“How’s our baby doing?”
Her hands instinctively go to her stomach, and she smiles. “Nice and cosy.”
My fingers reach out to move a loose tendril of hair, but she pulls away, and I inwardly scorn myself for pushing too far.
I offer her the water bottle again, and this time, she takes it.
It’s such a small thing, but to me, it feels like a huge win.
Bella groans from beside me, and I follow her line of sight to see Siren walking in through the front gates.Fuck.What does she want?
Hell jumps to her feet, her chest heaving with anger as she brings her eyes to me. “What the fuck is she doing here, Drifter?”
I shake my head, my words sticking in my throat. She whips her head towards Siren. “I thought I fucking told you to leave,” she screams.
Everyone stops what they’re doing, all eyes on us for the next showdown. Hell is already marching towards Siren, her fists clenched. I groan, rushing after her and grabbing her arms to keep her back. And when her eyes find mine again, they’re full of hurt and pain. She’s barely holding it together.
I lean in close, my lips brushing her ear. “Hell, don’t. Think of the baby,” I whisper gently. She leans into my chest, and I feel the tension in her arms give. “I love you, Hell. She ain’t worth the stress.”
Hell straightens, her eyes fixing me with a steely glare. “You want to show me that you love me?” she asks. “Then choose. Right here. Right now. Me or her. Because I’m done with this bullshit. If you love me like you keep saying you do, she goes.” She takes a shuddering breath. “The stress of having her near me isn’t good for me or your baby.”
I nod, no doubt in my mind who I’ll choose . . . because it’s her, every time.
I step in front of Hell, making sure the two are separated. Siren rolls her eyes.
“Really?” she asks, her tone bored. “Aren’t we over that shit yet?”
I feel Hell go to step around me, her anger boiling over, but I block her path, shaking my head.
“No, we aren’t over it, Siren,’ I spit. “You were a fucking mistake. In fact, you were the biggest mistake of my life. Hell is my wife, my ol’ lady, so you’ll turn around and get the fuck outta here.”
“Pah.” She laughs, placing her palms on my kutte and looking me in the eyes. I feel Hell’s breath fanning my neck. “You told me no once before, but it didn’t stop you from sampling the goods.”
I grab her wrists and shove her away from me. “I said get the fuck out of here. Nobody wants you around.”
She falters, forcing a smile as she rubs her wrists. “Don’t be silly,” she says sweetly, but we all know the venom her words hold. “You,” she takes a step forward, “fucked,” she bites her lip, “me.”
I feel the sudden loss of Hell and glance back as gravel crunches under her feet. My hand darts out, catching her wrist. Ineed her to see I’m choosing her. The look in her eyes is enough to bring me to my knees, and I silently beg her to stay. She relents, sighing and folding her arms over her chest.
I turn back to Siren. “I was shit-faced drunk, Siren. We both know I wouldn’t have gone near you sober. You were trying for weeks, and I knocked you back every single time,” I snarl through gritted teeth. “So, get the fuck out of my club and stay away. If you don’t, you’re gonna put your brother in danger.” Her eyes dart between me and Hell.
“You can’t blame me for sleeping with him,” she says, her eyes now fixed on Hell. “He’s the President, and I’m a club whore. It’s what we do.”
I move in front of Hell, blocking her view. “I have the VP of the Steel Delinquents in my basement,” I hiss. Her eyes come back to me and she swallows. “I’m sure he’d love a chance to get his hands on the youth who grassed them up.”
Her mouth drops open, and she scowls. “You wouldn’t,” she whispers.
I laugh, but it’s cold and empty. “Then you don’t know me very well at all, because I’d do whatever it takes to keep my ol’ lady, especially when it means getting rid of you.” I take a step closer, and she immediately takes one back, eyeing me warily. “Do you want to take that risk, Siren? Force my hand and we’ll both see how far I’ll go.” I take a calming breath, “But I can’t guarantee you’ll get to live”
She visibly swallows, and that façade from moments ago fades away.
“Fuck you,” she suddenly yells. “You were a shit shag anyway.” She spins on her heel, flipping me the bird as she stomps away.
I release a long breath then turn to Hell. She watches Siren walk away, and then she finally drags her eyes to me. Her mouthopens like she’s about to speak, but then she closes it again and walks away.
ROCHELLE
I can’t help the smugness I feel as I walk away. I fight the smile because I don’t want him to see, but watching him finally tell her, and having him throw her out for good, was satisfying. I had to walk away before I said three stupid words. Words he doesn’t fucking deserve. I love him. I always have. It’s hard to just stop after fifteen years. But I can’t stop seeing them together whenever he’s near me. I still hear the sounds they made, remember the way he gripped her hips.Fuck, that shit haunts me.
