Page 34 of Where We Promise

“Miles knows. Says Tuck’s word holds more weight than his own.”

I brought my thumb and pointer finger to the bridge of my nose to rub out the stress.

“So both Ryker and Miles are aware that other men are touching you both, and everyone is just going along with it?”

“It’s Tuck’s word. His word is nearly as solemn as your dad’s…” Wanda tried to explain, but I was shaking my head.

“You should have brought this to my dad.”

Penelope glanced between her mom and me. “But your Pops is sick…we didn’t want to bother?—”

“Then you should have told me!” My voice echoed in the empty kitchen; my fists curled so painfully tight that I wanted to break something.

Anything. Fuck, this hurt.

Wanda’s eyes were solemn as they found the floor. Shame hung around her features, tugging them down so far, she looked like she was fighting off tears.

“If Luke couldn’t do anything, then how could you—” Penelope started, but I cut her off with a dark laugh.

Stepping closer, I stared her right in the eye. “Luke is a coward, which the men of this club know. It’s why his suggestion did jack shit for you. If you were mine, I’d kill anyone who told me to let another man touch you. I’d burn down the club before letting someone feel what’s mine. Within the club, the only other thing that is sacred is our women, the ones we claim, the ones we choose. If you were mine, I’d tell Tuck to go fuck himself and if he tried to hurt me, then I’d welcome the carnage.”

Wanda sucked in a sharp breath next to us. Penelope’s thick lashes were coated with tears. Her blue eyes searched my face like I had just stepped out of a story book and she couldn’t believe I was real.

I moved back so I didn’t have to keep smelling that intoxicating honey and pine scent from her.

Shaking my head, I warned them both.

“Miles fucked up; he’ll be hearing about it too. He has rights that are protected, especially because Tuck isn’t president. You’ll have a chance to leave him if you so choose, Wanda.”

My eyes snapped back to Penelope, she was sniffing and swiping at her face.

“You’re worth more than this, Pen. Get the fuck out of this club and do something with your life.”

With that, I turned and left them standing there. Furious and hurt.

Later that night, I was using my knife to shape a chunk of wood into something smooth. I wasn’t even sure what I was trying to accomplish, I just kept chipping and shaping away as my mind spun. Images of what could have happened to Penelope if I hadn’t been there, the worst possible scenario of her being taken against her will, which wasn’t against current club code. It made me sick.

My stomach churned as I came up with different talking points to have with Dad. I planned to go to him straight away, but he was asleep when he got back home, after his chemo, he was tired.

It was nearly three in the morning when someone started up the wooden staircase in the back of the garage. The loft was the only place I had that was just mine; a small cot was up there, along with a lamp and a small bookshelf. It sat above the entire garage, but the stairs were so narrow, very few members even noticed them.

I watched for who was coming up and wasn’t surprised when I saw Penelope’s dark hair come into view. Her blue eyes searched the space, only relaxing when she finally met my gaze, almost like she was worried I’d tell her to leave. Instead, I just watched her as I smoothed my knife over the piece of wood.

She took the seat next to me on the cot, cradling something in her hand.

“What’s that?”

She gave me a small smirk, blushing before holding her hand up.

“Chocolate pudding cup. Wanted to say sorry.” She set the snack down between us.

I scoffed, shaking my head. “Sorry for what?”

“For scaring you. I could tell you were worried…I shouldn’t have agreed.” Her face dipped, making her hair curtain around her. “I don’t know why I did it.”

“Because your mom told you to, and Luke didn’t stop you.” It was an easy enough answer for me to assume. Penelope was close with her mom, and honestly would likely do anything to protect her. She was likely worried about Tuck lashing out against her mom if she didn’t go along with it.

Pen merely nodded, toying with the hem of her shirt.

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