Chapter 15
SAYLOR
As soon as Levi crossed the finish line, I took off running toward him.
My heart was pounding with relief, pride, and pure joy.
He barely had time to swing his leg off his bike before I reached him.
But his reflexes were so quick that he still caught me mid-stride, lifting me clean off my feet like I weighed nothing.
His arms banded tight around me as his mouth crashed down on mine in a hard kiss right, there in front of everyone. It was a public declaration that I was his.
When he finally set me back on my feet, I was breathless and flushed. He kept his hands on my waist for a moment longer, studying my face like he needed to reassure himself I was really okay. Then his expression shifted.
The victorious racer disappeared, replaced by the lethal biker he rarely showed me. “We’re going to deal with those motherfuckers now. Probably won’t be back until tomorrow.”
An uneasy shiver ran through me. I didn’t ask for details, but I understood what he meant.
This was part of Levi’s world, and after everything that other club had done, I couldn’t pretend they didn’t deserve whatever was coming.
Still, the idea of him disappearing left me feeling a little unsteady.
I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do with myself while he was gone.
I forced that fear down, though. The man I loved was about to go into a dangerous situation, and the last thing I wanted was for him to be worried about me. “Okay. Be safe.”
“You don’t need to worry about me, baby. My brothers will have my back.” He brushed his lips against mine again before he asked, “You want to talk to your sister? She’s at the compound. Figured you might want to give her the news yourself.”
Before I could answer, he added, “I don’t have to see Sutton if you don't want to. I won’t think less of you either way. I just wanted to give you the option.”
A spark of anger lit in my chest, surprising me. Grinning at him, I nodded. “Oh, I want to see her all right.”
Smirking, he leaned in, his breath warm against my ear. “That fiery attitude is making me hard as fuck right now.”
Heat flooded my face, making him chuckle. He kissed me again, slower this time but no less possessive.
When he pulled back, his eyes were full of sensual promise. “Go handle your shit while I handle mine. Afterward, we’re going home to talk.”
The emphasis he put on that last word sent another shiver through me. I knew exactly what kind of conversation he had in mind.
Levi looked over my shoulder and lifted his chin at someone behind me, silently summoning them. A prospect appeared at my side like he’d been summoned out of thin air. Levi gave him a nod, then turned back to me.
“I’ll see you at the clubhouse.” He pulled me in for one last kiss before stepping back. “Stay safe.”
I watched him walk away with a group of his club brothers, knowing the night wasn’t over for either of us.
Since I’d ridden with Levi on his bike, the prospect led me over to a black SUV waiting near the edge of the lot. Axle was already behind the wheel. He greeted me with a nod as I climbed into the passenger seat.
The drive back to the clubhouse was quiet. Axle wasn’t much of a talker, and I was grateful for the silence. It gave me time to think about what I was about to say to Sutton. And how I actually felt about everything that had happened.
When we reached the compound, the prospect at the gate waved us through without question.
The familiar sight of the clubhouse should have calmed me, but my stomach was tied in knots.
I knew Sutton was safe for the moment, but that didn’t untangle the messy ball of anger, sadness, loyalty, and exhaustion twisting inside me.
Axle parked near the clubhouse and turned to me. “She’s in Kane’s office.”
“Thanks.” I took a deep breath, nodded, and stepped out of the SUV. My legs felt a little unsteady as I headed inside.
Wrench was standing just outside Kane’s office door. He gave me a nod and stepped aside without question, letting me pass.
I opened the door and stepped inside. Fury was lounging against the wall near the entrance, looking casual at first glance. But I’d spent enough time around the Redline Kings now to recognize the subtle tension in his body. He was ready to move in a heartbeat if Sutton tried anything stupid.
Fury’s eyes softened when he saw me. “You good, Saylor? Want me to stay?”
Sutton immediately scoffed from where she sat. “I’m not going to hurt my own sister.”
Fury gave her a dark, unimpressed look. “Recent events have proven otherwise.”
I huffed out a breath in agreement.
He glanced back at me, the corner of his mouth twitching. “Besides, I wasn’t worried about her hurting you. I was more concerned about you needing an alibi and someone to help you dispose of the body.”
I tried to smother my laugh but ended up smirking at him anyway. The tension in my chest loosened just a little. His dry humor helped make this horrible moment feel survivable.
“I’m fine,” I assured him. “Thank you.”
Fury nodded and pushed off the wall. As he passed me on his way to the door, he winked.
I heard Wrench mutter something from the hallway about Fury not letting Century catch him winking at his woman unless he wanted to keep his eyeballs in a jar.
Fury laughed, and the door clicked shut behind them before I could hear whatever smart-alec response he gave.
The banter helped me steady myself. I took a slow breath and finally turned fully toward Sutton.
I was still angry, but standing in front of her now, I couldn’t help but notice that she looked smaller than usual. Her shoulders were hunched like she was waiting for an actual physical blow.
A wave of sadness hit me. This was my twin, the sister I had once loved so fiercely, yet she kept choosing to be the worst version of herself.
I looked at her for a moment, then spoke quietly. “I don’t want to fight, Sutton. I don’t want to lecture you, yell at you, or even have a long conversation. I just want to tell you one thing, then I’m going to take a shower, go to bed, and wait for my man to come home.”
She stayed silent, watching me warily.
“I still love you.” Even after everything, I meant it. “That’s never going to completely go away. We’re twins. We were each other’s everything once. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to let you keep destroying my life.”
“You wanted me to betray Levi and the Redline Kings, but it’s because of them that you have a second chance.
” Her only reaction was a small sniff, so I took a steadying breath and kept going.
“Don’t come back into my life until you get your head on straight.
If you clean up your act, stop using people and lying, and want nothing from me except a real relationship as sisters…
then I’ll welcome you with open arms. Until then, you need to stay away. ”
Her expression turned bitter. “You always thought you were better than me.”
I knew the accusation was meant to drag me back into our old pattern where she got to play the misunderstood victim and I got blamed for surviving the damage. But the words didn’t land like they used to.
I didn’t feel that old gnawing desperation to keep the love of my twin that only grew after the deaths of our parents. Being with Levi, welcomed with open arms by the Redline Kings…Sutton wasn’t my only family anymore.
My shoulders dropped a little, sadness weighing them down. “Goodbye, Sutton.”
I turned toward the door, reaching for the handle, when she whispered my name.
“Saylor.”
There was something different in her voice this time. No manipulation or accusation. Just Sutton, stripped down for one rare second.
I turned back slowly.
For the first time in years, I saw my sister without her mask. She showed me the twisted mess of insecurity, fear, resentment, and hurt that fed every one of her worst choices.
And in her eyes was the little girl I used to love so fiercely, the twin I had protected, the sister I had missed for so long.
Sutton held my gaze for a moment. Then, in a voice softer and more honest than I had heard from her in years, she whispered, “I’m honestly glad to see you so happy.”
But the mask slipped back into place, and she didn’t say anything else.
I didn’t push for more. Maybe that one honest sentence was all she could give right now.
I left Kane’s office without another word.
I didn’t feel hopeful exactly. I didn’t think Sutton was magically fixed, and I didn’t believe one vulnerable moment erased the years of damage she’d caused. But I didn’t feel quite as heartbroken either.
And for now, that was enough.