“He wanted to check for bruised fucking ribs,” I snap loudly. “He also offered to have a female present to make you feel comfortable.”
“I am behind enemy lines, Logan. You cannot blame me for being scared.” Her voice lowers, but this time guilt does not have the same effect it did on me the first time.
I pinch the bridge of my nose, tired of being twisted in different directions with this woman, who I once thought I would spend my life with.
Looking at her now, I can see how much she has changed. She now will do anything she can to get what she wants.
“Being scared, I get. You know me; you should trust that I would never allow you to get hurt, or even be associated with men who enjoy hurting women. That is not who I am.”
Turning back to me, she leans her ass against the counter, folding her arms in front of her. I can see fire in her eyes. It’s something I used to love because it meant we would fight and have great make up sex, but now, this fire does nothing for me.
“You left. I do not know you anymore. This.” She waves her around, meaning the club, not just the kitchen. “Is not something I thought you would be involved in. An MC for fuckssake, Logan. You say that I hang around with thugs, but look at what you are wearing.”
“A thug? We do not deal in drugs, or guns. Or women and kids. We are not a one percenter club, Val. Maybe you need to take a good hard look in the mirror before you pass judgement on anyone. Definitely look in the fucking mirror, because it was not anyone who wears a Rugged Skulls MC patch who did that to you. That was your people.”
She bites her lip, looking away. I see her fists tighten under her arms, showing her anger, but right now, I could not give any less fucks. Her words have cut deep and frankly, I am ready to send her packing.
“I am going to see Stevie, and my brothers will be here to keep an eye on you.”
“Right, because you think I will go snooping.” She rolls her eyes.
“Yes.,” is all I say.
“Whatever.”
“Savage,” I call out, making her jump. Her eyes widen when he steps into the room.
“What’s up, handsome?” He winks.
This has been a thing between us since the day I arrived.
“Jesus,” Val scoffs.
“You got a problem with gay men?” Savage asks coolly. “If I were you, I would be very fucking careful what comes out of that trashy mouth. It is this gay man who is making sure that you are still breathing.”
“Is that a threat?” she spits out.
“Did it sound like a threat?” He spins a chair around and sits, resting his forearms on the back, watching her.
No one says anything for a minute or two, the air thick with tension. If anyone was to walk into the room, they would feel it, that’s for sure.
“I need to go. Will you be okay watching her?”
“Of course.” He grins.
With one more look at a pissed off Valarie, I leave.
Giving Rogue a chin lift as I walk through the main room, I walk out into the heat. Even into the early evening it is still fucking hot enough to cook an egg on the sidewalk. Not that anyone would do that, because that would be disgusting.
Mounting my bike, I set my helmet on my head as my name gets called out.
Looking up, I see Valarie running toward me. I expect fear or anger, but I see sweet, and again it sets my teeth on edge. Her recent behavior is showing me that she does not respect me, or anyone associated with me.
The people who fucking cared for her when she got hurt.
The people who gave her a chance to make something better for herself.
“What, Val? I need to go,” I say firmly, not wanting to get into any more bullshit with her.