THE DEVIL’S MOTORCYCLE CLUB BRIDE

I Chose Him

“Ten seconds, Ryder. That’s all you get before I send them in.”

Senator Hayes stood on the other side of the compound gate, megaphone in hand, red and blue lights washing over his face in a way that made him look less like her father and more like a man who had already made up his mind.

Behind him, a dozen police units. In front of him, a line of Devil’s Reign members standing shoulder to shoulder across the gravel drive. None of them moving, none of them speaking, all of them waiting on one word from the man beside her.

“Nine.”

“Ryder.” Nora’s fingers dug into his arm. “You can’t fight the entire police department, this isn’t a war you can win with fists.”

“I know that.” His jaw was tight, eyes locked on her father as if he could tear through him with sheer force of will. “But I’m not handing you over to a man who’s already proven he’ll destroy anyone standing between him and what he wants.”

“Eight.”

“Then let me talk to him.” She stepped forward before she could think better of it. “He won’t storm a compound with his own daughter standing in the driveway, even he isn’t that far gone.”

“Seven.”

“Nora, no.” Ryder’s hand caught her wrist. “You don’t know what he’s capable of anymore.”

“And you don’t know who I’ve become.” She pulled free, harder than she meant to, and something in his eyes flickered, surprise maybe, or something closer to pride. “I’ve spent ten years learning exactly how to survive that man… let me handle this.”

For one long second, Ryder said nothing.

Then he stepped back and let her go.

Nora walked toward the gate alone, everyone in the driveway was watching her, her heart hammering so hard she was sure everyone could hear it. Her father lowered the megaphone as she approached, his face arranging itself into the careful, the practiced concern he wore in public concern he used at press conferences.

“Sweetheart.” His voice was gentle now, performative. “Thank God you’re alright, come here. Come home.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you.” She kept her voice steady, even though every part of her wanted to run straight past him and never look back. “And you know exactly why.”

For a split second, her father’s mask slipped. Most people would have missed it, but Nora had spent her whole life watching him closely. She knew that look.

“Nora, you’re confused. Whatever these people have told you…”

“They haven’t told me anything.” She held his gaze, refusing to let her voice shake. “But I saw your face tonight when Ryder said your name, I’ve never seen you look like that. Not once… not in twenty six years.” She took a step closer, lowering her voice so only he could hear it. “So either you call off the police right now, or I walk back into that compound and I don’t come out until I know exactly what you did.”

Her father’s expression didn’t change, but his eyes became cold and calculating.

“You’d choose them over your own family.”

“You made that choice for me the moment you decided lying to me was easier than telling me the truth.”

For a long moment, neither of them moved. Then her father raised the megaphone again, and for one horrifying second she thought he was going to give the order anyway.

“Stand down,” he said instead, voice carrying across the driveway. “We’re leaving.”

The police began to move, the police lights went dark one by one, and Nora watched her father’s face as he lowered the megaphone, watched the practiced concern melt away into something colder underneath.

“This isn’t over,” he said quietly, only for her. “You have no idea what you just walked back into.”

“Then tell me.”

“Ask him.” Her father’s eyes flicked past her, toward Ryder, standing at the gate with his hands clenched at his sides. “Ask him what happened to your mother.”

And then he turned and walked away, leaving her standing alone in the driveway with more questions than answers.