Page 86 of The Souls We Claim

“My ex is outside.”

The smile drops. “Outside where?”

I point beyond the building to the gate. “I think he’s on the street. I don’t know how he knows I’m in here. He wants me to leave and go home with him. What if they already served him the divorce papers?”

I show Halo the messages. I have nothing to hide.

“You did good coming to me with this. And we’re going to take care of him. First, you’re not going out there unless you really want to. Do you?”

I think about it for a second, work through the fear in the pit of my belly. “I want to tell him we’re done so he understands. But…I’m scared he’ll…that he’ll…Shit. I’ve seen how movies like this end. That even with all the planning, the heroine ends up taken by the bad guy.”

“Do you think he’ll be able to beat me if it comes down to it?”

I shake my head. “Absolutely not. Not if it was one on one. But I don’t know who he might have with him. And what if he’s got a knife or something, Halo?”

He cups my cheeks before kissing me soundly. His tongue searches my mouth while his hand reaches behind me and grips my ass hard. The twinge of pain burns through me, erasing the panic and the thoughts and the fear. It submerges me into the world of me and Halo. Where only the two of us exist. When he’s done, he bites my lower lip possessively.

“We’ll go out there, and we’ll tell your ex you’re done. I’ll have your back. My club will have mine. But before we go, you need to look at me and listen. Can you do that?”

I nod. His voice has shifted to the lower tone he uses when we’re in bed together.

“You are someone, Arianne. You’re funny, great with Lola, and sexy as fuck. Your thoughts have value, your touch has warmth, and your kindness and caring soothe. You’re capable, hot, and fucking amazing in bed.”

Tears sting my eyes as every word settles in my bones. I go to say something, but Halo presses a finger over my lips.

“I’m not done yet. I want your shoulders back, because if I see you let him knock your crown off your head after we just straightened it, I’m gonna be pissed, and I’ll take it all out on him. You are someone. Do not let him make you feel like you are not. Are we clear?”

I nod, just as I notice other outlaws are now standing around watching us.

“Good,” he says.

“Man, words like that, even I’d fuck you,” Niro says.

Halo grins while he flips the bird at Niro. “Let’s go meet the ex.”

It’s weird how we move as a unit. Halo checks Briar is okay looking out for Lola, then leads me down the side of the clubhouse. But Bates and Spark move ahead of us. Before we reach the dual gates at the front of the clubhouse, Vex has already read out a car description and license plate.

“What about all the meat grilling?” I ask as I see Niro flanking our right side.

“I left Avery in charge,” he says.

I glance his way, my eyes wide.

“Kidding,” he says. “Prospects took over.”

But the joke is enough to chip the edge off my fear. What we are about to do is nothing to the men I’m walking with. About eleven men and Catalina step out onto the street with us.

Patrick leans against the car door, chewing on a toothpick. Looking at him objectively from a distance, I wonder what I ever saw in him. Sure, he can fill out a pair of jeans nicely, but then,so can most of the men who are walking behind me. I thought his frame muscular, but now that I’ve seen Halo’s and have something to compare it to, I realize it’s not really.

He looks up from his phone, then does a double take. “What the hell are you wearing?”

Jax cups the back of my neck and squeezes it. “Watch that crown, Ari,” he warns quietly.

The difference between the two men has never been clearer. Patrick is looking at me like I’m embarrassing him. His tone tells me he doesn’t approve of my outfit. Jax’s eyes told me he couldn’t get enough of me in this. He was proud to walk into the clubhouse with me on his arm while wearing it.

“It’s time to come home, Arianne,” Patrick says, stepping around the car to open the passenger door. I see what he’s done though. He’s put the car door between him and the Outlaws.

I stand about ten meters away from the car. “I’m not going back with you.”