“I’m Sayer. And you are?”
His question caught her off guard. He didn’t know who she was. She’d assumed Teller had filled his chapter brothers in on all of them.
“I’m Diamond.”
Sayer rocked back on his heels, something unreadable flickering across his face. He had no idea he’d been chasing the Harlot’s Prez’s ass. Now that he did, he had to be on his best behavior.The last thing he needed was to stir up problems between the Bastards and the Harlots.
“I wanted to make sure you got back downstairs without incident,” he said, his voice smooth but more measured now.
Diamond arched a brow. “How thoughtful.”
Holding out his arm, he asked,“May I?”
For a moment, Diamond just looked at him, as if weighing the offer. Then, finally, she slipped her hand into the crook of his arm.
Sayer gave her another wink. This time, it earned him a smile. Something told him she didn’t give those away for free.
When Diamond walked back into the event, arm-in-arm with Sayer, the weight of a hundred eyes landed on her. The air in the room seemed to shift—subtle but charged. She could feel the stares of her chapter, the Royal Harlots, as if they were branding her on the spot. The unspoken rule was clear: the Harlots and the Royal Bastards ran in parallel worlds, never to fully collided. And yet, here she was, pressed against one of them like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Her pulse thrummed in her ears, but she kept her chin high, shoulders squared, refusing to let them see even a flicker of hesitation. Sayer’s warmth at her side grounded her, the steady press of his arm a silent reassurance. Then, just as she expected, she caught Domino flashing her a shit-eating grin from across the room.
Diamond just shrugged, pretending she wasn’t fighting back a smile of her own.
Sayer slipped his arm from Diamond’s, letting his hand fall to the small of her back as he guided her toward the bar. The warmth of her against his side felt natural—too natural.
As they moved through the room, he caught Teller’s eye. The knowing look on his brother’s face was unmistakable, amusement flickering behind it. Sayer didn’t need to hear a word to know Teller was laughing at him on the inside.
Hell, it was Teller’s fault he was even in this position—escorting the president of the Harlots. But if Sayer was being honest, he didn’t mind one damn bit being saddled up next to Diamond.
Not one bit.
Sayer scanned the room, the hum of low conversations and clinking glasses filling the air. The sharp scent of expensive cologne and whiskey mingled with the faint aroma of smoke. “Are we going to talk about the asshole that was hassling you earlier?”
Diamond didn’t break stride, her heels clicking on the polished floor. She tilted her chin slightly, catching the chill of the air-conditioned breeze against her skin. “I’d rather grab a drink and play a couple of hands of blackjack.”
Sayer’s voice was smooth, a low hum against the murmur of the crowd. “Tell you what, Diamond, you tell me who he was, and I’ll cover your buy-in.”
Diamond’s lips curved into a faint smile, but it was cool, guarded. “Sweetheart, I can cover my own buy-in. And no, we won’t be discussing the guy.”
The bartender’s station was close, the ice clinking as she quickly poured a drink for someone else. Sayer raised a hand, his fingersbrushing the cold rim of his beer bottle before he looked back at Diamond. “I’ll take a beer and the lady will have…?”
“Toasted marshmallow martini,” she said, her voice like velvet, as if savoring the words.
Sayer gave her a look, the corners of his lips quirking. “Lady’s fancy.”
The bartender raised an eyebrow at his comment. Her smile smooth as she poured the martini. The sugary scent of marshmallow filling the air, making Diamond’s mouth water just a little. She handed it over with a knowing smile, the glass cold and damp with condensation.
Sayer tucked his tongue into his cheek, keeping his smile in check as the bartender moved away. The moment felt soft, the tension still humming beneath the surface, but wrapped in the warmth of the dimmed lights and the steady buzz of the room.
Chapter Eight
As the evening wound down,Teller and the rest of his chapter approached Diamond, who was seated with Nova, tallying the night’s earnings.
“Ladies.”
Diamond glanced up at the sound of his voice. “How’d you boys do tonight?”
Teller smirked. “Profitable.”
