She laughs, cruel and sharp. “Sweetheart, I’ve known him longer than you’ve been breathing. He’ll get bored. He always does.” She pushes off the counter. “And when he does, I’ll be here waiting like I always am.”
“Then how pathetic are you?” I sneer. “Waiting around for scraps of his attention.”
Her smirk falters briefly then her expression hardens. “He loves me. Ask him. We have the kind of relationship that’ll eventually mean it’s just us. He isn’t ready yet, and I want him to get this out his system.”
“How fucking understanding,” I say with a humourless laugh. “What a great wife you’ll be. Tell me, when he fucked you, did he make you say it?” She looks less confident as I step closer. “Did he tell you that you were his? Did he force you to scream you belonged to him?”
“All I’m saying is enjoy it while it lasts. Everyone knows he gets bored easily, and your pale, dreary arse won’t hold his attention for long.”
Something snaps. Before I can stop myself, I lunge at her, shoving hard. Her cigarette goes flying, and she lets out a surprised scream. I grab fistfuls of her hair, dragging her around the kitchen until she trips and lands on the floor. I jump on top of her, slamming my fist to her face, cries of frustration leaving me as she swipes back, scratching her nails along my neck. We’re so lost in hurting one another, we don’t hear the door crash open.
“What the fuck is this?” Axel’s voice booms, thunderous, and the fight dies instantly. He storms in, shirt half-buttoned, Lexi hovering behind him in her robe, wide-eyed. His gaze cuts over the mess at the same time mine does. Sasha on the floor, blood streaking her lip, her eye already swelling shut. And me above her, hair wild, chest heaving, my fist still knotted in her hair.
The rage drains out of me all at once, leaving only the hollow thud of panic. I swallow hard, inhaling a shuddery breath as reality slams into me.
Slowly, I unclench my hand, climbing off her and backing away from Axel’s reach. “I’m . . . sorry,” I whisper, my voice small, breaking.
“She attacked me,” Sasha shrieks, clinging to Axel’s arm as he helps her up. The way he tilts her chin, assessing her bruises with a tenderness I’ll never be shown, tells me everything. He’s already picked his side.
“She said—” I start, but the words dry up. My teeth sink into my lip to stop the flood of tears. What’s the point? He’s made up his mind.
“Lexi,” Axel barks without looking back, “go get Shadow.” Then his glare pins me, sharp and merciless. “Office. Now. Andif you move without my say so, so help me God, I’ll break your fucking legs.”
I nod quickly, shuffling out the kitchen, my vision blurring as the first hot tear slips free. I swipe it away, but more follow, burning down my cheeks as I stumble towards the office.
The door clicks shut behind me, and I press my palms to the desk, shaking, the taste of blood and regret bitter on my tongue.
Shadow
“Shadow, wake up.”
I jerk awake, my hand instantly reaching for her. My head snaps around to see Lexi standing by the bed, hair mussed, robe tied hastily around her waist. But no Remi.
“She’s not here,” she whispers. “She’s—”
I’m on my feet in a heartbeat, dragging on my jeans, my kutte slung across my shoulders. “What the fuck do you mean? Where is she?”
Lexi wrings her hands. “She and Sasha . . . they fought. It got bad. Axel’s dealing with it.”
I don’t wait for more. Stuffing my feet in my boots, I pound down the stairs with Lexi hurrying after me. The low murmur of voices leads me towards the common room.
Axel stands outside his office, arms folded, his jaw tight. The second he sees me, his gaze hardens. Before I can speak, a blur of movement cuts me off.
“Shadow!” Sasha barrels towards me, face streaked with tears, her lip split and one eye already swelling shut. She clutches at my kutte, sobbing dramatically. “She attacked me. I didn’t do anything, and she just snapped. Look at me.”
I stiffen, my jaw ticking. I feel Lexi hovering, ready to catch Sasha, when Axel growls, “Take her upstairs, Lex. Get her cleaned up.”
Lexi peels Sasha from me, guiding her away despite the way Sasha keeps glancing back, milking every second.
When they’re gone, Axel drags a hand over his beard, eyes cutting into me. “Trouble can’t stay in this club, Shadow. You know that. My job’s keeping everyone safe. That girl you’ve dragged in is feral. Sasha says she was attacked for no damn reason.”
My fists clench, anger simmering under my skin, but before I can respond, the office door bursts open.
“Is anyone gonna get my side?” Remi demands, her voice sharp, her eyes wild.
I freeze, staring at her. Her hair’s tangled, cheeks flushed, the tremor in her hands betraying the fight still burning in her.
Axel’s head snaps towards her, his face a storm at her blatant disregard for his position.
