Page 34 of Savage Loyalty

“Neither,” I said flatly, sliding into my seat and reaching for my whiskey. The amber liquid burned as it slid down my throat, but it wasn’t enough to dull the knot tightening in my chest.

“Looked like she was in a hurry,” Smoke chimed in, his tone lighter than the look he shot me. “What’d you say to her this time?”

I ignored the question, my jaw tightening as I set the empty glass down with a little more force than necessary. “Where’s the prospect?” I asked, my voice sharp enough to change the subject.

Torch raised an eyebrow but didn’t push. “Out back, keeping an eye on things. You know,because of her.”

The way he said it—her—made my fists itch, but I kept them planted on the table.

Chains leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table as his expression turned serious. “This thing with her… It’s a distraction, Ryder. You know that, right?”

“Not your concern,” I said, my tone final, but even as the words left my mouth, I could feel the weight of the truth in Chains’ stare.

“Sure, it isn’t,” he muttered, leaning back again.

Torch laughed, but the sound was hollow. “Just don’t let her be the reason this thing with the Vipers blows up in our faces.”

I didn’t respond. Couldn’t. Because no matter how much I wanted to deny it, I knew they were right. Delilah Cruz was a complication. A distraction.

But she was also a fire I couldn’t seem to put out.

And I wasn’t sure I wanted to.

CHAPTER TWELVE

DELILAH

The noise of the bar swallowed me whole as I stepped back inside, the warmth and chaos clashing against the cold, raw reminder of what had just happened in the alley. My heels clicked against the floorboards, but I barely heard it over the pounding music and bursts of laughter.

I hated him.

Hated the way he could unravel me with a look. Hated how my body betrayed me every single time he got too close. And most of all, I hated that I couldn’t hate him enough to stop myself.

“Delilah!” Lucy’s voice cut through the noise, drawing my attention to the corner table where she sat with Dani, Leah, and Caleb.

I straightened, forcing a neutral expression as I made my way over. Caleb raised a brow when I slid into the empty chair, his sharp, amused gaze locking on me like he already knew too much.

“Where the hell have you been?” Dani asked, leaning forward with a look that was half-concern, half-curiosity.

“I needed some air,” I said quickly, grabbing a half-empty water glass on the table just to have something to hold onto.

Lucy smirked, her chin propped on her hand as she studied me. “Air, huh? That what they’re calling it these days?”

My stomach dropped.

Leah tilted her head, her eyes narrowing. “We saw you.”

I froze, my grip tightening on the glass. “Saw me what?”

“With him.” Caleb’s tone was casual, but the knowing edge made my chest tighten. “Ryder Kane. You walked out with him, didn’t you?”

The heat rushed to my face, my brain scrambling for a response that wouldn’t make things worse. “I?—”

Dani’s mouth fell open as the realization hit her. “Oh my god. You fucked him, didn’t you?”

“Keep your voice down,” I hissed, leaning forward as if I could somehow keep the entire bar from hearing her.

Lucy burst out laughing, tossing her dark hair over her shoulder. “You actually did it? You screwed Ryder Kane behind the bar? You’re braver than I thought, Del.”

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