He shakes his head and walks away, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I head back to the lounge, my mind racing. How am I going to convince the club that I’m in love with Mercedez? Axle, Reaper, and Bomber will see right through it. They know me too well. But I don’t have a choice. I have to come up with something.
Maybe I should tell Reaper I had sex with his sister. Surely death would be easier than the life I will have to endure with Mercedez.
FIFTEEN
ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE
Twitch
For the remainder of yesterday,I was on autopilot. I can’t even remember what the conversations at dinner were about. It’s all a blur. My mind has been consumed with one thing: convincing myself to tell the MC that I’m choosing Mercedez as my ol’ lady. Last night I forced myself to organize a church meeting for ten this morning. The looks I got from everyone were odd—hell, I don’t think I’ve ever called a meeting before. But I knew if I set it, I couldn’t back out.
Even Ava asked if I was okay at dinner. I didn’t miss the sad look Ivy gave me when she overheard. I’d love to ask her if she’s spoken to Milly, but what those two talk about as friends is none of my business. Still, I’d give anything to be a fly on the wall during their conversations. Is Milly as torn up as I am? In a twisted way, I hope she is. I hope she’s feeling my pain because that would mean she loves me.
I stand up from my computer chair, my heart pounding.I fucking love her.Holy shit. The realization hits me hard. What the hell am I going to do now? I start pacing the room.
“Bro, it’s ten,” Axle says, leaning against the doorframe of the computer room. How has time gone so quickly this morning?
I’m sweating my ass off, trying to calm my frantic breathing. Pulling at my collar, I walk into church. I swear, the shirt feels too tight, like it’s choking me. The other men walk in and take their seats. All eyes are on me. But I can’t sit down—I’m too wired. I start pacing again.
Viper stands and puts a hand on my shoulder. “Man, are you all right?” His voice is full of concern, and I’m sure I look like a crazy person right now.
I pull at the neck of my shirt again, feeling like I can’t breathe.
Axle whistles out loud. “Take it off, take it off!” he cheers in a mock-seductive voice.
Fuck this! I rip the shirt off over my head.
“Yewwww!” Axle cheers, wolf-whistling like an idiot.
There are a few chuckles, but most of the men are watching me with wide eyes.
“You called this meeting,” Reaper points out to me. His tone is calm but firm, his eyes locked on me.
I clear my throat, but it doesn’t help. My voice feels stuck, my chest tight. “I, umm...” My head swings back and forth, my thoughts racing between Milly and Mercedez. Death by Reaper or a life with Mercedez. Neither option feels survivable.
“I banged your sister,” I blurt out.
The room goes dead silent. My brain struggles to process the fact that I just said that out loud. Around the table, everyone looks shocked—except for Demon, who’s grinning like a lunatic.
“What did you just say?” Reaper’s voice is low, almost unworldly. He sounds confused, like he can’t believe he has to ask again. But beneath the confusion, there’s a clear threat of violence. His body is rigid, his eyes sharp as blades. If looks could kill, I’d be bleeding out on the floor right now.
Bomber’s hand clamps down on Reaper’s shoulder, holding him back. Shit, I’m in trouble. My eyes dart to the exit, considering my options.
“No, you didn’t, you liar. Milly wouldn’t sleep with you,” Axle says with a smirk, clearly trying to lighten the mood.
The room is so quiet I can hear my own heartbeat pounding in my ears. It’s deafening.
“That’s why Milly hasn’t wanted to come back to the clubhouse?” Reaper says, his voice low and dangerous, like he’s piecing everything together. He stands, all six foot four of him, towering over the table. Bomber rises with him, his hand still firmly on Reaper’s shoulder.
I gulp, watching the scene unfold in slow motion. Bomber tries to hold Reaper back, but it’s no use. Reaper’s arm pulls back, and a skull-shattering burst of pain explodes across my face. I hit the ground hard, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth. Stars dance in my vision as shouting erupts around me.
“Are you still alive, you crazy son of a bitch?” Axle asks, crouching down beside me.
I blink a few times and his silhouette comes into focus, but I still can’t see properly. I’m going to die, and I don’t want to die a coward, so I croak out, “Help me up?”
Axle glances over his shoulder. “Nah, man, trust me. You want to stay down.”
“No,” I say, my voice firm despite the pain. “I need to tell Reaper the truth.”
