Chapter 1
Lexie
I sat behind the steering wheel of my battered little car, staring at the message on my phone as though the words might magically disappear.
“I'm sorry, Lexie. I just don't think this is working anymore. Your clothes are packed in boxes right outside the apartment. If you want, I can send you some money for the car.”
I closed my eyes, letting it all sink in. I had abandoned my clothes in his apartment, hurt filling my chest. Maybe this was a dream. Maybe I needed a pinch to wake myself up from this nightmare. My boyfriend, Steve, had decided that I wasn't worth it anymore, and to top it off? I'd just lost my job. Yes, that's right. I got fucking fired.
My heart hammered in my chest, I tried to blink the tears away, but nothing fucking worked.
Who would've thought Lexie in finance would get fired after a change of COO? My car started puffing out smoke, its back a complete ruin, as I stopped at a gas station. I barely had any cash on me, except for the little I had that could get me to Willow Springs, Minnesota. At that moment, my phone rang repeatedly, so I picked it up and moved away from my car.
“Hey, baby.”
“Hey, Dad,” I said with a smile.
“Are you on your way already?”
“Yes,” I replied, pausing.
“What's wrong, baby?” he asked, knowing full well that my hesitation was triggered by something else.
“It's just that… I haven't been to Willow Springs in five years. I'm sure everyone won't remember me.”
Oh, I'm such a big liar. I knew full well why I was reluctant to go. I was too scared to see them again.
“Sure, everyone is so excited about your arrival.”
“Dad…”
“Just give this a try. You've been avoiding this place for years, and I want you to return home. I need you back so I can keep an eye on you.”
“I'm twenty-five, Dad. I'm not a kid anymore.”
“You're still my baby girl.”
I sighed, looking back at my car, Vanny. She looked so ruined and damaged that it would be best to sell her parts and get some money for them. She'd served me well for a long time, and I still drove her with the confidence I'd always had.
After getting some gas, I got into my car and drove off. The drive from Hastings to Willow Springs took about forty-five minutes, and before long, I saw the sign up ahead. I took a deep breath and slowly let it out as I drove past it.
Everything was still the same. The same shops, the same bars, and the same people. Nothing had changed. I drove until I got closer to the motorcycle clubhouse. The sign, “The Snake Pit,” stared back at me. Bikes were lined up at the front, and men stood at the entrance, holding cigarettes or drinks as I pulled up in my car.
I got out, looked at myself in the rearview mirror, and straightened up. Clutching my bag, I walked inside, the men's eyes following me as I passed.
The instant smell of bourbon, beer, and weed hit me, causing me to stagger.
“Lexie?!”
I followed my brother's voice and watched him walk out of one of the rooms with a smile on his face. He pulled me into his arms, hugging me so tightly that I could barely gasp for air.
“Kiddo! What are you doing here? I didn't know you were coming back! How have you been?! How is Hastings treating you?”
“You're squeezing me, Rhett,” I mumbled, my face practically buried in the crook of his arm.
“Alright, alright,” he laughed, letting me go.
“Look at you! You look so grown.”
If he considers 115 kg of fat to be grown, then I'll take it.
“Yeah, I noticed.”
“You must be tired. Come on… let's get you some food so you can meet the boys.”
“Oh, actually, I'm in a hurry. I'm heading home to see Dad,” I said.
“Nonsense. You haven't spent time with your elder brother in five years. Lunch is on me, okay?”
I smiled, but it was brief, barely reaching my eyes. I didn't want to stay long because I knew they would be here soon. I followed Rhett upstairs while he ordered some Chinese food.
“I am so happy you're here. You finally did the right thing by coming back home.”
Yeah, right. Coming back home was something I'd dreaded for the past five years. My aim in leaving Willow Springs had never been to return. I'd left right after Mom died to find myself and stop being that naive twenty-year-old girl who made bad decisions in this town.
But here I was, sitting in this clubhouse with nothing to show for it.
“Rhett,” I called. “I just got out of a relationship, and I lost my job. So, I'm back here because I have nowhere else to go.”
His facial expression changed, his features filling with worry. He scooted closer, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder.
"You're home now, Lexie. Whatever happened in Hastings, we'll figure it out."
I forced a smile, but before I could respond, the sound of motorcycle engines roared outside.
Rhett glanced towards the window, grinning. “Speak of the devils.”
My stomach twisted as Rhett got to his feet. “The boys are here.”
I stood frozen inside the booth, my fingers tightening around the strap of my bag as the sound of heavy boots climbing the stairs reached my ears.
I slowly turned my head towards the doorway, and the moment my gaze landed on them, my heart nearly stopped.
Five fucking years of trying to forget them. Five years of pretending the letters I'd written to them never existed. Years of convincing myself that I'd moved on, that whatever I'd felt for them back then was nothing more than a stupid teenage crush.
But there they were: Knox, Christian, and Dom. All three stood in the doorway, staring at me with wide eyes as if they'd just seen a fucking ghost. For a moment, nobody said a word. I couldn't breathe, couldn't even bring myself to look away. Goosebumps spread across my skin like a second layer.
God, they looked so different. So much older, broader, more intimidating, and, unfortunately for me, just as fucking sexy as I remembered.
“Lex?” Christian whispered, his deep voice reverberating throughout the room.
Dom let out a low chuckle, his eyes roaming over me as a crooked smile spread across his face.
“Well, I'll be damned.”
Knox tilted his head, his eyes fixed on my face as a dangerous smirk tugged at his lips. I knew that smirk all too well.
“Look what the fucking wind blew into town.”
