He doesn’t believe me, but he doesn’t push. He pulls me in for a hug, his arms solid and warm around me. “It’s going to be okay,” he says against my hair.
I want to believe him. But I know better.
I head inside through the side entrance, hoping to avoid running into anyone. The clubhouse is quiet this time of morning; most of the brothers are out handling business. I make it to my bedroom without seeing anyone and close the door behind me with a sense of relief.
My room looks exactly how I left it. Band posters on the walls, sketchbook on the desk, clothes scattered across the floor.
I’m halfway to my closet when the door opens behind me.
I spin around to find Ash standing in the doorway, still in his vest from last night, eyes blazing. “We need to talk,” he says.
“I’m busy?—”
“I don’t care.” He steps inside and closes the door. “You need to hear this.”
My irritation spikes. “I don’t need to hear anything?—”
“You can’t marry him.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “That’s not your decision.”
“It shouldn’t be your father’s decision either.” He moves closer, intensity rolling off him in waves. “I talked to Iron this morning. Tried to convince him to call off the wedding.”
“And?”
“He won’t budge. He says it’s the only way to save the club.”
“Then that’s that.”
“No, it’s not.” His jaw clenches. “You have to fight this, Bonnie. Stand up for yourself. Tell him you won’t do it.”
“And then what? The war continues? More brothers die? The club falls apart?” I shake my head. “I’m not that selfish.”
“It’s not selfish to want to live your own life?—”
“Yes, it is. When you’re part of something bigger than yourself.” I turn away from him. I can’t look at his face anymore. “I’m the president’s daughter. I’ve always known I’d probably be used for a strategic marriage someday. This is just how it is.”
“Bullshit.” He grabs my arm and spins me back to face him. “You don’t have to accept this.”
“Let go of me.”
He does, immediately, but doesn’t step back. “Last night?—”
“Last night was fun,” I cut him off. “It was exactly what I needed before I have to go tie myself to a man I don’t want. But that’s all it was. Fun.”
His expression shifts. “You don’t mean that.”
“I do mean it.” The lie tastes bitter, but I force it out anyway. “You don’t have any claim on me, Ash. None of you do. Last night doesn’t change anything.”
“The hell it doesn’t?—”
“It was just sex.” Each word comes out sharper than the last. “Good sex, sure. But that doesn’t mean you get to suddenly play white knight and save me from my terrible fate.”
“I’m not trying to play white knight?—”
“Yes, you are.” I step back, putting distance between us. “You’re acting like I’m some poor damsel who needs rescuing. But I don’t need rescuing. I need you to accept reality and stop making this harder than it already is!”
His hands curl into fists at his sides. “So that’s it? You’re just going to walk into that marriage like a lamb to slaughter?”
