“I’ve worn less,” she fires, folding her arms tight, ignoring the tears dripping hot down her chin.
“But you didn’t belong to me then.”
“I don’t now,” she screams, the anger flooding back.
I scoff, folding my arms across my chest so I don’t pin her against the wall and force her to swallow those words. “This little act you’ve got going on doesn’t fool me,” I say, my tone calm now, cutting. “You pretend you don’t care, but I know you do.”
Her laugh is cold, empty. “You don’t even know me, Shadow.” She spits my name like it poisons her tongue.
“Say that again,” I dare, stepping closer. She edges back, her eyes wary, but she keeps her mouth shut.Smart girl.
I hold her there, letting the silence stretch until she squirms. “Axel is the boss around here. What he says goes—for me, for you, for the goddamn whores. I don’t give a shit what Sasha said. Next time, you bring it to me. I’ll deal with it.” She stays quiet, her eyes glaring at the ground. “You think I’ll let you ruin what I’ve built here?” I snap, my voice sharp enough to cut glass. “One more stunt like tonight, and Axel won’t just send you packing, he’ll make me cut you loose. You hear me?”
Her jaw clenches, but I see the tremor in her shoulders as she avoids eye contact. I drag a hand down my face, forcing a breath past my teeth.Christ.She’s fire and rage, but she’smine.
“Come here,” I mutter, reaching for her before she can spin away. She stiffens, but I don’t let go. I tug her into my chest, wrapping my arms around her tight enough that she can’t wriggle free. She shudders against me, fists balled, resisting for a beat before her forehead drops against my chest. A small, choked sound escapes her, half sob, half growl. “You don’t have to fight me,” I murmur into her hair, my tone rough but low. “Not me. Not here. You’ve got nothing to prove. You’re already enough, Remi.”
Her body softens, the tension bleeding out in broken sobs, and I hold her tighter. All she really needs is someone who won’t let go.
Chapter Sixteen
Remi
I don’t say a word when he guides me upstairs. I don’t say a word when he shuts the door behind us, strips down, and slides into bed like it’s any other night. My body is still vibrating with humiliation and rage, but he lies there like nothing’s happened, waiting for me to join him.
I slide under the covers, but when he pulls me to him, I twist away, turning my back to him. He exhales, muttering something before rolling away.
Sleep comes in snatches, broken by flashes of Sasha’s smug face and Axel’s glare. By the time morning light creeps through the blinds, I feel raw and brittle, like one wrong move will shatter me.
Shadow wakes, stretching out as his eyes assess me. “Shower?” he asks. I shake my head, climbing from the bed and pulling the bag of clothes Lexi gave me closer. I pull out a pair of shorts and a vest, along with the comfy knickers. “I can go down and grab the new stuff I got you,” he says, eyeing me cautiously as I forgo the bra and pull the vest on.
“No, thank you,” I almost whisper, heading into the bathroom to brush my teeth.
When I return, Shadow is dressed too. He passes me to brush his teeth, and I take a second to gather myself. Not speaking to him is hard when all I really want to do is curl up in his arms and forget every other problem. But my steely heart won’t allow it.
“Come on,” Shadow says, tugging on his kutte, his tone gentler than last night. It brings me from my thoughts as he heads for the door. “Breakfast will be a good chance to face Axel and smooth this shit over.”
I want to argue, remind him that I was just defending myself and that Axel isn’t my President. But somehow, I think that’ll make everything worse. Plus, the weight of his hand on my lower back is firm, guiding me downstairs whether I like it or not.
The kitchen is busy, the smell of coffee and bacon thick in the air. Axel sits at the head of the table, Lexi perched beside him, chatting quietly. The second I walk in, the conversation dips.
“Sit,” Shadow orders softly, steering me into a chair.
I keep my eyes fixed on the table as he exchanges a look with Axel before he says, “She’s sorry, alright, Pres.”
“She ain’t looking too sorry,” he retorts, and I feel his eyes burning into me.
Shadow nudges me, so I eventually look up, swallowing the lump forming in my throat. “Sorry,” I mutter, my eyes devoid of any emotion.
My stomach knots tighter when another voice cuts through.
“Well, good morning.” Sasha drifts in, her bruised lip carefully lined, her eye shadowed darker than last night. I’d bet money she layered makeup to make it worse. She’s good.Too good.“Will I be getting an apology?” she asks sweetly, her voice pitched just loud enough for the whole room.
Silence falls, and I feel their eyes on me—Axel’s, Lexi’s, Shadow’s. Especially his. Axel gives a nod, a smirk pulling at his smug lips as he waits for me to say the word.
My throat burns, but I grind my teeth, forcing it out. “Sorry.” It’s clipped, bitter, barely above a whisper.
Sasha smirks, satisfied, as Shadow leans in and presses a kiss to my temple. “Well done,” he murmurs, piling toast onto my plate like I’m a child who’s passed a test.
