My forever. I'm bound to you. No one else. Just you."

That's exactly what I want. I smile up at him, and he leans down to place a gentle kiss on my lips. I pull back before it gets away from us. The courtyard is beautiful, but I'm not really interested in being knees down and ass up in the flower bed.

My eyes go wide as we make our way to the main building. The tall doors are intimidating. When Light pushes open the door I feel like I have an extra head growing out of my neck. Everyone stops what they are doing and stares at me.

"Brick." Light barks loud, "I need a word."

Light pats my hand and gestures for me to wait. I stand at the door, feeling completely out of place that is until two other woman come to stand next to me.

"You must be Melissa."

"Oh, yeah...how do you know me?"

The lady to the side of me with long dark hair chuckles, "We've heard a lot about you. I'm Luna, this is Bea."

I turn to say hello to Bea, who smiles and links her arm with mine like we're old friends instead of just meeting for the first time.

From the corner of my eye, I watch Light and Brick talk. Their voices are low, serious. Brick stands tall, arms crossed over his chest, listening intently while Light gestures toward the paper in his hand. My paper.

I can’t hear much, but I swear I see Brick’s expression shift into something like pride. Then he claps a hand on Light’s shoulder, leans in, and says something I can’t quite make out.

It looks like, "We’ve been waiting for you to make it official."

Then Brick pulls Light into a hug. A real one. Not some stiff pat on the back, but one that means something.

A second later, I hear Brick say clearly.“Church.”

I blink. “Did he just say church?”

Luna nods beside me. “It means they’re having a meeting. Club business. Patches only.”

“Oh.” I glance back toward the door, where Light is already turning and heading back to me.

He wastes no time closing the space between us.

“You want to stay out here with the ladies,” he asks, eyes soft but voice firm, “or wait in my room for me?”

I hesitate, but only for a second. There’s something about this place, about these women who didn’t hesitate to welcome me, that makes me feel steadier on my feet than I’ve felt in a while.

“I’ll stay,” I say. “Might be nice to get a feel for things. If I’m going to be spending time here.”

He gives a short nod, satisfied, and then disappears behind those tall doors without looking back.

As soon as he’s gone, Bea tugs me gently forward. “Come on. Let’s show you around before they finish up.”

I follow her and Luna through the main room, taking in the layout. There’s a bar along the far wall, leather couches arranged in clusters, the smell of old wood and motor oil baked into the air. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s real. Lived in.

“This place has been home to the Brutal Chains for years,” Luna says, her voice carrying pride. “We’ve had our share of fights and messes, but no one touches what's ours. Not without a response.”

“Family, not just a club,” Bea adds, glancing over at me with a smile. “If Light’s serious, and it sure looks like he is, you’re one of us now.”

The words warm me, but it’s hard to focus. My mind keeps wandering. What are they talking about in there? What kind of plan could they come up with that would finally end this nightmare with Deke?

I’m chewing the inside of my cheek when the door swings open again.

Light steps out first, and the smile on his face stops my heart for a beat.

He walks straight to me, his confidence loud in the way he moves, in the way he reaches for my hand like it belongs there.

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