Shade’s eyes narrowed. They didn’t give a shit who she belonged to; they wanted to find out the strength of the club, identify The Last Riders’ president and enforcer.

“Let me go.” Lily tried to wiggle from the grasp the blond biker had around her waist.

“Calm down. I’m going to let you go.”

Viper’s harsh voice was low and filled with menace. “Let her go.”

The blond one sent a critical eye over Viper. There you go, Shade thought. Strength can never take a backseat, and Viper wanted the situation over quickly with the women members and wives near.

The one with Gaige in a stranglehold turned back, moving closer to his friends.

“I have every intention of letting this sweet thing go. We’re not out for trouble; just passing through.” The leader nodded at Gaige and the one he had called Max. “Found him giving her some trouble.” Nodding again toward Lily’s car, he then said, “Decided to step in. Seeing she’s yours, we’ll step back.” His arm slid away from Lily, releasing her.

While Lily took a step forward toward Razer, Shade didn’t break eye contact with the scarred one who stepped to the side to let her pass. Shade didn’t miss the gun tucked into his waistband under his jacket as Lily brushed past him.

“He’s telling the truth, Viper. Gaige was angry that he got fired, and they made him leave me alone.”

“Lily, go to your sister,” Shade spoke.

She took off toward her sister and as soon as she was out of earshot, Shade gave his ultimatum.

“He’s mine. Give him to me, and you can leave in peace.”

“Peace is good.” The leader spoke with a mocking twist to his lips. “But I’m just as willing for a good fight. Unfortunately, this fucker isn’t worth it.”

Max handed Gaige over to him, pleading with Shade that he hadn’t been going to hurt Lily.

“Shut the fuck up, you pussy. You’re brave enough when a woman has her back to you. Didn’t you want her to see your small dick?” Shade mocked while his expression turned deadly.

Just then, Knox pulled his deputy car into the parking lot close to the men before getting out. “Beth called and said someone was giving Lily trouble?”

“He broke her windshield,” Shade answered, indicating the asshole he was holding.

Knox took Gaige from Shade, putting him in handcuffs before placing him into the backseat of the cruiser. Shade didn’t mind, though. When the deputy who was taking statements went home that night, Shade would be making a visit to Gaige’s jail cell.

“They with him?” Knox nodded toward the out-of-town bikers.

“Fuck no. We’re just passing through, stopped for some fun, and found him giving sweet thing a hard time,” the blond biker said.

“Quit calling her that!” Shade couldn’t hold back his anger.

“No offense.” An insincere smile from the leader had Shade’s hands clenching at his sides.

“Well, fun’s over. You men need to be leaving town since you were passing through,” Knox drawled sarcastically.

“You telling us to leave town?”

“That about sums it up,” Knox agreed.

“Seems we don’t have much of a choice, do we?”

“No,” Shade answered.

The leader nodded. “Let’s go, brothers.”

The three bikers turned, going to their bikes.

“I’ll make sure they leave,” Knox said, going to the cruiser with Gaige inside.

As Shade and the rest of the men returned to where the women were waiting, Shade ran his eyes over Lily, making sure Gaige hadn’t bruised her when he grabbed her.

“You okay?” Razer asked Lily.

“I’m fine,” Lily assured her brother-in-law while her eyes avoided Shade’s.

She began walking with her sister, looping their arms together. Shade had witnessed them walking that way before. Both women were very expressive with their love, and although Beth would take Razer’s hand often, Shade couldn’t imagine the day Lily would reach out to touch him voluntarily.

“Do you want to go back to the booth and get another figurine?” Beth asked.

“No,” Lily said, changing the subject. “Let’s play some games.”

She walked up to one of the booths where you had to throw a ring around a milk jug, handed the worker some money, and he gave her several rings. Aiming, she missed pathetically. She tried again with the other two rings, throwing each one carefully, and missed them all. Shade wanted to help her yet hung back at the edge of the group, watching the members as they walked through the fairgrounds.

The members began splitting up, going to different games and playing. The brothers went to the shooting game, while Lily and the women moved on to another game, shooting water into a clown’s mouth. She won and began jumping up and down, laughing.

After two more races, Lily earned a prize, picking a purple monkey, and the man behind the counter handed it to Lily.

“Here you go.” Lily handed it to Beth.

“Don’t you want it?” Beth protested.

“You’re the one who likes stuffed animals.”

Beth’s face was confused as she took it from Lily. Shade had to walk away from the group, returning to watch the men shoot while staying close enough to keep an eye on the women.

Gaige had destroyed something Lily had let herself want; as a result, she was giving the stuffed animal away before it was taken from her. Shade knew it was what she was used to happening.

With the game over, the women came back to watch the men. While Train and Rider were shooting at the targets, Shade stood next to Viper, both watching.

“Why don’t you take a turn, Shade?” Bliss asked loudly.

Shade shot her a look, which the small woman had no trouble understanding. Bliss was walking a fine line with him. She had been with the club long enough to have heard what job he had held in the military. She was trying to expose club secrets. He was growing tired of her attempts to draw his attention.

He felt Lily’s angry stare at him and knew she didn’t like that he wasn’t friendlier with Bliss. Fuck, if she knew the truth about their past, she would understand Bliss was playing games she had no chance of winning.

“Let’s go ride the bumper cars,” Bliss suggested.

The Last Riders made their way through the fair, stopping and riding a few rides and playing several more games. Then they all came to a stop at the ride where they would get on a seat and go to the top and then be released to swing in a large circle.

“I’m going to go get something to drink,” Lily told Beth, who was standing in line with Razer.

Shade, in line behind them, wasn’t surprised Lily wasn’t going to ride. He stood in line, keeping watch as she went to a food truck where she bought a drink and cotton candy then took a seat at one of the tables.

Shade got out of line.

“You want me to hold your place?” Razer asked with a snicker.

“Fuck you.” Shade moved away.

He saw Beth burry her face in Razer’s chest, her shoulders shaking. Those two had a warped sense of humor.

As he approached, Lily was delicately licking the sugar crystals from her lips.

Shade sat down on the bench next to her. “You don’t want to ride?”