I close my eyes for a second.Justone. Trying to steady the storm ofanger and hurt clawing up my throat. When I open them again my voice comes out tight.“Act like it?”
I laugh. The sound is small, but sharp. “Seriously?”
Now I’m looking straight at Clutch. Really looking at him. Letting him see every ounce of hurt, of pain, of the betrayal burning through me.
“Why don’tyouact like you’re my husband?”
The room goes still again.
“You stand there preaching loyalty and unity and protection.”
My voice grows stronger with every word, even though it feels like I am losing everything at this moment. But it only fuels me. I have come back from worse than this.
“Protection for the people you love.”
I let out another cold laugh.
“This life… this club culture…”
I shake my head slowly, my eyes finding Angel’s.
“It’s toxic.”
A wave of outrage rolls through the room, but I keep going. “You all claim you love hard. You claim everyone under your protection is equal. But that’s bullshit!”
I take in a steadying breath knowing there is no coming back from this. But I don't want a way back, I wantout.
“But you’re only loyal to the men in this room. The men you call brothers.”
My gaze slides back to Clutch.
“Even when you’ve made promises to your women.”
My eyes sweep the room.
“To your wives.”
Meeting the gaze of every man watching this unfold.
“To your girlfriends.”
Making them look away first.
“To your ol’ ladies.”
My voice hardens.
“But that loyalty? It’s a lie wrapped in the illusion of protection.”
A few of the women behind me murmur quietly. Some of the men look furious, others look uncomfortable.
“Because this life isn’t loyal to women,” I continue. “This culture lets you treat women like possessions. But you dress it up by calling us your queens.”
I shake my head feeling the weight and truth in my words.
“And them…”
I gesture toward Razor and the girls hovering behind him.