❥ EVERETT'S POV

Everett is standing by the dresser munching noisily on a bag of chips while Knox remakes the bed.

Had they met under different circumstances, Everett would've gleefully thrown himself at Knox. The man is his exact type—tall enough to climb, muscular for days, sinfully attractive, and badass to the core.

It's a shame the universe, or whoever the hell is in charge, brought them together like this. They're two opposites who teeter on the line of ripping each other's heads off instead of their clothes. Only time will tell if they can ever become friends.

"How did you become a member of a motorcycle club?" Everett moves to plop down on the left side of the bed after Knox has finished with it. "Can anyone join, or is it like an invitation-only type of thing?"

"You're suddenly interested in getting to know me now?" Knox raises a confused brow while stepping out of his sweatpants, revealing a pair of fitted black boxer briefs. It perfectly outlines his drool-worthy package, making it difficult to ignore. Everett almost chokes on the mountain of chips in his mouth. "What? You've already seen me with less on."

"Yeah, but... but..." Everett stammers, looking visibly flustered as he forces his eyes upward. "Is that really what you plan on sleeping in tonight? At least put on a shirt or something out of respect for me."

"You fucking kidding me? I normally sleep naked."

"Oh."

"Right, so consider the underwear as me doing you a favor."

The enormous bed dips a little as Knox gets settled underneath the covers. He grabs the remote off the nightstand and turns on the flat-screen TV hanging on the wall, mindlessly flipping through the channels. He eventually stops at the news, then rests his arms behind his head, his eyes glued forward.

"So, uh, you're just not going to answer my questions?" Everett mumbles. Knox continues to pretend that he doesn't exist, so Everett loudly crumbles the now empty bag of chips into a firm ball and then tosses it at Knox's head. "Asshole."

It hits him right on the nose.

"Jesus, fuck... How much more childish can you get?" Knox exhales sharply, rolling his eyes. He captures the ball and shoots it into the wastebasket on the other side of the room, making the shot. Everett scoffs, mockingly. "I became a member by making a name for myself in the streets and putting in the work required. To answer your other question, it's a no on both parts. Happy now?"

"Not really. You didn't tell me shit. Details would've been nice."

"The less you know, the better."

Everett glances over to meet Knox's dark gaze, the tension in the room popping like fireworks on the 4th of July. "When can I go home? You still haven't said how long you plan on keeping me here."

"A few days," Knox answers. "They're running Shaun's story on the news right now. I want to see how The Jackals plan to respond before sending you home. If you end up being a causality of war, it'll be on my conscience. I don't want that. So are you sure you've told me everything that I need to know?"

Everett nods, breaking eye contact as his freckled cheeks tint red. "Can you please stop looking at me like that? It's annoying as hell."

"How am I looking at you?" Knox's voice drops to a level that it shouldn't as he sits up in bed, staring intensely at Everett. It's clear he gets a kick out of teasing the boy. "Tell me how and I'll stop. Maybe."

"Forget it. Let's just go to sleep." Everett gets up to turn off the lights before laying back down on top of the comforter. He faces away from Knox and curls into a ball, staring at the closet door. "I don't like sleeping with background noise. Are you going to leave the TV on all night?"

"Yeah. I can't sleep when it's too quiet," Knox admits. "Got any more questions to ask me? I feel like talking now."

"I feel like sleeping now," Everett says.

Knox chuckles, playfully thumping the back of Everett's head. "I have little patience for brats, just so you know. It's a wonder how that Jackal put up with your smart mouth for this long. If you were mine, I'd have long bent you over my knee. Wouldn't be able to sit right for a week."

"Oh my God..." Everett shudders from the sweet chill that creeps up his spine, courtesy of the filthy images Knox has implanted in his head. "You are so gross."

"More like too honest." Knox shifts behind him, lying back down. "So, what were you and Red running your mouths about before I arrived?"

"You mean Josie from the kitchen?"

"Yeah. I call her Red."

"We weren't talking about much," Everett says. "Though she did try to convince me you all weren't a raging group of savage murderers. I didn't believe it until after she told me the story of how you all saved her. Wasn't expecting to hear that."

"I'll let you in on a not-so-little secret," Knox says. "Most MCs make their money through illegal means. But, for the right price, The Fallen Angels will do a little extra on the side, including rescuing a filthy rich CEO's daughter from a crazed drug kingpin."

"How noble of you," Everett sarcastically replies. Knox laughs. "Then what's the reason for all the half-naked women running around here? One girl literally had her tits out when I reached the kitchen. I think a few of them might've been fans of yours."

"I'm not interested," Knox says all too quickly, and Everett doesn't miss it. "Many are patch whores looking to get claimed by a member. The others are friends of the club who simply have nowhere else to go. Gavin lets them cook and clean for free housing."

Everett turns around at that. "And you guys don't ever... you know, force them to do any sexual favors in exchange?"

"Fuck no!" Knox snaps, causing Everett to flinch. "Violating a woman will not only get your ass beat to the brink of death, but you'll also get booted from the club and all its chapters. My brothers and I may very well be savages, just not in that way."

"I believe you. Sorry for suggesting otherwise." Everett's cheeks flare with embarrassment. He swiftly changes the subject. "I saw your tattoo in the shower earlier. What's the meaning behind it?"

Knox doesn't immediately respond, almost looking as if he's debating with himself about whether he wants to answer. Then he does. "It's in remembrance of my mother. I lost her several years back."

"Oh, shit..." Everett frowns. "I'm so sorry for your loss."

"Thanks. My mother was an amazing woman." Knox smiles, and this one does the job of tugging at Everett's heartstrings. "She loved angels and used to keep little figurines scattered around the house when I was a kid. She was the only angel in my corner back then, so I got the tattoo to always keep her with me."

"It's really beautiful, Knox. I'm sure she would've loved it." Everett gives the man a genuine smile, unconsciously reaching over to grab his hand.

Their eyes meet and the mood shifts yet again as Knox quietly studies Everett's face, searching deeply for something that Everett isn't sure he even has. The sounds coming from the television gradually fade out when Knox slowly intertwines their fingers. An innocent act, but still so intimate.

Knox licks his lips before speaking again, throwing Everett's pounding heart into overdrive. "You're a dangerous one, aren't you?"

"M-Me?" Everett swallows hard. "Dangerous in what way?"

"All the ways." Knox's eyes remain on Everett's, his thumb lightly stroking the back of Everett's hand. How can something feel so good and so wrong at the same time?

"We should, uh... you know, g-get some sleep. It's late." Everett pulls his hand away and instantly regrets doing so. He sighs and turns back over to face the closet. "Goodnight, Knox."

"Goodnight, kitten."

"You just had to ruin the moment, didn't you?" Everett grumbles, simultaneously fighting the smile that's threatening to break through. "I don't like being called that, by the way. I know I don't look it sometimes, but I'm a grown man, not some dainty little feline."

Knox's laughter shakes the bed. "No, that's exactly what you are. A dainty little kitten with a temper."

"I fucking hate you."

"For now."

Everett doesn't waste his breath replying with another snarky comment. He roughly fluffs out his pillow, closes his eyes, and silently prays for a better tomorrow. It's all he can do at this point. Hope and pray he makes it out of this mess unscathed.