“That’s what they all say.” I smile and Angel huffs rolling her eyes.

“And a dimple to go with it. Shit girl. You have got to take me to the club!” Bella turns grabbing Casey’s shoulders and my spine stiffens, eyes narrowing.

When Casey’s beautiful laugh echoes through the room, I allow myself to relax a bit. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard an actual carefree laugh from her. I love it.

“They’d eat you alive and no offense, but I’m not gonna be the one responsible for feeding you to the wolves.” Casey says coming back to her clothes.

“I don’t want all the wolves, just Buzz. And maybe his brother.”

“That can be arranged.” I move and perch myself at the head of the bed, resting my back on the headboard.

“Oh, I like him.” Bella says looking at Casey. “He’s a man who makes things happen. Love it!”

“Baby, you haven’t seen nothing yet. You come to the club and I promise a wild time.”

Casey clears her throat and glares at me. I hold my hand up in mock surrender giving her a full smile. “Not me babe.”

“Yeah. Right.” She mumbles going back to the closet. I am not letting that pass.

“Angel!” I yell sternly and she stops in her tracks and turns putting her hand on her hip. “There is no one but you, got it?” She nods her head, but she doesn’t believe it as she huffs back into the closet, and I know I’ll have to make her believe it.


Casey 

I lay in bed reliving the conversation about us moving in together. I know it will happen again someday, but there is no way I will put myself in a position to rely on him. Not yet. Moving in with him is just not an option. He is going to fight me and it’s one thing that I’ll have to stay solid on. For both of us.

He has yet to fully understand and feel everything he needs to about Mia and what I did to him. When his feelings about Mia blow, I need to make sure I have a place that is mine. But I need to go home. Not just because of the lockdown and the club, but for me.

Would I feel different if Mia were here with me? Maybe. But she’s not and everything changed in the blink of an eye. Life shattered so fast and relying on G.T. to rebuild it, won’t happen. I can do this myself.

But I need to do it in Sumner, not here. Considering how my grades have slipped these past few weeks and I’m hanging on by a thread, online classes at home would be better. Maybe G.T. and I can work through everything and come out stronger on the other end. A woman can hope.

Rolling over to my side, I watch the slight rise and fall of G.T.’s bare chest, the sheet barely covering his lower body. I want to lick every single tattoo on this man’s body. From the tribal to the Ravage Club symbols lining his arms and chest. But I won’t wake him. He needs to heal and get his arm moving again. I slide out of bed quietly and head to the bathroom.

After finishing, I throw on a t-shirt and shorts and head to the kitchen. I need coffee. I wait for it to brew and grab my phone turning it on. It beeps instantly and I swipe the screen. A text from Jace pops up. I need to talk to you, please come to my place.

I reply. What’s going on?

The response is immediate. Come over please, I really need to talk to you.

I sigh. He’s been a really good friend since I’ve been here and helping me with Mia. I really do not want to fight.

I’ll be there in a couple minutes.

:) He replies.

I quietly go to the bedroom and put on some jeans and a bra to go with my t-shirt. G.T. is soundly snoring on the bed. Just the sight of him makes me smile.

I quickly scroll a note telling him where I am and leave it on the counter, then head out the door locking it behind me. The short walk to Jace’s apartment does nothing to ease my tension. I want him to be happy for me and not upset.

I quietly knock on the door and it flies open quickly startling me. He must have been waiting.

“Hey.” He smiles.

“Hey. What’s going on?” I question looking up into his eyes, they have a bit of a spark in them and I’m not sure what it means.

“Come on in.”

I step through the doorway and the click of the door sends chills up my spine. I’ve never been in his place before. He’s always come to mine and I never thought twice about it. His apartment is simple with the bare minimum of furniture. The kitchen is laced with pizza boxes and beer bottles, sort of reminding me of the club.

I stop in the living room. “Jace, what’s so important that I needed to come right over. I don’t want to fight with you.”

“I don’t want to either. I was just shocked when you said you were leaving.” He motions to the couch. “Please sit.” I do.

For some reason, I feel like I need to justify myself. “This is the best thing for me. I’ll finish school and I’ll work at the shop. It’ll help me work through all the emotions of losing Mia.”

