I'm woken by the smell of something delicious filling the apartment. Before I can even open my eyes, my stomachs growling like a fucking bear. Not surprising considering I got one hell of a workout last night. Well...we got one hell of a workout.

Stretching out in my bed, a grin pulls at my lips thinking about last night. The way Lexi screamed my name. The feel of her nails dragging across my skin. The way her heat wrapped around me and greedily took everything I gave her.

It was like a fucking dream, and after we caught a little sleep, we were back at it again.

Wait...

Reaching out, I find the space beside me empty and cold. My gut sinks and I jump out of bed.

Lexi wouldn't leave before I woke up. Especially not after the night we had. She said she's mine. There's no way she's running now.

Slipping on my boxers, I rush into the hall. Music flows from the kitchen along with the smell of breakfast but all I can think about is finding Lexi. I skid past the kitchen and take a quick look in the living room. When I don't see her, I step out onto the balcony and instantly see her car in the parking lot below.

"What the hell are you doing?"

I spin around and find Lexi standing behind me wearing one of my t-shirts like a dress while holding a spatula in her hand. Breathing a sigh of relief, I try to play off my minor freak out.

"Nothing...just needed some fresh air." I smirk and casually slide the balcony door shut behind me.

Her brows pull together but she still gives me an easy smile and a nod. "Okay. Well, breakfast is almost ready."

Lex turns on her heels and walks back into the kitchen. After thinking she left me, I need to calm my ass down. I follow behind her and until she stops at the stove.

"What're you cooking?" I ask, my voice dropping as I wrap an arm around her waist and mold myself to her back.

She instantly pushes against me, getting comfortable in my arms. "Eggs, bacon, sausage, home fries, and toast."

"Damn. We having a feast or something?"

"Kind of." She shrugs and I can hear the smile in her voice. "I could hear your stomach growling when I woke up so, I figured you were pretty hungry."

Leaning down, I place a kiss on the top of her head. "Mmm, do I get a side of you with the meal?"

A shudder travels through her body, shaking her curvy frame in my arms.

"Maybe...but in your room this time. I already cleaned the dining room table and your mom is sleeping. We don't need her walking out and catching...

"Me fucking you on the kitchen table," I finish for her.

She bites her lip and turns around in my arms. "Exactly."

Unable to hold back, I lean down and capture her lips with mine. She moans against my mouth as her hands land on my chest. But she's soon pulling away, her attention going to the bandage on my chest.

Lightly tracing the edges with her fingertips she looks up at me. "New ink?"

"Yeah. It's the Guardians mark. Dolly did it last night."

Her eyebrows shoot up. "Dolly's one too?"

"Yeah," I answer, letting my hands travel up and down her waist.

I'm never going to be able to stop touching this girl.

Nodding, Lex looks at the bandage again. "When do I get to see it?"

There's an excited gleam in her eyes that has me biting my lip. I mean, my tattoos are for me, but the idea of her enjoying them too connects with something deep inside of me.

"As soon as it's healed you can be the first one to see it. Deal?"

Alexis's smile widens. "Deal." She gives me one more quick kiss and turns around in time to flip the bacon.

Once Lexi finishes cooking, we both make plates and head out to the dining room table. I take a seat at the end while she places her plate on the table beside me.

"Oh, drinks," Lexi says before going back into the kitchen.

I take a bite of food and nearly groan, enjoying how amazing my girl can cook. But before I can take another, the apartment door opens.

Does no one knock in this motherfucker?

"Morning, cus," Kade grins as he walks through the door with Wilder and Travis behind him.

All three of them look like they're in better shape since last night. Their cuts and bruises have been cleaned and they've changed out of their dirt and blood covered clothes. Though I'm fucking shocked to see their awake this early. I thought for sure they'd be partying till sun-up and sleeping till dinner.

"Morning," I grumble back with a mouth full of food.

Travis and Kade take a seat at the other end of the table while Wilder's eyes land on Lexi's plate.

"Oh, breakfast!" Wild slides into her seat and grabs a fork full of food before I can say anything.

