Chapter 35
“ A nd the truth is, I’m in love with your sister.” I finish my confession and finally take a breath.
“You want me to swing at ya now or wait for you to put ya guard up?” Corey scratches his chin, and gives me no confidence whatsoever.
He is the only other person, besides Sinner, who knows about me and Freya, and now that I’ve sobered up I need to start thinking about the best way I can put this to Wrath.
“I would maybe lead with the fact you’ve fallen in love with her. The one night stand five years ago isn’t the best starting point.” He grimaces at me.
“It wasn’t a one nigh—Just stop being smart.” I pace the floor of my apartment, trying not to think about what she might be doing, right now. It’s been four fuckin’ days since she left, and just the thought of Cam touching her is making me wanna destroy everything around me
“Look, you need to get this over with so you can ride to Arizona and get her back. Her going with that guy made no sense. Same as Raze taking on that stunt rider as the new prospect. It’s my fuckin’ time.” He shows he’s sore about it when he curls his lip.
“I’ve told ya before, your brother wants better for ya, you're too smart for this kinda shit,” I tell him.“ And politicians' daughters don’t date bikers,” I remind him. I’ve seen his girlfriend stop by here a few times, she’s preppy and far too precious to be someone’s old lady.
“Millie isn’t like that. She hasn’t got a problem with the club,” he assures me. “But this ain’t about me and her, it’s about you and Freya. You made her happy... I’ve had to hear how fuckin’ happy every morning while I’ve been downstairs wiping over the equipment.” His eyes roll.
“Maybe you should have listened a little harder, you might have learned something.” I slap the back of his head as I pull on my cut and decide I can’t hold this off any longer.
Corey’s right, now that I ain’t shocked, angry or wasted, I see that none of this makes sense. Last night, I sat for hours under a cold shower, thinking things through. Trying to see what I’ve missed.
Freya and Cam were close when she was younger, but she never looked at him the way she looked at me. She barely gave him any attention at all, and believe me, if she did I’da noticed…I was always watching.
The more I think about it, the more sure I become that she didn’t leave here for him, she left because of those secrets she’s got.
“It’s been nice knowin’ ya, Ruck,” Corey calls after me as I head out my door and take the stairs.
“Wrath.” I freeze when I get to the bottom and see him standing by the reception desk.
“Good to see you're still alive,” he smirks at me.
“Whatcha doin’ here?” Suddenly I feel very fuckin’ nervous.
“I came to hit some bags but if you're up for a spar?” He shrugs as he moves through the gym toward the ring.
“No…” I follow after him and when he stops and turns around, he’s looking real suspicious.
“What’s up, Ruck? You're actin’ the way ya did when Polly got drunk and tried to stick it on ya.” He laughs while he places his gym bag on the bench and takes out his gloves. He seems so much happier than he was a few days ago. I’m guessing some time with Eden is the cause of it, and I hate that I’m gonna ruin that with what I’m about to tell him.
“Wrath, we need to talk, and I know you ain’t gonna like what I’m gonna say.” I snatch the gloves off him so I have his full attention, then, after thinking about it, I hand them straight back. No man wants to feel Wrath’s bare knuckles, especially one who’s spent the past two weeks sleeping with his sister.
“You’re lookin’ real serious.” His laugh sounds nervous as he slides the gloves over his hands and uses his mouth to seal the velcro.
“This is a serious situation, and I want you to know that I’ve always thought of it that way.” I look up to the window that overlooks us from my apartment and see Corey watching.
“Look, if you're gonna tell me how worried you are about me, you can save it. I’m doin’ better. I’ve spoken to Raze and we’ve hashed out our differences. I understand his logic, I’ve just let grief and guilt get the better of m?—”
“I’m in love with Freya.” I blurt the words out because I can’t hold on to ‘em a second longer.
“What the fuck?” Wrath shakes his head and laughs.
“I’m in love with Freya,” I say it again, this time slower.
“I heard you’d been hangin’ out at Sinner’s place, what shit has he had ya smokin’?”
“Aaron, I’m bein’ serious. I’m crazy about her, and her leaving here with Cam was a mistake because…I’m pretty sure she loves me too.”
“What?” He slumps down on the weight bench, shaking his head as he takes in what I’m telling him.
“I know it’s a shoc?—”
“Freya hates you, you hate her, everyone knows that. You only have to see the way you look at each oth… Fuck! ” His forehead creases as he thinks a little harder on it.
“I know it breaks bro code. Club rules too, but I’m also really hoping you can see past all that because I’m headin’ out to Arizona to get her back.”
“The fuck you are!” He stands back up and steps up in my face.
“She’s happy, and she’s safe. I’m not gonna let you ruin that.”
“She ain’t happy and I don’t know what the fuck’s goin’ on, but it ain’t right. If you’d have seen how we were these past two weeks you’d under?—”
“ Two fuckin’ weeks? ” He shakes his head at me. “You’re frontin’ up to me tellin’ me you love my sister after two weeks? I mean it’s impressive, most women can’t keep your attention for more than a few hours.”
“It’s more than just two weeks. I slept with her five years ago.” The sarcastic laugh Wrath’s making ends abruptly and when his fist connects with my cheekbone I let it knock me back.
“Tell me that was a fuckin’ lie, Ruck.” He speaks through gritted teeth.
“It happened the night before she left with the stunt show and—” He lands another blow on me and, keeping my guard down, I take what I deserve.
“I know it’s hard to hear, but I do lo–”
“You don’t know the meaning of the word. Since I’ve been back here I’ve seen you with a different woman every night, you don’t even ask ‘em their names anymore!” he yells in my face.
“And why do you think I do that? Come on, Wrath, you know me. I ain’t dead inside. She left after that night and I’ve been trying to get over her ever since.”
“Get over her?” That furious laughter picks up again “Can you hear yourself?”
“I’m hearing it, I’m feeling it and it’s hurting. The night we–”
“I don’t wanna hear about the night you fucked my sister, Ruckus.” He uses his teeth to rip his gloves off and when he starts to storm out, I rush after him.
“If you know what's good for ya, ya won’t fuckin’ follow me.” He calls back over his shoulder, slamming the door behind him so hard it almost shatters. I watch through the glass as he mounts his bike and speeds off.
“I think that went well,” Corey mentions as he heads down the stairs.
“Are you kiddin’ me?” I turn to look at him.
“You're still alive, ain’t ya.” He taps my shoulder and gets to work.