Page 37 of Fletch

“Pete was cheating on me,” I blurt.

“So?”

“What do you mean, so? He was having sex with another woman behind my back. I can’t marry him.”

“Of course, you can. Men have needs. It doesn’t harm the marriage to occasionally experiment.”

“Oh my god,” I mutter in disgust. “I haven’t come here to discuss it with you. I’ve come here to tell you the wedding is off, so if you’ve invited people, you should tell them.”

“I can’t call the MP and tell him the wedding I’ve paid thousands towards is cancelled,” he snaps.

“You’ve paid towards? I’ve not asked you for a penny.” He glances away, and I sigh heavily. “Pete asked you?”

“It doesn’t matter. I will not call my guests to cancel.”

“Then don’t,” I hiss, heading for the door, “but they’ll need an explanation when they attend a wedding with no fucking bride or groom.”

Nine

Fletch

Every brother has his eyes fixed on me. “It went well, but she didn’t give up any information,” I explain with a shrug.

“She kicked you out when her ex turned up,” says Grizz with a laugh, and I instantly regret filling him and Axel in before church.

“But she relaxed around me, that’s the main thing.”

“We need something on her,” Axel says, and Grizz nods in agreement.

“Like what? I told you, she’s by the book.”

“A sex tape?” he suggests.

I laugh. “Are you joking?”

“Do I look like I’m fucking joking?” he snaps. “A threesome?”

“Not a chance,” I snap.

“Did I fucking stutter? Are you choosing this bitch over the club?” He glares, daring me to give him the wrong answer.

“Pres, ain’t it an offence to film her without her consent? Besides, I don’t think she’s into threesomes.”

“Then convince her,” says Grizz with a smirk. “Nyx, you’re usually up for that kind of shit.”

I glance over at Nyx, who’s staring at me with the same uncertainty I’m feeling. “Sure, VP, whatever,” he mutters.

“We can use that to keep her in line,” adds Axel.

The knot in the pit of my stomach is growing by the hour, and I suddenly feel sick. I’ve already hurt her deeply, and now, I’m going to do it all over again. “She might’ve worked shit out with her ex,” I say, and I can’t help the feeling of hope at that thought.

“Then get round there and make a scene. Do whatever you have to do to win her back,” says Axel.

I give a nod, even though my heart isn’t in it. Usually, I’d be up for this sort of shit, anything to protect my club and my brothers, but something about what we’re doing to Gemma feels wrong, and it ain’t often I get a conscience.

I knock loudly, and a second later, Gemma practically rips the door open. She scowls. “What are you doing here?”

“I just came to check on you, but if you’re gonna be a bitch about it . . .” I turn and head back down the garden path.

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