Page 31 of Torn In Two

I cupped her cheek, guiding her face so she wouldn’t misunderstand what I was saying. “The only danger out there isn’t from your people. You know now who I’m involved with. Luca is right. I can’t just walk away from the restaurant. It’s not that simple. I don’t even know I honestly want to. I know I can make Sinners amazing. But there’s no denying that Luca isn’t a good guy, and this won’t be the last time he tries to make me do something I don’t want to do. It won’t be the last time he threatens you to get to me.”

“What are you saying? You don’t want to see me anymore?” Her question was a broken whisper.

“It’s not that. It’s never that, Kara. Fuck. I haven’t even thought about another woman in years because all I can think about is you. If I was half the man I want to be, I would walk away and let you live a life that isn’t tainted by everything I do.”

“I don’t want that.” She reached out, clutching her fingers to my shirt like she was expecting me to walk out the door. “Please. Stay. Stay with me. Meet Hayley Jade. I can’t keep running. I need to just sit still for a minute and catch my breath.”

I wanted to give her that quiet place where she could just be at peace. I just didn’t know how.

Hawk cleared his throat, glancing at me and then at Kara. “I want you to come back to the MC. I know shit went down in there, but that’s over now. Riot took his boys home to Louisiana with a promise to cut ties with Josiah and Ethereal Eden. He actually said to tell you he was sorry. First time I think I’ve ever heard that prick admit he fucked up. But the point is, they’re gone. And Ratchet is dead. We’ve got the security back up and the place locked down for as long as it takes for you to feel safe there again.”

She shook her head. “I can’t go back to that cabin. They were in there, Hawk. They took me from my bed.”

My fingers clenched into fists at the thought of anyone doing anything to her against her will. I’d been the man who hurt her like that once before, holding her in that shitty house. I’d had no choice, but it didn’t matter.

I should have gotten her out anyway. I should have put her first.

I wouldn’t make that mistake again.

“Go with him,” I told her. “I’ll still be here. I’ll still see you…”

That connection between us screamed at the very thought of leaving her. Of not having her right here beside me every day. I didn’t understand it, didn’t even want to. All I knew was that it would be agony to let her go again, but I’d endure it for her.

“You don’t have to go back to the cabin. I’ll make a room for you in the clubhouse,” Hawk offered. “You’ll be in the room right next to mine.”

She looked at me. “I can’t—”

But Hawk was done hearing it. “You can. And you will—”

Kara tried to interrupt with protests again, her fingers wrapped in my shirt and her gaze desperate.

I was sure my heart was tearing right down the middle as I tried to convince her this was the best thing for everyone. Even though I knew that with her back at the clubhouse, it would be nearly impossible for us to have any sort of relationship. I couldn’t see how it would work. I couldn’t go there. She couldn’t come here. If I asked her on a date, she’d probably show up with the Slayers in tow, like the Secret Service trailing around after the president.

Super fucking romantic.

Hawk raised his voice and spoke over the top of both of us. “And Chaos will take the one on the other side.”

We stared at him.

For so long it clearly pissed him off. He threw his hands up. “Well? Either of you want to say yes?”

“Yes,” I said quickly, even though I had no idea how the hell this would work when the Slayers all hated my guts, and I was one-hundred-percent sure Hawk had not cleared this with any of them.

But the idea of having her between me and him, of seeing her every day, and knowing there was someone there for her during the nights I’d be at work, settled something that had been raging inside me.

Hawk was giving her back to me. Clearly not out of the goodness of his heart. I was sure he didn’t give a flying fuck about how I felt.

Kara obviously had the same doubts I did. “Why would you do that? The other men at the club, they won’t like it. All they know of Hayden is he was your enemy. That he shot you. That he’s opening a club that will rival the one Bliss runs. They’ll call you a traitor. They’ll question your authority. You’ll get your way because you’re VP and War’s best friend, but why would you do that? Why would you bring the hate of the entire club down on you like that?”

She’d just said everything I was thinking. Just way more eloquently.

Hawk let out a frustrated sigh, his gaze piercing when it caught hers. “Fucking hell, woman. Don’t you know I’d throw myself off a building for you?” He put down the needle and gave her his full attention. “Don’t you know I’d endure any of the bullshit coming my way if it meant you have everything you need? I love you enough to give you him.”

She sucked in a shocked breath. “Hawk…”

He shook his head, red staining his cheeks behind the scruff of his beard. “Don’t say anything. I didn’t mean to tell you that here. I just…” He switched his focus to me. “Your arm is fine. We’re done. Just…just fucking bring her home, okay?”

All I could do was nod, not that he saw it. He was too busy packing up his kit and walking back out the door.

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