Page 21 of Word to the Wise

Given what Sage said about him, I don’t think Carter’s dumb enough to come to town, but I’d love for him to do it anyway.

“I’ve known Reed since she was sixteen,” Jude says, raking his hair back. “That fucking asshole deserves everything that’s coming to him.”

Jude might be friendly when it comes to work at the shop, but he doesn’t bother trying to hide the fact that he’ll fuck someone up if they test him.

“I’d have fun with him.” Crew’s pale eyes glimmer. “Put him in the ring, and we can go a few rounds until I cave his face in on itself.”

“I’ll help,” Jude offers.

Crew nods, and his dark expression tells me just how much he likes that thought as he looks over at me. “How’s Reed?”

“She’s Reed, so she’s hiding it well.” I say it like I know her when I don’t. “But if you saw what he did...”

Rage boils up inside me. Those fitful demons thrashing around, begging me to let them out.

“I’ve no doubt.” Crew shakes his head. “She’s staying with you?”

“Yeah.” I take a breath and try to lay the angry beasts between my temples to rest. “For now. She doesn’t want to go to the clubhouse, and I think she’s comfortable there.”

Jude and Crew share a look.

“It’s not like that with Reed.” I stop whatever they’re thinking before they get the chance to make it more than it is. “Besides, Sage already gave me the lecture about not touching his sister the last time she came to town.”

“Sage is a fucking hypocrite.” Crew laughs. “He’s the one who went and fucked his MC president’s daughter.”

When Crew puts it that way, I guess he’s right. Sage knew Lyla was off-limits, and it didn’t stop him.

“Still. That was before. But now…” I rake my hair back. “Reed’s going through shit, and I’m not an asshole. She doesn’t need that.”

If Reed had come to town for any other reason, I don’t doubt I’d have flirted with her the moment I got the chance. Boyfriend or not, that girl tempted me the first time I laid eyes on her. But this is different. She’s trying to heal, and I’m not about to put my selfish desires ahead of whatever she’s going through.

The last thing she needs is some guy asking for pieces when she’s in the middle of trying to sort them out.

“I know, man. We’re just fucking with you.” Jude pats me on the shoulder as he walks past me. “Take care of her, all right? And let us know if there’s anything we can do to help.”

A knot forms in my throat that makes it impossible to speak. I’m choking for air as the room closes in around me. I nod at the guys, but they’re blurry as I make my way back to my station and shut the door behind me.

The demons are winning again.

I’ve failed once, and they’re taunting me like it renders me incompetent.

Everything’s loud when I’m itching to silence it. But I can’t.

For her, I close my eyes and focus.

For her, I find a reason to be here.

I can’t fail Reed like I failed my sister.

7

Reed

These past couple ofweeks, Mason has been busy at the shop and Lyla hasn’t been feeling well, which has left me with too much time to think and not enough to do. It probably doesn’t help that I’ve been hiding away in my room most of the time since it’s easier than facing people.

Every night when Mason gets home, he checks in on me. He’ll appear in the doorway to my room, and I’ll realize I’ve been in bed all day sleeping or thinking.

He’ll cook dinner, regardless of what time he gets off work, and offer me a plate of food. He must really enjoy cooking because I’ve never met anyone who goes through the trouble no matter how late in the evening it is.

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