Page 27 of Property of Spike

I take a breath, forcing myself to stay calm despite the anger radiating off him. “Please, just open the gates so I can leave. No one will ever know that I was here. None of you will be in any danger.”

His eyes narrow, his lips curling into a sneer. “You want to leave? Fine. But don’t come crying back when he finds you. And he will find you. You think you’re protecting that kid?” Spike continues, his voice harsh. “You’re just dragging him down with you. And when Chuck gets his hands on him, it’ll be because of you.”

I don’t flinch, though his words feel like jagged shards slicing through me.

“Open the gate, Mike,” Spike barks, his voice cold and final.

Mike hesitates for only a moment before stepping aside to press the button. The gate creaks open, the sound echoing in the tense silence.

I walk past Mike but stop and look at him for a few seconds. He really does look familiar. Hmm.

Turning, I look at Spike and try to smile.

“Thank you for your help, Spike,” I say, trying my best to keep the tremble out of my voice. “You and your friends have been very kind to me. I’ll always remember that. I’ll always remember you.”

I take a few more steps before pausing and looking back one last time.

“Not everyone close to you is trustworthy.”

There are too many people around, and I don’t want to risk the spy hearing. I have no idea who it is. But maybe I can trick Chuck into telling me, and I can find a way to warn Spike. Just because he hates me doesn’t mean I hate him. No matter what he said tonight, I know he’s not a monster. Even if my heart is saying otherwise.

I know he was just speaking out of anger. His words were harsh, but they were also what I needed to hear. I’m going to make everything right.

Without another word, I turn and walk away, holding Asher tightly as I step out of the safety of the compound. My chest aches, my legs feel weak, but I keep moving.

Spike’s voice rings in my ears long after the gate closes behind me, each harsh word replaying in an endless loop.

I don’t look back. I can’t.

Because despite everything that just happened, I’ll beg him to let us stay.

Chapter Ten

Spike

The TV screen flickers as Chuck’s smooth, calculated voice fills the room. He looks polished, every word carefully measured to sound sincere. It’s enough to make my blood boil.

“I can’t thank God enough for bringing my family back home,” he says, pausing like he’s choking back some fake emotion. “However, due to this incident, security in the hospital will be increased. How many other women have up and left because of postpartum depression? How many new mothers and children weren’t as lucky as my wife and child?”

He shakes his head, playing the role of the concerned man to perfection. “That’s all the time I have right now. I just want to get my family home.”

The screen cuts back to the anchor, but I don’t hear a damn thing they say. My fists clench at my sides, rage simmering under my skin. Two days ago, she walked through my gate, and I haven’t stopped thinking about her since. The anger hasn’t lessened.

“Why the fuck would she go back to him?” I say through gritted teeth.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Skip says, his eyes glaring daggers at me. “Could be something along the lines of, ‘Maybe you should’ve stayed where you belonged. At least then the rest of us wouldn’tbe stuck risking our lives for someone too selfish to see what’s at stake.’ But that’s just a guess.”

“Yeah,” Maverick agrees. “You’re a fucking idiot.”

“She wasn’t putting us at risk,” Bones adds. “And you damn well know it. You were just too pissed at the thought of her being near Chuck.”

“We all saw the way you looked at her, Prez,” Tank says. “We saw how protective you were. Hell, we even saw how you were with that baby. We also saw you avoiding her because she messed with your head. You had a great opportunity there, and you blew it.”

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

“It’s for the best,” I lie. “I’ve got too much shit on my shoulders as it is. Riley is back where she belongs. Let’s get to work. The Black Serpents are asking for permission for seven of their men to make a run through our territory. We need to contact their President and see the reason why before I make a decision. Also, I’m sending the men in the basement back to their sector. I’ll deal with this traitor business next week.”

The men look at me clearly wanting to say more, but they won’t.

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