Page 14 of Battling Aries

“What are you doing sneaking up on us like that, big brother?” Cordelia demands, planting her hands on her hips. “You know Momma taught you better than to listen in on a conversation that doesn’t pertain to you.”

“Cordy, you know better than to try and pull that with me.” Aries snorts, giving her a look of amusement. “As for this conversation, it has plenty to do with me.” Shifting his gaze to me, he loses the amusement altogether. “How about you go ahead and leave Rory and me to finish this conversation, Cordy.”

I suck in a breath and don’t let it go as Cordy shuffles past Aries, sensing that he’s no longer playing with her. Or anyone else. He wants answers.

“Breathe, Rory,” he orders gruffly the very second the door closes behind his sister.

I do as he says and look away from him. “I don’t have anything to say to you.”

“Really? Seems Cordy thinks so.”

“Of course, she does. She didn’t like that I broke up with you and wants me to fix that.” There’s no fixing what I broke. I don’t say this, though. Instead, I square my shoulders and brace for what I’m about to say. “I said all I needed to say in that letter I sent. There’s nothing else to share. We’re done. I’m done. And if you don’t let me go, I’ll . . . I’ll scream.”

“You’ll scream? Who do you think will listen?” Aries outright laughs and takes on a stance that screams out ‘Don’t fuck with me’. “You need to think again, Scamp, if you think that letter said everything you needed to say. You’ve got a lot to answer for, and your time is up. No more avoiding the talk we’re about to have. You got your reprieve earlier. Now, explain to me what the fuck Cordy meant. Better yet, how about you start with the very beginning and give it to me straight.”

Give it to him straight?

I can’t do that.

He wouldn’t understand.

How could he?

For all I know, he’ll hate me even more than he already does.

Without thinking, I scoot to the edge of the bed, get to my feet, brace myself for what I’m about to do, and prepare to make a quick exit to the only space available for me to hide. The entire time I do this, I can feel his gaze on me.

Watching. Assessing.

Finally, positioning myself where I want to be, I stand strong, head high, and give it to him. “You left for basic training, and everything was fine. I missed you every day. Then I found out I was pregnant. I was going to surprise you. I had everything planned out. Then Roger found out. He forced me to miscarry and said if I didn’t start doing as he said, he’d make sure you were next. That you died. If I didn’t give him what he wanted. He . . . Roger threatened to kill you because you were going to ruin all his big plans. So there. Happy?”

As quickly as I could, I pivoted and rushed for the bathroom, barely slamming the door and locking it before my legs gave out underneath me, and I sank to the floor. My heart breaking all over again at bringing up the child I lost. The one I wanted with all my heart. That little baby was stolen from me right along with everything else in my life I’ve ever wanted.

CHAPTER 9

ARIES

Storming out of the clubhouse, I don’t bother saying a word to anyone. There’s no way I could if I wanted to. More emotions than I’d like to think about course through me. I can’t stay in there any longer. If I do, I’ll lose my fucking mind.

I don’t think as I jump on the back of my bike. I needed to get the hell out of there. I needed to think. I needed to not think. I needed those words out of my mind before I did something stupid. The last thing I need is to fuck something without thinking it through.

“Hold up,” Viper shouts, rushing in my direction. Wolf and Cyprus are right behind him. “The fuck are you doing?”

“I gotta get out of here for a bit, Prez,” I tell him and lift the kickstand. “Need to clear my head.”

“Not until you tell me what the fuck happened,” Viper states.

“Can’t talk about it right now.” If I do, I’ll lose it.

“Prez, I’ll go with him,” Wolf remarks, moving to his bike next to mine. “I’ll watch his back.”

“You make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid,” Viper orders and watches me closely. “Kevlar’s on the way back fromColorado with Rosemary. I’ll tell him to meet up with the two of you when he gets back here.”

“Kevlar doesn’t need to do that shit,” I grind out. He’s my best friend. More like family and has had enough bullshit with what happened with Rosemary. I don’t need him coming back to get involved in this shit. “I just need to get the fuck out of here for a while. That’s it.”

“I don’t give a fuck,” Viper snarls. “You know we watch each other’s backs. And without knowing what the fuck is going on with you, we’re not letting you out without others at your back.”

“You know the club’s saying, brother,” Wolf adds in.

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