Page 93 of Snared Rider

“Nah, it’s not. This shit is simple. He went there with you and he should have been sure before he did.”

At the time he had been sure. At least he seemed it until my birthday weekend. Then, everything went spectacularly to shit.

I roll my eyes. “What are you, ten? Relationships don’t work like that. Sometimes you’re just not compatible, no matter how much you want to be.”

“All I’m hearing is he used you to get what he wanted and then when he was done he dumped you.”

“Then you’re not listening. I loved him; he loved me. It just… it didn’t work out.” I do not understand why I’m still defending Logan, but I am. Logan acted despicably, but old habits die hard and I don’t want Logan hurt, so I lie to prevent that. If Dean knew the truth he’d give him another beating. “And it’s ancient history, Dean. Over and done with.”

“Yet you still avoid Kingsley. It’s not over for you, is it?”

I swallow. “Dean—”

He shakes his head. “No. He took advantage of you, darlin’. You were a kid.”

At that statement, I scoff. “Hardly. I was nineteen, and believe me he didn’t do anything to me I didn’t want.”

I know I have said the wrong thing by how tight his jaw gets. “Fuck me, I can’t listen to this shit. Look, if you’re worried I’m going to go in for round two with that tosser you don’t have to be. I can’t even look at him right now, let alone be in the same room as him. And I’m not going to spill your fucking secret. Although you and him should come clean yourselves. Secrets have a way of coming out.”

They do but we’re hardly the first people to keep something quiet, and I doubt we’ll be the last. The Club has more secrets than the Illuminati.

“Now, I’m fucking tired and I need a shower so…”

I take that for what it is: a dismissal. I don’t move from his doorway, my feet rooted to the spot as I pull my bottom lip between my teeth.

“I’m sorry, Dean.” I don’t even know what I’m apologising for but I say it anyway. He isn’t so forthcoming.

“I won’t apologise for defending you, for looking out for you. It’s not in me to do that, darlin’, so you better reconcile that in your own head. And you better tell that fucker to stay away from me.” He hesitates, his gaze sliding over me. “Your face hurt?”

The hand not clutching the ice pack goes to my cheek. It’s swelling fast. I’m sure I will have a whopping bruise there tomorrow.

“It’s not too bad,” I lie. “It’ll just match the other bruises already forming.”

His eyes flash anger, despite my attempt at a levity. “You shouldn’t have got hurt. Not tonight, not while we were riding. That I will apologise for because I am sorry about both. But I’ll not say sorry for beating that fuckhead. Not now, not ever.”

Without another word he steps back into the room and shuts the door, leaving me standing in the corridor like a moron. For a moment, I just stare at the closed door, my brow furrowed. I guess that’s as good as I can expect. At least he didn’t slam the door in my face.

However, it wasn’t exactly the reconciliation I had in mind.

At least he’ll keep quiet, that is something. Wade, I can’t control, but I can’t see him being the type to share other people’s business. Of course, I can’t do much about the guaranteed questions that will be asked when the others see Dean and Logan bruised up, but that is a problem for another day.

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