Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
axel
My heart feels like it’s been ripped out of my chest. Standing in the middle of the hallway in nothing but my fucking boxers, I watch as Jenna practically runs in the other direction. Running my hand through my hair, I take a deep breath. What just happened?
One moment everything is perfect—we are fucking perfect—and now everything is crumbling around me.
I’m not lying to her. I woke up to someone sliding down my body under the covers.
I thought it was Jenna waking me up. She was the only one in my room, the only woman I’ve been with since I laid eyes on her.
The moment I made eye contact with Jenna in my room, I knew something was wrong.
Her beautiful face was full of disgust and hurt.
I would do anything to take the pain from her.
I look up and see a few of my brothers and their old ladies standing outside their doors, either glaring at me or looking at me like I’ve lost my damn mind acting like this over some chick.
Well, fuck them all. Before I turn around, I see Marley standing with Blaze, her hands crossed over her chest, looking confused and pissed. Well, me fucking too.
Just then Sapphire waltzes out of my room as if she didn’t just sneak in to ruin what Jenna and I have.
I see Marley’s eyes flash from me to her and then back.
The look of utter betrayal and disgust rivals Jenna’s.
Turning to Sapphire, I barely register the blur that passes by me.
Marley has Sapphire by her hair faster than anyone can see coming.
Marley slams her face into the wall. We all hear the undeniable crunch of a broken nose.
Sapphire screams and starts to yell about, “getting this crazy bitch off of her.” Blaze grabs Marley and pulls her off, but she whips out of his arms to face me.
“You!” she jabs her finger into my chest. “Are an asshole. How can you do that to her?” she pants, still red from her attack. Sapphire is now sitting on the floor with blood gushing from her nose. Another club girl rushes over to help her.
“I didn’t do shit. She must have snuck into my room. I thought it was Jenna,” I say, keeping eye contact with her the whole time.
“So help me, Axel, if you are lying.” Her chest heaves as she catches her breath, and Blaze comes up behind her. He gently sets his hands on each shoulder and kisses the top of her head.
“Easy, Tiger. How about you let me handle it from here?” Blaze says as she rolls her shoulders to get his hands off her body. She turns to Sapphire and kneels down in front of her.
“Is he telling the truth?” she questions. Sapphire stays quiet and just looks around at each of us for help. When she doesn’t find it, she looks back at Marley with wide eyes.
“Answer me,” Marley’s tone is so quiet and calculated it sends a shiver down my spine. She may be small and looks like she wouldn’t hurt a fly, but for her friends, I bet Marley would burn the world down.
“His door was unlocked, okay?! He’s only been hanging out with that bitch since Knife’s party. I thought he needed real company,” she answers in a shrill voice. What the fuck?
Marley stands from her squatted position and turns back around.
With a sigh, she pinches the bridge of her nose with her thumb and forefinger.
“You need to deal with this, Axel.” Marley goes to stand next to Blaze, who wraps an arm around her waist. “Jenna doesn’t understand this shit.
I don’t even understand this shit. In the real world, random women don’t just sneak into your room to wake you up with a happy surprise.
” She scoffs and they start to walk away. “Give her time.”
Blaze stops a few steps in and looks at me. “This is what I was talking about. I know this shit isn’t on you, but it’s been less than a fucking day, Axel.” With that, they leave, and everyone starts to disperse.
Squatting down, I look into Sapphire’s bloodshot eyes.
The blood has stopped running from her nose but is now matted all down the front of her body.
Her eyes are empty. The fun, crazy girl looking for a good time who came to the clubhouse a year ago isn’t there anymore.
I feel bad for her—she is so desperate for attention that she will do anything for it.
I should have found out what was wrong when I started to see a change in her.
But fuck, this isn’t my job, and I have so much other shit to focus on.
“Pack your shit and get out of the clubhouse.” It’s the only option. Her eyebrows shoot to her hairline.
“What?” she asks with disbelief.
“You’re done. You knew I was with Jenna, and you chose to fuck with it. I know you have some shit going on, but this is inexcusable.”
Her eyes well up with tears, but she nods. Standing up, I turn to see Bear. “Help her get her shit and see she has a place to stay. See what you can find out about what shit she is into. We can maybe get her some help.”
I turn and walk into my room, slamming the door shut behind me. With my back pressed against the door, I feel a twisting in my chest and a rage I need to set free. Pushing off the door, I get dressed for a ride. My heart is beating so fast all I feel is the quick, rapid thuds in my ears.
Everywhere I look, I see Jenna. Her clothes are strewn around from the night before, her pink suitcase is open in the middle of the floor, and the bathroom counter has her products.
I know that by the time I come back, it will all be gone—a memory.
How can things go so wrong in a matter of minutes?
I slam my fist against the wall, over and over, until my knuckles bleed and I see nothing but red.
As much as I want to go find her and drag her back here, I wonder if this might actually be the best thing for us. I knew from the moment I saw her that she was too good for me and this life. Maybe we just needed to be reminded of that.
I take off for my bike, the only one I can trust to not walk away.