“That too,” I admit.
He sighs. “Alright. We’ll send the men out to look for her.”
My head snaps up. “Really?”
“Brother,” he says simply, “if she means something to you, then of course. We take care of our own.”
Relief crashes through me. “Thanks, Pres.”
The door creaks open, and Kasey pokes her head in before she’s invited. Axel growls. “What?”
“Atlas said Shadow’s losing his mind over Remi,” she says casually. “I just wanted you to know she’s fine.”
I shove past her, scanning the main room, desperate to see her sitting there, safe. But she isn’t, and my chest hollows. I whirl back to Kasey. “Where is she?” I hiss.
“Relax, big guy. She just wanted some space.”
“Not what I asked,” I snarl.
Atlas strolls over, eyebrows up. “Everything okay?”
“She’s covering for Remi,” I snap.
Kasey folds her arms. “I promised I’d keep it quiet. I only said she’s fine because Atlas was about to have a coronary over your little breakdown. Which, by the way, is weird. No wonder she needs space.”
“You don’t get it.”
Atlas sighs. “Just tell him.”
Kasey smirks, flicking her gaze to a door at the end of the hall. Then, she turns on her heel, sauntering off.
I don’t wait. My boots pound down the hall, my hand twisting the handle. It’s locked.
“Remi?” I tap once, then again, harder. “Are you in there?”
Axel frowns. “That’s a cleaning cupboard. Nobody’s used it in years.”
I ignore him, pressing my palm flat to the wood. “Please, Remi. Just open up so I know you’re okay.”
Silence.
The brothers drift off, muttering, but I stay planted. Because I know she’s in there. I can feel it.
I slide down until my backside hits the ground. My voice drops low. “I’ve been fighting it. The way I feel about you. Thought maybe it’d just go away, because you’re not ready. Anyone can see that. But every time I look over, Ragnor’s there, chatting you up, and fuck, I hate it.”
Her voice finally slips through, small and muffled. “He does it to piss you off.”
Relief loosens my chest. I let out a short laugh. “Yeah, I know. Still pisses me off, though.”
I tip my head back against the door, staring at the ceiling. “I’m no good at this, Rem. I always fuck up. I can’t hold a relationship down. I cheat, I hurt people. But you, you make me want to try.”
The lock clicks, and I scramble to my feet as the door swings open. She stands there, eyes wide, hair mussed, staring up at me.
“I don’t trust men,” she says softly. “They only ever use me. I don’t think I’ve ever known one who actually looked out for me.” She pauses, swallowing. “Until you. And I should be furious you went after Dean, but it was kind of sweet.”
A grin pulls at my mouth. “Yeah?”
She nods, stepping closer. “We can’t be anything serious.” My chest squeezes. “I don’t even know if I’m staying.”
