Page 17 of Zeus's Ruin

“I guess not.”Scorpio turns and grins, but I’m quickly swallowed up by the rest of his brothers lifting me into solid hugs that squeeze all the air from my lungs.Not a single one hangs onto me the way Zeus did.I’m still trying to figure out what that means when I’m lifted up and carried down the aisle to Elvis’s crooning, “Love Me Tender”, along with a little old lady playing the electric organ to send us off.

In the foyer, the revelry stops abruptly as we come face to face with a rival MC, the Heathens.I’m quickly set on my feet and shoved behind Razor, the club’s Enforcer.For a heartbeat, everyone just looks at one another, Outlaws and Heathens alike, and then Scorpio reaches for his gun, fires three bullets at the Heathen’s President, and all hell breaks loose.The brothers around me swarm forward and I’m caught up in the fray, surging toward an enemy I have no place fighting.I married Scorpio for the power, for the club’s protection because I was tired of being weak, and here I am on my wedding day, fodder for their war.

One second, I’m crushed in the violence, and then I’m shoved back against the wall, cowering in my wedding dress as the spray from a fallen body mists the pristine silk.I can’t move.All I can do is cower against the wall and catalog the swinging fists and flying bullets.Scorpio’s eye splits open as he headbutts the Heathen’s President.All around is violence and bloodshed and then a hand wraps around my wrist.I scream, but Zeus’s dark eyes meet mine as he tugs me toward him.“I got you, darlin’.”

Scorpio’s head whips around to me and he shouts, “Get her outta here!”

“Already on it,” Zeus replies, and pulls me toward the chapel we just exited.He leads me down the aisle and across the dais.Elvis protests, the organ lady does too, but when they see the commotion through the double doors, they make a beeline for the foyer.

“There another way outta here?”Zeus shouts.

“Through the back, honey,” the little old lady pulls a shotgun from under her organ and cocks it.

Zeus pushes past the gauzy curtains blocking off the altar from the back room, and then we’re out on the street.He turns me to face him and checks me over.His browbone is bleeding from a vicious gash.I raise my hands to it, but he flinches and pulls away.

He heads to a line of bikes that don’t belong to us.With a vicious shove, he pushes over the first and they all fall like dominos in a screeching crash of iron and chrome.I yank off my veil, but there isn’t time to grab my helmet from Scorpio’s bike.

“Get on,” Zeus barks as he mounts his ride.I throw my leg over the back and wrap my arms around his waist.He revs the engine, and we take off at breakneck speed.I lay my head against Zeus’s back and watch the lights on the strip whiz by as we weave in and out of traffic.I realize I’m still clutching my veil in my hand, and I loosen my grip on it, but Zeus takes his hand from the handlebars and catches it up firmly clasping my fist around it.I don’t care about my veil.I care that he almost died in there.I care that my husband might, that he and any of the other brothers may already be dead.That we might be next.

Adrenalin thrums through my veins.Zeus’s heartbeat under my palm echoes my own and as terrified as I am right now, for a fraction of a second, I let myself believe that Zeus is whisking me away, not because my crazy husband started a brawl on our wedding night, but because Zeus wanted me enough to risk everything.What would it be like to be truly free?To run away with Zeus and never look back?

Jesus, Sugar.Your husband could be lying in a pool of his own blood and you’re dreaming of running away with his brother?What the fuck is wrong with me?

Before long, we’ve left the Strip and the lights of the city behind, and were pulling into the vacant lot of the Saint’s Outlaws MC Vegas clubhouse.Their Prez has been kind enough to host our wedding reception, but instead of all-night celebration, we’ve brought nothing but trouble to their door.

Zeus parks out front and cuts the engine.The lights are on inside, and music blares from the speakers, but out here it’s dark and quiet enough to hear the sharp cries of the coyotes in the biting Vegas night, and I refuse to let go of Zeus.His hand rests on top of mine, toying with the tattered veil.As his thumb smooths the inside of my wrist.He flips the kickstand down and neither of us say a word, and then a beat later, he’s pushing me off as he slides off the bike, careful to avoid kicking me in the face.

On shaking legs, I climb off too and stalk after him.“Hey.You need someone to tend to your head.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re gushing.”

Zeus stops dead in his tracks, but he doesn't turn around.“Don’t test me tonight, darlin’?”

“Why tonight?”I whisper.

He turns and strides toward me, his heavy boots don’t stop until they’re toe to toe with my white satin pumps.“Because you could have fuckin’ died in there.Hell, my brothers could all be dead, and I left them.Without a second thought, I left them for dead ...I left them for you.”

“Scorpio told you to.”

“I would have done it even if he hadn’t.I would have done it anyway.”He shakes his head.“Fuck.All I can think about is putting you back on my bike and riding the fuck out of here, riding away with you and never coming back.”

Oh god.Can Zeus read minds now?We are so fucked.“What are you saying?”

“As if you don’t fuckin’ know,” he says, and then he leans in to kiss me.Soft lips meet mine, they tease, tender and tentative.For a heartbeat, I don’t kiss him back.I’m too stunned, but his big, calloused hand wraps tenderly around my throat, sending shivers down my spine.He groans into my mouth, his tongue seeking, searching my heat as it massages my own, and I lose my ever-loving mind because Zeus is kissing me.Zeus who has killed for me.Zeus who has protected me since the first time we met.Zeus who is my husband’s brother, flesh and blood—his VP—is kissing me on my wedding night, and all I want is to strip myself bare and give myself to him completely.

He pulls away, his hot breath washing over my face as he cups my head in his hands and presses his forehead to mine.

I pant hard as I look up into those eyes that I’ve been lost in since the day we met.“You shouldn’t have done that.”

“Fuck that,” he whispers.“I should have done that a year ago.”

“He’ll kill us.”

He swallows audibly and nods.“He will.”

I take a step back.“Oh god.What have we done?”

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