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“I’m the man who beat six men who disrespected a woman, if that’s what you’re really asking.” Vin crossed his arms, looking like the most relaxed man there, and he actually was. He’d stand behind what he did until he drew his last breath.

Jack sized Vin up and down before turning toward Mac.

“Is this how you’re going to run this town?” Jack spat. “Letting strangers come in and beat up on the residents?”

“I have a feeling Vin had a good reason for doing what he did.” Mac smirked before looking at Jack. “I’m sure your men aren’t innocent. Isn’t that right, Griffin?”

Griffin didn’t answer, just continued to glare at Vin, who ignored him. Instead, Vin looked at the other man standing beside Jack. “And I take it you’re Tucker.”

“I am.” The man’s eyes shifted everywhere but directly at Vin. “Where is my sister?”

“Stepsister,” Vin growled.

“I’m right here.” Misty’s voice came from behind him.

Vin turned, their eyes meeting briefly. The gratitude he saw in her gaze told him she knew exactly why he’d corrected the asshole. She walked past him and down the steps, stopping a few feet away from Tucker. “What do you want, Tucker?”

“What in the hell are you doing, Misty?” Tucker threw up his hands. “I told you Mr. Crow agreed to take you on to pay off Daddy’s debts.”

“He wasn’t my father, Tucker.” Misty replied, then looked at Jack. “And I did what was told to do. I’ve been here, paid dues as well as money for that shack. I’d say the debt is paid. And I’m leaving the Murder as of right now.”

“You don’t just walk away from a Murder, Misty,” Jack warned. “There are consequences to that.”

“I’ve dealt with consequences my whole life.” Misty didn’t hesitate. “I’ll manage.”

“Misty, don’t be stupid,” Tucker snapped. “You know what happens if you leave before you’re mated.”

The confidence on Misty’s face disappeared so quickly Vin caught it immediately. Her frown deepened as she stared at her stepbrother. “What are you talking about?”

Tucker didn’t answer, but the look Jack gave him said enough to put Vin on alert.

“You didn’t tell her?” Jack asked.

“Tell me what?” Misty demanded, looking between the two men.

“It doesn’t matter.” Tucker waved her off as if whatever they were talking about wasn’t her fucking life. “You’re here now. All you need to do is pick one of the Crows interested in you and everything will be fine.”

Misty stared at him, and Vin could almost see her mind working as pieces started falling into place. He didn’t know what the fuck was going on yet, but he knew by the way the color slowly drained from her face that she did.

“No.” She shook her head. “You told me if I came here, the debt was paid.”

“And it will be,” Tucker replied, irritation replacing the nervousness Vin had noticed earlier. “Once you mate with a Crow from Jack’s Murder.”

For a second, no one said a word.

Vin felt something cold and deadly settle over him as he stared at Tucker. He’d thought the asshole more or less selling Misty to settle a debt was bad enough. Apparently, he’d only known half the fucking story.

Misty looked at Jack. “Is that true?”

Jack’s silence answered before he finally gave a short nod. “That was the agreement Tucker made with me.”

“And you agreed to it?” Her voice was quieter now, but Vin heard the hurt beneath it.

Jack’s expression hardened. “An unmated female is valuable to a Murder, Misty. You know that. I wasn't going to wipe away a debt that large simply because you moved into our territory.”

“No, apparently I was supposed to spread my legs and become somebody’s Mate before you considered it paid.” Misty spat in disgust and Vin wanted to pull her into his arms, but he refrained because as pissed as he was he may hurt her.

“Misty,” Tucker hissed, glancing around. “Jesus Christ.”