Wilder (Salvation Kings MC: New Freedom Chapter #3)

Chapter One

Wilder

HE’D NEVER considered what it would feel like to be betrayed by his best friends.

He’d never thought it a possibility. His friends―family, really―were the only people he thought he could always count on.

The only people he’d never expected to keep secrets from him.

Thirteen years, they’d kept their relationship a secret, and now, Jane thought she could just order him around? Fuck that and fuck her.

His strides were long and hurried as he crossed the backyard. Jane had to run to reach him, her legs so much shorter than his. Usually, it would’ve made him slow down, but all he could think about was the fact that she’d decided to wrap those legs around his brother. Their brother.

Jane made a growling sound under her breath when she caught up with him, and he knew she’d be glaring if he looked at her. He didn’t fucking want to. Since the day they met, he’d seen that anger from her countless times, but it had never before been aimed at him.

“Could you get your head out of your ass for a second and just consider―”

“Not a fucking chance,” he snapped, almost delighted by the flinch he caused. Almost. “Do it yourself.”

“You really think because you’re VP, you can just―”

“Yes.”

He whirled around, meeting her gaze head-on. Anger flashed through her green eyes, and his heart stuttered. Fuck. He hadn’t gotten used to that anger being aimed at him.

“Oh? You think because you’re mad, you get to be an asshole? It’s not me it’s affecting.”

He stilled, nails digging into his palms as his jaw clenched almost painfully because she was right. She was right, and he hated it. Anger surged through him anew, lighting up that selfish, insecure part of him he couldn’t contain. Not with how bright Jane and Solo’s betrayal burned inside him.

“How delusional are you? You’re fucking your own brother. You don’t think that’s gonna affect anyone?”

Her eyes dulled for a moment, and that satisfaction he thought he’d feel? It was nowhere in sight.

“Maybe if you found someone to settle down with instead of fucking everything that moves, you’d be too busy being happy to be a shithead about something that doesn’t concern you,” Jane said, the flat tone of her voice telling him that she was close to losing her shit.

He blinked at her, hating the pain those words sparked. It was always great to find out how the people you loved truly saw you.

“So, I’m just a fuckboy you don’t consider family anymore, huh?”

Jane’s lips parted, a confused breath leaving her as she shook her head.

“I see how it is,” he muttered, turning away only to have a small hand on his arm halt him.

“That’s not what I meant,” Jane said, her voice low and strained.

“Isn’t it?” He turned, leveling her with a hard look. “How else would you describe telling someone who considers you a sister that her fucked up relationship doesn’t concern him?”

Jane’s expression shuttered, her lips pulling tight. “Fuck you. Just because you see us as siblings doesn’t mean we ever did.”

“You sure about that?”

There was a flare of hurt in her eyes, and she stumbled back a step before straightening. She was tiny compared to him, and he knew she hated that she had to look up at him. He was rather enjoying it at the moment.

“Go fuck yourself,” Jane hissed, her cheeks red with anger as she took off.

Obviously, he hit a nerve. Served her right.

He stared after her, the pain in his heart only getting worse. He knew it wouldn’t help, but he still rubbed the heel of his hand against his chest.

“That went well.”

A heavy sigh fell from his lips.

Great.

Kaz overheard them arguing. Again.

“Don’t start,” he mumbled as Kaz came to stand next to him. He stared up at the white house, at the wooden back porch Jane was climbing the steps to, her shoulders high and her steps heavy.

“Maybe you all just need some time apart,” Kaz suggested, dark brow raised at Wilder.

“I doubt it’s gonna make me want to throw up any less when seeing our brother kiss our sister.”

Kaz frowned, gaze going vacant. His brother was trying to fix this mess, and he couldn’t fault him for it. The three of them had put him square in the middle of this bullshit storm. Kaz should’ve spent his time playing house with his partner, not wrangling three idiots.

He knew he was being dramatic about it all, but he couldn’t help how he felt.

They kept that secret for so many years that he feared the sting of betrayal would never leave him.

It would always be there in his heart, the knowledge that they kept something so huge from him.

Would he have reacted badly thirteen years ago?

Sure, but he wouldn’t have this deep-rooted betrayal burning inside him.

He would’ve eventually gotten over two people he thought of as siblings being romantically involved.

Instead, he was drowning in this shitty fucking feeling he couldn’t escape.

Kaz looked up at the porch, and from the smile that spread on his face, Wilder knew exactly who he’d found there. Miles had changed everything. Kaz was happy. Legit fucking happy.

He wished he could be happier for them than he was. Wished that Solo and Jane’s bullshit didn’t put a damper on his excitement for Miles and Kaz.

Fortunately, it didn’t stop a smile from spreading on his lips as Miles made his way toward them. He was wearing his cut with such pride it damned near shone from him.

“You guys ready?” Miles asked, stopping in front of them, his lips lifting on one side when Kaz instantly reached for him, arms circling Miles’s waist and tugging him close.

“For you? Always,” Kaz whispered just loud enough for Wilder to hear and snort out a laugh.

Miles elbowed Kaz, chuckling when Kaz only held onto him tighter, one hand cupping the back of Miles’s head to kiss him.

They kept it PG, and Wilder doubted it was for his benefit.

It was more likely because they did need to get going, and if those two started, there was no stopping them. He’d learnt that the hard way.

Kaz pulled back, voice too low for Wilder to hear as he mumbled something against Miles’s lips. Miles nodded, the heat in his eyes slowly dropping to a simmer before he turned toward Wilder. “You’re coming, right?”

“Yeah, I’ve just gotta make a quick stop first,” he said, backing away with a smile he hoped wasn’t so fake they’d notice. He was shit out of luck if the flat stare Kaz gave him was any indication.

“Don’t do anything―”

“Stupid?” He shook his head. “When have you ever known me to do something stupid?”

Kaz’s eyes narrowed, and he felt a real smile spread on his lips.

“We’ll see you there,” Miles said before pressing a kiss to Kaz’s cheek, distracting him just long enough to let Wilder get away.

He turned to head toward the parking lot, his heart stuttering to a halt in his chest when he looked up and found Jane leaning against the railing on the back porch, hurt in her eyes as her gaze met his.

He forced a swallow, his throat thick and painful.

He didn’t want to feel this pain. He wanted to be able to let it go, to move on, for her, but also for himself. He just didn’t know how.