I tipped my head back, closing my eyes. I heard a gasp from the back of the room. I opened my eyes and saw Mae standing in the doorway, watching the scenes on the TV. She edged forward, taking in the mass of bodies. A close-up of Judah came onscreen, and Mae stilled. “Oh God . . . ” she whispered as she saw the shitshow that was her old life in technicolor. Her fucking wolf eyes shimmered with tears.
Shit. She looked exhausted. Her long hair was wet from the storm. Mae blinked. “That could have been us. This would have been us had we not gotten out.”
Mae seemed to snap herself out of her fuckin’ trance then looked at me. Her cheeks drained of color, but she schooled her fuckin’ features and straightened her spine. I almost smirked as she stood defiantly before me. Just like she had in that fuckin’ barn.
I gripped the bottle tighter in my hand. I had no fuckin’ idea what to say to her. I didn’t know whether to be pissed or proud. But one thing was for sure, she’d just brought a shit-ton of trouble to my door.
The brothers could turn on me over this shit.
Mae moved toward me. I tensed, wondering what the fuck was about to happen, when she shocked me all to hell by straddling my thighs.
I grunted as she sat herself the fuck down and pressed her forehead to mine. I closed my eyes and put my bottle on the side table so I could place my hands on her tiny waist.
Mae began kissing down my cheek and along my neck. I held her tighter as my cock began to harden. Her hands ran down my bare chest, and I lifted my fingers to her hair, fisting the strands tight so I could smash her mouth to mine.
Mae cried out as I sunk my tongue along next to hers and dragged her pussy along my hard cock in my leathers. She broke away, trying to breathe. I never let go of her though. She was staying right fucking here.
“Styx,” Mae said breathlessly, then edged back on my lap. Her wolf eyes met mine and I saw the plea in her face. “You cannot kill him. Please. For me. You cannot.”
I dropped my head back, trying to keep from turning Mae over and fucking her into next year. Her mouth moved back to my neck. I stared up at the ceiling. “Y-You f-fucked u-up.”
Mae broke from my neck. She brought herself higher so her face looked down on mine. “I know,” she said softly. “But . . . but I cannot regret it. I love my sister, Styx. She deserves to be as happy as Lilah and Maddie.” Mae ran her finger down my face. Her eyes filled with that fucking look she only wore when she looked at me, and it just about destroyed me. “She deserves to be as blissfully happy as I am with you.”
Mae took my hand from her waist and moved it over her stomach. “I saw how lost she was when she saw Maddie, Lilah and me, happy in our freedom. Then I saw how she was with Rider . . . and how he was with her.” My nose flared as she mentioned that dick.
“I know he has done wrong. But I also agree with Bella. Rider has done nothing but try to make amends for his role in this mess, ever since he realized it was all false. More than his role, his brother’s and uncle’s too. We need to let it be. I will not see Bella hurt by my husband’s hand. I . . . ” Tears built in her eyes. “I could not cope with being the reason for her pain. She has suffered enough. Rider has suffered enough. Just . . . stop.”
“M-Mae,” I groaned and shook my head. “I-I c-can’t.”
“You can,” she said. “It is quite simple really. You just forgive him and move on.”
I raised my eyebrow and almost fucking cracked when she laughed at my silence. She was so fucking beautiful, the most stunning bitch there ever was. As if she’d read my mind, she kissed my lips and said, “I love you too.”
She sobered up. “Styx?” I flicked my chin. Mae sighed. “I am done with all the blood and pain. A miracle was awarded to us when Bella came home. The commune is done. There is no more hurt. So forgive Rider. He is Bella’s husband. She loves him . . . just let it go. Allow them to live in the happiness they have found.”
When I didn’t say shit in response, Mae asked, “Will you consider it? For me, please?”
To answer her question, I rolled her over until her back was flat against the couch. Mae cried out in surprise, but then her wolf eyes grew heavy and her hands ran through my hair. Reaching down, I pulled my cock from my leathers and hitched up her dress.
I didn’t wanna think about Rider. I wanted to forget about tonight, period. Right now I just wanted to sink my cock in Mae’s wet pussy and make my bitch scream.
So I did. Over and over a-fucking-gain
*****
Two days later . . .
I entered church last, dropping to my seat at the head of the table. I hadn’t seen my brothers in two days. I’d had a fucking lot of thinking to do.
Each of my brothers was staring at me. When my eyes fell on Vike, his face was blank.
For once, my fucking heart pounded. For once I felt real fucking fear at what I was about to say. But, fuck, it was what was gonna happen. I’d take the fallout, whatever the fuck it might be.
I lifted my hands. “Rider ain’t gonna die.” As Ky said the words aloud, I felt the tension rise in the room. “Y’all can think what the fuck you want of me, I don’t give two shits, but he’s with Bella now, and that bitch is family. I ain’t gonna fuck with my family.” I took a breath. “I got things the turncoat rat needs to stick to, or I will take him out. But he ain’t gonna die today.” Moving forward in my seat, I shucked off my cut and slammed it on the table. I met each of my brothers’ faces and signed, “You want me to step down as prez, just say the fuckin’ word. This is my club, my fuckin’ life. But I ain’t gonna move on this decision. Just say the word and I’ll hand the reins to Ky.” I took my knife from my pocket and held it over my ‘Prez’ patch.
I saw Ky shaking his head. But this wasn’t his call. If the brothers had lost faith in me, they needed to open their fucking mouths and say so.