Page 37 of Laying it Bare Biker Style - Grayson

“Bullshit.”

“No bullshit. I can meet all types of people anytime I’m out or at my job.”

“And from what I gathered, she was targeted because of her involvement with a club and you got dragged into the mess through association. I won’t have you endangering your life.”

“And what happens one day when someone targets me because of you?” She challenged, throwing her hands onto her hips. “Will you tell me not to associate with you?”

“That won’t ever happen.”

“You can’t know that.”

“I do know that. Your relationship with him puts your life at risk and I won’t have it anymore."

“You can’t tell me what to do.”

“No, I can’t. But I will tell you this and you can make your own decision.”

My heart caught in my throat. I was just about to eat my earlier words.

“You either cut off all ties with him or the police will no longer back or support his club.” His ultimatum hit like a bomb and the resulting explosion decimated Brooke’s defiance.

“We’ve dealt with not having police backing before, Princess. We can handle it again. It’s no big deal.” Reaching my arms out to her, I tried to pull her back to my chest.

She stared at me for a beat as her expression grew even more morose and her boldness crumbled.

“I wouldn’t be so sure, Grayson.”

I had never wanted to throat punch her dad more than in that moment.

“I love you so fucking much, Grayson.” Her voice wobbled, her hands shook, and her eyes pooled with tears. Stepping into my arms, she wrapped hers around my neck and tugged my lips down to hers for a hungry kiss. Her words warmed my heart, but something in her kiss filled my chest with dread. It was filled with her usual love, but the passion was replaced with desperation.

When she pulled back, her eyes were void of emotion and her face crestfallen.

“Don’t.” I could only force out one word as my throat constricted.

Shaking her head as tears slipped down her cheeks, she ran her hand along my scruff. “I won’t do that to you. I can’t.” Then she turned to her dad. “Done. I’ll send Dani over to his place to retrieve my things. But I. HATE. YOU.” As a sob tore from her, she raced toward her dad’s cruiser and dove into the passenger side, her face buried in her hands.

His irritated but satisfied stare focused on me. “Just so I make myself clear, you stay away from her too. Don’t drive by her home or her work. You see her out in public, you turn the other way. All ties are severed as of today.”

Fury festering inside, I gave him a curt nod.

“Good. I’ll need to speak with you and your guys separately about this incident so we can wrap things up.” With that, Brooke’s dad walked off.

“Not even a thank you to us for finding his daughter.” My entire body grew numb. Brooke was safe, but she was no longer mine. That crushing reality almost brought me to my knees. I glanced over my shoulder to the cruiser. Brooke’s hands still covered her face and her body shook with her sobs. “I need to go give my statement first and then get the fuck out of here. I can’t stand here any longer.”

“She’ll figure things out, Grayson.” Ryder put his hand on my shoulder. “She’ll find her way back. She loves you. Nothing can compete with that.”

I wasn’t so sure.

Thankfully I only had to wait around for about thirty minutes before I could split. The drive back was torture, made even longer since we had to drop off a few of our guys at the club. When I had headed out to this location earlier, it was with the intention of bringing Brooke back with me. We had managed to rescue her so that was a light to my darkness, but Brooke wouldn’t be staying with me anymore. She was no longer mine. Well, that wasn’t entirely accurate. She would always be mine . . . in my heart.

Once at home, I moped around the kitchen – yes, I moped – searching for something to eat when I really didn’t have an appetite. But I figured it was something to do, to keep myself occupied and focused on something, since I was running on autopilot. Then I decided, fuck it, and stormed down the hallway to pack up Brooke’s things. As I shuffled through my room and bathroom collecting her items, I rubbed at the stabbing pain in my chest. I had never expected to fall in love and I definitely never expected to have my heart ripped out of my chest. Tossing her toiletries into her bag, I released a low groan. I’d never get to wash her silky skin or run soapy hands through the soft strands of her hair while indulging in a hot shower filled with erotic foreplay.

Next, I grabbed the clothing she had haphazardly strewn along my bedroom floor because it had been so easy to convince her to get naked with me. Another pleasure I’d have to learn to live without. My bed was going to be so fucking cold and empty without her. I scrubbed my hand down my face.

Even though the action had the potential to revoke my man card, I kept one of her shirts since it smelled like her. I also didn’t plan to wash the gray shirt and black boxers she had worn of mine. Instead, I tossed them onto the side of the bed where she had slept. And thankfully I had just washed my bed sheets because I had no intention of cleaning them anytime soon.

Yeah, I was royally fucked. My dick was going to shrivel up from lack of use because I couldn’t imagine ever wanting to be with anyone else. I shoved the rest of her items into her bag and zipped it shut.

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