Page 54 of Burn Me Down

“So, what is with the meal?”

I laughed. “I do jobs for Chase that have to do with the club’s enemies and fire. It’s his code for me. All the words mean something, and none of them have to do with a meal, going on a date, or having sex. Please trust me when I tell you that you were my first and will be my last. I would burn off my cock if it ever touched another.”

Beck’s eyes grew wide, and I reached out, grabbing her hand. She took a deep breath and relaxed with my touch.

“Do you believe me?”

“I do.” She rubbed at her eyes. “No one could make that story up, plus I remember the fires and Asher saying it was vigilante work. I just wish I could get rid of this part of me that is terrified the other shoe is going to drop, and you’re going to run or cheat or hurt me somehow. No matter how many times I tell myself not to do it, I can’t seem to stop dragging my old baggage around. I end up sabotaging my life whenever something good happens to me.”

I linked our fingers together. “I feel the same way. Everything in my life has been dark except for you.”

“We’re just two damaged souls who happened to stumble into one another’s path,” she said.

“No, I think we were always supposed to meet, and if I could go back in time, maybe we wouldn’t need to have this dinner tonight,” I said as I pulled into the Lost Soul’s driveway and nodded to the guy running the gate. “Are you sure about this?” I asked, shutting the truck off.

Chase had guaranteed that, other than essential guards, the clubhouse would be left vacant for us. He, apparently, had a chef on standby to cook our meal, and I liked the fact that this was a fenced property, but I was still feeling apprehensive about seeing Asher.

“Yes, I’m one hundred percent sure. Besides, don’t you want me to meet Chase?”

I glanced up at the man in question as he talked to Beast outside the clubhouse door and sucked in a deep breath.

“You know, I’m not sure now,” I said, and Beck swatted my arm, making me smirk. “Alright, let’s get this over with.”

I wrapped my arm protectively around Beck. “I have to say that I didn’t think you were actually going to show up with your old lady,” Chase said as we walked up to him and Beast. “No wonder you’ve been keeping her hidden. The boys are going to be jealous,” he said, and my body tensed.

“Too bad I only have eyes for one man,” Beck said and held out her hand. “You can call me Becky or Beck.” Chase gripped her hand, and her entire demeanor changed. I could feel the tension in her body as clearly as if it was mine. “I’m only going to say this once. As happy as I am to meet someone who has been a friend to Derek, I am also aware of the extracurricular activities you have him do for you, Cherry Popper. If you ever put him in a situation where he gets hurt, you will need more than your entire motorcycle club to stop me from coming for you.”

I’d never seen Chase or Beast look so surprised, and nothing could’ve stopped the smirk that danced across my lips or the love I felt in my chest. Beck had claimed the beating organ months ago, but it was officially and would always be hers.

“Damn…I like you. You’re going to fit right in,” Chase said, smiling. “Come on, I had the place cleaned up for the occasion. It’s not every day that we get to meet the Dragon’s girl and his family. I’m looking forward to this.”

At least someone was because I sure as fuck had no idea how this was going to go and was not in a rush to find out.

Asher

“This is where they wanted to meet us?” I stared up at the massive chain link fence, the line of motorcycles, a large building, and guards at the gate with guns shoved in their jeans.

Vi looked at her phone. “Seems to be unless there are two places with the same address on this road.”

“This looks like a motorcycle club. Why the hell would Derek want to meet here?”

“Probably because he didn’t trust me not to call the cops, and they would think twice about knocking on this door,” Vi said.

“You didn’t, though, right,” I asked, and Vi crossed her arms as she glared and shook her head.

“I still think you should’ve let that detective know. What if he finds out that we knew where Derek was and didn’t say anything.”

“I can’t do it, Vi. I’ve been down that path once already, and look where it got all of us. You say you trust Beck and have always valued her judgment, so even if you think my opinion is jaded, then trust her.”

Vi sighed, the anger falling from her face, but her body was still tense, and I didn’t blame her. After everything she’d experienced at the hands of my brother, I couldn’t ask her to forgive him, but I also couldn’t turn my back on him again.

I crept the truck up to the gate, not wanting to startle the guards standing there, and put my window down when he signaled to do so.

“Name?”

“Asher West, I am meeting my brother here,” I said, and the guy looked me over and then peered into the truck and looked at Vi.

“You the Dragon’s brother?” I had no idea who the Dragon was. “He also goes by DW,” the guy said when I didn’t answer.