Page 70 of Hellbent
Instead, Ryder speaks. “You know, nobody here owes you shit, Maxwell.”
The words hit like a slap, threatening to shake my resolve. I blink, square my shoulders.
“Wyatt gave you a place to stay and a job. We made space for you. Let you in. And that comes with certain expectations for how you behave in this group.”
Perfect. A lecture.
“We shouldn’t have done it,” I say, making sure to include Damian in thatwe, since his absence is so conspicuous. I’m guessing he didn’t get this lecture. “I will always be grateful for everything you all did for me. Thank you.”
Wyatt blinks, like something I said surprised him. Ryder narrows his eyes, studying me.
“Jake, Damian, me, Wyatt—” He nods toward Wyatt. “We’re closer than brothers. We’ve been through hell together. We didn’t just serve together. We survived together. We lost people together. And after everything, we came here, and we made something solid. Something that works. Introducing someone new…that’s always going to change the dynamic, but you needed us, and we were there for you.”
I suck in a breath, feeling my patience thin. Two months of hospitality I never felt I deserved, and now he wants to make sure IknowI never deserved it.
“I said I’m sorry. Did Damian have to say he was sorry too?”
Ryder’s eyes flare. “This is about respect, Maxwell.”
I wet my lips, trying to hold my ground. “I said I was sorry,” I try again, keeping my voice even. “I don’t know what else to say. I’m sorry.”
I glance at Wyatt again, but his expression is inscrutable now. More restrained. He’s letting Ryder take the lead.
Ryder leans forward. “You have a job at the garage, but it isn’t a free ride.”
I bristle. “I work my ass off in the garage!”
He arches an eyebrow, slow and cold. “Yeah. So I heard.”
My eyes go wide before I can school my face.
It’s the way he said it. So Wyatt told him.Everything.
Shame floods through me, burning under my skin. I can picture it, the conversation they must have had. What Wyatt saw. What he said. What they both think of me now.
I can’t stop the heat creeping up my spine, a mix of anger and humiliation.
“I’ll leave, okay?” The words burst out of me, fast and defensive. No emotion, I remind myself.Neutral expression. Dry eyes.But it’s hard to fight the grief breaking loose inside me.
Jake, Damian, Wyatt. My job at the garage. My little backroom bedroom that was all my own.
What a humiliating way to lose it all. Because of a sex act. An indecency.
I force my voice steady. “I’ll go back to the garage, get my stuff, and leave tonight.”
Wyatt shifts, his expression cracking into something softer. “Max—”
But Ryder cuts him off.
“We’re not asking you to leave, Maxwell. We’re asking you to be a thoughtful member of this community.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “Which amounts to the same thing. An excuse wrapped up in a justification. And I’m to blame for my actions, while Damian isn’t to blame for his.” I shake my head. “No, I get it. I’ve seen it a thousand times before. I’ll just leave this time, so I don’t have to go through another lecture next time you find yourself getting very interested in what I do with my body.”
The silence is brittle.
“Max—” Wyatt starts.
But I spin on my heels to leave.
