Page 81 of Traitor

Male perfection. Muscles broader than I remember, ink crawling over hardened skin. A man built for war. Too bad the inside is rotten.

Ria and I almost broke our backs dragging his unconscious body into my basement.

"Weakness doesn't suit you, Kane," I say, voice light, amused. "Looks like you've been training."

"Had a lot of rage to work through."

I smirk. His hands curl into fists, his body tense, his stare sharp.

"Whatever you need to do, do it, Ely."

I roll my eyes. "I will," I say, dismissive. "I don't need your fucking permission for that."

I lean in close, tilting my head, watching him watch me.

"You know... what I really hate, Kane, is hearing you say my name."

His brows pull together. He doesn't get it yet.

I lift my arm, let the light catch the ink, the phoenix stretched over the scarred reminder of his betrayal.

"Ely is dead."

His jaw tics.

"She died when Jinx slit her throat," I whisper, voice like ice. "Temperancerose from the ashes."

He exhales slowly, like he’s trying to calm down the feral beast inside his soul. "Do you want me to call you Temperance?"

I smile, all teeth, all vengeance. "I want you to suffer."

His eyes darken. He was expecting that.

"Four days," I say, voice steady, unwavering. "Four days of hell. Exactly what I went through. And when it's done? You leave. You go back to Driftwood."

His smirk is infuriating. "I'll do whatever you want,my fiery Temper. But I'm not leaving. I already moved the mother chapter to Silverpine," he says, calm as fucking death. "Half the club followed."

My blood turns molten. "You did what?" I hiss.

The edges of my vision blur with rage. He has no right.

"Whether you ever accept me again or not, I won't be far behind you," he says, voice deadly serious.

I sneer, anger thrumming under my skin. "What if I move to Myanmar, Kane? What then?"

"Then I move to Myanmar." Like it's that simple.

"There are no outlaw biker clubs there. Plus, I can disappear just like I did four years ago."

His smirk grows. "Not without the FBI's help, you can't. And you can't get them involvednow.You just kidnapped someone, my beautiful, fiery bird. Also, I've made sure you never disappear on me again. I have much better resources to find you, now."

My nails dig into my palms. He planned for this. Prepared for this.

"You can reject me for eternity, El-," he swiftly corrects himself with a smirk, "fiery Temper," he continues, unshaken. "But even if I have to watch you move on with someone else, even if I have to keep my distance, I'm never leaving. You're it for me."

I take a slow breath. Steady myself. I won't let him get under my skin. This fucking stalker. It's just the first day. By the end, I will break him. His scars will be as deep as mine and whether he stays in Silverpine or not, it won't matter.

He tilts his head, watching me like he's already figured out my next move. "What are your plans here, Temper? I'm ready for whatever you have in store. I was ready when I accepted dinner at your place. When I drank the coffee you offered me. I was ready four years ago."

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