Page 72 of Acid

I hope this doesn’t make you hate me, Tinker, that you’re not disgusted, but if you want me, you need to know the truth of what I went through, the truth that would kill Eli if he ever found out.

I’m sorry I’m fucked up, sweetheart. I’m sorry I had to leave to try and make peace with my past.

I’m sorry for not being strong.

I love you, Perrie.

Forever Yours,

XX

My eyes sting. I sniffle and wipe my cheeks as Piston snaps, “Perrie, I need to spar,” and I nod, my eyes still on the letter.

Canine rasps, “He’s breaking,” into the quiet room, and the brothers curse while two prospects grab Andrea’s body.

Sneering at the corpse, I follow Piston to the basement, Ollie’s letter firmly in my grip as Steal, Anchor, and Canine follow us.

I feel helpless.

In every letter, I can read his pain; I can feel it.

He’s starting to give up, and I just hope I’m strong enough for both of us, because a life without Ollie is one not worth living, even if he did leave me on top of the counter.

25

Perrie – One Week Later

I bounce on the balls of my feet, taking quick breaths as I punch the air with fast jabs, trying to ignore the banging echoing in the room from the crowd outside.

I’m in the dressing room at The Fight trying to psych myself up.

Viking called and said someone requested a fight against me tonight. Apparently, they’re also undefeated and have made waves about being the only person who can take me down, to the point that people are actually betting against me, which encouraged me to accept the challenge.

This jackass is going to find out exactly how angry I am right now.

I roll my shoulders as the crowd starts cheering loudly.

“Looks like you're up next, darling,” Steal says from the bench, and I nod.

“You know no males are supposed to be in here when I’m here,” I remind him.

He chuckles. “You’re basically my sister, and like fuck am I leaving you alone in here, not after….” He clears his throat. “Anyway, Acid would kill me if I didn’t look out for you.”

I shake my head, a small smile passing my lips before I clear my throat, place my hands on my hips, and ask, “Anything?”

He gives me a sad smile but shakes his head. “No, darling. I’m sorry, no letter.”

I nod, but I quickly turn away.

Three days and no letters. For nearly six weeks, he’d send one a day, but for some reason, they’ve stopped, and now, I’m going insane.

I’ve been at The Fight three nights in a row.

“He’ll contact you soon, Perrie. You know he’s trying to get through his problems,” Steal continues, and I sniffle, wiping away the tears that have fallen, making my straps wet.

“Unless he doesn’t believe he can overcome them, that he doesn’t think he can have a future…with me,” I whisper with pain and fear.

Steal sighs. “Perrie, look at me.” I sniffle, and turn and look at him. He smiles slightly. “That man loved you before I met him. You have always been his world, darling, fuck, you’re the reason he left to begin with.”

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