Page 21 of Bully's Darkness
“Why are you suddenly complacent in all this?” she snaps.
Bria looks surprised at the anger aimed her way. “I’m not, but you’re getting so upset. We can get a cab. The good thing is we’re away from that guy.”
I remove my helmet and get off the bike. “That guy who’s part of The Bloody Scorpions,” I say, putting my helmet away.
I head inside with the women hot on my heels. “Am I supposed to know who that is?” Liv demands.
“You’re staying here,” I say. “Both of you.”
“I can’t,” Bria begins, and I spin, narrowing my eyes until she recoils.
“Both of you.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Liv yells. “We have jobs and a life.”
“And then you mixed yourself up in a war.”
She follows me into the office, slamming the door closed. I sit, smiling when Misty jumps on my lap. Liv stands in front of the desk with her hands on her hips, looking around. “It hasn’t changed.” She says it like it leaves a bad taste in her mouth.
“You wanna decorate?” I snap. I open the drawer and pull out a roll of cash, throwing it on the table. “Then decorate, Liv. Whatever makes you happy.”
“Why are you mad at me?” she snaps. “I’m the one who should be mad.”
“You’re always mad. Why change the habit of a lifetime?”
She glares at me then bursts into tears. My heart aches to hold her, but I grip the arms of the chair and force myself to stay seated. “You have this way of making me feel like a nagging old wife,” she cries, swiping angrily at her tears. “Like my reactions are unjustified.” I keep my mouth closed as she begins to pace. “I had everything planned, and you came out of prison and just continued in this life like you’d never left. I waited for you for five years, believing your promises to change your ways. Did you lie just so I’d stick around?”
“No,” I say, frowning, “of course, I didn’t.”
“And the day you got released, I sat outside like a fucking idiot, Bully. I was excited to see you, to finally be able to hold you without being told off by a guard. I chose my outfit, my underwear . . . I even went and had my hair done. I booked us that room so we could spend the day and night uninterrupted.”
“We stayed at the hotel,” I argue.
“To fuck,” she screams back, and Misty growls. “We fucked,” she repeats more calmly.
“And you walked out the next day like we were a one-night stand. So,youmade it seedy, not me.”
“Because that’s how it felt,” she whispers sadly. “The only time you spend any time with me is when you’re inside me.”
“That’s not true.”
“Five years of visits, once a week. Daily phone calls for five minutes. What did you learn about me, Bully?”
I lower my eyes, knowing she’s caught me out. “We’re both adjusting,” I mutter.
“Nothing,” she says, rolling her eyes. “You learned nothing. And the years before that, you spent wrapped in this club. I know this is your life, Bully, and I’ve given up trying to make you notice me. So, let me go. Stop holding on to me when you have other priorities.”
“So you can go and fuck the president of the Scorpions?” I spit. “You think he’ll have more time for you than me?”
“He turned up there. I had no idea.”
“But you sat and had a drink with him.”
“I was being polite.” She sighs. “I have no interest in him or his damn club. But one day, I will move on from you, Bully. Surely, you know that.”
“Why can’t you just stay by my side, support me with the club?”
“You know why.”
