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Tonight.

Yeah, tonight, I’ll rip the band-aid off.

Dustin

Longer than you think

I need to tell her in person.

Dustin

Gotta go pretty myself up. Got a hot date tonight. See you later?

It takes a few moments for her reply. I wait with a thudding in my chest that I’m sure could be heard in the next county.

Baby Girl

You can count on it

The grin never leaves my face as I finish getting ready.

CHAPTER 5

JADE

I had the jitters leading up to tonight, but it turns out there was no need. I can’t wipe the smile off my face, even when Dustin had words with Missy. She scowled at him while he made her admit she’d made the whole thing up. Now I don’t feel so bad about the whole fake-dating thing.

Dusty stands behind me. His strong presence feels warm to my skin; it radiates without him even touching me.

His scent wraps around me like a cozy blanket. Arousal sparks deep within me. I can’t control it. Not when he’s this close.

When I was kidnapped, my captors tried to rape me, but one of the guards pulled them off and reminded them they’d get more money for me untouched. Regaining my memory was bittersweet.

In therapy, I learned the amnesia I suffered wasn’t from the accident at all. My head injury played a part, sure, but trauma was the ultimate culprit. I was diagnosed with severe CPTSD.

I don’t know who I was going to be sold to, but later, I heard rumors about me being shipped to the Middle East. The idea makes me sick.

Don’t do this now! It’s in the past…

I feel Dustin’s hands on my shoulders. Of course he noticed the way my body reacted when I snapped out of my reverie. He’s always so in tune with me. “You okay?”

I nod, forcing a smile. “I’m good.”

I don’t want him to remove his hands, but he does. Then we light the lanterns and hold a moment’s silence, and it feels… special.

The entire square is quiet. The silent vigil and the cool night breeze send a chill up my spine.

I didn’t wear my cut tonight; instead, I favored a pretty dress. A Stiletto Riders’ cut and a pink strappy number don’t exactly scream couture.

A few moments later, Dustin lays his jacket over my shoulders. I’m overwhelmed by the sentiment and turn to thank him when I hear it: the sound of straight pipes.

Weird, because the Stilettos are all here. Even so, we wouldn’t be disrespectful and interrupt the ceremony. We all know the time it starts.

Then the engines rev, and people begin to scream.

“Holy shit!” Sapphire, who’s standing next to me, exclaims. “Fucking Dirty Crows!”

The Dirty Crows MC are a rival club who came through town a few years back to wreak havoc. We ran them out of town, but it looks like they’ve taken that time to come back and repay the favor.