Page 35 of Taken With You

I ignored the other guy, my eyes on Cliff.

“This isn’t over, Beck.”

“It was over a long time ago, and we both know it. Go back to the life you chose. I’m making mine here.”

“For now, asshole.”

“No. Forever. Just go.”

The guys grumbled, and I had a feeling it had nothing to do with my words. No, it was because of the men at my back and the fact that the rest of the bar had gone silent, even though some of our regulars, big men in their own rights, had also stood up, ready to do what they could to help.

Only five minutes in, and the guys had made this place a biker bar. One where there’d be a fight and blood and broken glass.

And it would all be my fucking fault.

The members of my old club turned on their heel and left, but not before knocking down a couple of chairs and cursing up a storm as they did.

Glass shattered on the floor as they knocked into one of the tables, but no one moved to pick it up. At least not right away.

The others started talking, asking me questions, wanting to know what was happening, but I couldn’t listen. I didn’t have eyes for them. No, I could only look at the woman at my side, who hadn’t said a word. The one who didn’t want to draw attention to herself. And I knew why.

I looked over at Meadow, my jaw tight as I tried to open my mouth to say something. But there were no words.

She simply looked at me, her eyes wide as she blinked. “You knew them. You’re part of them.” Her voice was so hollow, like the one I’d heard when I first met her. Not the Meadow she was now.

“Yeah. No use in lying. I was.” I paused. I knew I shouldn’t say the rest, but realized I probably needed to. “It was before you were part if it with Coby, though.”

Her face blanched, and she took a staggering step back. “You knew. You knew?”

The others looked at us, confusion clear on their faces, but I had to ignore them.

“Yeah. I did.”

I was prepared for the slap, ready for the shove, the punch, something.

But I didn’t expect what actually happened.

She looked at me, took another step back, and then turned on her heel, grabbed her bag, and walked out.

I looked over at Cameron and gestured towards her. “Can you follow her? Make sure that the others don’t find her. She wouldn’t welcome my help.”

“Yeah, we got it,” Cameron said, his voice low. “But then you’re going to explain exactly what the fuck just happened.”

“Promise. Just make sure she’s safe.”

“I’ll go, too,” Aiden said, following Cameron.

And then the two were off to make sure Meadow got home okay in case the guys were out there waiting.

I wanted to be there. I wanted to fix this. But I didn’t think I could.

I looked at Brendon and the girls, and I swallowed hard. I didn’t know what to say, so I didn’t say anything.

Instead, I picked up the chair and went to get a broom to sweep up the glass.

I figured if it was my last day at the Connolly Brewery, I might as well clean up some of the mess I’d indirectly made.

But I also knew that, no matter what, some messes couldn’t be cleaned up. Some stains would forever haunt the place.