I see Angel, standing there, with one hand raised slightly. Palm out.
A silent command.
Stay. Don’t move.
Something inside me finally goes numb.
A laugh slips out of me, hollow and broken.
I lift the cut and wipe the blood from my lip with it. Then I look around the room. At the women and the men.
“This?” My voice is hoarse. “This is what your loyalty looks like.”
I shake my head slowly.
“I don’t want it.”
My eyes dropped to the cut one last time. Then I lift it and hold it out toward Clutch.
“I am property of no one.” My voice is steady now. “Take it.”
My eyes lock onto his.
“I am done.”
Clutch is looking at me now. His eyes are red rimmed, he looks like he is struggling, but that’s the thing… This shouldn’t be a struggle.
“I don’t want your brand of love or loyalty anymore.”
Then my gaze flicks briefly to Angel’s raised hand, and back to Clutch.
“You shouldn’t need permission to protect your wife.”
A woman is crying behind me.
“It should never even be a question.”
I glance at Razor.
“You asked who I’m loyal to, Razor.”
My eyes return to Clutch.
“And for one stupid moment… I believed that when I really needed it… You would be there for me.”
Razor lunges forward again, but Ledger and one of the prospects grab him before he can reach me.
“Sit the hell down!” Angel roars.
A chair is dragged over and Razor is forced to sit. No one else moves or speaks.
I look at Angel again, my voice more confident than I feel right now. “I’m loyal to the people who deserve it. Who earned it. To the people whoneedit.”
Then I hold the cut out farther, toward Clutch.
“Take it.”
He looks wrecked. Like something inside him is tearing in two. His mouth opens.“Bex…”