“And no one is breaking it.” Cross pointed across the room. “Thisis her coming to us. It’s what Cleo wants. You ever think of what it must be like for her here? ’Cause I sure as fuck have. Nothing here is hers, Wraith. Knox took her from one prison and put her in another.”
What?
“You’re comparing her living with her mom to us? Have you lost your fucking mind, Cross?”
“Look, that’s not what I mean,” he held up his hands. “I’m just saying she doesn’t have any kind of freedom here, Wraith. We tell her where she can go, who she can talk to and what she can say. We have all the control.”
Even through his anger, Wraith could see his point. It was true. But it was done with purpose to keep her safe.That’swhat Knox wanted.What I want!
“She stays.” Wraith said.
Cross shook his head. “Even if you two work through whatever bullshit you got going? Living here isn’t a viable option. I said it from the minute Knox brought her in, Cleo doesn’t belong here.”
This was exactly where she belonged. With him.
“Why’s that? This personal, Cross?”
His stare hardened. “What the fuck does that mean?”
“Is she too much of a reminder of Knox, you’re willing to ditch her ass the first chance you get?”
Cross straightened his back and started toward Wraith. Ace stepped in between them.
“Don’t you ever fucking talk to me about Knox.” His tone was low and feral. He’d struck a nerve. Wraith should’ve known better. They were all brothers, but there were certain bonds that were tighter. Cross and Knox was one of them. The VP had vouched for Knox and taken him under his wing. Wraith had considered himself closer to Knox than most. But it didn’t compare to his bond with Cross.
“You weren’t the only one who went up against Inez and the rest of the club when Knox wanted to bring her here. I was standing right next to him too.” His lips twisted as he inched closer. “I’ve never fucking broken any promise to Knox.”
Ace rested his hand on Cross’s chest, shoving him back slightly. His VP didn’t fight it and turned, dragging his hand across his jaw. Tensions were high for all of them. Ace stood in front of him, eyeing Wraith. Before he could say it, Wraith shook his head.
“She stays here.”
Ace sharpened his glare. Giving an order to the president wasn’t something that happened often. In fact, Wraith had only done it a few times. All the stands he’d taken against his president had been on behalf of Cleo.
“She’d be a few miles down the road. We’d set up the security and surveillance. Grizz has already got a decent system in place, but the club will upgrade it.”
“No.”
“Jesus fucking Christ, Wraith,” Cross snapped. “She doesn’t want to fucking be here, and we can’t keep her.”
“I don’t give a shit what she wants.”
“Yeah,” Cross countered. “Well, what do you think Knox would want? Her happy or held up in the clubhouse?”
Wraith clenched his jaw, feeling the pain shoot up through his molars. They didn’t have the whole story. No one did except for him, Knox, Cypher, Ghost, and Jekyll. Knox had insisted they not tell the club everything in an effort to protect Cleo. They’d all agreed.
“Can’t protect her if she’s not here, and I’m not risking it.”
Cross spread out his arms. “Protect her from what?”
Ace held up his hand, silencing Cross and keeping his eyes on Wraith. “I know she had it rough for a long time.”
Rough?Is that what you just said?Rough?
“Yeah.” Wraith growled. “Being a prisoner, made to serve people who on a daily basis beat the shit out of her…”
“I get it.”
He lunged forward. “No, you fucking don’t get it, Ace.”
