When I peek around, I see it’s Grace standing in front of Elena. Her back is against the wall and her head is bowed. It makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand. I notice the signs. The taunting and ridicule are something I know all too well, and the sudden onslaught of anger burns through me.
I rush to them. “Leave her alone.”
All heads turn to me. Elena’s eyes go wide while Grace laughs. “What are you going to do about it?”
My hands clench by my sides.
Grace steps close to me, her eyes studying me, and she smiles. “You don’t scare me. You’re pathetic, having a cry because your husband hurt you.” She huffs. “Most of us women have gone through so much worse. You two are weak. You both don’t belong here.”
Elena steps around her and strides over to me. “Don’t worry about her,” she whispers. “She’s not worth it.” She pulls me by my hand, and we walk away from her.
“Is she always like that toward you?”
Elena smiles but knits her brows at me. “When none of the men are around.”
“Tell Axle.”
“It will only make it worse.”
“How will it? Axle will put them in their place.”
“Vera is with Reaper, and Vera and Grace are best friends, so I’ve always been reluctant. I didn’t want to put Axle in a difficult position.”
My stomach plummets. “Reaperiswith her... He told me he wasn’t.” I can’t hide the disappointment in my voice, but it explains why she was not happy.
“They aren’t a couple, but they have sex.” Her face scrunches. “I think she wants to be his ol’ lady.”
“Why would Reaper let me sleep in his bed, then?”
A smile tugs on the side of her lips. “He’s not into her.”
“What about Grace? What’s her deal?”
“She used to sleep with Axle before he met me. So, in her head, I took her man.”
I huff as my anger sizzles. “If either of them starts on you again, come and tell me. I’ll always be by your side when you need me.”
She smiles and playfully barges into my shoulder. “It’s okay. I’ll be fine. I ignore them.”
She turns when I stop. “I’m serious. I haven’t felt anger like that in a long time. I won’t let anyone bully my little sister.”
“Okay, okay.” She chuckles. “I’m not so little anymore.”
I smile back. “You will always be my little sister.”
The men walk past us and into a room with a door I’ve paid little attention to. The wooden door displays a carving of the War Brothers MC logo. When Axle reaches us, he leans over and presses a kiss to Elena’s cheek. “We’ve got church.”
Now, I know little about MC clubs, but I know what church means. “I’m guessing club business?” I ask Elena.
“Yep.”
“I’d better get a start on lunch, then.”
Her hand comes out toward me. “I’d wait. Sometimes after church, they leave to do whatever they do.”
“You don’t know?”
“No...” She pauses. “And I don’t think I want to.”
