23. The devil I know.
Chapter 23
The devil I know.
Amelia
M y foot pounds on the gas pedal, adrenaline surging through me. I’ve never driven this recklessly before, but tonight, every second feels anxiety inducing.
If Lina’s warning is true—if Linden and Christian are actually gambling away my relationship—there will be hell to pay.
“Come on!” I growl, slapping the steering wheel in frustration as I’m stuck behind some oblivious driver, crawling along at the speed limit. I don’t have time for speed limits. I don’t have time for anything but getting there, putting a stop to this madness before it’s too late.
What kind of insane person bets their entire future on a hand of cards? Christian wouldn’t do this to me, would he?
The thought is a cold fist around my heart, suffocating the hope that’s barely clinging on.
But Lina’s words were clear. She was angry for me as if it were happening to her. As much as I want to believe she misheard them, I know she’s right.
The person in front of me turns onto a side road, and I hit the gas. As long as no one else pulls out in front of me, I should be there in five minutes. That’s a record time.
And it’s the slowest five minutes of my life.
When I finally reach the bar, I pull right up to the entrance and hop out. Fuck parking my car in a designated space. No one at Posey’s is going to tow me.
The bar is loud and smoky. I hear a few people call out my name, but I don’t stop. They probably know what’s going on in the game room and want to tell me about it like I don’t already know.
The game room is crowded, and I can’t see the table from all the people gathered around. The only hope that gives me is that the game isn’t over.
I push my way through, not caring if I knock people out of my way. It’s rude, but this is my life.
“Oh, shit,” someone says. Then a path opens as everyone steps out of my way. The first person I see is Linden.
I barge toward him and pop him upside the head. “Are you crazy?”
“Hey.” He rubs his head where I hit him and glares at me. “What did you do that for?”
“You know why.” Then I turn my glare to Christian. “Is it true?”
“It’s true.” Lina calls out.
Christian snaps his eyes at her and opens his mouth like he’s going to reprimand her.
“Don’t you dare get mad at her,” I say. I take a few steps closer to him. “You bet our relationship on a game of poker.”
It’s not a question. I’m stating a fact. And by my tone, there’s no doubting just how angry I am about this.
“Lia, it’s just a game,” Linden says. The condescending and dismissive tone of his voice pisses me off even more.
“Just a game!” I yell. “This is my life. I’m not a piece of property that you can sell and trade.”
“It’s not like that.” He insists.
“Oh, yeah.” I cross my arms over my chest and glare at him. “Then what’s it like? Explain it to me so I can understand how betting on me in a game of poker doesn’t make me a piece of property in your eyes.”
“I just want him out of our lives.” He yells back at me with so much desperation written all over his face. “This has ruined our family. Why can’t you see that?”
“The only person ruining our family right now is you.” I turn back to Christian. “How could you?”
“I’m not going to lose,” he says. He doesn’t even bother to look remorseful for his actions.
My mouth drops open in shock. His words sting and tears prick at the corner of my eyes. “Is that how you see me? As something to win in a stupid game.”
“No!” He jumps to his feet and reaches for me, but I step back so he can’t touch me. I’m too pissed to let him hold me. Knowing my stupid body, it’ll make me forgive him instantly. “Baby, you know how I feel about you.”
“Do I?” I lose control of my tears and a few breaks free. I quickly wipe them away. “It’s not like you’ve ever actually told me. And based on this scene, I’m not sure you’ve ever really cared about me.”
“That’s not true.” He steps closer and lowers his voice. “You’re my angel. The reason I breathe.”
I shake my head. “I’m so mad at you. At both of you. You’re both assholes.”
I spin on my heels to leave but Christian grabs my hand, and I snatch it back. His eyes are filled with panic. “Baby, please.”
“I can’t—” My voice cracks. It’s getting harder to hold back the tears. “I can’t believe you’d even entertain something so stupid as this, let alone do it.”
