The Biker King's Bride

Ronan's POV

The back of the warehouse was quiet, eerily quiet and I didn't like it one bit. It was too quiet for a place that used to echo with the clang of chains and the grunts of workers moving crates through the night. Now, it was all silence, steel and tension.

I snuck a glance at the raging party behind me, and I didn't like the sinking feeling that settled at the pit of my stomach. Vivienne's last words echoed in my ears, and I let out a grunt.

"Is everything okay, king?" Maverick asked. For a minute there, I had totally forgotten I was trailing after him. "You seem, occupied."

"I'm fine." It was obviously a lie. "Just peachy about what you want to show me."

"You sure?" Maverick's tone hinted at something else. "You've been glancing back at the party since we left, and I like to think it's not because you miss being there."

"Just get to the point." I snapped.

"If she's with you, like you say she is." Maverick started slowly. "Then I think she's capable of holding up her own."

"Not against that bitch she won't." I wanted to mutter, but decided against it.

Maverick was right, I hadn't seen anyone with more fire than Vivienne, and I'd only known her for what? A couple of days? If she was half as outspoken and fiery as she was with me in there, then that bitch wouldn't know what was coming for her.

"Will you at least give me something to work with here?" I spoke up again, drawing Maverick's attention. "You're leading me into a blind spot and I don't like it."

Maverick said nothing. Instead, he waited for me to catch up, before walking through the open bay doors and walking beside me like a shadow.

"You'll see." Maverick muttered, and I fought the urge to curse. My second in command had been annoyingly cryptic all morning, and I would be lying if I said it wasn't starting to get on my nerves. "He's not going to waste your time."

I didn't respond. This time, I focused on the sound of my boots hitting the concrete floor.

Inside, a single table sat underneath the harsh glow of a hanging bulb. Declan was already there, and I couldn't help the frown that found its way to my face.

I turned to Maverick, my eyes saying everything my mouth didn't .

What the fuck was he doing here?

Maverick said nothing, but shook his head instead. It was code, and I understood immediately.

He wanted me to listen first, before jumping into any conclusions.

Declan was already seated, and his lips lifted into a smile when he saw me. It was nowhere near warm, and it made my jaw tick.

"Ronan," he let out, just before rising slightly. "Been a long time."

I didn't bother with pleasantries, everyone around already knew that. Once he'd realized this, he dropped back into his seat and I nodded once.

"Let's talk."

"We like you." Declan started slowly. I watched his lips twitch, before he wiped off some sort of invisible dirt off his body. He looked clean and clad in the expensive suit he was wearing, you would think he didn't belong here, but I knew better. "You've got reputation, reach and your structure? It's simply marvelous. But the shipment were offering, it isn't just business.It's a partnership."

I waited, because I knew he was nowhere near done.

"So we can't afford instability." he leaned in, just to tap the top of the metal table. " we've seen what happens to men who build empires with no anchor."

"Anchor?" It was Maverick's turn to speak, and I let him.

"A wife." Declan said bluntly, and I fought the urge to laugh. "Someone who grounds you. Who proves you're not gonna go rogue when things go south. No offense, but the last bachelor we worked with ran off with ten mil and a stripper named Candy."

I nearly scoffed. That was his measuring stick? I wondered just how he'd been in business this long with that fish brain of his.

"So you're saying if I don't have a wife," I leaned back, deciding to hold my thoughts to myself. In a surprisingly calm tone, I added. "The deal's off?"

"I'm saying," Declan said smoothly. "a wife makes the deal a hell of a lot easier. And I might already have someone in mind."

"Oh really?" I raised a brow. "Who is it, if I may ask?"

Declan didn't answer, instead he reached into his coat and pulled out a glossy photo. He took one glance at me, before sliding the photo across the table like it was some kind of playing card in a rigged game of poker.

I paused slightly, just before touching it. I wasn't superstitious, but there was just something off about the photo.

I counted to ten, before my gaze fell on the photo, and I froze.

It was Vivienne.

My wife.

And not just that, she was wearing the same dress from the night she'd barged into my life like a hurricane with a death wish.

She looked bold, unapologetic. Fucking untouchable, and she was my wife.

But Declan didn't know that. No one did, except the men that were present at the wedding.

I raised my head, just to catch Declan staring at me. His gaze bore into mine, and I did a good job holding it. I didn't twitch, neither did I let out a single crack in my mask.

"She's beautiful." I finally let out, simply tapping my knuckle against the picture. "What's her story?"

"She's been vetted." Declan started to speak. " Comes from a ruined but useful family. Loyal and...."

I never got to hear the rest of what Declan had to say about my firecracker of a wife, because a gunshot chose that exact moment to pierce the night.

A scream echoed from outside the warehouse, and I glanced at Maverick. He was on his feet in no time, his gun drawn. He was waiting for orders, but I didn't move. Not yet.

Instead, I slid the photo into the back of my pocket.

Vivienne had seemed nothing short of the usual damsel in distress, and I'd only wanted to help a hot lady out, but could there be more to the story she'd told me?

"Marry me, and I'll make it worth your while." Her words from the other day echoed in my ears.

Vivienne was playing a game, and I feared I just might have walked straight into it.

Shit.