Page 47 of Ravaged and Ruined
“He’s not mad at you,” Marianna says after a beat. “You know that, right?”
“I know,” I whisper. “He’s mad because he cares. And that scares the hell out of him.”
“He loves you,” Zoey adds, even though I didn’t ask.
“I don’t know about that.” I admit, “He won’t let himself, not fully anyways.”
We sit in silence after that. Waiting. Listening for the sound of boots on the stairs. Mostly I’m wondering if Aero is ever coming back. My stomach knots tighter with every passing minute that feels like an eternity. My thoughts wander around my tired brain. Should I have told him sooner? Does he believeI didn’t intend to keep it from him? Did I fuck this up before it even had a chance?
Suddenly the door flies open, jerking me from my thoughts and making Zoey jump back, startled. Aero storms in like a hurricane of fury. His eyes lock onto me. His jaw is tight, and his eyes are darker than I’ve ever seen.
He heads straight for my closet without a word, grabbing my duffel from the top shelf and yanking it open. The girls scramble to their feet as my clothes hit the bed in handfuls.
“What the hell are you doing?”
He doesn’t answer, he just keeps shoving T-shirts, jeans, bras, whatever he gets his hands on into the bag.
“What the hell are you doing?” I demand, pushing off the bed and blocking his path.
“Packing your stuff.” he snaps. “You’re leaving.”
“Like hell I am.” I cross my arms over my chest.
He stops, looks at me without even a flicker of emotion cracking the surface. “You think I’m giving you a choice right now?”
“You think I’m gonna just leave?” My voice shakes, but I don’t care.
“No. I think you’re gonna leave because I’m telling you to.” His voice is cold as ice and the rage in his eyes earlier has turned to steel.
“Where the hell am I going?”
“Lacey, don’t fight me on this.”Lacey. Not Bambola.I swallow hard as the realization that he means it hits me in the chest. “Cobra is expecting you at the KDMC clubhouse this evening.
“You called my brother?”
“I did. And when I told him what happened he put a damn clock on your ass. So get your shit together. You don’t have a lot of time.”
“I can’t believe you.”
“Believe it. Clocks ticking. You’ve got three hours.”
“Why are you doing this?” His jaw ticks, but still he shows no real emotion. Just that blank, hard stare.
“Because it’s not safe for you here.” He states like it’s an undeniable truth.
“Are you sending them away too? Emery, Zoey?” I turn to look in their direction and find them gone. Maybe that’s for the best. This is between Aero and I. “Or is it just me?”
His silence is answer enough. I open my mouth to fire back, to claw at the control he’s trying to yank from me. I want to scream. I want to throw shit. Most of all I want to cry but I refuse to act like a spoiled child when I need him to see me as a woman strong enough to handle what comes with being his.
Instead I snap my mouth shut. What more can I really say. He’s the President of the club and if he wants me gone, I’m as good as gone already.
I don’t say anything to Aero, I don’t even look at him again. I zip the bag myself and walk out of the room like my chest isn’t splitting open with every step.
When I reach the bottom of the stairs, I find the rest of the club members lurking around like they aren’t sure what they should be doing right now. Emery’s eyes go wide when she spots the bag slung over my shoulder. She approaches me fast, drawing me into a tight hug that wretches my heart even more. Not only am I being sent away from Aero, I’m being sent away from my best friend and our plans.
“We’ll talk every day.” Emery whispers like she’s also holding back tears. “Be careful.”
Marianna hugs me next, “Keep in touch.”
