“Don’t go.Stay,” Hannah whispers, her voice a soft plea that tugs at something deep inside me.
I lean down, pressing a lingering kiss to her lips, tasting the sweetness of her.When I pull back, I give her a look full of intention, my gaze locked on hers.“That was just in case you were thinking of leaving,” I murmur, my voice low and thick with desire.“I want you thinking of me and what I’m going to do to you when I get back.”
“Tease.”
“Not a tease, a promise.Please wait for me.”
“Okay.”
Leaving Hannah wasthe last damn thing I wanted to do.When she asked me to stay, every fucking part of me screamed to stay with her, to let the chaos of this life slip away for just a little while.But duty calls, and no matter how much I longed to bury myself in her warmth, there’s a responsibility that weighs heavier than any desire.I was thrust into this presidency, and I will do everything within my power to protect this chapter and the men who loyally serve with me.After all, for people like us, there’s nowhere else to go.
As I park my bike, I spot Ranger pacing like a caged animal, frustration in every tight step he takes.When I kill the engine, he freezes, locking eyes with mine.Even from here, I can see the weight of guilt crushing him.It’s the kind of guilt that sinks deep in your gut and doesn’t let go.He’s not the kind of man to wear that shit well.
His shoulders slump, and with the defeat of a man who knows he fucked up, he walks toward me, words already hanging heavily on his lips.“It’s all my fault.”
I swing my leg off my bike as I give him a hard, silent nod.“We’ll talk about this later.”
Ranger drops his eyes to the ground, a look of shame creeping into his movements.“Yes, Prez.”
I scan the compound, eyes narrowing as I take in the distant buildings.“Where is she?”
Ranger’s gaze flicks over to one of the far buildings where Rooster stands guard.There’s a heaviness in his silence that speaks volumes.Without a word more, I move toward it, my boots crunching on the gravel as Ranger falls in behind me like a shadow.
Rooster’s grin is wide, almost too fucking wide.He’s enjoying this, and he shouldn’t be.“Hey, Prez, she’s inside with Vex.Got a good set of lungs on her.”He chuckles, but it sounds more like a snicker, too much enjoyment in a fucked-up situation.
I can feel Ranger behind me, his anger a palpable thing pressing against my back, a thick weight that’s hard to ignore.His muscles are tense, a coiled spring ready to snap.
A woman’s scream rips through the air, jagged and raw.The door flies open and Vex steps out like a fucking bull on a warpath, slamming the door behind him with a force that makes the walls shake.His eyes land on me, hard, daring me to say something.
“Is she okay?”I growl, my voice low and demanding.
“Tessa’s fine,” Vex mutters, his voice dripping with venom.“But apparently, she thinks we’re all likehim.”His eyes flick to Ranger, the disgust practically radiating off him.
“Vex, I didn’t—” Ranger starts, but I hold up a hand to stop him.
Vex points at Ranger.“Youlost control, and now we’re all fucked.”His words slice through the air, sharp and unforgiving.
I glance over my shoulder at Ranger, my voice cold and commanding.“Go make us two cups of coffee.”
“I don’t want any coffee,” Vex snaps, his voice full of irritation.
“It’s not for you...it’s for me and Tessa,” I fire back, not giving a damn about his attitude right now.
Vex grumbles something under his breath but then addresses Ranger, “She likes hers with milk and one sugar.”
Ranger gives a stiff nod.He’s been trained to follow orders and heads back toward the clubhouse without another word.
I turn back to Vex.“I’m going in.Let Ranger in when he brings the coffees.”
Vex’s eyes narrow, his jaw tight with resistance.“Prez, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
I don’t hesitate.“I didn’t ask for your opinion.”The tension thickens in the air between us.Vex takes a step back, his shoulders tight but resigned, and I push past him into the building.
The room smells of fear, sharp and bitter, almost suffocating.Tessa is pressed into the far corner, her wide eyes locked on me.Holding up my hands in a gesture of calm, I move toward a chair.I sit down slowly, my eyes never leaving her.
“Tessa, you know us.You’ve got nothing to fear here.”My voice is steady, but inside, I’m fucking furious at the situation, at everything that’s gone wrong.
Her body trembles, eyes wide with panic.“T-then let me leave.”Her voice cracks, fear thick in every syllable.
