That’s the real fight waiting for me.
And this time, I won’t back down.
Not even if it kills me.
CHAPTER 32
THE BRAT RETURNS
SPIKE
Iwake to the weight of her.
Jaynie is sprawled across my chest, one arm hooked over my ribs, her leg tangled with mine. Her hair is a soft mess against my skin, and for a second I forget it all. The blood, the screaming, Zero dying in my arms.
All I know is her heartbeat steady against mine.
And it feels right. Too damn right. Like this is how I should wake up every day until the end.
I tighten my arm around her. The thought hits me sharp and dangerous. I do not just want her here now. I want her here always.
A knock at the door ruins it.
“Church, Spike,” Rumble calls, his voice muffled through the wood.
I press a kiss into Jayne’s hair before sliding out from under her. She stirs but doesn’t wake, and I let her stay. She needs the rest. She deserves it.
By the time I get into church, the room is buzzing. Leo is at the head, arms crossed, eyes flicking up at me like he expects me to sit down and keep my mouth shut. But I don’t.
I stand there, jaw tight, and speak before I can second-guess myself. “We’re not giving up. Not after Zero. Not after everything Xavier has pulled. He thinks he has us cornered, but he is dead wrong. We’re Chrome Creed, and we’re gonna bury that motherfucker.”
The room goes still.
Lash’s brows shoot up. Torch whistles low. Even Leo leans back in his chair, watching me like I’ve grown a second head.
But nobody argues. Not one fucking word. Heads start to nod.
For the first time since I put this kutte on, I feel like maybe, just maybe, I can do this.
Raised voices outside cut through the room. Shake’s voice, loud and pissed, followed by a shrill female voice that makes my temples ache.
“What the hell now?” Leo mutters.
“Lash, Rumble. Check it out,” I say before Leo can give the order himself. He doesn’t stop me. He doesn’t even frown. Just tilts his head like he’s curious what I’ll do with this.
A minute later, the door to church bangs open. Rumble is dragging in a tall blonde who looks like she belongs on the cover of a cheap tabloid. Fake tan, straw-colored hair, tits nearly spilling out of a low-cut top. Her heels click loud as she digs them in, fighting Rumble like he is trying to haul her off to jail. It takes me a second to figure out where I know but all at once it clicks. She's one of the women who we rescued, sort of, from the party. The one who was winking at the men. The one who seemed like she wanted to be there.
“Hands off, biker boy!” she screeches, slapping at his arm. “Do you know who the fuck I am?”
“Yeah,” Rumble snaps back, “you’re the pain in my ass that won’t shut up. Didn't you learn your lesson at that party?”
She gasps like he just slapped her. “Excuse me? I’ll have you know, I was the highlight of that party. Men were lining up for me. If it wasn’t for your little biker stunt, I’d be living in silk sheets right now.”
“Oh yeah?” Rumble grins sharp. “Pretty sure the only silk you’d be wrapped in is tied around your wrists.”
The room bursts into laughter. Torch nearly spits out his beer. Even Leo’s lips twitch, though he hides it behind his hand.
The woman stomps her heel down on Rumble’s boot, making him yelp. “Ow! Fucking hell!”