Reaching over, I grab the plate and slide it towards me. "Dude, that's not yours."

"Then whose is it?" he asks, his cheeks stuffed with fluffy eggs.

Lexi steps out of the kitchen and crosses her arms. "Mine."

"Oh, shit," Wild curses before his eyes dart between Lexi and me. As if putting a puzzle together, a sly grin slides across his face. "Oh, shit! You two did the nasty!"

"What?" Lexi steps back.

Her mouth hangs open as she looks at me for answers but I'm just as confused as she is. It's not like they haven't seen her here in the morning before, and in one of my shirts too.

Kade shakes his head from across the table. "It's written all over your faces."

"Whatever." I shrug. "We got nothing to hide."

"My man!" Wild holds out his fist for a bump. "Bout damn time."

Rolling my eyes, I give him the fist bump he's looking for.

Lexi slaps my arm and stomps back into the kitchen.

"Ow." I rub my arm and lean back to watch her walk away. "Where you going?"

"To get me a new plate of food. My old one has Wilder germs all over it."

Wilder doesn't seem the least bit offended as he shrugs and pulls the stolen plate back.

When Lex comes back in with more food, she tries to take the seat on the other side of me but I reach out and pull her over, making her sit in my lap while moving my plate over so she can set her's down. I expect her to tense having an audience in front of us, but she surprises me once again by settling down and eating like she has the most comfortable fucking seat in the house.

"You guys can help yourselves. I made plenty." Lexi nods towards the kitchen.

Travis jumps up from the table with Wilder right behind him, his first plate already empty.

Fucking garbage disposal.

Kade, on the other hand, sits completely still. His dark gold eyes carefully watching Lexi and me.

"What?" I ask him with a narrowed stare.

He chews on the inside of his cheek for a second, mauling over his words before raising an eyebrow at me. "We got a thing later on. Gonna need you there."

Reading between the lines, I know exactly what he's getting at. Last night was a celebration but today we have to get back to business. All the prospects have been patched which normally means bringing in new ones, but with this shit brewing with the Vipers, I got a feeling Uncle Rob is gonna have something bigger planned.

I'm dying to know what Kade knows but that means talking shop in front of Lex. She knows everything but I'm still worried about how she'll react when actually faced with it.

Guess there's no better time to find out like the present.

"It's okay," I nod to Kade. "She knows."

Lexi's head lifts up, her bright eyes bouncing between me and Kade. Her body nervously tenses in my lap but she doesn't move to get up.

Kade's eyebrows raise to his hairline, getting lost behind the dark strands covering his forehead. "Everything?"

"Everything," I repeat.

"And what," he turns his attention on Lexi with complete seriousness. "You're cool with it? You're good being with a Guardian?"

Lexi swallows her bite of food and quickly washes it down with a sip of her drink before clearing her throat. "Yeah. I mean...I still have some questions, but I've been around you four for a while now. You're not bad guys. I'm sure of that."

"But there's more than just us four," Travis butts in, entering the room with a plate in hand.

Wilder takes a seat with twice as much food as before. "Yeah, a lot more."

"I know." Lexi nods, her voice sounding small. Squeezing her waste, I try to give her some comfort and it seems to work as she takes a deep breath. "But I care about Jace, and I trust he wouldn't pull me into something he doesn't think I can handle."

"I wouldn't," I reassure her. "You got nothing to worry about from them."

The Vipers are a different story but she already knows that. As for the Guardians, there are no issues. They're family and they'll treat her the same way. There's not a doubt in my mind.

A soft smile takes hold of Lexi's full lips before she leans in to give me a quick kiss. My fingers itch to pull her down for another but I'm not sure I could control myself, even with the guys here.

"So then, when you bringing her to the barn?" Wild asks, shoving another bite into his mouth.

"Today."

Lexi's head jerks back before she looks at me like I've grown a second head. Panic flashes in her eyes and her face pinches together with anxiety.

"Relax," I whisper, cupping the side of her face with my hand. "They'll love you."

She takes a couple deep breaths and nods, but I can still see her eyes filling with a million different scenarios. I doubt there's much I can say to settle her concerns but I know when I get her there and show her around, she'll feel right at home.

