Page 30 of Cold Hard Truth

“I told you, Sage. I’m not going to be some biker’s girlfriend.” I step to the side, slipping out of his grip and pulling his hands off me.

“What are you talking about?” He follows me to the front door, not letting it go. “It’s not like I became a biker in the past week. I’ve been prospecting for months. You knew that when we—”

But he doesn’t say what we did. Someone might hear, or he might have to admit to himself he crossed a line.

“I knew,” I agree because he’s right. “And it was everything I wanted it to be. But this is as far as we go.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” His gaze darkens now, and I feel myself closing off. “After what we did? You’re seriously going to just fucking walk away?”

“It was just something we had to get out of our system.” I’m not sure how the words even get out. I wish I could take them back, but I don’t. Saying I don’t mean it gives in to the fairytale.

“You don’t mean that.”

I shrug, not able to confirm or deny because I’d either be lying or feeding the beast I need to stop giving in to.

“Come on, Lyla.” He reaches for my hand. “Don’t do this. We just need to figure out—”

“What do we need to figure out, Sage?” I roll my shoulders back. “How to tell Kane? How to make this work? What are you asking of me, Sage? To be your girlfriend? To sit around while you go who-knows-where and do who-knows-what for however long Kane needs you? To give up any chance of a future just to be some girl you have waiting around for you at the clubhouse. My mom did that. And do you know where she ended up? With two daughters and a shit apartment in the city once Kane was done with her. I’m not becoming that.”

“I wouldn’t do that to you.”

“You say that now.” And he might even mean it. “But you grew up here too. You know how it is.”

His jaw tenses, but he doesn’t argue because he knows I’m right. The club breeds men incapable of caring about anyone but themselves.

“Ellie’s finally back in LA,” I say, shifting the conversation. “She moved back when you were out on that last run. And I think it’s best if I go to stay with her in the city for a while. Get some distance.”

“From me or the club?”

“From both.”

Sage’s body is rigid. The color drains from his face, and his expression turns to stone with whatever he’s thinking. I can sense him wanting to argue, and part of me wishes he would, even if it won’t change anything.

We were destiny, and we had that.

Now it’s done.

“Okay.” Sage nods.

It’s ridiculous that one word breaks me. But when he doesn’t argue, it proves my point. He isn’t going to fight for us just like I can’t find the energy to.

“Okay,” I repeat, all the air leaving my chest.

“I didn’t mean—”

“It’s fine.” I step back.

“Lyla, I’m not saying I agree with this.” His teeth clench, and I sense him holding so much back. “But I’m not going to stop you if you want to leave. It’s your decision if that’s what you want.”

“It’s what I want.”

At least, it’s what I wish I wanted.

“All right. But for the record, I don’t agree with this.”

“With what?”

“What you’re doing to us.”

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