“There she is,” Gabby hissed, eyes locking on me. “The little princess who thinks she can waltz in here and take what’s mine.”
I stepped forward slowly, every eye in the room snapping to me, to her, to the blade.
Jay’s voice was lethal quiet as he stood up slowly. “Gabby. Put. It. Down.”
She didn’t. She lunged.
The world snapped sharp and instinct took over. My hand shot out, catching her wrist, slamming it against the bar so hard, the knife clattered to the floor. She swung at me with her otherhand, nails raking down my arm, but I drove my knee into her gut and sent her sprawling across the floorboards.
Gasps echoed throughout the room.
Gabby scrambled up, blood dripping from her lip, wild fury in her eyes. She charged again, and I met her halfway, my fist snapping across her jaw. She staggered, but I didn’t let up. My boot slammed into her shin, and when she doubled over, I caught her hair and smashed her face against the wall. She crumpled, gasping.
I yanked her up by the shirt, pinning her hard. My hand locked around her throat, pressing until her breath came in ragged gasps. Her nails clawed at my wrist, useless.
I leaned closer, but my voice was loud enough for the whole room to hear. “Don’t flatter yourself, Gabby. You thought he was yours? You were only keeping the sheets warm. You were never his, but he ismine.”
Riot’s voice carried across the bar, and I could hear the smile in it. “Guess that answers it. She’s his old lady now, whether she knows it or not.”
I slammed her back once more, hard enough that the wood rattled. “I told you last time you came at me to stay down. You didn’t listen. That was your mistake.” My fist connected with her cheek.
Then a voice broke the silence, from a prospect near the back. “I... I saw her do that before. A week ago, in the bathroom. Gabby went at her, and Lucy put her down.”
Jay’s head snapped towards him, ice in his eyes. “And you didn’t tell me?”
“She...” The kid swallowed hard. “She told me not to.”
Every eye swung to me. My pulse pounded, but I lifted my chin. “Because I asked him not to. I didn’t want?—”
“You don’t give orders here,” Jay roared, his voice shaking the walls. His fury was volcanic, aimed at me but burningeverything in its path. “I’mthe President, not you. Don’t you ever forget it.”
I froze as the weight of his words pressed hard into my chest.
Then Jay turned on Gabby. He hauled her up by the arm and threw her to the floor in front of the bar. She landed hard, coughing.
“You should’ve stayed gone,” he said. “I threw you out once. You came back. You pulled a blade on my brothers, on my guest.” His jaw flexed. “You’re done.”
Riot stepped forward, arms crossed. “She’s too dangerous. No loyalty. No respect. She’s out.”
One by one, the brothers nodded. No dissent. No hesitation.
Jay crouched low in front of Gabby, his voice a whisper only she and the closest of us could hear. “If I see you near this clubhouse again, if you so much as breathe in Lucy’s direction, they won’t find enough left of you to bury. Do you understand?”
Her defiance wavered, and for the first time, she looked afraid.
He dropped her arm and stood tall. “You’re no longer welcome in Dead Knights territory, no protection, no ties. You’re excommunicated. Get her out of my sight.”
Two prospects grabbed her, dragging her towards the door as she spat curses and promises of revenge, but her voice shook. When the doors slammed behind her, silence reigned.
Jay’s eyes swept the room, daring anyone to speak. No one did.
But when Jay’s gaze locked on mine, the fury there burned deeper than anything aimed at Gabby, and I knew I was about to pay.
The door slammed behind us, the echo still rattling my bones. Jay’s kutte hit the chair, but he didn’t sit. He paced, shoulders tight, storm barely held back.
“You made me look blind in front of my men,” he bit out. “Like I don’t even know what happens under my own roof.”
I swallowed hard. “I handled it.”
