Chapter 71
KADENCE
Ifelt happy for the first time in a long time, and this happiness mortified me because I knew it could be taken away in an instant.
I felt crazy thinking I could fall for her this quick after everything that happened between us, but I was falling in love with her.
It was fast, but I wouldn’t dive in head first. Blaize was someone I saw a future with.
It would be a while before anything happened, of course, but I felt safe with her.
She made me feel a wildfire of emotions.
I couldn’t wait to see what we would create together.
When I arrived at the club, something felt…
off. There was an aura in the room that made the hair on the back of my neck stand at attention, but I pushed it away.
My paranoia was a silent killer. I slipped into the back room and changed.
Dancing was becoming easier. I knew Jax missed me at the bar, but I would visit him later.
I opted for a simple red lace babydoll and red lace boy shorts. The club helped me gain confidence I always should’ve had. Annika also helped when she went shopping with me. She was an amazing friend, and I was forever grateful Blaize chose her to show me around the club.
When I was dressed and ready, I stepped back into the main foyer.
My eyes darted around the room until I met a frantic Hunter.
She instantly raced to me, pulling me to the side and glancing over her shoulder like she was waiting for something or someone to run out of the shadows.
Hunter was normally playful and flirty while still radiating a fierce leader.
But the look on her face was terrifying.
I shifted uncomfortably, anxiety biting my skin.
“Tell me your name,” she demanded.
“It’s Kadence.”
She growled, her brows furrowing. “Your real name, Kadence. Not the name you picked when coming here.”
I ran my hand up my arm, looking away from her. “I don’t know what you're talking about.”
She ran her fingers through her hair, annoyance dancing across her features. “For the love of all things.” She glanced behind her again, looking at the front entrance. “Hawke is going to be here any minute. Something happened, and I don’t want him to hurt you.”
I winced, my heart rate accelerating. “W-why would he hurt me?”
Before she could answer me, Hawke burst through the door. The look on his face was feral, animalistic rage washing over him. There was no reminiscence of the teddy bear biker I met when I woke up in the clubhouse. The vein in his forehead was about to rupture from the enmity etched into his face.
Hunter covered me, trapping me between her body as Hawke got closer and closer. My eyes flickered from her to the brooding man aiming for me.
“Kadence, give me a fucking name, even if it’s not yours. I need something I can work with so I can help you.”
Hunter gasped when Hawke moved her away from me, and the words in my throat got stuck when he wrapped his massive hand around my throat.
I clawed at him, feeling him lift me off the ground before he slammed me against the wall.
My heart raced, pounding so hard I could barely see straight before I saw the needle going for my skin.
No, no, no.
God, please not again.
My breathing became a battle; each breath serrated and ragged.
Black dots danced across my vision, darkness creeping in.
I was trembling in Hawke’s death grip, but the murderous look washing over his features terrified me.
My trauma was nothing to him now. Hunter was in my peripheral vision, looking helpless.
It was weird seeing her like this when she radiated badassery and strength.
The room was closing in on me, dread filling my veins.
I needed this moment to pass and for everything to be fine, but saying the name would open a can of worms and reveal who I really was.
Instead of my name, his name was on the tip of my tongue.
“Liam Keller.” His name was bitter on my tongue, like a poison. The monster of my nightmares, the source of much of my pain, was the only savior I had.
To be continued in Mended Souls