At least, I hope she will.

After breakfast, Lex and I don't get a chance for privacy. The guys hang around, determined to go with us to the barn so they have front row seats to Lexi's first time meeting the Guardians. The fact they're so fucking interested does nothing to help my nerves.

I need this to go well. I need Lex to like them.

The drive from the apartments through the back gates and down the dirt road to the barn takes less than five minutes on my bike.

"Holy shit," Lexi's voice, thick with awe, comes through the speakers in my helmet. "This has been back here the whole time?"

I chuckle lightly. I'm so used to coming to the barn I forget that very few people outside the Guardians know about it. With the woods surrounding the area and the apartments upfront, no one would ever suspect a place like this is hiding back here.

"Yeah. A home away from home in our own backyard," I reply as we pull up in the small gravel parking area by the side entrance.

Climbing off the bike, I hang my helmet on the handles and hold out a hand for Lexi. She doesn't take it, slowly removing her own helmet and nervously looking around. Her eyes scan the massive barn, all the bikes parked near us, the woods circling the area, and the small glimpse of trailers in the back. When the sounds of the guys' bikes rumble behind us, she shakes her head and snaps out of it.

"You alright?" I ask, holding out my hand again.

This time Lexi takes it lets me help her off the bike. "Yeah. Just...nervous."

"Nervous?" Wild calls over mid-laugh after yanking off his helmet. "You look like you're gonna piss your pants."

Lexi narrows her eyes at him and flips him the middle finger, only making the fucker laugh more. Even Travis and Kade smirk at the anxious look written all over my girl's face.

"Baby, relax," I say as I throw an arm over her shoulders.

She nods, tucking herself closer against me. Just before I take her through the side doors, I feel her take a deep breath.

I don't want her to be scared. Maybe I shouldn't have sprung this on her so soon. But I need to be here for whatever Uncle Rob has planned and at the same time, I don't want to leave her side today.

"Wow," Lex breathes when we enter the barn.

The place is still trashed from last night's party, and there aren't many people here besides a few past out guys and their chick company, but I get how the Guardians' clubhouse can be a little shocking. On the outside, it looks rundown and old as fuck but on the inside, it's a decent hangout with all the amenities. It was one of Uncle Rob's big moves when he first took over. He switched the location from a tiny dive bar near the West Side borders and remodeled this place so if anyone were to stumble upon it by accident, they'd never suspect what's on the inside.

"So, this is the barn," Lexi says, giving the place a once over. "Not what I expected."

"It never is," Travis says, entering behind us with Kade and Wilder.

I scan the area again before looking at Kade with a lifted brow. "Dude, I thought you said we had something going on today?"

"We do," he smirks and I'm already waiting for the rest of his smart-ass answer. "But we gotta wake everyone up and get this place clean first. So, we got you to come help."

"Gee, thanks."

"No problem." His smile grows wider before his eyes settle on something past me and a scowl takes hold.

Lexi and I both look over to see Josie happily skipping across the second-floor balcony. She reaches the stairs to head down but freezes when she takes us in. Well, when she takes Lex in.

"Oh, my fucking...." Jo's bright emerald eyes jump to me and grow twice in size. "You finally told her?"

"She wouldn't be here if I hadn't." I sigh, knowing immediately where this is going.

"Hold your ears, boys," Wild comments as does just as he suggests.

Josie bounces on the heels of her feet, her smile growing wider like a lit fuse before she squeals loud enough to break glass.

Lexi, the only one who didn't take Wilder's advice, winces against my side, and quickly slaps her hands over her ears.

"This is so fucking perfect!" Josie shouts excitedly and rushes down the stairs. She hits her breaks before crashing into us and wraps her arms around Lexi, pulling her in for a hug and spinning her away from me. "I'm so happy you're here. Finally, I have someone else to help me wrangle these jokers."

Lex looks lost for words as her eyes find me from over Jo's shoulder but the smile on her face is unmistakable. For the first time since finding out my plan, she looks relaxed and comfortable.

Thank you, Josie.

