Page 62 of The Saviors: Part One

“Because I felt like I was betraying you! All this started because you killed my old man for me. I felt like going against what you wanted would be betraying you.” This is the one thing that I’ve never told him. I never wanted him to feel guilt for wiping my dad off the map.

“So, this is all my fault?”

“No!” I run my hand through my hair. “No, it wasn’t your fault. I’m just telling you why I didn’t go back for her.”

“What does that have to do with anything? What are you really getting at?” Fuck if I know at this point. I can tell by the look on his face that he isn’t going to listen to anything that I say. It’s time for that wake-up call.

I sit on the weight bench, leaning my elbows on my knees. “I will forever owe you for saving my life that night. That will never change. But you’ve been making the wrong calls lately. You will never get Sean and Kai to come back. You will never be able to be happy with yourself unless you admit the truth.” I stand up. “I’m going to try and get her to talk to me if Sean or Kai don’t kill me for trying. I’m going to tell her the truth about everything.” I steel myself for what I say next. “And I won’t be here to do that. I’m going to stay with Ari.”

“You’re leaving me too?”

“Someone very wise told me that you needed a wake-up call. Here it is, Axel. Make the right choices.”

I stride to the door before the hurt look on his face tears my heart out. I yank it open and walk out, hearing the mirror in the gym shatter from whatever Axel just threw at it.

I hear the chime from the alarm system alerting us that someone just used the gate code. There are only two people who aren’t here that know that code. I walk out on the front porch when a sleek, blacked out Dodge Challenger pulls to a stop, idling loudly. I squint but can’t see in the dark ass windows. The passenger door opens, and Chelsea gets out, Kai getting out of the driver’s side.

Fuck.I thought she was beautiful the other night, but her hair is down in soft waves, the strands tickling the top of her ass. I jerk my gaze away from her ass when I hear the door shut. Looking up, Kai is meeting her at the hood of the car, laying a deep, sound kiss on her lips. I never thought I’d see the fucking day. He whispers something to her that makes her laugh, and she makes her way to the driver’s side, locking her eyes on me.

I smile and give her a wave. She returns it and slides into the driver’s seat, then drives away. Progress. She didn’t flip me off.

Kai comes up to where I’m standing, watching her disappear down the driveway before turning to me. “I came to get my truck,” he says, shoving his hands into his pockets. My heart sinks. I shouldn’t have thought he was coming back.

“That her car?”

“Yep.”

“That’s a badass car. She let you drive it?”

“She knows I don’t like really riding with people, and Sean was busy, so she let me drive it over here.” Sean’s busy? I shake my head because it’s not my place to ask.

“Everything good, man?” I ask.

He gets a dopey smile on his face, one that I’ve never seen on him. “It’s great. I wish it weren’t like this, though.”

“Don’t worry about us. Enjoy time with your girl.”

“It’s hard to believe a girl like that would give me the time of day.”

“If anybody is going to, it’s her. But I saw the way she looks at you. She doesn’t see what you see.”

“I know. I’m getting there.”

“Can I ask you a question?” He nods. “Would you or Sean mind if I try to talk to her? She deserves the truth.”

“She does deserve the truth. But we aren’t her keepers. If and when she decides to talk to you, it will be on her terms.”

“Noted,” I chuckle, then sober again. “I’m leaving here in a little bit.”

Kai’s eyes widened. “Are you sure that’s what you want?”

“It needs to be done.”

“I told Chelsea she needs to hear you out for her, not you. I gave her your number for when she’s ready. She seems more upset with Axel, so I’ll slide in that you aren’t with him right now. But I won’t push her in either direction.”

He turns on his heel and heads to his truck. I watch him go down the driveway.

I just hope this is what Axel needs, and it doesn’t send him into a toxic tailspin.