Incandescent

“Step back, Kadence,” someone demands from behind me. His voice that controlled anger I remember back at the school with his ex.

Nix. Shit.

“No way, Nix,” I argue, ignoring his demand, ready to take both of these men on.

“I’m not kidding, Kadence. You need to move behind me right now.” The tone of his voice plunges into a low and fierce level, but it’s the way he barks my name that puts me on alert. We've come to blows a few times now, but this? This is a whole new level of anger. I look at him, slightly afraid and not sure if I’m scared for my safety or if I’m scared that I have made him mad. I like to push him to frustration, but to anger boiling over, I’m not too sure. I move to the side and slide in behind him. I notice Jesse come up behind me with Brooks closing me into the side.

“What’s this, Kadence?” Zane yells out. For a second there, I forgot the asshole was here.

“You speak to me and only me.” Nix walks forward, getting into Zane’s space. Two guys wearing black walk out from behind some trees, closing in next to Zane. What the hell is going on?

“You wa

“Your woman? Guess you’d be the type to go for another man’s woman,” Zane fires back smiling.

“The fuck you just say?” Nix walks further up to him. Zane holds his ground, but I can see by the look in his eyes he’s holding back some fear. He must grow some confidence or have a death wish because he responds.

“What I should have said is that your ‘woman’ is my fiancée and that sexy mouth of hers has been around my cock plenty of times,” he smirks.

I don’t know what universe I’ve stepped into, but I’m standing frozen, listening to my ex-fiancé describe to my current lover, who is now looking every bit the scary biker dude, that I’ve had my mouth around his cock. Oh, shit.

“Kadence, get in the car,” Nix addresses me. His stare is still firmly on Zane.

“Nix—” I begin.

“Kadence, get in the goddamn car, now!” he bellows out, and I shrink back at his harsh tone. “Jesse, take her,” he demands, still not looking at me. Jesse grabs my hand and pulls me to follow him. Looking up at Zane, I see the bastard has a smile on his face, clearly enjoying the show.

“Bye, Kadence, it’s been great catching up. Shame you’ve turned into a biker whore—” He doesn't finish his sentence because Nix throws a punch, hitting him square in the jaw.

“Shut your fuckin’ mouth,” I hear Nix say as Jesse drags me further back to the car.

“Jesus, woman, what the fuck is that all about?” Jesse asks when he opens the car door for me, my hands too shaky to get the keys out of my handbag.

“I have no idea, Jesse. Zane is my ex; the one I told you about. He sent me a text and told me he needed to talk, threatened me if I didn’t come.”

“Sweetheart, you need to get it together and drive back to the compound now.” I shake my head, not liking that idea, with Nix and his anger.

“I’m not sure Nix will want that, Jesse,” I voice my concern.

“Kadence, I’m telling you now, it will be a whole lot worse if you don’t get your ass back to the club. Trust me.” I nod my head, not prepared to discuss with him.

“How does Nix know Zane?” I ask, afraid of the answer. My whole world feels like it has just been turned on its axis, and I feel like I’m missing something.

“You might know him as Zane sweetheart, but around here, he’s known as Edwards, and that bastard holds the second highest position in the drug cartel organization. In other words, your ex is a very dangerous man. Now go. We’ll explain it all when we get back.” I slowly nod and get into the driver's seat, hoping my shaking hands calm enough for me to drive.

“Straight back to the clubhouse,” Jesse repeats, leaning into the car.

He closes the door and watches me take in what he just told me. Zane Edwards, the man I was engaged to, wasn't a part of any organization; he was an architect. We lived in a four-bedroom home, and we were in the middle of pla

Starting the car, I force myself to relax and keep myself together. The need to get away, away from Zane and away from Nix is too much to ignore. I know Jesse told me to go back to the compound, but facing Nix, knowing that he knows I was with that man, makes me turn home instead.

I need Holly.

I need her to tell me what to do. I’ve got bigger issues than I first thought. If Zane is this big drug thug who runs with bad people, why does he want money from me? He can’t be that hard up for money, could he? Or is he playing me for bigger things?

Driving past our old house, I have to wonder how it all came to this. We were in love. The man I saw today was not the man whom I was prepared to give my life to. That man is long gone. If only I had seen that sooner, maybe I wouldn’t have had to go through everything I had. The fire, the nightmares, it all comes back, and now I’m hanging by a thread and barely keeping it together.

I force myself to push the pain that I’ve long forgotten down, and not allow the darkness to creep in. When I’m back in the safety of my home, the safety that Holly gives me, only then will I allow myself to break.

Chapter Eighteen

Nix

Pocketing my phone, I let out a frustrated sigh. Kadence was engaged to that fucking asshole? It’s too fucked up to process. Talk about twisted. This guy is dangerous, and as second to Gu

“What’s happening, boss?” Brooks asks, and I turn looking at him and Sy. I sent Jesse to follow Kadence ‘cause I knew she wouldn’t go back like she was told. Stubborn-ass woman.

“The damn woman didn’t go back to the clubhouse.”

“Figured,” he smiles, shaking his head. “Get used to it, brother. Been with Kelly for ten years, and the wife still doesn’t listen to me.”

I shake my head, not thinking of the next ten years. I don’t know if I’ll last a month without that woman doing my head in. That’s a lie; the thought thrills me. What pisses me off is knowing that the asshole has had her. Had what’s mine.

“You stupid fuckers are mad, thinking you can’t control a woman,” Sy informs us. He doesn’t normally give us his opinion, but lately I’ve noticed a slight change in him. I’ve grown to like the silent Sy. This new one is a little strange to get used to.

I shake my head knowing he’s right, but even if I never control Kadence, even if I have to give her my balls on a silver platter, I know it would be better than anything I’ve ever had. When I ended things with Addison, I never thought I would find myself wanting a relationship again. Kadence is different. Her fucking mouth is always fighting me, pushing me, and pulling me. I can’t get enough.

I nearly killed that asshole for speaking that way about Kadence. He had it coming, but calling her a whore, fuck. I turned red with fury. No one calls my woman a whore. After Jesse pulled her away, the asshole Edwards took the blow I delivered. He stood there with a smile on his face as he wiped the blood trail from the corner of his mouth; the guy is whacked. After telling him to not contact her again, I made it very clear where we stand on territory. Letting him know about our meeting with the Mayhems earlier, he didn’t seem so smug. The fucker is trying to play us and knowing that alone gives us a one up. Something about the club has him ru