"I don't know how much help I'll be but I'm happy to see you," Lex says once Jo lets her go.

Josie crosses her arms and sticks out her hip. All I can see is the back of her head but I can imagine the knowing smile she must be giving Lex as she asks, "So, does this mean you and knucklehead are finally a thing?"

"It's Studmuffin," Dolly corrects, popping up from behind the bar under the balcony like a ghost. "And I'm curious about this too. Jace has never brought a serious chick here before. This must be big."

I don't know why I even jump at her sudden appearance. Dolly's the sneakiest person I've ever fucking met. Of course, she'd be hiding somewhere just waiting to announce her presence. She flips her silver hair over her shoulder and leans her inked arms against the bar top, paying close attention to Lex.

Rolling my eyes at the crazy chick, I look over to see Lexi watching me from over Josie's shoulder once again. The way she bites her bottom lip and her eyes glow has me waiting anxiously for her answer to the girls. My breath turns shallow and my heart is thumping in my chest like a fucking drum.

It's barely been a whole day and I'm already fucked.

"Ye..." Lex pause to look to me for confirmation. More than happy to give it to her, I nod and she smiles again. "Yeah, we're together now."

"'Bout fucking time!" Josie whoops, fist-pumping in the air.

Even Dolly breaks into a genuine smile before turning around to continue cleaning the bar.

"Alright, alright," Kade butts in. "We got work to do."

Josie whips around with a cocky grin on her scarlet lips. "You mean you have work to do. I'm gonna show Lexi around. Have fun, boys."

Jo wraps her arm with Lexi and turns to leave with a wave of her fingers. Unfortunately for her, she doesn't get far before Kade is grabbing her free arm.

Leaning down, he tries to whisper to her but it's so quiet in here, every word comes out crystal clear to everyone nearby. "What were you doing upstairs in the bunk room, Josette?"

Jo narrows her eyes at him and yanks her arm away. "Waking the others up like your dad asked me to do."

The tension in Kade's shoulders relaxes even with the irritated look on his face.

Josie gives him one last look of annoyance before walking away with Lexi on her arm.

"Don't take forever, Jo. You can't keep Lexi to yourself all day," I call out to them.

Josie's laugh fills the barn. "Wanna bet?"

I know she's just fucking with me but Lex still looks back at me with a wink before she's hauled out the door by the fiery redhead.

"Aye," Wild taps me on the shoulder. When I turn around he flashes one of his goofy ass grins. "Why don't you get your balls out of Lexi's purse and come help us clean, yeah?"

Smiling, I shove him away. "Fuck off, asshole."

It takes us a good part of the day to get shit straight, even with most of the other hungover Guardians pitching in. By the afternoon, people are finally kicking back to relax. Josie is still showing Lex around and introducing her to people while Kade, Travis, Wilder, and I sit our tired asses down.

Leaning back in my chair, I rest my feet on the busted coffee table in front of me. My eyes follow Lex like a fucking moth to a flame, watching as she smiles and talks with Jo, Dolly, and a few other girls. The way she carries herself is a stark contrast to how she walked in here this morning. She's no longer tense or watching everything with fear in her eyes.

All my worries about Alexis being able to handle this life are slowly starting to fade away. She looks confident like she belongs here, and I'm not going to lie, it's a damn good look on her.

As if sensing me watching, Lexi flips her long brown hair over her shoulder and makes eye contact with me. The smile that graces her lips twists me the fuck up inside. I always tried to imagine what it would be like to have her here, but I never imagined it would feel this good.

"Yo, Romeo, why don't you just go over there and get your girl before you start drooling on the furniture," Wild suggests with a devious grin before taking a sip of his beer.

Shaking my head, I scoff I point an accusing finger at him. "Why don't you go find your ass a girl and stop being jealous."

Wilder leans forward so fast his blonde hair flies into his wide eyes. "Jealous? I'm not jealous."

Travis shoots him a look that says he's not buying it either.

"I'm not!" Wild shouts, fishing his phone from his jacket pocket. "I got over twenty chicks I could call right now that would be more than happy to keep me company tonight."

