“I don’t have to admit anything.These guys protect women and children.They don’t prey on them.And you don’t get to come to our home and threaten anyone here.”
“That wasn’t a threat,” he snapped.“It’s reality.I’m trying to save you from yourself.You’re having some sort of… of crisis or breakdown.First you disappear, then you turn up living in a biker compound?People are talking, Mia.”
I nearly laughed at the absurdity of it.After walking through literal fire, after watching a man die saving my life, the idea that I should care about gossip seemed ludicrous.“Let them talk,” I said.“I survived something you know nothing about.The experience changed me and what matters to me.”
Confusion flickered across his face.“What are you talking about?What happened?”
Before I could decide how much to reveal, movement from the direction of the clubhouse caught my attention.Oktober emerged into the sunlight, his long stride purposeful as he crossed the courtyard.He wore his cut over a simple black T-shirt, his hair pulled back in its usual messy bun, and even from a distance, I could see the intensity in his eyes as he registered the situation at the gate.
Eric followed my gaze, his posture stiffening as Oktober approached.“Is that him?”he asked, his voice dropping to a hiss.“The guy you left me for?”
“I didn’t leave you for anyone,” I corrected him.“You left me when you decided to sleep with my best friend in my bed.Oktober came after.”
Something desperate flashed across Eric’s face.He reached through the bars suddenly, grabbing my wrist and pulling me closer to the gate.“Just listen to me.Five minutes.Alone.That’s all I’m asking.”
His grip was tight enough to hurt, his fingers digging into the soft skin of my inner wrist.Before I could react, Hannah moved in beside us.She placed a firm hand on Eric’s wrist, her grip visibly tightening until his fingers loosened around my wrist.
“That’s not how men treat women here,” she said, her tone pleasant but her eyes glacial.“For any reason.”
Eric released me instantly, stepping back as if burned.I rubbed my wrist, a red mark already forming where his fingers had been.
Oktober reached us then, his body radiating controlled power as he positioned himself slightly behind me, close enough to support, but deliberately not inserting himself between Eric and me.His hand came to rest gently on the small of my back, a silent reminder of his presence.
“Everything all right here,Kätzchen?”he asked, his voice deceptively casual though I could hear the undercurrent of tension.
“Perfectly fine,” I replied, leaning subtly into his touch.
Eric’s eyes darted between us, his face flushing darker.“So this is it?”he demanded.“You’re throwing away your career, your reputation, everything we built together for this?”He gestured dismissively at Oktober.
“Be careful,” Ada warned quietly from beside me.
Oktober remained perfectly calm, his thumb tracing small circles against my spine.“You know your place in my life,” he said, looking down at me with an expression that made my heart stutter, “but if you need time to reconsider his claim, I’m willing to give you all the time you need.”
I blinked, momentarily hurt by what sounded like indifference.Did he think I might actually go back to Eric?After everything we’d been through?
Then Oktober smiled that slow, confident smile that never failed to make my knees weak and added, “I’m comfortable letting you choose because Iknowyou’ll choose me.Not him.”His voice dropped to a playful growl that only I could hear.“Otherwise, I would simply toss you over my shoulder and take you home.End of discussion.”
Relief and love surged through me so powerfully I couldn’t contain it.I threw myself into Oktober’s arms, feeling them close around me instantly, solid and secure.Lightly muffled by Oktober’s chest, I addressed Eric one last time.
“I’mexactlywhere I want to be,” I told him, my voice steady and clear.“With exactly who I want to be with.Please don’t come back here again.”
Eric stood motionless for several seconds, something like genuine grief finally breaking through his anger.“You’ve changed,” he said quietly.
I nodded against Oktober’s chest.“Yes.I have.”
“Why?”His question was more of a demand.“Why this guy?”
I took a moment.Because, honestly, why Oktober?I looked up at him and all the emotion roiling inside of me quieted.Stilled.Oktober gave me a smile so filled with affection and…
Yeah.I had my answer.
“Because, Eric.Oktober loves me.”
“I love you too!”he shouted.“I told you that every day.Several times a day!”
I gave him a bright smile.Not to emphasize my next words, but because genuine happiness bloomed inside me.Because I knew Oktober did, in fact, love me.“Then you slept with my best friend.”
“I think it’s best if you leave,” Oktober offered softly to Eric.“Mia’s made her choice.If she changes her mind and wants to go back to you, she’s always free to.”He gave me a wink.“Mainly because I know I’ll keep her happy enough to never want to leave me.”
