Page 20 of Traitor

And God help me, I loved it.

Present

A harsh laugh escapes my lips.

It echoes in the empty basement, sounding wrong, broken.

I actually thought he loved me.

I actually thought he was different.

I squeeze my eyes shut, pressing my forehead into my knees, biting down on my bottom lip until I taste blood.

Bones had looked at me like I was filth. Like I was nothing. Like every touch, every kiss, every whispered promise was a goddamn joke.

3. Snake

Ely

Two days ago

The clubhouse hums with life around me, the loud music mixing with the sound of laughter and low conversation. In the past eight months this place has become my home, my safety. All because of Bones.

I should feel at peace.

But something gnaws at the edges of my mind, something I can't quite shake.

I twist the ring on my finger, the one Bones gave me when he claimed me as his Ol' Lady. It's simple, unassuming, exactly my style. And it means everything. It's a promise that I belong to him in every sense of the word. I'm not just his Ol' Lady, I'm also his future wife. The cut means more to him, but the ring means everything to me. And he knew I'd need it.

He is mine. My Ol’ Man, my future husband.

He loves me. I know he does. I see it in the way his eyes soften when I walk into a room, the way his touch lingers, the way he always pulls me close even when he's pissed off at the world.

He knows me. He trusts me.

And still...

I should have told him.

I exhale slowly, watching him from across the room. He stands near the back, deep in conversation with Ghost, the club’s VP. His face is unreadable, his broad shoulders tense. I know that look. Club business. Something is brewing, something that demands his attention. But even now, every few moments, his gaze flickers to me.

I smile, tracing the rim of my glass. He always makes sure I'm okay, always checks in, even when he doesn't realize he's doing it.

But he doesn't know.

He doesn't know how the Riders threw me away, how they let Jinx do whatever he wanted to me, how Lucas turned his back when I begged for help.

He doesn't know how I used to wake up to Jinx standing over me, watching me while I slept, smiling like he owned me.

He doesn't know how many times I thought about running before I actually did. How many times I convinced myself it wasn't worth it. That I wasn't worth it.

My stomach churns, nausea creeping up my throat.

I can't tell him. Not now.

I know I'll have to one day.

One day, he'll ask something, and I won't be able to keep it buried any longer. But not tonight. Not yet.

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