I saw many men and women who looked like they had been through all walks of life, and many men were wearing denim jacket vests similar to Blue’s. They all had the King’s Men symbol on them—a skull wearing a crown.
But there were also men who weren’t wearing the cut, and I had a feeling they were prospects.
A booming laugh at the back of the bar drew my attention, and I turned to see a group of men sitting there.
In the center was a man who looked like the older version of Kai.
The same brown hair—though his hair was in a buzz cut—tan skin, and brilliant blue eyes. I had him in his late thirties or early forties, and when he laughed, his crow’s feet showed in the most attractive way.
It was like looking into a time machine and seeing what Kai would look like older, and judging by this man, he would still be just as attractive, just as alluring.
I noticed a couple of men and women loitering nearby, as if they wanted to get as close to the man as possible but didn’t dare.
I could see why.
I was looking at Dominic Madden.
He was so much more than I imagined. It seemed like he sucked up all the energy in this room just by being in it.
The two men next to him were the same way.
I only recognized one of them. Roman Stone, the VP of the club, and also the one Ryleigh was with. I didn’t see her anywhere, though from what I’d heard, they had a son together and the baby boy wasn’t even a year old yet. She was probably home with him.
I wondered if Ryleigh regretted her decision to be with a man like Roman.
He just seemed so…. rough.
The other man… he almost looked like Roman, though his eyes were a light cold silver that sent a burst of fear through me. He was big. Easily the biggest man in this room, and possibly any room he entered. It surprised me that I had missed this group when I first walked into the bar. They were hard to ignore.
I shuddered in revulsion when the silver-eyed man laughed coldly at something Dominic said. But how could anyone not fear him?
Even from a distance, I knew he wasn’t someone I wanted to be near.
Next to the silver-eyed man was—
My breath caught.
Kai was there.
He was sitting with the group, and his eyes were on me.
I resisted the urge to squirm.
I couldn’t tell from the expression on his face what he was thinking or feeling. Did he not want me here?
Should I expect someone to come over and kick me out?
My cheeks burned from the thought—and his gaze.
I looked off to the side of the bar and saw Blue holding our drinks and walking back to me.
I looked back at Kai and quickly glanced away.
He had still been staring at me.
“Here ya go,” Blue said, standing close next to me.
He took a sip of his drink—whiskey, his drink of choice—and looked over at the front door. I slowly sipped on my Coke while trying to be inconspicuous.
