Page 28 of Viper
Left, right, left, right.
I continue the momentum, not slowing down, refusing to think about what I did two nights ago in my office, which I’m now having redecorated for when I return —if I return.
I’ve made my mind up, I will be going nomad, even if it means going against the club.
Blade hasn’t called church about it yet and I’m not stupid, I know he’s stalling but it’s just a waste of time. After what I did, I need to leave, to get my head right, to see if being with Lake is something I want in the future.
She never mentioned her friends' names, only that she made a few before we got together with the help of a woman who basically raised her – Anna, Blade’s mama – again without mentioning names. She never mentioned her mother's name either, only that she didn’t want her.
I know in my heart that it’s all innocent. I can feel that it is, but in my head, all I see is a patch chaser because of my past.
I step back and swing my body to the right, bringing my leg up and kicking the bag before punching it repeatedly.
“Brother,” I hear when I hit the bag, once, twice, three times, but I don’t look, knowing it’s Blade.
“You here to tell me that you’ve called church?” I grunt as I hit the bag again.
He replies, “Uh, no, actually, Kitty tried to press charges against you, claiming sexual assault.”
I snort, “Shocker,” as I hit the bag again, not surprised at all that she tried that shit.
“It hasn’t stuck. Venom sent the feds the video footage of her willingly walking into your office and undressing before you kicked her out after we got a heads up,” he explains, but I don’t react. I keep giving the bag quick jabs, ignoring the sweat dripping down my brow, and I try to breathe through them.
“Brother, can you stop for a moment, please?” Blade says gently, and I sigh, grabbing the bag so it doesn’t swing back and hit me in my face, and turn to him, crossing my arms over my bare chest, raising a brow at him.
His eyes go to my side, noticing ‘Lake’ tattooed large across my right ribcage before we lock eyes, concern etching in his.
You don’t tat a woman’s name on a brother's skin unless they see her as her forever.
“You’re not going nomad,” he cuts to the point and I tense, my jaw ticking. He admits, “We held a club meeting an hour ago. I thought it would be best if you weren’t there.”
I chuckle darkly and confirm, “You thought, leaving out your Sergeant at Arms was for the best?”
He nods, not backing down, and confirms, “I do because it was about my Sergeant at Arms leaving the club for god knows how long, and we all agreed if we let you leave, you won’t come back, so your request for going nomad was declined, a full vote against it.”
“I wasn’t asking for permission to leave, Leo. If I want to go, I will go,” I state, and this time his jaw ticks, knowing he won’t be able to stop me.
Staying here is no longer an option. I’m beginning to snap, and he knows it.
Instead of starting an argument we both know is about to break out, he changes tactics and admits, “Randy had a word with me this morning.”
I sigh, really not wanting to do this, and begin to fade him out until he’s gone, but he ignores my reaction and continues, “He’s worried about Lake.”
That gets my attention, though, because if he’s worried, then we all have a reason to be concerned.
“What do you mean he’s worried?” I demand as I take a step forward, uncrossing my arms from my chest and fisting my hands at my side.
“She mentioned quitting med school,” he admits, and my mouth parts in shock.
What the fuck?
I choke, “Med school? She’s in med school?”
He sighs, “Apparently so, and clearly you didn’t know.”
I scoff, “Another thing she omitted, huh?”
I can’t help the anger in my voice. She kept it from me, along with the fact that Cherri was her mother and she was friends with Ivy and Skylar. She fucking kept so much from me, proving she never truly trusted me.
