Chapter 7

TESSA

By midnight, I had already pushed the day behind me. School, the whispers, Damien’s smug face were all pushed down so deep it almost felt like it hadn’t happened. My throat still burned a little when I swallowed, but I refused to let it slow me down. I wasn’t giving Damien or Jaxson the satisfaction of living rent-free in my head.

Nova wouldn't shut up until I agreed to go with her. “It’s time you got introduced properly,” she’d said. Over and over until I finally caved. So that’s how I ended up walking through the doors of their club.

The place was bigger than I expected. Dark walls, low lights, music thumping steadily through the speakers. A haze of smoke drifted near the ceiling, and two guys by the door passed a joint between them like they’d been standing there all night. This wasn’t the kind of club you stumbled into by mistake. You either belonged here, or you were dragged in by someone who did.

The minute I stepped inside, eyes turned. I felt them crawl over me. I didn't flinch. I mean, they had to look, who wouldn't? Black leather dress that cut short at my thighs, thigh-high boots hugging my legs, and my long coat hanging open as I moved. I didn’t need to second-guess myself.

Nova leaned close, whispering about how everyone was staring, but I just kept walking. The looks didn’t bother me, they only added fuel to the fire. The bass rattled the floor under my boots, the air thick with smoke, laughter, and low voices. I let it all wash over me like noise I’d already learned to ignore.

At the far corner, the Serpents were waiting. Their space was easy to spot, half the club seemed to angle around it. A wide booth tucked back, bottles lined on the table, smoke curling above their heads. And him.

Jaxson sat in the middle like he owned the world, one arm stretched across the backrest, posture lazy but sharp at the same time. His eyes locked on me as soon as I came into view. Not a blink. Not a break. Like he’d been waiting for me.

I kept my pace even, my jaw tight. He wanted me rattled? He wasn’t getting it.

Ryder sat to Jaxson’s left, calm, unreadable as always, glass in hand. Cole was on the other side, slouched back with that cocky grin that made you want to punch him just to wipe it off.

Cole’s smirk widened when I reached the booth. “Damn, Tessa,” he drawled, eyes dragging over me. “Didn’t know you had this in you. That dress? Trouble.”

I rolled my eyes, but before I could shoot something back, Jaxson’s voice cut through. “Don’t feed her bullshit, Cole. She doesn’t look that good.”

His words sounded careless, but his eyes betrayed him. They slid over me slowly and deliberately, like he was lying to himself more than anyone else.

Nova leaned on the table, smirking. “Please. You’ve been staring since she walked in. Don’t be salty, Jax.”

Jaxson didn’t answer, just leaned back further, jaw tightening. Ryder stayed quiet, sipping his drink, steady as stone.

I ignored all of them and slipped into the booth, planting myself between Nova and Ryder. My hair fell over my shoulder as I flipped it back, pretending Jaxson didn’t exist.

Ryder leaned forward then, reaching for the bottle in the middle of the table. He poured whiskey into a glass and slid it in front of me. His voice was calm, smooth, no need to raise it. “This is yours. Welcome to the Serpents.”

He lifted his own glass, nodding once. “We only ask three things, loyalty, silence, and no turning back. That’s it.”

His eyes locked on mine, and for the first time that night, I felt the weight of it. Ryder wasn’t teasing, wasn’t baiting me like Cole, and wasn’t circling me like Jaxson. He was serious.

He raised his glass higher. “To the newest Serpent.”

Nova smiled, lifting hers. Cole whooped and banged his glass against Ryder’s. Even Jaxson picked his glass up, though his gaze never left me. It felt like the toast was just noise to him, like his mind was stuck somewhere else.

I clinked my glass with theirs and took a sip. The whiskey burned hot down my throat, sharp enough to make my chest tighten. The table settled back, drinks pouring, laughter breaking out again. Cole was already back to running his mouth, Nova nudged my shoulder with a grin, and Ryder leaned back into the booth, his calm presence grounding the whole table.

And Jaxson? He stayed quiet. But every so often, I caught his eyes flicking to me when he thought I wasn’t looking. Sharp and quick, like he couldn’t help himself.

The music climbed louder, bass rattling the walls. Smoke curled heavier around us, mixing with the burn of alcohol. The booth buzzed with voices, laughter, and bottles knocking together.

I leaned into Nova. “Bathroom,” I muttered.

She nodded, too busy laughing at something Cole said.

The bathroom was quiet, though the bass still thudded faintly through the walls. I tossed my purse on the counter beneath the long mirror and twisted the tap, letting cold water run over my hands. My reflection stared back at me, smudged eyeliner, a faint flush on my cheeks. I touched up my lipstick, fixing what little the night had taken from me.

The door creaked open.

Through the mirror, I caught Jaxson. A cigarette hanging from his mouth, lighter sparking as he lit it. Smoke curled past his lips, and his eyes flicked to mine in the mirror.

“Stalking me now?” I asked, turning toward him.

No answer. He just moved closer, steps slow, like he had all the time in the world. He stopped a few inches from me, close enough that I felt the heat of him. My pulse kicked, traitorous and loud.

He lifted his hand and brushed a strand of hair from my face, fingers grazing too gently. I snapped, “How many times do I have to tell you not to touch me?”

His mouth curved, the faintest smirk. “You walked in here looking like a fucking temptation. And you think I’m not supposed to touch?”

I tilted my chin, refusing to back down. “Funny. I thought you said I didn’t look good.”

He leaned closer, voice low, eyes burning through me. “You don’t look good. You look dangerous.”

My chest tightened, heat crawling under my skin. I rolled my eyes, masking the pull I refused to admit. “Get lost,” I muttered, shoving against him.

He moved fast. In one motion, he spun me around, my palm hitting the counter as he pinned my arm behind my back. His body pressed hard against mine, his reflection filling the mirror in front of me. My blood boiled, anger spiking hotter than the whiskey burn.

“Are you dumb? Get off me, you prick.”

His cigarette still smoked between his fingers, lips curled into a smirk. “If I let go, you’ll just keep pretending you don’t feel this.”

I glared at him through the mirror, jaw tight. “Feel what? Annoyance?”

His grip didn’t loosen. His eyes stayed on mine, steady and dark. “Lie to them. Lie to yourself. But you can't lie to me.”

My heart hammered harder, but I kept my face sharp. “You’re so full of yourself.”

He leaned down, voice brushing against my ear. “Or maybe I just see you clearer than the rest of them.”

I shoved back, harder this time. He finally released me, stepping away with that damn smirk still painted across his face, like he’d won a fight I didn’t even know we were having.