Page 53 of Stiletto's Savior

“Closer to what?” The words slip out before I can stop them. “Vengeance?”

“Justice,” he corrects me, taking my hand in his. “I want you to stay away from this, Stiletto. I mean it.”

“That’s not fair,” I protest, shaking my head. “I should have a hand in his demise, especially after everything that happened.” I shut my eyes, trying to push back the horrible memories that plague me every day.

“Exactly. If this were my daughter...” He trails off, his expression softening. “You need to let us handle it. If you ask me, you’ve been through enough. We’ll protect you, Stiletto. You have my fuckin’ word.”

“Protect me?” I scoff. “It’s a little too late for that, don’t you think?”

The club didn’t protect me when they had the chance.

“I know. None of us thought…” He trails off, leaning closer, sincerity etched into his features. “None of us thought anythin’ like this would happen. I’m not the kind of Prez who wants his people to be hurt. I don’t know exactly what happened to you, but I can guess. Whatever did, you didn’t deserve it. He used you as a way to get out his aggressions toward the club and I am so sorry for that.”

My breath hitches and tears spill over, hot and unexpected.

I don’t want to cry. Not here, not now.

It’s fucking humiliating.

“Hey.” Zane pulls me against him, wrapping his arms around me. “It’s okay. Let it out. Everything will be all right. I promise you, I’ll make damn sure of it.”

I cling to him, letting the grief pour out.

“Prez,” I manage between sobs. “I don’t know why I’m doin’ this. I’m sorry.”

“‘Cause you’ve been through fuckin’ hell and you don’t have a father figure. I’m the closest thing you’ve got kid, and I’m here.” Zane whispers, pulling back slightly to look at me. “I need you to know you have the whole club, but you have Miles too. He’s a good guy, a real good one.”

I wipe my cheeks, feeling raw and exposed. “He’s still here?”

“Yeah. He’s been worried about you. He sleeps out in the lobby here most of the time.”

“Why would he do that?” I ask, my voice breaking.

“Because he loves you, Stiletto. The club loves you, but damn if he doesn’t love you in a different way. He’s a good one, so do me a solid and give that guy a chance. I don’t know what happened in your past, but it seems to me like he’s earned another chance.”

As Zane rises to leave, his words echo in my mind, heavy and tangled.

Miles is still here, so maybe he meant every word he said to me.

The door clicks shut, and suddenly, it’s just me and the shadows creeping back in.

I take a shaky breath, squeezing my eyes shut.

Zane is gone and I’m stuck in my own loneliness.

The beeping of the monitor is relentless.

It pierces through the quiet like a siren, reminding me I’m still here.

I flex my fingers, feeling the tenderness in my wrists.

The bandages are stark white against my skin, a painful reminder of what I tried to do.

I can almost hear the doctor’s voice ringing in my ears from yesterday. “Standard tests, Song”

“Tests for what?” My voice comes out hoarse.

“Anything we might need to know,” she’d said, her eyes full of pity.

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