Page 21

“You can try,” I taunt. “Abyss, take this IV out,now.”
Abyss shakes his head, but before I can argue, his voice comes out gruff. “I know you want to get out of here, and I won’t hold you against your will, I promise. Can you at least finish that bag of fluids first? It has the antibiotic you need for those infections, plus you were severely dehydrated.”
I nod. “Demon, where’s my car? As soon as this IV is out, I’m getting the fuck out of here.”
“What do you mean?” Confusion spreads across Demon’s face. “Your car wasn’t there when we found you.”
Fuck! I forgot I switched vehicles. No one would know that the Acura is one of mine.
“Jez, please,” Soul pleads. “I don’t want you to go. And there’s no way you can go home alone. You’ll need someone to watch over you.”
“You’re right about one thing.” I take a deep breath, knowing the next words out of my mouth might end my relationship with not only him, but the people I consider family. “This isyourclub, not mine. I don’t belong here anymore. You or anyone else who wants to see me, they know where to find me, but I won’t be coming back here.”
A gasp from across the room stops all of us. Cece marches up to the bed. “Jez, I don’t know what’s going on, but you don’t mean that. Think about Harper.”
I glower at her. “Low blow, Cece.”
She’s using my niece to try to get me to submit to their will, and under normal circumstances, that might’ve worked. Instead, I keep my head down, knowing that if I speak, I’ll lose it completely. I don’t want to hurt anyone, especially Cece. I love every single person here with everything in my heart. Right now, though, I need space.
“I’ll stay with her,” Phantom volunteers.
“I. Don’t. Fucking. Know. You!” Soul punctuates each word.
“But I do, Soul,” I speak up. “Whether you like it or not, I’m walking out that door as soon as Abyss clears me. I agree that I’ll probably need some help.” My gaze lands on Phantom. “You sure you can spare time to stick around?”
“Well, my boss is a real ball buster,” he jokes. “I think I can convince her to give me some time off.”
I chuckle at his inside joke and look up at Cece and Soul. “Problem solved.”
Cece clasps my hand. “Jez, talk to me, please. Don’t leave like this.”
I squeeze her hand. “You're my sister, and I love you. Never forget that. But for now, I need to put some distance between me, my brother, and this club.”
She nods as her eyes fill with tears. “I understand, stupid alpha male testosterone.”
I give a small, brittle smile. “You know it, girl.”
“I’m standing right fucking here,” Soul says, exasperated.
Cece pats his chest in a soothing motion. “Let her go, Soul.”
Soul raises his head to the ceiling. “For the love of everything unholy…” He drops his icy glare back to Demon. “Fine, but Demon, you never leave her side, I don’t care what she says or if she threatens to cut off your dick.”
“You got it, Prez,” Demon says.
Soul points to Phantom. “I don’t trust you, and if I find out you hadanythingto do with my sister being attacked, nothing on this Earth will protect you from my wrath, not even her.” He nods in my direction.
“Jez, this is your home. Don’t be a stranger.” Cece grabs Soul’s hand and pulls him toward the door. “Come on, let’s give her some space. I think Demon and Phantom have her covered.”
I let out the breath I’ve been holding and let the tears fall.
Abyss squeezes my shoulder. “He’s worried, Jez. Hell, we all are. You’re family, and you staying away from the club won’t change that. You guys will work it out.”
I shake my head. “Not this time, Abyss. I appreciate you patching me up, but you weren’t here when the club was formed. I was. Front and center, just like Malice and Grim. Hell, it was Grim’s and my idea. The more people that came along, the more I was pushed out. Like I said earlier, I understand. MCs have their chauvinistic views when it comes to women and club business. Doesn’t mean I have to like it or put up with it.”
Abyss sighs but doesn’t say anything else because he knows I’m right. I won’t stay away forever. Cece’s right, this is my home, but it hasn’t felt that way in a long time.
It’s time to seek out my liberation from Saints Purgatory and my brother.