Chapter 23 Elliot
TWENTY-THREE
ELLIOT
Asmashing noise breaks through the gentle piano music I’m listening to, and I yank off my headphones. Frowning towards the main gym space out the front, I strain my ears, trying to identify the sound. Someone is in the gym, and from the sound of it, they’re not happy.
Putting down my paintbrush, I race from the back room I’ve been decorating and into the main space. Clay has his fist in the wall, and Bear looks as though he’s attempting to stop him from doing it again.
“What the hell is going on here?” For fuck’s sake, the last thing we need is a Clay meltdown while we’re trying to build up a new business. Literally building it, and now I have a hole to patch. Groaning, I gesture to the new hole in the plaster. “I just painted that fucking wall.”
Clay steps back, shaking the loose plaster from his fist, littering the clean floor with dust. He won’t be the one to clean it up, and I want to smack him over the head for making the place dirty when I’ve been cleaning like a lunatic all morning.
However, I can see that there’s clearly something going on.
“We had an argument,” Bear sighs, scrubbing his hands over his face, his shoulders tight with tension.
“Yeah, I can see that,” I reply dryly, looking pointedly towards the wall with a hole in it.
Thankfully it’s just plasterboard and not a loadbearing wall, so fixing it won’t be too much of an issue.
Nevertheless, I’m pissed off. We have so much at stake here and we can’t risk it all over petty fights.
Crossing my arms over my chest, I look between them with an expectant expression.
If I must be a councillor to make them sort this out, then that’s what I’ll be. “What were you fighting about?”
Their postures immediately shift, going from keyed up and ready for action, to shoulders falling in and guilty glances at each other and then back at me. Whatever they’re about to say is going to piss me off, I can just sense it.
“Holly,” they reply in unison, proving me right with one word.
That fucking woman. I don’t know what it is about her, but ever since that first day she’s wound me up. Sure, she’s gorgeous, but it goes far deeper than looks, a soul-deep irritation when she’s nearby. Now she’s coming between my brothers and putting our partnership at risk.
“She’s caused nothing but problems.” Shaking my head with disgust, I hold up my hand before either of them can try to defend her. Honestly, I don’t want to hear it. “What has she done now?”
Bear lets out a rumbling sigh that sounds more like a growl, only adding to his nickname. “Clay made her pick between us.”
I raise my brows at Clay, surprised by this news.
There are only two things in life that Clayton cares about: us, and his club.
Everything else is just a distraction, so to hear that he’s forcing Holly into making a choice is unusual.
Shit, it means that this isn’t just a one-night stand; he actually cares for her.
Clay just shakes his head, sinking into himself. “She’s mine. I won’t share her.”
With each passing second I can see him building up those walls again, brick by brick.
Moving here was supposed to be a fresh start for all of us, and he’s been better than I’ve seen him in a long time, and now Holly has sashayed her way into his life and undone all of the progress.
His possessive side is remerging, which hasn’t been seen since his ex was around.
“Well, you won’t have to anymore.” Bitterness coats Bears statement, something I rarely hear from him.
As the eldest of the three of us, he takes on the role as big brother, and we look up to him – not just because of his age, but because he is calm and makes good decisions.
Hearing Bear like this feels wrong, throwing off the whole dynamic of our group.
Wait, does that mean that Holly chose Clay? That would explain why Bear is unhappy, but not why Clay is punching holes in the walls.
“She chose him?” I ask for clarification, jerking my head towards our brooding friend.
I’m not quite sure what to feel about what’s happened, my head still spinning from how sudden everything has come to a head.
However, the one emotion that I am fully sure on is my anger towards Holly. This is because of her.
“No,” Bear sighs, his anger draining from him. “She was worried about hurting one of us, so she isn’t going to date either of us.”
Okay, this does surprise me. I didn’t expect this, nor would I have predicted this reaction from the guys.
This is the right choice; she’s being sensible here.
Or, could this just another way to play them?
Take away something they want and it will only make them want it more.
Whether she planned it this way or not, that’s exactly what has happened.
It seems I may have underestimated Holly.
One of us isn’t enough for her; she wants both of them and seems willing to tear our family apart in the meantime.
Before this can escalate further, I need to refocus them on the real reason we’re here.
Not because of some pretty girl, but to build a future for the three of us.
Clearing my throat, I nod my head firmly, decision made. “Good, now there are no distractions, you can both move on and focus on the gym.”
Clay moves and the next thing I know, he’s in my face, snarling up at me. Gripping onto my shirt, he yanks me forward, throwing off my balance. Cursing under my breath, I grab onto him to stay upright. I’m vaguely aware of Bear moving beside me, but my focus is on Clay.
