Page 101 of Avenging Devil: Part 1

“Go away, Kink. I’m not in the mood.”

“Nah?” He ignores me and takes the stool next to where I’m standing. “You’re hurting, Brother.”

Raising and lowering my shoulders, I shake my head, not even bothering to refute his observation. “What can I fuckin’ do, Kink?”

“You can obey your fuckin’ nature for a start. Go and see her.”

“There’s no point,” I tell him. “I offered to leave the club for her, Kink, give everything up. If that wasn’t enough, I don’t know how else I can persuade her.”

“You’re falling into a trap.” As my eyebrows raise, he continues, “First rule of being a Dom is giving the sub what she needs, and not what she wants.”

What Saffie wants is for me to stay far away from her.

Now it’s his turn to shrug. “You being willing to turn in your patch shows the depth of your feelings for her. She needs someone like you in her corner, whether she realises it or not. What’s to lose, Brother?”

“She’s leaving, Kink. Either I let her, or I go with her.” And right now, it looks like she’s made her choice about going it alone. My wants don’t even come into it.

He purses his lips together. “Or you find some middle ground. She needs you, Brother. Go to her.”

Staying away, hoping she’d come to her senses and contact me hadn’t worked. I could sit on my ass and feel sorry for myself or do something about it. What would it hurt? Another refusal isn’t going to make me feel any worse.

I lower my gaze to my glass, then lifting my eyes, raise my chin toward Kink. “You’re right. I’ll go visit her.”

Chapter Thirty-One

Saffie

In the cold light of day, I realised I should have confronted Niran, should have allowed him to explain what that note meant. Questions abound in my head. Who could have put it under my door? Were they trying to warn me? Or was it someone up to mischief trying to push me away? Whatever the reason, that’s the effect they achieved.

I could have challenged him when he’d called, but I didn’t. I was too afraid I wouldn’t be able to separate truth from lies. Not given my past and all the mistakes I’ve made.

When I’d run, I hadn’t been thinking at all, nor remembering that the reason I left the apartment was because Duke was getting close to finding me. It was only when I got back to my apartment that I realised this wasn’t the safest place for me.

Then Token had called reassuring me, for now, I had nothing to worry about. Duke didn’t know how to find me. Not yet, he was sure about that.

When he asked questions, I listened and responded.

My new name? Something totally different this time, I don’t care what. Location? I don’t care where. Sure, New York sounds big enough for me to disappear. I’d stick out in a small town.

What had mattered was when everything would be ready.Just a few more days.

Was I suspicious he was part of the plan to keep me locked down for Duke? Hell yes, of course I was. But I was also exhausted, worn out, and heartbroken. My baby’s loss is a constant physical ache, now there’s another gap in my life that hurts almost as much. God help me, but I miss Niran. Half of me wishes I’d given him a chance to have his say, the other half congratulates me for leaving his cheating ass.

I feel in limbo, having neither the strength to go forward nor back. I’m too tired to do more than let things play out as they will. If Token’s to be believed, I’ll have my future sorted out in a few days. If he’s lying, Duke will be coming for me.

As it is, I’m tired of watching my back all the time. What will be, will be.

Now two days have passed since I ran from the compound. Two days of me returning to normal. A normal where I’m living by myself, thinking only about what I want and nobody else, which is simply a polite way of saying I’m lonely.

I miss Niran. Miss his large presence which made me feel safe. Miss him just being there. I try to tell myself I had a lucky escape and thank my lucky stars I found out what he was in time. It doesn’t help.

I should be used to Niran’s absence, I’d already had a month without him being around to prop me up, but then I’d always known he was just at the end of the line should things get too much. This time, I’d burned my bridges and told him to leave me alone. And in case I became weak, I’d deleted his number from my phone.

He’s already got an old lady.Or was he planning to kick her to the kerb? I was hardly the best substitute. I didn’t want him in my bed.

When my mind circles back to the note, things don’t seem to add up. Niran hadn’t acted like a man who’d already had a woman he’d patched. When I’d refused to be his old lady, he’d offered to leave his club.What biker does that?

My immediate conclusion that he was doing all he could to ensure I stayed until Duke arrived, was beginning to dissipate as the days pass and Duke still hasn’t turned up.

---