Page 32 of Bully's Darkness
She hesitates then glances down. That silence presses in like a vice.
“I saw Dagger,” she says finally, voice quiet. “He found us in the bathroom. Told us to stay put ‘til the cops showed.”
I blink. “Sorry, what?”
She shrugs, but it’s stiff. “He . . . he found us in the bathroom.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to slow my thoughts before they spiral into violence. “Youspoketo him?” Bria snortsa half-giggle. I turn my gaze on her, slow and cold, and the amusement dies on her lips. “Don’t hold back,” I say, my voice like ice.
“It’s nothing,” Liv snaps, throwing her sister a warning glare.
“If you don’t tell me the truth,hewill,” I bite out. “And he’ll do it with that smug fucking grin, and that will piss me off more and I’ll do something stupid, something to stop him grinning ever again. So, Liv, what did he say that’s got your sister acting like a giddy teenager?”
She hesitates. “He just called me beautiful.” My stomach twists. Rage flares like a flame to fuel.
Bria jumps in, her tone singsong. “He touched her cheekand called her beautiful,” she says, smiling wide. “And then he called herhisgood girl.”
My vision tunnels, blood roaring in my ears. Dagger had his hands on her. And hefucking smiledwhile he did it. I clench my fists so tight, my knuckles crack. My jaw’s wired shut, teeth grinding like a slow-burn fuse.
Dagger touched her.
He called her beautiful.
He fucking called herhisgood girl.
“I’ll kill him,” I whisper. Not a threat, a promise. My voice is calm in the way a loaded gun is calm.
“Bully,” Liv says quickly, stepping closer. Her hands come to my chest, grounding me. “He didn’t hurt us. He could’ve, but he didn’t. He kept the others out. He made sure we were safe.”
“Oh, so now he’s ahero?” I snarl. “That piece of shit walks in, touches you, plays protector, and you think that means something?”
Her face hardens. “I’m notsayingthat. I’m saying he had the chance to do damage and hedidn’t.”
“Yet.” My voice is razor-sharp. “But hewill. That’s what this is—a move. A warning. A fuckinggame.”
Behind me, I hear Boss muttering into his phone, pulling strings and calling in favours. Smiler and Taz flank us like guards, eyes scanning for threats.
Liv lowers her voice, trying to steady mine. “He looked me in the eye, Bully. He knew exactly who I was, who I belonged to. And he still walked away. Why?”
“Because he wanted you totellme.” I meet her eyes, cold and steady. “This? All of this? It wasn’t a favour. It was a fuckingmessage.He touched what’s mine, and now, I’ve got a decision to make.” She flinches at the word ‘mine’ but doesn’t argue.
“I didn’t agree to you using me as a pawn in your macho game,” she says.
I reach up and tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear, gentler than I feel. “You didn’t, but you left the board, Liv. That’s how he got close.”
She looks away, guilt shadowing her face.
I step back, glancing over to where the guys are. “Boss, get me everything on Dagger’s movements tonight. Who he came with. Who saw him leave.”
“Already on it,” Boss says grimly. “And Pres . . . we got a war coming.”
I nod once, eyes still on Liv.
“No,” she whispers. “You’ve hada warning.Don’t turn it into a war.”Too late,I think, but I don’t say it.
I call church the second we get back, leaving Liv strict instructions to stay in the clubhouse. After tonight, I think she’ll be following my orders.
The table is packed. Everyone who matters is here, patched members only. Doors locked. Voices low. Tension high.
