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“Hurt you? Hurt you? Millie, are you fuckin’ crazy? I’m tryin’ to protect you.” This girl has me feeling like I'm losing my damn mind.

“You know what I mean. Having that whore take you in her mouth right in front of me wasn’t about protecting me, it was a test. Did I pass?

” She wipes her eyes as she stands up and starts coming toward me.

“Can I hang out at your club if I’m a big, brave girl and pretend that watching you get sucked off doesn’t bother me?

” She puts on a condescending voice that claws under my skin.

“No. Do you not see that it’s not safe here? Corey is dead because of the club; he wouldn’t want you here any more than I do.”

“Why do you even care? I’m nothing to you, just a girl who your brother dated. I’m not your responsibility.” She laughs bitterly, and I hate that her words are getting to me.

“He didn’t just date you. He was in love with you.” I breathe through my nostrils, trying to sustain my rage.

“If that's true, then why is he dead? Why did he go to that shipyard? I gave him the ultimatum you wanted me to, and he chose the club,” she reminds me.

“Don’t think like that, that's not how it was. Corey was smart; he would have had something planned out.” I think back to what Ruckus said, and he’s right. Corey would have had something figured out. “He worshipped the fuckin’ ground you walked on.”

“Stop it, stop saying that.” She covers her face with her hands as if the words hurt too much for her to hear.

“No, I won’t fuckin’ stop until you understand.

This place ain’t for you. I ain’t for you.

You were his girl, Millie!” I yell at her.

“And even if you weren’t, I’m too old and too fuckin’ damaged for someone like you.

” I take both her wrists and pull her hands away from her face.

“Let me save you. I couldn’t do it for him, but–”

“Kiss me.” She looks up at me with eyes magnified from tears.

“ What? Did you not listen to a damn word I just said? I–”

“Kiss me and I will never come back here again. I’ll stay away from you and the club.

Just one kiss. I didn’t ask to feel this way, and I need to know that I wasn’t wrong about it, because it’s killing me.

” Seeing her look so broken makes me hurt in a way I shouldn’t.

I’ve never had feelings for a female before.

I’ve never even contemplated the idea of having one in my life.

Caring about one ain’t something I’m used to.

My head naturally moves towards hers, and when she holds her breath and rubs her lips together to prepare for what comes next, I pause.

“I can’t,” I whisper, closing my eyes and allowing myself, just for a second, to imagine how it would feel. I’ve kissed plenty of women in my time, but with her, I know it would be different. It would mean something, and that scares the shit outta me.

“Drink your water and get some rest,” I tell her, heading over to the bed and pulling back the covers for her. When she lowers her head and sighs, I have to remind myself that I’m doing all this for the greater good.

“Fine.” She picks her head back up and storms toward the bed, staring up at me fiercely as she kicks off her sneakers and rips the covers from my hand so she can get beneath them. I leave her to get comfortable and head for the door.

“Wait…where are you going?” She suddenly sounds scared.

“I’m heading back over to the club to get you some Advil, believe me, you’ll thank me for it when you wake up,” I explain without turning back around. Heading out the door, I make my way to the bar so I can raid the med box.

“Is she okay? I did try to steady her up a little.” Eden follows me into the kitchen, looking concerned.

“She’s fine, I just came to get her some of these.” I rattle the pill bottle when I finally locate it among all the other crap in here.

“Dev, I know you don’t wanna hear this, but I get the impression she needs you. You’ve both lost someone you care about and, right now, I’ll bet she’s feeling like you're the only person who understands her.”

“What’s goin’ on?” Wrath joins us, wrapping his arm around Eden’s middle and resting his chin on her shoulder.

“Your wife here thinks I should be bonding with my brother’s ex over our grief.” I smile at him sarcastically.

“I never actually said that, I was just suggesting you be a little more patient with her,” Eden states.

“She’s kinda got a point.” Wrath obviously takes her side.

“Right now, I’m just focusin’ on getting her sober enough to take home.” I storm past them and back out the door. Ignoring the filthy look Trinity gives me as I march through the yard and back up the stairs to Millie’s room.

She’s fast asleep when I let myself in, and I place the Advil on the bedside counter next to the half-drunk bottle of water before sitting on the mattress beside her and resting my head back against the headboard.

I look down at her, and when I see that some of her blonde hair has fallen over her cheek, I use one of my fingers to carefully brush it away, so I can see her better.

Then, using the same trembling finger, I stroke her soft cheek and smile to myself.

I can see why Corey was so in love with her.

How could he not be? She’s beautiful. Just the thought of her having any kinda affection toward me makes me feel real special, but it doesn’t eliminate the guilt.

I don’t like having to reject her, but I have no choice.

Something happening between us would be wrong, and this girl has to be protected at all costs.

I lower my head and place a soft kiss on her forehead, and when it causes her to stir, she automatically wraps her arms around me, snuggling into me the way she did back at the house.

I decide to let her be, because this is the last opportunity I’ll ever get to have her in my arms.