"Whatever you say, Looney Toon." Kade laughs and pats him on the back.

Travis's gaze zeroes in on Kade from over his cup. "What about you? What's going on with Jo?"

Kade's laughter quickly sobers. "Nothing."

"Bullshit," I mumble, earning an irritated flick of the eyes from my cousin.

"I'm serious. Nothing's going on." Kade crosses his arms and leans back against the couch. "We're just...taking some much-needed space."

"Needed for who? You or Josie?" I ask, already getting an idea of where this is going.

If there's one thing Kade and I have in common, it's the need to push others away when we get scared. Maybe I learned it from him, or he learned it from me, but either way, it's a bad fucking habit to have.

Kade's knowing eyes lock with mine. "She was getting too attached."

"You mean she wanted to take things to the next level and you chickened out and did something to piss her off." I grit my teeth and shake my head at his stupidity.

With a heavy sigh, Kade's head drops in confirmation. "She's better off this way. I'm not the steady relationship type. She needed to realize that now rather than later."

"No," Travis growls, standing up from his seat. His eyes lock on Kade with a heated glare. "After everything that Jo's been through, what she needs is for you to man the fuck up. Not all of us are as lucky as you. We don't have people who would stand by us even when we're doing dumb shit. So get your head outta your ass, before it's too late." His grip tightens on his cup as he takes a step away and then pauses. "I'd fucking kill to have someone look at me the way Jo looks at you. Stop taking that shit for granted, bro."

With that, Travis storms off towards the bar.

"Hot damn," Wilder falls back against the couch looking surprised as hell. "Where the fuck did that come from?"

I glance up, noticing the way Travis looks at Josie as he passes her. "I got a feeling that shits been building up for a while. But he has a point."

"Screw this, I don't need another lecture," Kade growls, shoving off the couch and walking away.

"See," Wilder nods in Kade's direction. "This is why I don't date. Fuck and go, that's my game."

I don't even have a chance to say anything to that before my uncle walks out of his office and takes a stand behind the balcony railing.

The room falls silent within seconds. Everyone knowing that when the boss takes his position up there, we're about to get some important information.

With my eyes glued to Uncle Rob, I feel a slender hand land on my shoulder. I look up to find that Lexi's made her way back to me. She looks at me with a smile and mouths the word, "hey."

I don't answer. Right now it's time to listen, so instead, I grab her and pull her onto my lap. She snuggles against my chest and I take a calming breath as I tune in to what's about to be said.

"Last night, we welcomed new brothers and a sister to our ranks," Uncle Rob's deep voice booms through the barn like a god speaking from the sky. "I'm proud of each and every one of you. Our new Guardians, their mentors, our Gauntlet volunteers, and everyone who showed up and gave their support. It's nights like last night that remind me why we do what we do, and how close this family is. It is all of you who make me proud to be a Guardian."

The room erupts into cheers of agreement and camaraderie. People are standing on chairs, tables, holding their drinks up, and throwing their arms in the air with excitement. Even Lexi's enjoying the energy in this place, giggling in my lap as I shout with the others

"Okay," Uncle Rob tries to calm everyone down but he can't hide the smile under his beard.

Slowly, the room starts to settle. It takes a few minutes but once it's silent again, Uncle Rob raises his head high.

"As much fun as we all had last night, the time for celebrating is over...Two weeks ago, our home was invaded. Vipers snuck into our domain and took away one of our brothers." Uncle Rob's hands grab onto the balcony railing, his knuckles turning white. "They've started a war, one that we must finish. But we must find a way to do that without becoming the monsters we hate. We need to bring them down, without taking a life."

Tension builds in the crowd. Some people murmur words of disagreement and vengeance. Maybe I'd be doing the same thing if I hadn't already faced this issue.

I could've killed Paxton that night they attacked. It would've been easy, quick, and final. Part of the threat to everyone I care about would be gone now. But I couldn't do it. I'm not a murderer. I'm not a killer. So, even though what my uncle is saying sounds hard, it's also the right way to go. We can't let ourselves turn into them.

