Page 25 of Atlas (The Chaos Demons MC #6)

Atlas

I stare at Axel open mouthed. “Damien Carpenter?”

“It should ring alarm bells,” he continues. “It’s Anita’s ex-husband.”

I frown. “Let me get this straight. Damien is the one looking for Kasey?”

“Yes.”

“But he’s a lawyer, isn’t he?”

“Yep,” says Grizz, tapping something on the laptop until the screen mirrors to the large screen on the wall of church.

“By day he’s a lawyer, by night he’s some kind of king pin with a taste for young hookers,” Axel explains.

I stare at the picture of a middle-aged man in a suit and try to picture him and Anita together. “So why’s he so intent of finding Kasey? He isn’t short of money.”

“He doesn’t like to lose,” says Grizz simply. “Especially to a woman.”

“Maybe we can use this,” I say, sitting down. “Anita is fighting for custody of their son.”

They all stare open mouthed. “Anita has a kid?” Grizz asks.

“She keeps her private life to herself,” I reply. “But he took her kid, and the hearing is coming for it to become permanent. If we could share this with her lawyer, maybe he can use it to discredit Damien?”

Axel nods. “Call her and share the news.”

“Actually, can someone else do that,” I mutter. “I’m trying to keep my distance.”

Grizz smirks. “What have you done now?”

I push to my feet. “Let me know what she says.” And I head out.

Kasey is waiting for me, pacing outside church like a little demon and I see it before it’s even connected. Her fist catches my left cheek, and I wince. “Mother fucker,” I hiss, holding my face.

“Why would you do that?” she cries, and her eyes are filled with mistrust.

“I’m sorry,” I mutter, stiffening when Axel appears behind me.

“What the hell is going off out here?” he demands.

“He’s a lying, cheating prick,” she screams, jabbing a finger in my chest.

“Cool off,” Axel orders.

“It’s fine, Pres,” I mutter. “I’ll deal with it.”

He eyes me for a second before nodding and going back into church.

Kasey folds her arms over her chest, just like her sister did, and follows me outside. She keeps her back to me, stopping by the wall near the garage.

“I fucked up,” I begin. “I’m sorry.”

“I liked you,” she almost whispers. “I thought you were a good guy.”

“Kase, I am,” I say, my voice laced with regret. “I just . . . forgot myself.”

“You forgot Rue,” she snaps. “And how fucking amazing she is.”

“I did,” I admit.

She turns to me. “Why would you do that to her?”

“It’s complicated. I’ve only ever known Anita for the longest time, way before we even became a thing. I’ve been so focussed on her that it’s almost like a compulsion. She called and I ran. But I shouldn’t have.”

“If you still loved her, you shouldn’t have gone near Rue.”

I nod. “I know. But when Rue came along, she took me by surprise. And I couldn’t ignore her.”

“She wants us to leave,” says Kasey, her eyes filling with tears. “She’s trying to get money together to buy tickets to Ireland.”

My heart stutters in my chest. The thought of them leaving breaks my heart all over again. “She can’t go,” I mutter.

“She’ll never forgive you,” she snaps. “Not now.”

“I’ll make her see how sorry I am.”

“It’ll never work. She hates cheaters more than anything.”

“I didn’t cheat, not really.”

Kasey’s eyes widen. “That there, that’s the issue,” she says angrily.

“At least own what you’ve done. If Rue kissed someone else passionately, if she got half naked, is that still cheating?

” I hang my head, my hands on my hips, trying to keep my cool cos the thought of my Rue, my sweet, innocent, Rue, doing that with another man, brings my blood to boil. “Exactly,” she hisses.

I drag a hand down my face, jaw clenched, cheek still throbbing from her punch. I deserved it. Every damn bit of this.

Kasey doesn’t move. She just watches me like she’s waiting for me to tell her it’s all a joke. That I’m not really a piece of shit that cheated on her sister.

“I know I messed up,” I mutter, voice hoarse. “I know I don’t deserve her.”

“No, you don’t ,” Kasey snaps, arms still tight over her chest. “You gave her hope, Atlas. And trust for someone like Rue, that’s not something she gives easily. She finally believed that maybe not all men were liars or selfish or ruled by their dicks, and you proved her wrong.”

My stomach knots. “I never wanted to hurt her.”

“But you did . And then you stand here trying to explain it away like it wasn’t cheating because your zipper didn’t come down.”

I look up, eyes burning. “I didn’t sleep with Anita.”

“You almost did,” she throws back. “You went. You wanted to. And Rue heard your voice, heard you lie to her while she was still wrapped around your damn body on that bike.”

I wince. I haven’t stopped thinking about that. Her helmet. The call. My voice in her ear.

“And now what?” Kasey continues, stepping closer. “You’re gonna beg? Promise it won’t happen again? Try to convince her that she’s different?”

