Page 36 of Knot So Sweet (Leather and Lace #1)

Chapter 35

Candi

W e ate in silence, the only sounds filling the air were the soft clinks of cutlery against plates and the occasional hum of approval from Viper. His intense gaze followed my every move, every bite I took, and with each hum, my cheeks flushed hotter. It was too damn warm in here, the atmosphere thick with unspoken words and tension.

I shifted in my chair, desperately trying to stem the rising heat pooling between my legs. I may not have been in heat at that moment, but Viper had a way of igniting a fire within me that I couldn’t easily extinguish.

He took a casual sip of his coffee, his elbows resting on the table, the picture of relaxed dominance as he observed me with those dark, piercing eyes. It was unnerving and intoxicating all at once, and I felt the weight of his attention like a physical force.

The stairs creaked, and I instinctively turned my gaze toward the hallway. Ghost appeared, his disheveled hair falling over his forehead, a sling in place, and wearing nothing but black basketball shorts. His inked skin glistened in the morning light, making my heart race as he moved with a fluid grace.

"Good morning," he grumbled, a lazy smile spreading across his lips as he made his way over to me. He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss on my forehead, the warmth of his lips sending a comforting wave through me, but it also churned my stomach with the bittersweet weight.

Tears pricked at my eyes once again, the swell of emotions overwhelming me. Suddenly, my appetite vanished. I pushed my plate away, the remnants of my breakfast suddenly unappetizing, and Viper's brows furrowed, clearly displeased with my lack of interest in the meal he’d prepared.

I broke eye contact, avoiding the weight of his gaze, and followed Ghost as he poured himself a glass of apple juice, leaning casually against the sink.

"Everything okay?" Ghost asked, his gaze bouncing between us, concern etching lines into his forehead. "What’s going on?"

I cringed, glancing down at my plate as shame coursed through me. I expected Viper to tell him, to drop the bomb that I was leaving, and for Ghost to join in, trying to convince me to stay. The thought of the two of them tag-teaming me twisted my stomach into knots.

Viper cleared his throat, breaking the heavy silence that hung over us like a storm cloud. "Candice is going home this morning. Creed will be here any minute to pick her up."

The silence that followed was deafening. My heart raced, anticipation gnawing at my insides as I slowly gathered the courage to look up at Ghost, whose mossy gaze trapped me like a deer in headlights.

"Why? What are you both not telling me?" Ghost asked, his tone low and steady, but the intensity in his eyes betrayed the storm brewing beneath his calm facade. He didn’t take his eyes off me, searching for answers I struggled to articulate.

"I—" I faltered, my voice barely a whisper. "I just need to go home, Ghost. I can’t stay here any longer." The admission felt heavy on my tongue, laden with all the reasons I couldn’t bear to say aloud.

Ghost’s expression shifted, confusion etched into his features. "No. Fuck no. I’m not letting you go, princess."

Viper growled, "Yes, you are. We’ve been through this, Ghost. This is her fucking choice, and if she says she’s leaving, you’re going to let her."

Ghost's eyes darkened, and he growled back, "Even if she isn’t safe out there, Vipe?"

My heart hammered in my chest. He was going to spill everything about what happened yesterday.

"Ghost," I breathed, warning him with my gaze, but he was unrelenting.

His eyes narrowed on me. "No. If you’re leaving, then I’m telling him exactly what you’re walking into. Alone ."

My gaze flicked to Viper, who was studying me intently. "Someone better start talking. Now," he demanded, his voice low and edged with urgency, the tension thickening the air around us.

The low purr of Creed’s pickup truck rumbled to life outside, followed by the unmistakable squeal of brakes. He was here, and I didn’t know what to do. Panic bubbled in my chest, mixing with the suffocating heaviness of the moment.

Slowly I stood, and both alphas shifted as well. Viper standing, his posture taut, and Ghost crossing the small kitchen toward me, his expression darkening.

"Travis, Jordan, and Dare came into the Den yesterday. Apparently, not only does the Den owe the Hounds money," Ghost paused, and my eyes pricked with tears.

I didn’t want Viper knowing what those asshole Hounds did to me all those years ago. It was too fucking embarrassing, too painful to relive.

"Ghost, please, don't," I begged, the words scraping against my throat like glass.

Viper crossed the room and took my face in his palms, forcing me to look up at him. "Whatever it is that happened between you and Titus’s son's pack is your business. For now. My only question is this. Are you safe there, Candice? Tell me you are, and I'll let you go. Tell me you'll be okay, and I'll make sure Ghost doesn’t follow you."

"The fuck?" Ghost bellowed. "You can't fucking control me, Viper!"

"Yes, the fuck I can, Ghost. I am your alpha and the president of this club, and you will obey me!" Viper barked, his voice echoing in the small kitchen like a thunderclap.

Ghost bowed his head, his free hand clenching at his side, the fight draining from him.

A knock sounded at the door, but none of us moved. The moment felt suspended in time, heavy with unsaid words and unresolved feelings.

Viper turned back to me. "I take it one of those assholes needs to pay, don’t they?"

I licked my lips and slowly nodded. His jaw clenched. "Fuck, Candi. Letting you walk out this door right now is the hardest fucking thing you could ever ask of me. So I’ll ask you once more. Are you staying or going?"

I glanced at Ghost to see a hopeful look in his eyes, a desperation that twisted my heart.

