Page 32 of Festive

I can’t stay here at this club.

Not while Amber is around.

Not while this club is falling apart.

My girls need to be safe.

And right now, I don’t trust anyone here to keep them that way.

Even if it means I have to destroyusto do it—I will protect my family.

Even if it costs me everything.

Suddenly, a loud crash echoes from outside the room. My heart skips a beat, my head snapping up as adrenaline rushes through me. There’s shouting—men’s voices raised in anger—and the unmistakable sound of something heavy hitting the floor. My entire body goes cold, the fear sinking into my bones as I realize something is very wrong.

Pushing myself up from the bed, I stumble toward the door, my legs shaky beneath me. I reach the doorway and peek out, my breath catching in my throat. In the hallway, a group of club members are gathered, their faces twisted in anger, their voices overlapping in a chaotic mess of shouts and curses.

Six is in the middle of it all, his face red with fury, his fists clenched at his sides. He looks like a man on the edge, ready to explode. Zero steps up to him, yelling something I can’t make out, and before I can even blink, Six’s fist flies out, connecting with Zero’s jaw with a sickening thud.

A sharp gasp leaves me, my hand flying to my mouth as Zero flies back, crashing into the wall before crumpling to the floor. My heart leaps into my throat, fear and panic gripping me as I watch the chaos unfold before my eyes. Wraith lunges at Six totry and control him, and they crash into the opposite wall, the force of which rattles the pictures hanging there.

“Stop it!” I scream, my voice breaking as I race out into the hallway. “Stop it! All of you!”

But they don’t hear me.

Or they don’t care.

Six continues his mad flurry, trying to fight off Wraith this time, fists flying, bodies slamming into walls and doors, the noise deafening.

My heart pounds in my ears, and I can barely breathe as I watch Six, his eyes wild, his face contorted with rage.

This isn’t him.

This isn’t the man I love.

He’s breaking apart right in front of me, and I don’t know how to stop it.

I rush forward, my hands trembling as I grab at Six’s arm, trying to pull him back. “Koda,p-pineapple!”I scream our code word to stop us from panicking, hoping it will help, my voice cracking as I do.

He pauses for just a second, his eyes meeting mine, and in that moment, I see it—the pain, the fear, the desperation.

He’s lost, and he doesn’t know how to find his way back.

“Thay…” he whispers, his voice barely audible over the madness.

“Stop! All of you, just stop this craziness!”

There’s a hesitation in the air, a beat where everyone seems to freeze. Six shoves Wraith off him, his chest heaving as he gets to his feet. He looks around, his gaze wild, before it lands on me again. His face softens, the anger and rage fading, replaced by something else—something broken.

“Please, Koda,” I whisper, my voice trembling. “Just come back to me.”

He stares at me for a long moment, the chaos aroundus fading as we lock eyes. Slowly, he steps back, his fists unclenching, his body sagging with exhaustion. His brothers around us look uncertain, glancing between each other, but no one moves. The tension in the air is thick, but it’s no longer about violence—it’s about heartbreak.

Zero groans from where he’s slumped against the wall, and Six’s eyes flicker over to him. He runs a hand through his hair, his face twisted in regret. “Fuck, Zero… I’m sorry,” he mutters, his voice hoarse.

Zero waves him off, struggling to sit up. “Just… just get your fucking shit together. You’re the goddamn president. Act like it!” He grunts, wincing.

I take a shaky step forward, my heart pounding as I reach out for Six. “Let’s go,” I urge softly, my voice barely above a whisper. “We need to talk this shit out.”