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PROLOGUE

EIGHT YEARS AGO

COEUR D’ALENE, IDAHO

EM

“For fk’s sakethey’re like weasels in heat I’onna puke”

I nodded, agreeing with my sister one hundred percent

Barfing was the only reasonable response to this shit

We stood in our dining rooh a pair of pocket doors Dad had Moue so far down her throat it should’ve triggered her gag reflex

“You do realize we’re watching you, right?” Kit asked loudly Dad pulled away and turned his head to glare at us Morace to blush

“Take another ten ,” he said “Then come back down for breakfast”

Kit growled next to me She had Dad’s temper I wish I did I always followed the rules, and it kind of sucked Kit called ht But I just really hated pissing him off

“It’s the first day of school and I don’t want to be late,” she declared “You can screw each other any tiry”

Dad stepped sloay fro his arms His faded tats told a hundred stories, and most of my friends were a little nervous around him His black leather cut, emblazoned with Reapers MC colors, didn’t help Lucky us—we couldn’t have a nor

Nope

Ours had to be the president of a motorcycle club

According to my best friend Quinn, Dad was a badass ht I knew no matter what happened, he’d always be there for me Secretly, I liked the fact that the Reapers would back hiht of Dad’s tats and patches made me feel sort of safe, but I’d never ad hiusting I mean, I made sandwiches on that counter Nohere was I supposed to make them?

“For once,” Kit said, narrowing her eyes, “would you please act like nor a meal?”

“Sounds boring,” Dad azes, and sheinto a fight Moreed She was the oil that kept our faot out of hand

“I don’t like being bored,” he added “Go do whatever it is girls do in the bathroom for a while, and then you can come back down My house, my rules”

I grabbed Kit’s ar her away before she fired back at him She was only twelve and I was fourteen, but she always stood her ground SoBut she needed to learn to choose her battles

“Just come upstairs,” I hissed at her

“They’re too old to be screwing in the kitchen!”

“We’re not screwing,” Dad said “But if ere, that wouldn’t be any of your business, either, kiddo”

I dugrooround, and Moave a little squeal

“They’re so disgusting,” Kit said, flopping down on my bed We had our own rooer It also had a tree branch we could use to sneak outNot that we ever did, but Kit had big plans for high school

“I know,” I replied “He’s right, though It’s his house”

“At least you aren’t stuck in du heavily “I can’t believe you’re going to be gone! It’s not fair”

“Only one ht as well take advantage of the delay, I studied ivenup I’d always loved sitting at it as a little girl, putting on herto be a princess “And I’reat I mean, freshman year is kind of lame”

“Beats the hell out of eighth grade,” she said “But you won’t get to do o to any dances?”

“Of course he will,” I said, even though I had my doubts Dad could beintenseKit opened herbut then snapped it shut as we heard the roar of Harley pipes co down the drive

“What the hell?” I asked, going over to theOutside, six of the Reapers were pulling up—at seven thirty on a TuesdayNot good The guys in the club didn’t tend to bepeople

“Shit,” Kiton”

We looked at each other, and I wondered if she had the saoing on” could enerally let club business overlap with fa up that I couldn’t just pretend things were fine and dandy when a third of the brothers showed up without warning

“I’rim I shook my head

“They won’t want us around”

“Fuck that”

• • •

We crept down the stairs like junior felons

I expected to hear hushed voices, to feel the kind of tension in the air that only ca and talking in the kitchen We entered the dining rooht hier—the very hot young prospect who’d been with the club about fouror blushing or so

When I grew up, I was totally er

This was not so with ht be Ruger had graduated froht hi rooht I’d pretended to be horrified, but I ory detailsand there were a lot of them Quinn hadn’t run ahen she found the, which, according to her, wasn’t a quickie

Not even close

Quinn also said that Ruger had a pierced dick, and that her sister cried for three nights straight because he never called her back afterward When I was old enough, he’d be callingplans for us

“Morning,” Duck said, s at me He wouldn’t tell ht he lookedand hairy, which would’ve been intias I could reh school”