Page 31 of Festive

I whirl around, my chest tight with rage, tears streaming uncontrollably down my face. “And you should be taking care of your family instead of bending over backward for some club girl!” The words come out sharp, venomous, each one laced with the hurt I’ve been trying to swallow for weeks.

Six flinches like I slapped him, his eyes flashing with anger. “She’s not a club girl, and you fucking know I don’t want Amber. Thayleah, t-that’s not fair.” The anguish in his eyes is clear as day, but I can’t stop the flood of emotions crashing over me.

“You got her a job at our kids’ school, Six. You got her an apartment. What’s next? You gonna invite her into our bed? You gonna marry her too?” I don’t even recognize my voice anymore. It’s so raw and torn up by everything that’s been building between us.

Six’s face contorts in disbelief, his voice hoarse. “Isthatwhat this is about? Because we haven’t gotten married yet?” His hands run through his hair, yanking at the roots as if trying to make sense of this madness.

I shake my head, trying to catch my breath, but it feels like I’m drowning in my own pain. “It’s not just that. It’s… it’severything!It feels like I don’t matter anymore, like I’m always on the back burner, and it’skilling me. I just want to mean something to you.” My words spill out in a desperate rush, each one hitting harder than the last.

Before I can react, he’s in front of me, gripping my arms like I’m the only thing keeping him from falling apart. His eyes are wild, desperate. “You meaneverythingto me, Thayleah.Everything!I know I’ve been fucking up, and I should’ve put you first. I know I’ve let shit get in the way, but you’veneverleft my mind. You’re my world. Ican’tlose you.”

Then, out of nowhere, he races over to Kenna’s jewelry box, and my heart stutters in confusion. He pulls out a small black pouch from under the velvet lining, his hands shaking. BeforeI can even process what’s happening, he drops to one knee, his eyes glistening with unshed tears as he pulls out the most beautiful engagement ring I’ve ever seen. “Let’s set a date, Thayleah. I know the timing is—”

“Awful, Koda,” I whisper, cutting him off as my breath hitches in my throat. My heart sinks like a stone, tears pouring down my face, but I can’t let him do this.

Not like this.

“You’re only asking me because you’re scared I’m going to leave, not because you planned this. It doesn’t mean anything like this.” My hand trembles as I slide the ring off and place it back in his palm, my heart shattering with every word. “I can’t do it, Koda… not like this.”

His face crumbles, the hope in his eyes dimming as he hesitates, but then slowly slips the ring back into the pouch. His voice is a broken whisper, barely holding back the sob threatening to break free. “So that’s it? You’re leaving? We’re just… what? Done?”

I turn to face him, reaching out for his hand as his words cut through me like a blade. “I don’t know if we’re done. Not really. But I need a beat, Koda. I need to get away from this. From you. Just for a moment, okay?”

He lets out a shaky breath, his hand trembling as he places it on my swollen belly, his voice cracking under the weight of his fear. “Will you at least let someone go with you to Phoenix?Please?”

I nod, my own tears falling silently now. “Yes. I’ll take someone.”

His voice trembles again, pain leaching into every word. “Where are you going to have our baby?”

“I need to be around my family,” I reply softly, even though it feels like a dagger to my chest.

His face tightens, his eyes flashing with pain and anger.

“We’reyour fucking family, Thayleah!”His voice roars through the room, his frustration boiling over, and I flinch at its force.

Swallowing a lump down my throat, I breathe frantically.

We were both brought up in a club atmosphere. We were just lucky those clubs weren’t rivals, or our love story may have been more of a Shakespearean tale. From where I stand now, maybe it will still be a tragedy after all.

The thing is, I had to leavemy club, leavemy homein Phoenix, to be Six’s Old Lady. But maybe I was never meant to leave. I was so young. Got pregnant with Kenna so early. Took on the First Lady role far earlier than any Old Lady should have had to. I’m pregnant with my third child, all before the age of twenty-four.

It’s so much to take on all this responsibility without the support ofmy familywith me.

I just need to go home and see them.

“But the Brothers by Blood MC were my family first,” I whisper, the words barely audible, but they hit him hard, and I see it—the moment his heart breaks.

His chest heaves with the effort to control his anger, but it’s too much. The vein in his neck pulses violently, and before I can say another word, he spins around, slamming his fist into the closet door, the wood splintering under the force.

I jump, my heart pounding in my ears, but I stay silent, watching him crumble before me.

Six turns back to me, tears streaming down his face, his voice a hollow shell of the man I love. “You’re breaking my fucking heart, Thayleah.” His words slice through the air, sharp and agonizing, before he storms out of the room, leaving me standing here.

Broken.

The second he’s gone, my legs give out, and I collapse ontothe bed, sobs wracking my body so violently I can barely breathe. Everything feels like it’s falling apart. I feel like I’m being ripped in half, torn between what I need to do and the man I love.

But I can’t stay.

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