The sound of hot pipes rumbling down the street, loud enough to shake the glass outside every shop I pass.
I don’t bother to look up; I already know it’ll be The Knights. You remember Halsin’s founding families I told you about? Yeah, well, they also just so happened to all be members of The Seven Knights MC. They’ve taken care of our town for generations and generations. They’re respected, loved, and glorified in this town.
From everyone but me. Well… with the exception of two.
I’m flicking through a message from Cece when I hit the crossing to the restaurant. Peering up at the doors to see if I can find Mira through the glass, my eyes connect to someone far too familiar riding lead.
I’d know those lifeless gray eyes from anywhere. They’re like poison ivy, ready to propagate until you’re fucking itchy to be set free. I hold my breath when his bike slows, almost idling before he hits the corner to turn. His arms are rippled with muscles, his skin artistically carved with tattoos, but his eyes. His eyes that catch mine are what throw me off, despite the fact I’m well acquainted with them.
When he finally shifts his focus back to the road, it’s like everything starts moving at fast speed, including my breathing.
Fuck. Niko Davis is back.
Quickly moving across the road before any other cars—or bikes—from my past decide to roll through, I shove myself through the entry doors, waving to Teddy, the reservations manager, and making a straight beeline for best friend one who is already sitting at the table with a glass of sake in her hand.
She sees me and smiles widely, standing to throw her arms around my body as I wriggle out of my jacket.
“Mer, I love you, but you need to go give that big fucking jacket to the desk so they can tag it. I will not have you making my restaurant look like shit when you throw it over the chairs, and also they’re not made to hold coats the size of that…” Mira pauses, her lips curling slightly. “Jesus, what the fuck even is that? I know it’s cold, but really?”
A passing waitress kindly takes my coat from me as I lower myself onto the chair. I love my best friends, I do, but fuck, they can both be bitches. Thank God for that. Because we probably couldn’t be friends if they weren’t.
“I need a drink.” I scan through the drink menu even though I know every single cocktail, mocktail, and house beer that they have here like I recited it all my life. I need something strong, but not too strong. I still need to keep my shit together, just in case Luca calls.
“Sorry I’m late.” Cece plops down into the chair beside me, bumping my leg with her fishnet-covered thigh. “What did I miss?”
Cece has her long blonde hair piled up into a high pony, and her eyes are free of any makeup. Her lips have a soft plump from filler, her wrinkles frozen by science. Complete contrast to Mira, who keeps everything natural and swears by a vegan diet. The restaurant was passed down to Mira from her mother, who had it from her grandmother, and so on. Mira is the brunette baddie of the group to balance out my dark hair and Cece’s blonde.
“Oh, not much,” I whisper, catching the waitress as she passes again and ordering us three porn star martinis. “Niko is back, though.”
I feel the tension around the table stiffen before I gather the lady balls to look up and see their reaction. I didn’t need to—I felt it.
“Weird. I kinda thought he died.” Cece shrugs, reaching for the bottle of water.
I watch as she pours, sets it down, and then pushes it farther into the middle of the table.
“You wished he was dead, you mean…” Mira grabs the cocktails from the waitress and places them in front of each of us. “Did you talk to him?”
I take a sip until I feel the pulp from the passionfruit rest against my lower lip. “No. I just saw him ride past with The Knights.”
“Huh.” Cece gazes vacantly out straight in front of herself. “Knew he would, I guess.”
“Anyway.” I lean back in my chair, gesturing to Mira. “We’re here for you. Tell me what the kids are doing to drive you crazy now. Emotional dump everything on me. I’m ready.”
Mira and Dave have been married for five years and have two kids together. They were high school sweethearts, so we all knew it was bound to happen. Dave skipped the memo and took his sweet ass time in marrying her, though. I think their beef started there.
I listen to Mira talk shit about her kids like she does every week, but with the third mention of dirty washing and boys peeing on walls, I find my phone in my bag and open a new text message. I know he’s going to want to know, and I don’t want to be standing in front of him when he finds out.