“Please, Lia. It’s just a game.” There’s desperation in his voice as he pleads with me. It’s almost enough to cause me to cave, but then he says, “He can’t beat me anyway.”
I shake my head and frantically wipe my eyes. He doesn’t deserve my tears right now. I’m too mad for that. “I don’t give a shit. It’s not about whether or not you’ll win or lose. It’s that you did it at all.”
“Baby.” He rushes toward me and wraps his arms around me before I can escape. I punch my fists into this chest and push him away.
“Don’t baby me. Do you have any idea how foolish I feel right now?”
“This isn’t about you,” Linden says. “This is between Christian and me.”
“This is one hundred percent about me! You two made a bet over me!” I stare at him like he’s the biggest idiot on this planet. He actually has the decency to look worried. I know he doesn’t care if my relationship with Christian survives this, but at least he seems to care about me. I drop my head and hide my face behind my hands. “Just once I want to be enough for someone. Is that too much to ask?”
“Baby, you are enough for me.” Christian’s voice trembles. When I meet his eyes, I suck in a breath. For the first time since I met Christian, I see fear in his eyes. “Please, angel.”
I shake my head and step back. “Then why did you bet our relationship in a fucking game of poker?”
I turn to leave, but he slides his arm around my waist and holds me close. “Please, don’t do this.”
Tears run down my cheeks. I can no longer hold them back. “Just let me go.”
As soon as he does, I rush out of the game room before either of them can give me another stupid excuse. They can try to justify their decision all they want, but it won’t make a difference.
Linden never should have made the bet, and Christian ever should have taken it.
Christian calls my name several times as I run toward the exit, but I don’t stop. I’m too upset with him right now to discuss this further.
I run out the door and into the cool night air so fast that I don’t notice the person standing right outside and I slam into him.
My entire body turns rigid and a fear I’ve only ever known from one person consumes me.
Even before his hands come up and grab me by the arms, I know who it is. I don’t need to see his face or hear his voice. I sense Badger’s presence anytime he’s nearby.
“Let me go.” I press against his chest to get away from him, but he’s stronger than me.
He backs me up against the building and presses his body against mine. When he leans down to press his nose to my neck and takes a deep breath, my throat tightens and my mouth waters. I fight the urge to vomit all over him.
“Christian will kill you.” My voice trembles. It’s an accurate statement, but I just ran away from him. If he doesn’t follow me, I’m trapped.
Images of that dreadful night rush to the forefront of my mind. Trapped between my car and Badger’s body just like this. Only that night, he ripped my clothes off and attempted to violate me in the worst way imaginable.
“He’s not here, princess.” He sneers and runs his nose along my chin. “But don’t worry, I’m not going to hurt you.”
I struggle to get free, but he tightens his grip on my arms to the point it hurts. “Please, stop. You’re hurting me.”
His grip on me loosens, and his expression turns blank. It’s as if he didn’t even realize how hard he was holding onto me.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he says. His voice is filled with pain. It’s confusing and in contrast to how he always talks to me.
“Then let me go.” I insist.
He shakes his head. “I can’t. You belong with me.”
I push on his chest as hard as I can, and he stumbles backward. It’s enough that I can sneak past him and escape his cage. I rush to my car, thankful I parked it so close.
“No!” he yells. His hand wraps around my wrist and tugs hard. I fly backwards and crash into his chest. “I’m not done talking to you.”
I punch and kick, refusing to let him take me. “We have nothing to talk about.”
The moment I wrench my arm free, the bar door explodes open, and Christian bursts through, a whirlwind of fury. He freezes mid-stride, his eyes locking onto Badger, a silent, simmering rage radiating from him.
Without a word, he launches himself at Badger, slamming him against the cool metal of my car. The anger on his face is terrifying, raw and primal. It’s clear—Christian’s hatred for Badger burns hotter than any I’ve ever witnessed. His fists rain down, each blow a thunderous testament to the rage consuming him.
