A knock on my door drew my attention away from the program I was working on. “Come in.”

Cade strode in the door, and I felt my shoulders tense. “Hey Rat. I want you to take at least one guy with you tonight. I don’t trust Sal yet, so I don’t want you heading in there alone.”

I nodded and stared down at my keyboard. At first I’d regretted asking to make my own choice between Sal’s daughters. On one hand, it would’ve been a lot easier to just be given a bride, but then that would be two of us with no choice. Plus now, after meeting them, I was glad I was going to have the choice. The pressure was on me to choose someone, but somehow it felt less wrong for me to choose her myself. I was coming to terms with what I needed to do.

Bass and the others had been hounding me all week to tell them who I was going to pick. I hadn’t decided yet, though. The easiest decision would be Alexandria. She’d made her interest in me and in marriage very clear. We just had jack shit in common.

“If you don’t choose someone I’m sending Riggs with you,” Cade warned, breaking me out of my thoughts.

Wincing, I shot him an annoyed look. Riggs was the last person I wanted coming with me tonight and Cade knew it. I loved the guy, but he would make it an even more miserable experience than it was already going to be. He wouldn’t be able to keep his big mouth shut.

“I’ll see if Bass can go with me,” I told him.

“He can. Everyone’s already volunteered to go. Including the women,” he said with a chuckle.

Instantly, relief filled me. If we trusted Sal more I would choose to bring Ming with me. I’d love to get her opinion on the women I had to pick from. Our time down in Mexico had bonded us and I trusted her completely. She wasn’t that much older than me, but I had never had a mother, or sisters either. I really appreciated how she took care of the group.

She’d know what to make of Alexandria and Arianna. I’d already dismissed the younger two women. My choice was between the older two. I wouldn’t ask for Ming to go with me even though I could’ve used her opinion, though, because—like Cade—I trusted the Italian about as far as I could throw him. The last thing I wanted was to put any of the women in a possibly dangerous situation.

“You alright?”

I met Cade’s concerned gaze. “Yeah, it’s fine.”

He sighed and folded his arms over his chest. “Look, this would be a lot for any of us to handle. You don’t have to go through it alone.”

“I know,” I replied quickly. He knew I’d been hesitant on meeting Sal’s daughters. He also knew I hadn’t met with my brother yet. Cade somehow always knew what was going on around here.

I wasn’t a big fan of changes, although I’d been getting better at dealing with them. I’d just needed some time to process everything before I could give Enzo a chance. “I’ll deal with it. Can you tell Bass I want him to go with me and I’ll be ready in an hour?”

“Sure, man. Let me know how it goes.”

Cade left me alone with my thoughts. I was so grateful to him. He always seemed to know what I needed even when I didn’t. He pushed me, but never farther than I could take.

I rested my head in my hands and let out a long breath. I would rather be back in Diego’s basement facing Miguel Guzman and all his men than go to this dinner tonight.

Bass clapped his hand on my back as we stood staring up at Sal’s house. I clenched my jaw as the urge to turn right back around and ride away washed over me. I would never cut and run, though, because then someone else in the club would have to take over my responsibilities. I’d agreed to this deal and I would follow through.

“You ready, bro?”

I looked over at Bass. We’d gotten so close over the last year. He’d started prospecting for the club and we just clicked. “No,” I said in a wry tone.

His laugh rumbled out like a diesel engine starting up on a cold morning. He’d gotten his road name because of his voice. “I can’t say I envy you, bro. Marrying a chick you don’t even know?” He made a face, and I gave a humorless chuckle. I felt the same way. “It’s crazy that you’re getting engaged.” He shook his head.

I scrubbed my hand over my hair. “Let’s go get this over with.”

“Sure thing,” he replied, following me up the stairs to the front door.

Ringing the doorbell, we glanced at each other as the sound pealed on the other side of the door. We were both nervous. This was why I’d asked him to come with me tonight. I trusted him and knew he’d have a lot of the same responses I did. Hopefully, his opinion would help me make this monumental decision.

The door opened and a butler stared down his nose at us. The man was in a suit and had slicked back hair. He looked offended at our jeans, t-shirts, and cuts. We weren’t the dressing up kind. What you saw was what you got with us.

“Hey,” I started after silence spread between the three of us, “we’re here to see Sal.”

The man moved back and allowed us inside the home. “Follow me.”

Bass was craning his neck checking everything out as the butler led us to the dining room. I’d been here a couple weeks ago, so I’d already had a chance to scope it out. Bass met my gaze and his eyes widened comically. Sal was obviously very wealthy. His home was extravagant. I felt a weight settle low in my gut. Whichever daughter I chose was going to be used to being given everything she wanted. Judging by this house, I wasn’t going to be able to keep up. I made a good living, but nowhere near this level. Not that I would ever choose to live this way even if I could afford it.

We walked in and froze when every eye in the room zeroed in on us. Bass coughed next to me and even though he was an outgoing, confident guy I know he felt the same tension I did.

Sal came forward to greet us and introduce his son. We shook hands with Abel, but my gaze kept straying to the three young women standing near their mother. I frowned, realizing Alexandria wasn’t here.

“Come, sit, sit,” Sal insisted, and everyone obeyed, sitting at the table. “Celia,” he said and gave his wife a prodding look.

