Page 82 of Consequences

“She knew the rules before anything started,” he snaps at her. “I told her from the very beginning I was no good for her, but she didn’t want to listen. She wants the rules as much as Ineedthem.”

“Need them?”

Undertaker’s hands lift into the air. “Look, this is my relationship, not yours.”

“You have the power to break her. She’s losing all control over her own life, so if you wake up one day and decide you don’t want her anymore, it’ll be like killing her. That’s what you’ve set her up for.”

“Wait, you’re worried I’m going to hurt her?”

“She’s not allowed to have a support system outside of you. And the club, I guess, so you better be damn sure you’re in this for the long haul. If the appeal of whatever fantasies you have wears off, you’ve put her into a position to completely shatter. I’ve been there, and it sucks.”

Letting out a deep breath, all anger and defensiveness wears away. She’s worried about Jamie. “Are you planning to share this with Colt?”

“Not unless I think he needs to step in and do something. Look, what you do in your relationship is between you two, but I’m telling you right now that if you hurt her, I will find a way to hurt you in return. I like her. I think she’s sweet. So, if you’re not all the way in this, walk away.”

“So, you don’t think this fucked up? You’re just worried about her?”

Lex juts out her chin and drops her jaw as she blinks at him a few times. “Oh, I totally think this is fucked up, but like you said, I don’t get a say in your relationship. But you didn’t see her when we left there, Undertaker. She was visibly shaking in the passenger seat because she broke a rule. She was scared you were mad and would leave her.”

Closing his eyes, he leans his head back against the wall. That night outside the bar affected her more than he thought. “I’m not going to leave her.”

“It sounds like you have already. Women don’t miss patterns. Some women choose to ignore them, but they’re always there for us. Trust me.”

“Thanks, Lex.”

“For threatening you? Oh, baby, anytime.”

A conversation needs to be had with Jamie. He knew something was wrong, but he didn’t think she’s be scared that he would leave her again. Not over something out of her control.

He walks out of the Chapel and crouches down when he reaches Jamie. “We gotta stay somewhere else for a few days,” he says, his voice as soft as he can make it. “The house is more than a little destroyed.”

“Here?” Jamie asks, but her eyes don’t meet his.

“No, not here. We’ll get a room at the hotel. We need some privacy to talk.”

Tears fill her eyes, but she nods. “Okay.”

The fear she feels makes him hate himself, and it doesn’t help when he looks up to find Lex leaning against the wall outside the Chapel glaring at him with arms crossed over her chest. It feels like he just had a conversation with Jamie’s protective big sister, and he kind of loves Lex for it. She admitted to feeling responsible for Jamie, and he has someone else looking out for his girl.

Now, he just needs to figure out how to fix things with Jamie. His rules are supposed to prevent this type of situation from happening, but clearly he’s failed.

“Ididn’t ignore your calls, I swear,” Jamie says as soon as the hotel door shuts. “I was tied up and couldn’t answer. My dad and Ron attacked when I got home—”

“I’m not mad at you, Jamie,” Undertaker says.

Her lip trembles, and she sits down on the bed. “I didn’t mean to tell Lex about the rules. I’m not sure if they’re supposed to be a secret, but she said she already knew. And you know her. She doesn’t exactly let up. But I told her I was fine with them. That I felt like I’m becoming who should be.”

Crouching down in front of her, he rests his hands on her legs. “She ripped me a new one in that clubhouse, baby doll. She’s worried about you. But more than that, she told me how scared you were that I would leave you.”

“I am.”

Am. Not was. Damn it.

“The rules aren’t meant to be a fear tactic, Jamie. They’re supposed to help keep us in a solid place, but I don’t think that’s what’s happening here.”

“I love you,” she whispers, shocking him even as she looks at him with glossy eyes. “I’ve known for a while, and it makes the thought of you walking away from me again terrifying. The last time I broke the rules, you almost shipped me away.”

“You love me?”

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