Kane, Edge, and Cage exchanged quick looks. Without a word, the three men quietly slipped out of the room, closing the door behind them and leaving Canyon and me alone with Tripp.
I crossed my arms over my chest and decided to jump right into the confrontation we needed to have. Rescuing me didn’t erase the possibility he’d played me. “Was Tripp right, Canyon? Did you orchestrate meeting me just to use me against him?”
He let out a heavy breath and met my gaze head-on without flinching away. “Yes, that was the plan at first.”
Hearing him admit it out loud shattered something inside me.
Seeing my agony, he hurried to explain that he’d already decided against using me before we even met. Then he’d fallen for me and regretted the idea even more.
Knowing that helped ease some of my pain, making it easier to forgive him. Judging him for thoughts he didn’t truly put into action didn’t feel right. But the hurt was still there, and I wasn’t about to let him off without giving him a piece of my mind first. It was the least he deserved for not just owning up to what he did before I found out the hardest way possible.
“You knew who my brother was.” My voice trembled with fury and pain. “You knew he was undercover, and you decided the best way to hurt him was to go after me. You made me fall in love with you, knowing all of this was going to come out, yet you didn’t say a word. Do you have any idea how that feels?”
Tears burned in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.
“I trusted you. Let myself believe that what we had was real. That you loved me.” I took a shaky step closer, my hurt pouring out. “You made me feel safe, Canyon. You talked about our future like it was already written. Was any of that real? Or was I still just a pawn to you?”
I didn’t give him the chance to answer. Not that he tried. Canyon remained silent, letting me have my say. He took every bit of my pain and fury without flinching, like he knew he deserved it. He stood completely still, taking every word I threw at him. His bright blue eyes were filled with regret and something that looked a lot like love.
That only made me angrier and more emotional at the same time.
“I want to hate you for this,” I whispered brokenly. “But I can’t. Because I know the man who held me every night and made me feel like I finally belonged somewhere.”
I wiped angrily at a tear that finally escaped down my cheek and noticed the smug expression on my brother’s face. Like he enjoyed seeing me lay into the bad-ass biker.
But I was angry with him too, so I turned my fury on him. “And you!”
Tripp’s eyes widened. “Wait, why are you mad at me? I didn’t do anything to you.”
“Maybe not, but you started this whole mess by deceiving the Kings in the first place.” I shook my head with a sigh. “You should’ve researched them better, then you would’ve known the kind of men they are. Going undercover to investigate a group of honorable men makes no sense at all. Especially for someone with your record at the bureau.”
“It’s not like they gave me much choice,” Tripp muttered. “It was either take the case or be fired.”
“Okay, and?” I quirked a brow. “Why haven’t you left already? The club seems like a much better fit for you anyway.”
“What the hell, Aubrey?” My brother jerked his chin toward Canyon. “How can you say that after what he planned to do to you?”
I took a deep breath and looked between the two men I loved most in this world. “Because he reacted out of a deep sense ofbetrayal over your actions, and changed his mind once his head cleared. In the end, he didn’t actually do anything.”
“That doesn’t make any of this right,” Tripp insisted.
“I disagree,” I replied firmly. “I’m choosing Canyon. And the Kings.”
Tripp pushed himself up slightly on the bed, wincing. “Aubrey, no. This isn’t the life for you. You have no idea how dangerous it can get. You deserve something safer.”
I shook my head. “It’s not your decision.”
Canyon finally stepped forward. “She’s mine. She belongs with me.”
I turned on him quickly. “Don’t speak for me right now, Canyon. I’m still mad at you.”
He dipped his chin in acknowledgment but kept his mouth shut.
“I’m choosing you, but only if you’re truly all in. No more hiding anything from me, no matter how hard it is. I need all of you.”
“You know everything now.” His bright blue eyes were completely unguarded as he murmured, “I’m done letting guilt hide how I feel. I love you, sunshine. I’m all in.”
Tears welled in my eyes. “I love you too.”