"I have to go," I whispered, each word laced with pain.

He slowly released me and took a step back, the space between us feeling like an abyss. "I'll send Pixie and Ghost by for opening night. I spoke with Pix yesterday. He said Hux will be ready to open the Den Friday night. Until then, I'll make sure Ghost gives you the space you need. But Candice, I swear to God, if something.. Anything… happens between now and then, you call me. You let me fucking protect you."

I nodded as tears pooled in my eyes again.

"Fuck this," Ghost growled as he took off out the back door, the door slamming behind him with a finality that echoed in my chest.

Creed knocked again just as my phone from the tile floor began to buzz. I snatched it up from the floor and headed toward the front door, the weight of my decision pressing heavily on my chest.

"Candice," Viper called out. I stopped just as I reached the threshold into the living room. "You call me if you need anything. Promise me."

I swallowed around the lump in my throat, every part of me wanting to say more, to tell him how much I would miss this place, how much I would miss him.

"I promise," I managed, my voice trembling.

And with that, I walked away from the Steel Serpents MC president, my heart cradled in his hands.

We rode in silence, the steady rumble of Creed’s truck engine the only sound cutting through the thick atmosphere between us. Creed stole sideways glances at me, concern etched on his features, but I couldn’t meet his gaze.

My eyes remained fixed on the trees blurring past, their vibrant greens morphing into the dull grays of city buildings.

A numbness settled over me, thick and suffocating. Each passing tree felt like a reminder of what I was leaving behind. I hated that I had hurt Ghost. Hated that a part of me longed to stay, to embrace the chaotic warmth of the Steel Serpents MC, the bond we shared that felt deeper than anything I had ever known.

The weight of my decision pressed heavily on my chest, and I could feel the ache growing inside me. I was torn between my desire to escape the painful memories and the magnetic pull of the two men who had claimed pieces of my heart.

The city loomed closer, dragging the reality of my choice into sharp focus. I clenched my hands in my lap, wishing for some way to soothe the ache of my leaving, but I knew that wasn’t possible. It was why I hadn’t wanted to let them in to begin with.

"Are you going to tell me what the hell happened?" Creed finally asked, his tone a mix of concern and frustration.

I sighed. "It’s really quite simple. I had my heat. I let my instincts take over and allowed Ghost and Viper in."

"And now? Why are you running?" His question was sharp, cutting through my defenses.

"Because being with them was stupid. I don’t want nor need a pack."

He shot me a look that said he wasn’t buying it. "Sure, sure. Just like Vaughn when he broke our bond. He thought he was doing the right thing."

I felt a pang in my chest, remembering that time vividly. Creed had been a mess, lost and broken. I’d convinced him to fight for Vaughn, to not give up on what they had.

"It’s not the same thing," I argued, my voice firmer than I felt.

"Yes, it is, Candi. You’re meant to be with both of them just like I’m meant to be with Vaughn, Kay, and Hux." He shrugged, taking a right turn into Hound territory.

I growled, crossing my arms defiantly. "It’s not that simple, Creed. I can’t let them in. If I do, I’m going to get hurt, and I can’t recover from that. Not again."

He sighed, glancing at me briefly. "You really think running away is going to keep you safe? You’re stronger than that, Candi. You’re not the type to back down from a fight."

"Not this fight," I murmured, feeling my resolve waver. "I don’t want to get hurt. I can’t."

He turned to me fully, his expression softening. "I get it. But you can’t shut yourself off forever. You have to let people in, even if it’s scary. Especially if it’s scary. What happened with Ghost and Viper? That’s not the end, it’s just the beginning. You’re pushing them away before you even give it a chance."

I looked down, biting my lip as a wave of emotion crashed over me. "I just don’t want to give them the power to break me."

"Too late for that," he shot back, a smirk creeping onto his face. "They already have. Just look at you, you’re a mess. You wouldn’t be crying if you didn’t care."

I shot him a glare, unable to suppress a smile despite the tears pooling in my eyes. "Thanks for the pep talk, Creed. Really uplifting."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "What I’m saying is, if you don’t give them a chance, you’ll never know what could have been. Besides, love isn’t always the enemy. It can also be the best thing that ever happens to you."

I turned my gaze back to the passing scenery, contemplating his words. He had a point, and it hurt to admit it. "Maybe I’m just not ready for that."

"Fight for what you want. Because if you don’t, you’ll regret it."

As we pulled into the Den, I took a deep breath, I should be happy to be home. But I wasn't.

"Home sweet home," I murmured.

"Speaking of the Den," Creed said, his tone shifting. "The liquor shipment is ready to get picked up. Vaughn and I are going this morning to get it. Wanna help stock the shelves? Get drunk, talk about our feelings?"

I turned to him and grinned, relief flooding through me. "That sounds perfect."

"Everyone’s going to join in. Vaughn, Kay, Hux." He chuckled. "Seeing Hux drink will be hilarious."

The thought made me smile, but a flicker of sadness followed. Spending the evening alone with my thoughts was a bitter pill to swallow. Would this be my life?

Hiding out in the Den until Adam was taken care of, until the Hounds were dismantled? And then what? Owen would be too busy with his pack, and I would be stuck… alone.

But I would have to learn to accept that. Because letting Ghost and Viper in meant risking everything, and right now, that felt too dangerous.