"I know not all of you agree with me. I understand your need to get even...Motto was a brother to me too, and I want to see those responsible for his death taken down, but in the right way."

"And what is the right way?" Someone calls from the back of the room.

My uncle's face falls and for the first time, I see a flash of fear in his eyes. "I don't know, but Colt, Omar, and I are working out a plan. And we welcome anyone else who wants to strategize with us. Right now, the only thing we know is that in order to contain this situation and protect our home we need to increase our numbers." He leans back up, ridding any traces of sorrow from his face. "So each of you have an assignment. I want every patched Guardian to bring in a new prospect as quickly as you can find one. But, use your head and your gut, you know our expectations. Don't bring in someone you don't one-hundred percent believe can do the job...This Thursday is Thanksgiving. We'll be hosting a pot luck dinner, and if you have someone picked out by then, bring them along. Until then, start searching. We're counting on all of you."

Uncle Rob gives one last nod to the room and steps away, heading back into his office where he's been all day. I guess, at least now we know what he's been doing in there. He's trying to find ways to win this war without risking the souls of his people.

Fuck.

"Baby," Lexi whispers, snapping my attention to her. "Is that...the attack he was talking about...was that the night I went to Josie's and you got hurt?"

The fear in her eyes cuts into my chest, and I fight to find the right words to ease her worries. "Yeah, but it was fine. I'm good. We handled things."

"But you were really hurt."

Taking Lexi's hands in mind, I bring them to my lips. "But I'm fine now. Don't stress about this. Everything is gonna be okay."

It has to be.

Taking a deep breath, Lex nods a few times but I can still see the anxiety in her hazel-blue eyes. So I do the only thing I can think of. I turn her around so that she's facing me and kiss her like my life depends on it.

It doesn't even take a second for Lexi to melt against me. She wraps her arms around my neck and deepens the kiss, sinking her fingers into my hair and wrapping her tongue with mine. I can't help but fucking groan against her lips. Kissing Alexis is like nothing I've ever felt. It's like getting drunk and high all at once but with the constant feeling of needing more with every taste. I don't think there's any way in hell I'll ever get bored of having her mouth on mine, or her soft curvy body plastered against my hard plains.

"Get a room!" Wilder's voice calls, sounding far away.

Everything and everyone around is slowly disappearing, fading into the background while every touch from Lexi is heightened, making my pulse race like a jackhammer.

That is until my phone starts vibrating in my pocket.

"Fuck," I groan, pulling away from Lexi.

I fish my phone out while she watches me, her lips swollen and her eyes dilated. Panting to catch her breath, Alexis licks her lips and I'm ready to throw my phone out the fucking door.

Whoever's fucking calling me better be dead or dying. They're lucky I don't ignore them and drag Lexi back to my place.

"Hello?" I growl, answering the call without looking at the screen.

"Jace, I need your help!"

"Marcel?" My face pinches together with confusion.

The lust-filled looks Lex was giving me a second ago go up in smoke. She leans back, her wide eyes filling with concern again. "Marcel? Is he okay?"

I hold up a finger to her, trying to understand everything he's saying on the other end. But it's all coming out in a jumbled mess of rage. "Dude, Marcel, I can't understand you. Slow down."

He pauses and I can hear his deep breaths through the speaker. "Those snake bastards broke into my house!"

💋____________________________________💋

Hey everyone! Sorry for being a day late on this update. I've been making some changes to my profile, like my new name, and looking into making some professional moves with my writing. So I've been a little busy, but I'm happy to bring you all this chapter. Granted, it might be a little rough and could use some more editing. I just didn't want to keep all of you lovely readers waiting.

Anyway, what did you think of this chapter? Were you worried for Jace when he first woke up and thought Lexi left? Did you enjoy getting a small glimpse of Lexi in his world? What about that speech from Uncle Rob, what do you think could happen by bringing on new recruits? And finally, are you worried about Marcel?

Let me know what you think in the comments and if you like what you read, please hit that star button!

As usual, the teaser for chapter 39 will be posted on my Instagram and Twitter in a day or two. Keep an eye out for it!