VAL’S POV
I stared at my reflection in the small bathroom mirror, wanting to punch myself in the face.
I was wearing my tightest black jeans, a cropped dark tank top, and my worn leather jacket. Simple. Nothing fancy. But no matter how hard I tried to look relaxed, my cheeks were still pink and my heart was beating way too fast.
It’s just a dinner, I kept repeating in my head. You’re just playing along so the Vipers back off and these idiots don't think you're easy. That’s it.
When I walked out of the bathroom, Jax was already waiting by the loft door.
My breath caught in my throat. He had swapped his grease-stained tank top for a dark, fitted button-down shirt under his leather vest. The sleeves were rolled up past his elbows, showing off his thick, tattooed forearms. His dark hair w
