Page 124

Would I have done that?

Was that the kind of man I was?

I stormed back to my room and threw the door open. Blakely was still in bed, scrolling her phone with the comforter low around her waist. Her skin was untouched—no rough marks on her neck or chest.

“What the fuck happened last night?” I demanded.

“What?” Blakely asked. “Why are you so worked up? You’re the one who calledme,Ace.”

“I’d never do that,” I growled. “You’re excommunicated.”

“Then what’s this?” She turned her phone toward me. There it was, in her call history. My number. The late, late hour.

What the fuck?

“You called me, I answered. You sounded pretty out of it, but you asked me to come over, so I did.” She smiled. “I thought you’d finally gotten over your temper tantrum.”

“Get the fuck out.”

“What? It’s true.”

“I said get out!”My voice boomed through the clubhouse.

Blakely’s face paled. “You’re such a fucking asshole.” She climbed out of bed and tugged last night’s clothes back on. “I’m only here becauseyoucalled me, and now you’re acting all pissed? It’s not my fault your little girlfriend’s got a stick up her ass.”

“Don’t speak about her,” I snarled. “Not now, or ever again.”

“Jesus,” Blakely said. “Fine. I’m leaving. You’re such a fucking pig. And a liar. I don’t know why the hell I ever thought I was in love with you.”

She grabbed her things and stormed out of the clubhouse. I heard the front door slam.

My knees quivered. I slowly sank down until I hit the floor and leaned back against the side of the bed. I didn’t even want to touch the sheets I’d shared with Blakely. I dropped my head into my hands.

I couldn’t lose Harley. Not now. Not ever.

I had to fix this.

How the hell was I going to do that?

27

HARLEY

Purchased confirmed.

I sighed and scrolled down the confirmation page on my phone. Two one-way tickets from Syracuse to Atlanta. Check.

I was curled up in my bed at Stephan’s house. My head hurt. Myhearthurt. I’d wanted to find some other way to handle this, but there really was no other option. Stephan couldn’t keep us safe. He didn’t respect me. He wasn’t committed to me and Dylan.

I was a woman of my word. So, the next day, Dylan and I were going back to Atlanta.

I pulled the covers over my head, then dialed the number I knew by heart.

“Good morning,” Cassidy chirped as soon as she picked up. “Excellent timing, I just grabbed my post spin-class latte and I’m about to be stuck in traffic on the way to work.”

“Hi, Cass.”

“Everything okay? You sound terrible.”