She excused herself and hurried from the room. We sat in uncomfortable silence while the staff placed food on the table in front of us.

“Alexandria,” Sal said in a slightly annoyed tone as she swept into the room. I glanced at Bass out of the corner of my eye and saw his eyes almost bug out of his head. Alexandria was gorgeous. Her long dark hair was up in some kind of twist thing that left a few strands curling around her long, slim neck. The dress she was wearing was shimmering and flowed around her feet as she all but floated over to the table.

She shot us a winning smile as she sank down gracefully into her seat. While all eyes were on her, I watched her sister. Arianna—unknowing that I was studying her—rolled her eyes when her sister let out a breathy giggle.

“I’m so sorry I’m late.” Alexandria fluttered her lashes at me.

“You’re never on time,” Arianna muttered, and her sister Antonia elbowed her.

Alexandria ignored them both. “Hi, Viktor,” she breathed at me.

“It’s Rat,” I reminded her. The last thing I was going to allow was for her to steamroll me.

Her lips flattened out into a thin line. “Rat,” she repeated although it sounded like she was forcing the word out.

Sal’s other daughters looked bored. I got the feeling they all expected me to pick Alexandria. Ada at least had my reassurance that I wouldn’t choose her. She shot me a small smile. Returning it, I glanced around and caught Alexandria watching me like a hawk.

Clearly, she expected to be picked, too. I wondered again what the appeal was for her? Why would she want to marry a stranger? Or was it just that she couldn’t comprehend not being picked? It wasn’t like I knew her well, but that seemed to jive with her personality—or what I’d seen of it so far.

“Thank you for joining us for dinner,” Celia said.

“Yes.” Sal put his elbows on the table and watched me with predatory eyes. “Why don’t you tell us who you’ll pick before we start?”

Celia shot him a horrified look, and I secretly shared the same reaction. Tell them and then have to sit through a whole dinner with potentially pouting women? My eyes shot over to Ari. I actually doubted she would pout, and I’d never gotten any time with Antonia. In fact, none of the other three sisters seemed anything like Alexandria.

“I’d rather use these last hours to continue getting to know your family,” I told him as tactfully as I could. In reality, I wanted to blurt out who I was choosing and get out of there as quickly as I could.

Alexandria rolled her eyes. “Are you seriously considering any of them?” She froze then shot a worried look at her father.

My brows drew down as I frowned at her reaction. Sal just shrugged—though he looked pissed that I’d declined to tell him what he wanted to know. He was playing nice. Everyone at the table could tell, but I wondered how long he could hold on to that facade.

Bass bit the insides of his lips, and we exchanged a knowing look. Both Sal and Alexandria were having trouble hiding their true colors. There was no reason for Alexandria to assume I would automatically pick her. I’d rejected her at the park, but she’d conveniently ignored that.

She clearly valued her beauty. She’d spent a great deal of time on her appearance before dinner. What she didn’t realize was her sisters were just as gorgeous as she was, if not as made up. That also wasn’t going to be the deciding factor on who I would marry. Whoever it was needed to fit with me and my lifestyle.

Alexandria’s emerald green eyes demanded an answer. “Yes, I am,” I told her.

The pout grew heavier on her lips and I had to force myself not to cringe. This woman was used to getting her way. The thought of marrying her made dread crawl up my spine. There’s no way she’d be happy with my way of life.

Celia spoke in a low voice to Alexandria and her daughter straightened up and wiped the pout off her face. Sal started up a conversation with us and his wife. Abel and Alexandria joined in, but I noticed the other three daughters sat quietly. Arianna was pushing food around on her plate, and occasionally glaring over at her father.

My lips quirked in a smile when she shot him another angry look. She fascinated me. She’d dropped a few hints while we talked that she didn’t want to get married and wasn’t happy with her dad’s bargain. I wasn’t thrilled with it myself, so we had that in common. That was the only reason Alexandria was still in the running. She was so wrong for me, but how could I make Ari go through with it when she wasn’t willing?

Those soft green eyes met mine again, and the knot that was sitting in my gut loosened slightly. I couldn’t explain the pull I felt for this woman.

Celia and Alexandria were chattering away. Celia kept talking up both Alexandria and Ada, and it was all I could do not to shake my head. What kind of woman was okay with sending her seventeen-year-old off in an arranged marriage?

“Ari is completing a Software Engine Degree,” Celia said happily, finally

“Engineering, Mama,” she whispered, then dropped her gaze down to her plate when my gaze shifted from her mother to her again.

“Well, isn’t that a coincidence,” Bass chuckled. “Rat is-” He grunted in pain when I kicked him underneath the table.

I was here to learn about the girls, but we didn’t need to be giving Sal any useful information about me or the club. Not yet, anyway.

Bass cleared his throat and everyone around the table stared at each other. An awkward silence descended.

“I would looove to learn how to use a computer better,” Alexandria said in a voice so chipper and high-pitched I was sure dogs would start howling at any moment.

That seemed to be the cue because everyone started talking at once. It was all nonsensical small talk, but the focus was off me.

I eyed Arianna speculatively. She was avoiding eye contact now. This was such a weird family.

Bass shoveled some food into his mouth, then gave me a sheepish look. Cade had warned us to watch what we said before we came over here tonight. I sighed. This was going to be a long night.