[Devil's Fighters MC 01] • Devils · Cutthroat 99 MC

Alyssa Kelley had her heart broken eight years ago

Eight years ago, she watched as her best friend walk into the embrace of the Devil’s Fighters MC, and swore that she’d never come back to Pinebrook. Eight years later, the funeral of her parents draws her back home—where memories of a heartbreaking past threaten to overwhelm her.

Xavier Wheeler let the best thing in his life walk away

Eight years ago, Xavier had no choice: it was either join the Devil’s Fighters as a competitor in their underground fighting rings or wait for the inevitable day when the Fighters come collecting on his father’s gambling debts. The only regret he had of that day is never telling Alyssa why he had to do what he did.

They’ve never believed in second chances, until now.

When Alyssa runs into Xavier again, she wants to ask him a question that’s been eating away at her for eight years. But fearful of the answer she might receive, she pulls away from him. As the number of days of her remaining in Pinebrook counts down towards zero, will the truth of the past finally surface or will they be buried forever?

**EXCERPT**

Something was happening, she could feel it. The air in the room was crackling with electricity, but Alyssa did not dare to acknowledge it. Xavier, meanwhile, was getting closer and closer. His eyes were looking deep into hers, refusing to let go. Alyssa felt shivers run down her spine.

“You don’t care about me?” he said, his voice soft and dangerous, a danger completely different from the kind that rang, for example, in Bennie Lenday’s voice.

Alyssa swallowed hard. Her throat and mouth were suddenly dry. “I don’t care about you,” she said.

Finally, Xavier stopped. He was only a couple of inches away from her face. His eyes were greener than she had ever seen them and darker than she could ever have imagined.

“Liar,” he said.

“What?” she said weakly.

“You’re lying.”

“I’m not.”

“You care about me.”

“I don’t.”

“You’re in love with me.”

Alyssa took a step back. “I’m not.”

Xavier’s hand shot out, lightning-fast. He grabbed her arm and tugged her closer.

“You’re hurting me,” Alyssa said, even though it wasn’t really true. Still, his grip was scorching on the bare skin of her arm.

“You’re in love with me,” Xavier said. “I can feel it. I can see it. I know you are.”

“You left me.”

“I’m here now.”

“You left me.”

“So did you.”