When Jase’s other hand made contact with Will’s shoulder, he threw it off angrily and shoved Jase in the chest with both hands and all his weight. Surprised, Jase stumbled backwards until the jukebox broke his fall. “Don’t fucking tell me what to do, you stupid prick! I’ve had it with your shit!”

With frightening speed, Jase launched himself off the jukebox and came at Will, eyes as black as hell. Will squared up and stood his ground, fists knuckle-white, knowing Jase’s hit would likely knock him on his ass and not giving a single fuck anyway. Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around him from behind and twisted him away from Jase’s warpath.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, now!” said Ghost, as he kept Will wrapped in his left arm and stuck out his right to bring Jase to a halt. Ghost positioned his body like a shield between them, using his weight to keep them apart. Jase scrabbled and shoved at Ghost’s arm, his teeth gritted, glaring at Will. “I know we’ve all been wondering about this ‘will they or won’t they’ tension between you two, but let’s save it for the clubhouse.”

Jase gave in first, but pointed a threatening finger at Will. “You’re fucking asking for it, Bowers.”

Will flipped him the bird and yanked himself out of Ghost’s grip, straightening his shirt. He looked over to see Eva watching him with a sad look in her eyes. In the chaos, Charlie had moved around to stand next to her, and his expression gave no illusions to how he felt about Will.

“Let’s go,” said Ghost, tapping on Will’s shoulder. “They’re waiting for us.”

Will didn’t know what to say to Eva. He was so full of rage and bile and resentment that he couldn’t imagine what she must be thinking at that moment, staring at him from across the room. He watched her until Ghost was tugging at his arm, pulling him toward the door. Jase didn’t wait for either of them, but stalked out into the parking lot.

Will left without saying a word to her, unsure of where he was being led or what the fates had in store for him next.

~ SIXTEEN ~

Everything was just a blur of green light and deep shadows as Eva pushed her way out of the bar and into the forest meadow. The cooling air of coming autumn made the tears on her skin sting cold. She could still hear the rumble of the motorcycles as they wound their way down the highway and into town. Charlie called out after her, but she ignored him, picking her way through the forest until she found a spot still lush with wildflowers and soft, green grass. She lowered herself to the ground and pulled her knees to her chest.

Her thoughts raced with the new information. Will, in a motorcycle gang? It certainly explained a lot—and the thought of being pressed up against him as he drove them around on a powerful bike was instantly appealing. Eva wondered why he had bothered to keep such a miniscule thing from her, considering, but the confrontation between him and the two other bikers made clear that it wasn’t about hiding it from her—it was about hiding her from them.

She couldn’t forget how deeply pained Will had seemed as he snarled and shoved at the men, men who introduced themselves as Will’s friends. The way they talked to him enforced that, and it was the second time the big black-haired one named Jase had reached out to Will. They cared about him, just like she did. But she didn’t understand their anger with him.

“Eva!”

She sighed as Charlie’s voice came closer, finally spotting her in the meadow. He came to stand before her with his arms crossed.

“I don’t want to talk to you, Charlie,” said Eva, sniffling. She turned her head away from him. “I can’t believe you just betrayed Will like that, after everything he’s done.”

“Excuse me?” said Charlie, instantly flustered. “Eva, did you not hear everything that was said in there? That man is a criminal, and he works with other criminals.”

“Oh, Christ, that’s not what bothers you,” said Eva. “Half your friends from the neighborhood have records, so don’t get all high and mighty on me, Charles Murdock.”

“You know he wanted to mount a two-man war, with me and him, to track down those cartel boys and kill them? He was gonna rope me into that bullshit, if I hadn’t put a stop to it. And it’s not just us he’s tried to fuck over. According to his biker buddies, he’s been pulling shit for months now. That guy is dangerous, Eva.”

“Of course he’s dangerous—he lives in a dangerous world,” said Eva. The tears in her eyes didn’t feel sad anymore; they stung with anger. “And he protected us from that world when it showed up. That’s all he’s tried to do!”

“Jesus, you’re in love with him, aren’t you?” Charlie spat in disgust.

Eva paused, then rose to her feet. She didn’t know what she felt for Will, other than that it felt as if parts of her were on fire that she didn’t know existed. “What the hell does that have to do with anything?”

“Eva, Christ, you sure know how to pick ‘em. First Rick, the worthless, abusive dirtbag, and now some psychotic, fucked-up biker? You’re a piece of work.”

Before she could stop herself, Eva slapped her brother across the face. Charlie cried out, more in surprise than pain, but she could still see the red mark where she connected. Her brother looked at her with shock in his eyes, but said nothing.

“Watch your mouth.” The voice that came from her sounded unlike any tone Eva had ever taken, especially with Charlie. “I’m not responsible for Rick’s behavior. And don’t you dare compare him to Will.”

Charlie scoffed just a little, rubbing the side of his face. “Christ…”

“Do you have any idea what he’s been through? Do you know why Uncle Owen was able to afford this land so cheap in the first place?”

“What?” said Charlie, frowning. “What are you taking about?”

“Will’s grandmother was murdered here. Murdered in her own home by the cartel, and he couldn’t do anything to stop it. You really expect him to sit here a second time, in the very spot she died, and watch it happen again?”

Charlie took her by the shoulders. “We’re not his family, Eva, he doesn’t have to protect us. We don’t know anything about him. I’m trying to protect you, too—don’t you see that?”

“If Will hadn’t been here, we’d both be dead, and you know it,” said Eva in a cold tone. “Is this really about protecting me, or is about you being too full of pride to admit that this time, you can’t?”

Charlie flushed red, giving her all the answer she needed. She knew her brother too well for him to get away with a lie so cleanly.

“Will isn’t some crazy thug out looking for a fight. He used his power to protect us, just because he could—because he knew it was the right thing to do.”

“Or because he likes fighting,” said Charlie. “Or because he saw an opportunity to get into your pants by playing the hero.”

Eva folded her arms. “Is that how little you think of me? Like I’m some child stupid enough to think fairytales are real and princes come riding in to save people? I’m not an idiot, Charlie. You can give me shit for caring about Will, fine, but don’t try to write it off like I’m just some dumb bimbo who can’t help but be seduced.”

“So you do have feelings for him.”

“Yes, all right? I care about him,” she said. “I care about Will, and you know why? Because I see something in him that you apparently can’t look deep enough to see. It’s the same kindness and gentleness I used to see in Pa—and in you. He’s not perfect. He’s done bad things. But he’s not a bad man, and he was doing the right fucking thing by us until you turned him in to his club. You could have at least been a man about it and told him to his face you didn’t like his plan.”

“I did tell him that, Eva. He wouldn’t listen. Has he listened to a damn word I’ve said since he showed up in this place?”