Before I could stop myself, my hand closed around Lucy’s arm. I pulled her in, rough, needing proof she was real, needing the fire in her eyes to burn hotter than the fury still clawing through me. For a second, all I could feel was the heat of her skin under my palm and the dangerous thought that maybe she was the only thing that could steady me.
It wasn’t protection, not really. It was possession. Instinct. Mine.
Her glare pierced the dark, and I held it until I felt Riot’s stare on my back. Not his order, just the weight of him, waiting to see what I’d do.
The Fangs backed off, muttering something about “Dead Knights hiding behind club pets.” Link bristled, but I kept a hand locked on Lucy’s wrist until they were gone. Only then did I let go.
She yanked herself back, storm-grey eyes blazing. “I didn’t need you to play hero.”
“You’re welcome anyway,” I growled.
Link stepped in, jaw tight. “She was with me. I had it handled.”
I turned that glare on him. “If you had it handled, the Fangs wouldn’t have gotten within ten feet.”
His nostrils flared, but he didn’t back down. Good. At least he had some spine.
“Stop. Just stop.” Her voice was quiet, tight. “I’ve heard enough. Gabby... she didn’t make any of it up, did she? You didn’t want Caleb back. You didn’t fight hard enough, did you? You voted no, and then you...you let me believe something else.”
She stepped closer. “I want the truth, Jay. All of it. Not the neat version you hope will make me feel better. The messy, ugly truth. Caleb’s vote. Your call. What really happened. Now.”
“Link, can you give us a moment?”
He looked between me and Lucy, waiting for her to nod before he moved. I growled, happy to see a falter in his step as he walked to her car and leaned against it. Fucker would pay for that later, but a part of me was proud that he was looking out for her.
Lucy stared at me, jaw tight, bracing like she was waiting for me to swing. I scrubbed a hand through my hair because whatever I said next wasn’t going to land soft.
“Look... about Caleb,” I started. “What Gabby told you... she’s right about the vote.”
Her eyes narrowed to slits. “You mean you stood there, looked him in the eye, and let them shut him out?”
I clenched my teeth. “I didn’tletshit happen. I called the vote. The brothers made their choice.”
Her arms crossed over her chest. “Don’t feed me that. Gabby said you voted against him. You. His best friend.”
That landed, and she knew it. My jaw locked so tight it hurt.
“I did what I had to do,” I ground out. “He wasn’t ready. Walking back in half-cocked? He’d have ended up dead quicker than he did.”
Lucy barked a harsh laugh. “Guess that worked out great, huh? He’s still dead, only he got to die knowing you turned your back on him.”
I stepped in, fury burning under my skin. “Don’t you put that on me. You think I didn’t want him back? You think I didn’t bleed to keep him alive when no one else gave a damn? You weren’t here, Lucy. You walked. You don’t get to judge what it takes to keep this patch and live long enough to see another sunrise.”
Her eyes flashed. “I don’t need to wear your patch to know betrayal when I see it. You let him down, Jay, and now you’re trying to dress it up as protection.”
I shoved a hand through my hair. “Christ, you think this is easy? You think I haven’t replayed that vote a thousand fucking times in my head? He was my brother, too. I buried him the same as you.” My throat closed up, and I shut my eyes against the tears that were threatening to fall.
Her voice dropped, sharp as glass. “Difference is, I never had a choice.”
I opened my eyes and swallowed hard, but the words came out rough anyway. “I made the call I thought would keep him alive. Doesn’t mean I don’t hate myself for it.”
She stared at me, lips pressed thin, fury shaking in her hands. Then she spun, her boots tearing up gravel as she stormed to her car and didn’t look back once.
I stayed rooted, chest burning, as I watched her drive off with a hole in my ribs ripping wider with every mile between us.
“Link, send a prospect to watch her, yeah?”
“Yes, Pres. I’ll send Finn,” he replied, but I could see the defiance in his eyes. He wanted to be the one to take her home.
