Page 68 of War

“He was willing to kill me.It shouldn’t shock me after everything he told me, but in my head, he’s still this person we grew up with.”The words pour from my mouth like a faucet I can’t turn off.

“That’s called trauma, Rogue.He groomed you from when you were a kid.You can’t flip a switch and make all the history go away.It’s going to take time.”

“And therapy.”I scoff.

“We’re bikers—the open road is our therapy.When you’re healed up, I want to take you away from here for a little while.”

“Where?”I shift to face him.

“Anywhere.You pick, drop a pin on a map.As long as it’s just the two of us, I don’t give a shit.”

“Your dad will love that.”I roll my eyes.

“Fuck him.It’s not about him.”

“Do you think he’ll ever come around to me being here?”

“He doesn’t have a choice.”Soft lips patter against my face, cheek, nose, lips.

“I’m going to put a ring on your finger, Rogue.Make no mistake.I meant what I said when I told you you’re mine forever.”

“I like the sound of forever with you.”A glimmer of light slashes through the darkness hanging over us.

* * *

I toss the covers off my legs and sigh, staring up at the ceiling, my stomach whining and gurgling.My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.Callan’s gentle snores are the only sound in the room.

I’ve been in and out of sleep since he brought me back here earlier.He came and went throughout the day, and finally settled in for sleep an hour ago.Sitting up, I look over at the clock.

3:00 a.m.

Getting to my feet, I hobble to the door, looking over my shoulder at Callan sleeping soundly in bed.Hopefully, everyone else has gone to bed too so I can get a snack and drink and bring it back here.

I walk out slowly, using the corridor wall for support.The soles of my feet have returned to their usual size now that the swelling has ebbed, but it feels like I’m walking on sharp little stones every time I put pressure on them.I startle when a figure comes into view.

“Georgina?”I whisper-yell.Her dark hair swishes past her shoulders, her face paling when she sees me.“What are you doing sneaking around?Isn’t that Jericho’s room?”I ask, shock hitching my voice.

Her eyes narrow to thin blue slits.“Me sneaking around?What do you call this?”She waves a hand at me.

“I need a drink.”

“Maybe I did too.”

“So, where is it?”

“I drank it.”Why isn’t she telling me to mind my own business or go off and die?

Shifting from inside the room thrums through the door.It opens, and Jericho smiles at Georgina like she’s made of gold.

No way.

Georgina jerks her head toward me, and Jericho turns his gaze on me, pursing his lips.“What the fuck are you doing at my door?”Dropping his gaze down the length of my body, he sneers, “Trying to win me over with your pussy?”

“I’d rather be celibate than ever fuck you,” I shoot back, queasiness bubbling in my stomach.

“He wouldn’t want to fuck you anyway,” Georgina bites.

“Why, because he’s fucking you?”I should have put it together sooner when Jericho said the woman he was seeing preferred to meet at the motel.When Callan told Georgina to take time away from the club, that’s where she went.

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