Chapter Fifteen #2
Something snaps. Before I can stop myself, I lunge at her, shoving hard.
Her cigarette goes flying, and she lets out a surprised scream.
I grab fistfuls of her hair, dragging her around the kitchen until she trips and lands on the floor.
I jump on top of her, slamming my fist to her face, cries of frustration leaving me as she swipes back, scratching her nails along my neck.
We’re so lost in hurting one another, we don’t hear the door crash open.
“What the fuck is this?” Axel’s voice booms, thunderous, and the fight dies instantly.
He storms in, shirt half-buttoned, Lexi hovering behind him in her robe, wide-eyed.
His gaze cuts over the mess at the same time mine does.
Sasha on the floor, blood streaking her lip, her eye already swelling shut.
And me above her, hair wild, chest heaving, my fist still knotted in her hair.
The rage drains out of me all at once, leaving only the hollow thud of panic. I swallow hard, inhaling a shuddery breath as reality slams into me.
Slowly, I unclench my hand, climbing off her and backing away from Axel’s reach. “I’m . . . sorry,” I whisper, my voice small, breaking.
“She attacked me,” Sasha shrieks, clinging to Axel’s arm as he helps her up. The way he tilts her chin, assessing her bruises with a tenderness I’ll never be shown, tells me everything. He’s already picked his side.
“She said—” I start, but the words dry up. My teeth sink into my lip to stop the flood of tears. What’s the point? He’s made up his mind.
“Lexi,” Axel barks without looking back, “go get Shadow.” Then his glare pins me, sharp and merciless. “Office. Now. And if you move without my say so, so help me God, I’ll break your fucking legs.”
I nod quickly, shuffling out the kitchen, my vision blurring as the first hot tear slips free. I swipe it away, but more follow, burning down my cheeks as I stumble towards the office.
The door clicks shut behind me, and I press my palms to the desk, shaking, the taste of blood and regret bitter on my tongue.
Shadow
“Shadow, wake up.”
I jerk awake, my hand instantly reaching for her. My head snaps around to see Lexi standing by the bed, hair mussed, robe tied hastily around her waist. But no Remi.
“She’s not here,” she whispers. “She’s—”
I’m on my feet in a heartbeat, dragging on my jeans, my kutte slung across my shoulders. “What the fuck do you mean? Where is she?”
Lexi wrings her hands. “She and Sasha . . . they fought. It got bad. Axel’s dealing with it.”
I don’t wait for more. Stuffing my feet in my boots, I pound down the stairs with Lexi hurrying after me. The low murmur of voices leads me towards the common room.
Axel stands outside his office, arms folded, his jaw tight. The second he sees me, his gaze hardens. Before I can speak, a blur of movement cuts me off.
“Shadow!” Sasha barrels towards me, face streaked with tears, her lip split and one eye already swelling shut. She clutches at my kutte, sobbing dramatically. “She attacked me. I didn’t do anything, and she just snapped. Look at me.”
I stiffen, my jaw ticking. I feel Lexi hovering, ready to catch Sasha, when Axel growls, “Take her upstairs, Lex. Get her cleaned up.”
Lexi peels Sasha from me, guiding her away despite the way Sasha keeps glancing back, milking every second.
When they’re gone, Axel drags a hand over his beard, eyes cutting into me. “Trouble can’t stay in this club, Shadow. You know that. My job’s keeping everyone safe. That girl you’ve dragged in is feral. Sasha says she was attacked for no damn reason.”
My fists clench, anger simmering under my skin, but before I can respond, the office door bursts open.
“Is anyone gonna get my side?” Remi demands, her voice sharp, her eyes wild.
I freeze, staring at her. Her hair’s tangled, cheeks flushed, the tremor in her hands betraying the fight still burning in her.
Axel’s head snaps towards her, his face a storm at her blatant disregard for his position.
My anger spikes, not just at her but at the timing and the way she’s making this worse. “Enough,” I snap, my voice hard. “Show some fucking respect.”
Her eyes widen, hurt flashing across her face, but I hold her stare, my chest heaving. Because right now, she doesn’t understand. Axel’s word is law, and if she pushes him, there’s nothing I can do to stop him reacting in any way he sees fit.
Her eyes glisten, but instead of backing down, she lifts her chin. “Of course,” she spits, her voice shaking. “Your stupid club means more than me. Everything we just shared, undone, because your loyalties will always be to him.”
The words cut sharper than she knows, and my temper snaps. “Watch your mouth,” I snarl, grabbing her arm. Before she can wriggle free, I shove her back through the office doorway and slam it shut in her face. Her fists pound against the wood.
“Don’t you dare lock me in here,” she screams, her voice breaking. “Logan, I mean it, open the fucking door!”
I brace my palm against it, jaw clenched, every bang rattling through me. Christ, she’s like a wild thing caged. The sound of her fists hammering the wood claws at my insides.