“Didn’t you hear me? Holly is mine and I’m not giving her up that easily.
” That darkness that he hides inside him is bubbling just below the surface.
I can see it dancing in his eyes. This is the face of a man who is prepared to do whatever it takes.
He’s never looked at me this way before and it makes my stomach drop.
“Clay…”
I don’t know what to say to him, how to talk him down from this manic state he’s worked himself into. Honestly, I don’t recognise him, and that makes my heart break a little. Is this how easily our bond can be broken?
He must see something in my expression, as the darkness in his eyes shifts and I watch on as his jaw clenches tightly.
Is he going to say something? I silently beg him to speak up, to let us help him work through this.
Sighing heavily, he releases my shirt and stalks from the gym, not giving Bear even the slightest of glances.
Fuck.
A long, drawn-out sigh pulls my attention back to the final member of our trio.
Turning, I find him rubbing his temples, looking more stressed out than I have in years.
He lifts his eyes to meet mine, but where I’m expecting to see guilt, all I see is determination.
Sure, there’s some regret in his expression, but otherwise he just stands where he is, stance wide as if expecting me to attack him.
Out of everything that has happened today, this surprises me the most. Bear is like our big brother, protecting us and making wise decisions.
Now he’s putting his own happiness above Clay’s, something that’s totally out of character for him.
Crossing his arms over his chest, he waits for my judgement, knowing me well enough to expect a retort.
Honestly, I don’t know what to say. Disappointment and anger pulse through me, not all aimed at him, yet he’s going to be the one who gets the brunt of it. Slowly shaking my head, I click my tongue and raise my brows. “I expected more from you,” I chide.
He scowls and I know I’ve said the wrong thing.
“How dare you.” His face twists with anger and betrayal that I would accuse him like this.
Selfish. I might not have said the word aloud, but that’s what I was implying, and it’s struck him far deeper than I expected.
“Do you know how much I’ve given up for this family?
How many opportunities have come my way, but I’ve let them pass because I wouldn’t leave you two behind? ”
As soon as I said it, I knew I’d stepped over the mark and now I feel worse.
He’s right: he has always put us ahead of his own wants and needs.
That is why I was so surprised by his reaction towards Holly, knowing how strongly Clay feels for her.
I shouldn’t have implied that Bear should be stepping back for Clayton.
After all, why should he be unhappy? I’m an ass and I need to fix this.
Stepping towards him I let my remorse show. “Bear, I–”
As he jerks his hand up to silence me, I stop in my tracks and he glares back at me.
“Holly brings with her an opportunity I am not going to let pass. She makes me happy. Why should I give that up?” His face is set, ready to fight me on this.
I don’t want to fight, though, and after a few heavy seconds, he sighs, his shoulders dropping. “I really care for her, Elliot.”
“You sound like Clay,” I chuckle, attempting to make a joke and shake off the uncomfortable feeling I get when he’s talking about his feelings. “Next, you’ll be telling me that she’s your soulmate.”
I’m joking, attempting to bring a lighter note to the conversation, but he doesn’t laugh like I think he’s going to.
Nope, he goes quiet, his expression thoughtful, as though he’s considering it.
Bear doesn’t believe in soulmates, so why does he look that way?
Clay gets absorbed by his intense feelings, but Bear is the rational one; he won’t let himself get swept away by all of this.
Except, the way he’s looking at me now, with a hint of pity in his eyes, makes me realise how wrong I am.
“No fucking way.”
Lips tightening, Bear stalks past me, offended by my reaction. “This is none of your business, Elliot.”
What does he expect from me? There’s a hole in my wall – I’m pretty sure that makes it my business. I snort and turn on the spot, watching him as he walks towards the door.
“It is when she’s going to tear a rift between us.” I need him to hear me, to understand how bad this could get. Gesturing at the damage in the wall, I wait for him to look back at me. “Just look at how Clay reacted.”
He stops by the door, but he doesn’t look at me, his hands balled into fists at his side.
He looks huge, standing in the doorway, his shoulders tense, and I don’t recognise the man I call brother.
We’ve had our arguments before, the three of us disagreeing, but this is different, and I don’t know if we’ll be able to fix this.
Bear turns his head to the side but he still doesn’t look at me, staring at the empty gym space. “Leave Clayton to me.”
With that ominous statement, he walks out the door. If it was anyone else, I might worry what’s about to happen to Clay, but this is Bear, and even as upset as he is, he would never hurt him.
All the tension suddenly leaves my body and exhaustion hits me. What a fucking day. I’m going to have to keep an eye on that woman next door if I want to make sure we all stay sane. Her sweet demeanour doesn’t fool me.
Grumbling my disgruntlement, I turn and head for the store cupboard. After all, I have a wall to fix.