“She is different,” I say, teeth clenched. “She’s everything.”

Kasey’s glare softens for a flicker of a second, and I know it’s because she wants to believe that too.

But she shakes her head. “She’s scared, Atlas.

She’s not like me, she doesn’t scream and punch.

She just . . . shuts down. You broke something in her that’s going to take more than apologies and sweet words to fix. ”

“You really think she’ll leave?”

“She doesn’t say things she doesn’t mean.”

My chest aches like someone’s taken a crowbar to it.

“She made me promise not to talk to you. And here I am, being a total idiot.”

“You’re not,” I say quietly. “You’re a good sister. I just want a chance to make it right.”

“You might not get one,” she replies. “And honestly? I’m not even sure you deserve one. But for some insane reason, I want you to make her happy, Atlas. I want you to work.”

It gives me a glimmer of hope. “I want that too.”

“Then act like it,” she hisses. “No more excuses. No more soft-shoeing around what you did. If you ever want a chance in hell of getting her back, you stop trying to look better and start being better.”

She pushes off the wall and starts to head inside, but she pauses after a few steps and turns back. “Because if she cries one more time because of you? I won’t just punch you next time.”

I watch her disappear inside and release a long breath . I have to make it right.

Rue

I force myself into leggings and a hoodie, tying my hair back even though it feels like a wasted effort. My eyes are still puffy, and my head hurts from crying for most of the night, but if I stay inside any longer, I’ll lose it.

The gym is half full and humming with that mix of endorphins and effort. I put my earbuds in, choosing something upbeat even though I feel anything but, and drag myself through a workout I barely remember. It’s mechanical. Functional. Like brushing my teeth or tying my shoes. I just need to move.

Afterward, I walk to Barley & Bean , a coffee shop I don’t usually use but decide it’s best to change this part of my routine, just in case Atlas is hanging about. I order a flat white with oat milk, extra hot. The barista asks how I am, and I lie through my teeth. “Good, thanks. You?”

The coffee’s too hot to sip, so I cradle it in both hands as I head out and walk the long way home through the park. It’s quiet for a weekday. Just a few dog walkers and a jogger in the distance. The trees overhead rustle gently, sun poking through in places. It should feel peaceful.

It doesn’t.

Someone’s walking towards me. A man, older than me, maybe mid-thirties, wearing jeans and a wax jacket. There’s nothing particularly threatening about him, but my gut clenches anyway. He’s alone and smiling.

I keep walking, eyes forward.

“Hey,” he calls out, closing the distance. “Sorry to bother you.”

I glance at him, slowing my steps slightly. “Hi?”

“I just wondered, are you Rue? Rue Carter?”

I freeze mid-step. “Yes?”

He smiles again, too friendly, too deliberate. “Thought so. You look a lot like your sister. Kasey.”

My fingers tighten around the cup, and I take a step back. “I’m sorry, do I know you?”

He shakes his head, still smiling like this is some joke only he’s in on. “No, I know your sister though.”

“Right,” I say coolly. Every hair on the back of my neck stands up. I’ve never seen him before in my life. “Well, if you’ll excuse me—”

“I was actually hoping you could pass on a message to her,” he cuts in, tone still light but his eyes are sharper now, watching me too closely.

A tremor runs down my spine.

“I don’t think I can help you,” I say, shifting my weight and glancing around, there’s no one nearby. No one close enough. “And I’d appreciate it if you stopped following me.”

He lifts his hands like I’ve accused him of something. “Hey, I’m not following anyone. Just wanted to chat.”

“Then you can do that through someone else. Goodbye.”

I turn, heart thudding hard, and pick up my pace. I don’t run, but it’s close.

“Tell her he’s looking ,” he calls after me. Not loud. Not aggressive. Just calm. Creepy. I don’t look back. I don’t dare . “And he’s close.”

I clutch my coffee so hard it shakes, walking faster and faster until I can see the end of the park, the main road, cars, people .

I’ve never wanted Kasey more in my life. Or Atlas. But I’m not calling him. Not after everything.

My hand is shaking as I dig my phone out of my pocket. I still don’t look behind me, not properly. Just the occasional glance, trying to act like I’m checking the road or the time, anything but panicking. My coffee sloshes in its cup as I hold it awkwardly beneath my arm and jab at Kasey’s name.

She answers on the second ring.

“Rue?”

“There was a man in the park,” I say, breath hitching. “I don’t know him. But he knew my name. And yours.”

“What?” Her voice sharpens instantly. “What do you mean he knew my name?”

“He said he knows you. I’ve never seen him before, Kasey. He smiled too much. He was just . . . wrong . Then when I tried to walk away, he told me to give you a message. He said, ‘tell her he’s looking and he’s close.’ ”