Page 16 of Tempest

“I’m not anyone’s property,” Kasen hissed back, but I caught the slight tremor in her voice.

I fought the urge to grab her, to show her exactly what she meant to me, to the club. Instead, I straightened, my gaze never leaving hers. “We’ll see about that,” I said, my voice low and full of promise.

The tension in the air snapped like a live wire. Conversations around us stuttered to a halt, leaving an eerie silence in their wake. I could feel dozens of eyes boring into us, hungry for drama.

A glass clinked against wood, the sound echoing in the sudden quiet. Chairs scraped across the floor as patrons shifted for a better view. The air grew thick with anticipation, making it hard to breathe.

From the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Viking and Sticks at a nearby table. Viking’s massive frame was relaxed, but his eyes were sharp, taking in every detail. Sticks twirled a drumstick between his fingers, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. Fucker carried those things everywhere these days. After not playing in forever, he’d taken the hobby back up several months ago.

“Well, well.” Viking’s deep voice carried easily across the room. “Looks like our Sergeant-at-Arms is laying down the law.”

Sticks chuckled, his eyes dancing with amusement. “About damn time, if you ask me.”

I met Viking’s gaze, seeing the approval there. He gave me a slight nod, the gesture speaking volumes. Despite our talk the other night, it looked like he’d back me if I decided to go after Kasen. Good to know.

My gaze swept the room. Most patrons quickly looked away, but I could still feel the weight of their attention. I turned back to Kasen. The fire in her eyes only fueled my determination. This wasn’t over -- not by a long shot.

Kasen’s chair screeched against the floor as she shot to her feet. “Who the hell do you think you are?” Her voice cut through the silence, steady but filled with anger.

My blood boiled, but I held my ground. “You know damn well who I am, Kasen.”

“Oh, I know exactly who you are, Tempest,” she spat, leaning in close. “You’re the asshole who’s ignored me for years, and now you think you can just waltz in here and claim me like some piece of property?”

I fought to keep my voice level. “I believe I already made my move. You’re the one who turned tail and ran.”

“I know that! Then I tried to explain things to you. Then you were the one who walked off.”

“What the hell are you talking --”

Kasen’s laugh was sharp, bitter. She cut me off before I could finish my sentence. “Yeah, and you didn’t exactly chase after me. From where I’m standing, you’ve made it pretty clear how little I matter to you.”

The words stung more than I cared to admit. My chest tightened, a mix of anger and something dangerously close to regret. “You’ve always mattered, Kasen. More than you know.”

Her eyes widened for a fraction of a second before narrowing again. “Bullshit. You can’t just decide I’m yours when it’s convenient for you.”

I leaned in closer, my voice dropping to a dangerous growl. “This ain’t about convenience. This is about keeping you safe.”

“Safe?” Kasen’s voice rose, drawing more attention. “I don’t need your protection, Tempest. I need you to back the hell off and let me live my life!”

The tension between us felt volatile. Despite the fact I knew everyone was hanging on our every word, all I could focus on was Kasen, her chest heaving with anger, her eyes challenging me to make the next move.

I squared my shoulders, meeting Kasen’s fiery gaze head-on. “This ain’t a game, Kasen. You’re Dixie Reapers, whether you like it or not. That means something.”

“It means I’m trapped,” she spat, her words laced with venom. “Trapped by a club that thinks it can control my every move.”

“It’s for your own good. You don’t know what’s out there.”

Kasen’s laugh was hollow. “And you do? You think you can protect me from the big, bad world?” She leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper only I could hear. “Or are you just scared of what I might find if I look elsewhere?”

The insinuation hit me like a sucker punch. I fought to keep my expression neutral, but inside, I was seething. “You’re playing with fire, little girl.”

“I’m not alittle girlanymore, Tempest,” Kasen retorted, her chin jutting out defiantly. “And if you think you can scare me into submission, you’ve got another thing coming.”

She straightened, her voice rising so everyone could hear. “In fact, I think I’ll go on that date with Connor after all. And maybe I’ll find a few more guys to keep me company while I’m at it.”

The words hung in the air, a challenge I couldn’t ignore. My vision blurred red at the edges, but I forced myself to stay still. “You don’t mean that.”

Kasen’s eyes glittered dangerously. “Watch me.”

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