Axel’s voice cuts through, rough and final. “Sort it out, Shadow, or get rid of her.”
I drag in a breath, shoulders heaving as I glance back at him. His eyes are flinty, hard.
“You know the rules,” he says flatly. “Three strikes, and she’s already on two. First was stealing from my club. Now, this. I won’t have her tearing holes in my house.”
I grind my teeth, torn clean in two. Part of me wants to march in there, drag Remi into my arms, and tell her it’s all okay and to calm down. The other part knows Axel’s right, that trouble in the club doesn’t just go away.
Behind the door, her fists keep banging, her voice hoarse from shouting my name.
I give a slight nod, and he grips my shoulder, giving it a squeeze as he passes to head back upstairs.
I inhale deeply then push the door open. Remi stumbles back, her face wet with tears. She runs for the opening, but I catch her, wrapping one arm around her waist and dragging her against me while she kicks and screams to break free.
“Stop,” I growl in her ear. She doesn’t even hear me as she claws at my arm. “Remi, stop,” I say, harder this time, as I grab her wrist, tugging her arm up her back and guiding her to the desk. I push her face down. “Relax and I’ll let you go.”
“Fuck you,” she screams, kicking back and catching my shin.
“I can’t release you until you stop this fucking insanity,” I growl, taking hold of her other arm as she tries to grab a pair of scissors off the desk. I pin her, my legs keeping hers apart, my hands holding her wrists. “Get it under control, Rem,” I order.
“She was goading me,” she cries, writhing against my hold. I shift, careful not to let her feel the way my body reacts to her thrashing.
“So, you attacked her?” I snap.
“You didn’t hear what she was saying,” she yells, her voice breaking.
“I don’t care,” I growl, leaning down so my mouth is to her ear. “Have some fucking grace and walk away.”
“Let me go and I will.” It’s not a threat, it’s a promise, and my heart slams at the thought of her running straight out that door and away from me.
“You don’t have to fight to survive here, Remi,” I grind out. “I already took you in. I’m giving you a home. What the club girls say, it means shit.”
“How many others?” she demands, still straining even though she knows she’s not getting free.
“Others?”
“Have you rescued?” she screams, impatient, furious. “That’s what she said. I’m a stray. Your way to repent your sins.”
I shake my head, frustration clawing at my chest. “Baby, I could rescue a thousand women like you and still not be halfway to heaven. And quite frankly,” my mouth twists into a humourless grin, “I don’t wanna end up there anyway.
I made peace with the devil a long time ago.
When I go to hell, we’ll party like brothers. I ain’t repenting for shit.”
I release her, and she spins instantly, eyes darting to the doorway I’m blocking.
“You’re not running,” I warn, my voice low, firm.
“I’m not staying,” she snaps back.
“And where you gonna take your feral little arse?” I demand, one brow arched. “Back to the streets? Dressed in my shirt?”
“I’ve worn less,” she fires, folding her arms tight, ignoring the tears dripping hot down her chin.
“But you didn’t belong to me then.”
“I don’t now,” she screams, the anger flooding back.
I scoff, folding my arms across my chest so I don’t pin her against the wall and force her to swallow those words. “This little act you’ve got going on doesn’t fool me,” I say, my tone calm now, cutting. “You pretend you don’t care, but I know you do.”
Her laugh is cold, empty. “You don’t even know me, Shadow.” She spits my name like it poisons her tongue.
“Say that again,” I dare, stepping closer. She edges back, her eyes wary, but she keeps her mouth shut. Smart girl.
I hold her there, letting the silence stretch until she squirms. “Axel is the boss around here. What he says goes—for me, for you, for the goddamn whores. I don’t give a shit what Sasha said.
Next time, you bring it to me. I’ll deal with it.
” She stays quiet, her eyes glaring at the ground.
“You think I’ll let you ruin what I’ve built here?
” I snap, my voice sharp enough to cut glass.
“One more stunt like tonight, and Axel won’t just send you packing, he’ll make me cut you loose. You hear me?”
Her jaw clenches, but I see the tremor in her shoulders as she avoids eye contact. I drag a hand down my face, forcing a breath past my teeth. Christ. She’s fire and rage, but she’s mine.
“Come here,” I mutter, reaching for her before she can spin away.
She stiffens, but I don’t let go. I tug her into my chest, wrapping my arms around her tight enough that she can’t wriggle free.
She shudders against me, fists balled, resisting for a beat before her forehead drops against my chest. A small, choked sound escapes her, half sob, half growl.
“You don’t have to fight me,” I murmur into her hair, my tone rough but low.
“Not me. Not here. You’ve got nothing to prove. You’re already enough, Remi.”
Her body softens, the tension bleeding out in broken sobs, and I hold her tighter. All she really needs is someone who won’t let go.