“Christian, no!” I yell. As much as I’m enjoying seeing Badger get what he deserves, this will only make things worse. It will anger my brothers more than they already are, and my parents will take Badger’s side. Fighting him won’t end well for any of us, even if it is satisfying to watch.
Christian punches him in the face two more times before he tosses Badger to the ground and steps back, stopping right beside me.
“Did he hurt you?” he asks.
When I look up at him, all I see is concern and worry. It causes a fresh batch of tears to well up in my eyes.
I shake my head and lift my wrist to inspect. “Not really. Just squeezed my arm too tight.”
I slide up my shirt sleeve, and my wrist is red and already bruising. Christian sees it and gently takes my hand. He lifts it closer so he can see it better. Rage instantly replaces his concern.
“Don’t,” I say. “Nothing good will come of this.”
A low moan comes for Badger as he pushes to his feet. He’s holding his hand over his blood-covered face. “You broke my nose, you asshole.”
Christian growls. “You’re lucky that’s all I broke. Touch her again and see what I break then.”
Christian and Badger stare at each other like they’re debating on taking another punch. Not that Badger got a punch in with the way Christian charged him.
“Don’t,” I say to Christian, the sound of my voice is commanding, and it causes Christian to shift his eyes to me. “Let it go. For me.”
The door to the bar flies open and Linden steps out. His eyes scan the scene. “What’s going on?” He sounds more confused than anything. His eyes shift to the way I’m holding my arm. “Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine,” I say too quickly. He narrows his eyes and steps closer to me.
He takes my hand and studies my wrist. “This doesn’t look fine. Who hurt you?”
He shifts his eyes between Christian and Badger. Christian looks like he’s ready to jump Badger again, and Badger is still hiding his bloody face behind his hand.
“Answer me!” Linden’s voice booms around us. He lets my hand go and steps closer to Christian.
Christian glares at my brother and sneers.
“Why don’t you ask him?” He nods in Badger’s direction.
“What?” Linden looks confused. He thinks so highly of Badger that there’s no way he’ll believe Badger would do something to hurt me.
“Don’t look at me,” Badger says. “He’s just pissed that I was talking to Lia. He’s a jealous mother fucker.”
A deep ferocious growl comes from Christian. He balls his hands up into fists and I can see the veins popping out on his neck. He nudges past Linden like he’s ready to beat the shit out of Badger all over again.
“See!” Badger stumbles backward. “He’s crazy and unstable.”
“Linden,” my voice is shaky when I say his name. All three men snap their eyes to me. “Get him out of here.” I nod in Badger’s direction.
He stares at me for a moment like he doesn’t understand what I said. His eyes are filled with concern, confusion, and anger.
“What about you?” he asks.
“I’m leaving.” I dig my car keys out of my pocket and squeeze them in my hand. “I’ve had enough of this testosterone bullshit for one night.”
“I’m going with you,” Christian says.
I hold my hand up to stop him. “No, you’re not. I’m still mad at you and need some space.”
“Lia,” he begs.
I shake my head. “Not tonight.”
I walk past him and my brother. They both stare at me like they don’t know what to do. Christian no doubt wants to argue that I go with him, and Linden probably wants to insist I go see Aaron. I’m not doing either.
I take a deep breath as I get near my car. Badger is still leaning against my trunk, and I have to pass him to get to the driver’s side. I feel his eyes on me, and it sends a chill through my body.
As soon as I round the back, he leans toward me and whispers so only I can hear him. “This isn’t over.”
I swear my heart stops beating for several beats at the sinister tone of his words. He means it. Nothing I say or do is going to get Badger to leave me alone. Even Christian’s threats aren’t enough.
Something has to change. ’Cause I can’t live the rest of my life with Badger constantly threatening me like this.
The only way to make him stop will be telling my family what he did to me and convincing them it’s true. I’m not sure if I’m ready for that.
But I might need to get over that fear sooner rather than later.
Men like Badger don’t like to lose. I fear he’ll never leave me alone. At least not until he hurts me far worse than he already has.