Page 136 of Between Passion and Revenge: Part Two

That’s because you need Storm.

Shaking my head, I darken my phone screen and close my eyes again.

I do need Storm’s help—at least, when it comes to this. And getting his help means getting closer to him than feels safe.

But then…is any of this safe? Certainly not.

So…what am I to do?

My phone buzzes again, and I don’t look at the screen. I don’t even pick it up. I just allow myself this moment of peace until I have to face the fire.

THIRTY

STORM

One-two. One-two. One-two.

I count in my brain as I deliver quick jabs at the punching bag in the underground gym. I don’t have music on to drown out my thoughts, instead choosing to meditate to the rhythm of flesh meeting leather.

But I’m so on edge, beating the shit out of the bag does little for stabilizing my mood.

I’m a walking contradiction.

When I’m around Riale and Axel, I’m pissed. We argue about what the next right step is when it comes to Lakeland, and no one walks away happy.

When I’m with Tempest and Raiden, though, I’m cautious and joyful. Not that we’ve become one big happy family by any means. Tempest only acknowledges me by rolling her eyes, and Raiden still looks terrified of and mesmerized by me.

Shae usually is there, quietly observing how I handle the kids.

Judging. And I feel like I’m one wrong word away from her ripping my children away from me.

It’s fascinating how quickly they’ve become a part of me; how essential it is to see their faces as I start and end each day.

And that’s what makes the quiet moments when I’m away from them nearly unbearable, because in the silence, I’m reminded of what I lost. What I gave up.

What pride and revenge cost me.

When I’m alone, I sit with the fact that my short-sighted decisions, no matter how well-intentioned, nearly cost me everything.

But at least now, I have a chance to make it right from here.

I just need to figure out exactly how the fuck I’m gonna do that, because right now? All my relationships are in tatters, but I’m the one who needs to do the hard as fuck work of mending them.

The door slams against the wall, but I don’t have to look to know who it is.

“Meet me in the ring.” Riale’s voice comes from behind me, echoing off the mirrors opposite us. I arch an eyebrow, staring at his reflection.

“Oh, really?” I ask, still not turning around. I guess that says something in itself. I’m here with a man who betrayed me at my back, and yet, I’m not turning around.

Probably because the bigger part of me knows Riale’s my fucking brother, and while he made the wrong decision when he kept info about Shae’s pregnancy away from me, I know he did sobecausehe’s loyal to me.

He did it because he cares.

Fuck, next thing I know, he and I are gonna have a slumber party and start painting each other’s nails.

Smirking, I finally turn around, pulling off my boxing gloves and throwing them to the ground.

“Does this have to do with our talk earlier?” I ask, knowing full well that Riale is pissed because of how unproductive ourearlier conversation about Operation Kill Lakeland was. He marches across the gym in black jersey-knit shorts and a Henley.