“You can work through them here. You can’t just leave because of him.” His body language changes before my eyes. His body stiffens and his hands clutch his knees as if he’s trying to keep them in place. A chill runs up my spine, and I know me coming up here was not a good idea. Something is not right.

“I’m not leaving just because of G.T. I’m doing it for me. My family is there.” I begin to judge my distance to the door.

“How do you know what you need?” He barks and the hairs on my arms stand to attention. In all the time that I’ve spent with him, not once has he ever talked to me this way. I need to get out of here. Now.

I slowly rise from the couch and without looking away from Jace, I begin to back to the door. “Jace, you’ve been great and helped me so much. I’ll keep in touch with you. I promise.”

“You need to stop moving towards the door.” His eyes turn menacing, my heart pumps so fast it may just explode from my body. My chest constricts as fear washes through me.

“I’m going to leave, Jace. I’ll talk to you soon.” My feet move soundly to the door I reach back and turn the knob and nothing happens. Jace stands up from the couch and prowls towards me. Sweat begins to bead on my head, panic setting in.

“You’ll have to pull the lock on the top of the door and you’ll need two hands for it.” He smirks, but it’s not a comforting one.

His hands grip my shoulders quickly and I jump. “Why are you doing this?” I ask, my breathing labored the tightness in my chest constricting into pain.

“I spent weeks holding you when you lost that baby. Before that, months trying to show you what a great pair we’d make. Then suddenly one phone call with a trip home and you’re leaving? I can’t have that Casey. We are meant to be together.”

I breathe in deep, a feeling of dread laces me; this is not going to end well. My first response is to try to run, but I stop myself knowing he would be able to out run me and not only that, I can’t run inside his apartment, there is no way out and I need out. Thinking quickly to what Harlow would do, I lift my knee hard making contact with his nuts.

He grunts and releases me grabbing his junk and backing away. I quickly spin looking for the lock blocking the door. Jace’s hard body crushes me against the door as I reach up for the lock. I whimper at the impact, but begin elbowing him with everything I have, hitting him in the side of his body. I back up but he wraps his arm around my body pulling me to the couch, throwing me onto it.

His eyes are feral and nothing like the Jace I know, or knew. I move quickly, roll off the couch and get up to my feet to move away from him. Being on the third floor, a window escape is barely an option, but I will if I have to.

I search around for something hard to grab, but see nothing. He lunges for me and I move quickly out of the way, but my hair does not move with me as quickly. He grabs it pulling it tight to him. His grip is so tight and tears spring to my eyes.

I move my arms trying to hit him in any way that I can, but he wraps his arm around my entire body trapping them tight.

“You are mine, Casey. Not some stupidass biker that doesn’t give two shits about you. You’re coming with me.”

“No. I’m not yours! I’m going back to my apartment, Jace. Let me go.” I struggle again to get out of his grasp.

The laugh that escapes his lips is laced with evil rage. His body is wound so tight, I need to get out of here and come up with something, quick. I stomp hard on his foot with my heel using every bit of power I can muster. His grip loosens enough and I elbow him hard in the ribs. He lets go and I quickly move away.

“Casey, I don’t want to hurt you, but you’re leaving me no choice.” He growls and comes at me, but not with as much force as before and I’m able to side step him but stumble over one of his side tables. A small ceramic coaster falls to the ground smashing into a bunch of pieces. Thinking quick, I grab a shard of it that has a very sharp edge. Just as Jace comes at me I swing slashing him across the face.

I stumble up quickly; reach the door and a hand grips my arm hard. Without thinking, I swing the shard as hard as I can, landing it in his chest. With every bit of muscle I have, I turn and kick him in the stomach sending him stumbling back. I drop the shard and unlock the door throwing it open.

I run out the door fumbling for my keys, so I have them out and ready. I unlock the door as I keep looking back behind me to make sure he’s not following and thank God he’s not. I throw open the door, lock it and run into the bedroom faster than I ever thought I could run before. “G.T!” I scream with the last bit of wind I can muster out of my body. He jumps up out of bed and looks around quickly.