Prologue
GRACE
The sun shone brightly despite the chill in the air as I punched the gas in my beloved Volkswagen Bug. The short drive felt farther than usual, such was my urgency to get to the club. It was still early, just past breakfast, but with the news of Emmie’s attempted kidnapping by a male nurse who’d been working with an enemy of the club, Silas Castillo, we were gathering early in support.
And I’d be first in line.
Emmie was more than my former roommate and best friend since birth. She was family, and I was nearly frantic to set eyes on her.
When I walked in, my eyes scanned the familiar surroundings of the MC clubhouse where I’d all but been born and raised. I could navigate every nook and cranny with my eyes closed.
“Gracie girl.” My father’s deep-timbred voice greeted me with a smile as he appeared from his office down the hall. As the MC prez, my father was a force to be reckoned with. As for me, though he’d always been more overprotective than I’d prefer, he’d always been loving and supportive. “Em’s not here yet,” he added, knowing full well what had me showing up this early.
I nodded as he wrapped his arms around me and kissed my head as he’d done since I was small. “Don’t worry, honey, we’re gonna take care of this,” he assured me. “And the Royal Bloods are on their way,” he added referring to an MC near Denver that I’d heard about but had yet to meet any of its members. All I knew was that there was a link between Emmie’s kidnapper and the other MC.
“I know you will,” I replied sincerely just as the rumble of multiple motorcycles sounded out front, indicating the arrival of the rest of the cavalry, including Emmie, Layla, Ginnie, Wren, and their men.
The news of Emmie’s attempted kidnapping had clearly spread fast. When something happened to one of us, it affected us all.
“I can’t believe that asshole,” I ranted the moment she walked in, her man, Gunner, close at her side. “Are you okay? I can’t believe you didn’t call….” I trailed off and stared in amazement at the engagement ring on her finger. “Holy shit,” I breathed.
“Yep.” She grinned.
I let out a shriek so loud, a few of the men groaned in protest. I didn’t even bother to glare in their direction, such was my pure jubilation for my friend.
“I asked Emmie to marry me this morning,” Gunner confirmed as I pulled her into a group hug with Wren, Ginnie, and Layla.
Determining that we should celebrate and rightfully so, we headed off toward the couches while the guys prepared to meet. There was more than just Emmie’s kidnapping to contend with, and I knew none of them wanted to delay in facing the danger head-on.
While the rest of the ladies headed for the couches, I made for the kitchen, knowing it’d be stocked with some much-needed snacks. On my way back, I heard a chorus of unfamiliar female voices greeting the girls and assumed they were part of the Royal Bloods.
I rounded the corner, snacks balanced precariously in my arms, and nearly dropped everything as I met the gaze of the most gut-wrenchingly handsome man I’d ever seen in my life. His green eyes, matching mine in color but brighter in intensity, were locked on mine as though I was the only person in the universe. He stalked toward me, a magnetic pull drawing us together with a potent connection I’d never felt the likes of in my life.
“Grace, this is Ruston King, prez of the Royal Bloods,” I distantly heard Emmie introduce as my gaze remain locked on his progress in my direction.
He didn’t stop until he was standing just inches from me, forcing my gaze up to his heated one.
I couldn’t explain it, but two dueling sensations raced through me. A sense of rightness, as though I was being reunited with a part of myself I hadn’t known I’d been missing, while at the same time an exhilaration only something deliciously new could incite.
“Grace.” He growled my name, his nostrils flaring as his gaze swept over my features as though trying to memorize every detail.
“King.” My father’s voice was like a whip across the room.
Ruston’s gaze swung in his direction, only briefly and not particularly concerned with my father’s ire, despite it scaring the shit out of most. “Be right in,” he replied before he once again gave me his full attention.
“I hope you’re ready,” he rumbled.
I cocked my head to the side. “Ready?”
“For us,” he decreed, sending my heart into overdrive. “I gotta meet with your pop. Wait for me,” he ordered.
Considering the over-the-top protectiveness I’d endured much of my life, not only from my father, but from every member of the club, my instinct was typically to rebel against being bossed around. But somehow, with him, I found myself wanting to obey.
“Okay,” I agreed, knowing my cheeks were flushed.
“Okay,” he murmured, his gaze lingering on my mouth before returning to my eyes, where he held my gaze a beat before turning on a heel and striding away.
My entire body wilted in response, exhausted and overwhelmed from our exchange. I looked toward the couch where every female head was turned in my direction, all beaming with expectant smiles.
