Shade had given Viper the information he needed to keep Miranda’s mouth closed, but Kaley was a vicious bitch who didn’t care about anyone other than herself.
Train felt guilty for introducing Kaley to the club. The man had a soft spot for women and couldn’t stand to see them hurt. More than one of the women members had fallen in love with Train, but none had been successful in capturing his elusive heart. Shade doubted any woman would, but if they wanted his dick, then he was more than willing to oblige.
Beth stood, waiting for Lily by her dorm door, and Lily paused before continuing down the sidewalk, keeping her eyes averted from Razer and him. Shade knew damn well she had seen them, though.
While Beth and Lily talked for a brief moment before walking toward a bench under a tree, Shade watched the expressions of the two sisters. Lily’s was hard, while Beth’s was filled with hurt.
“It’s not going well,” Razer said.
“No shit.”
Lily looked like she had lost ten pounds since she had left Treepoint, and the dress she was wearing needed to be cut into pieces and buried so it couldn’t be sewn back together again. Who in the fuck would make a dress in that ugly color?
After Lily stood up then went inside her dorm, Beth sat there, watching her go inside.
Razer and Shade walked to the bench when they saw Beth bury her face in her hands.
“Beth, please don’t cry, kitten.” Razer sat down next to her, pulling her into his arms.
“I’ve lost her, Razer. I can see it in her eyes. She’s so hurt. It’s like looking into an open wound.”
“She’ll get over it.”
“No, Razer, she won’t. She thinks I’ve lied and deceived her, and she’s right. I should have told her at least parts of it; she could have taken that. What she can’t accept is the one person she trusted hiding things from her.”
“Did she tell you not to talk to her anymore?”
“No, but she told me to give her clothes away. She’s cutting herself off from me.”
“Then don’t let her,” Shade said from behind them.
Beth looked over her shoulder at him. “She knows everything now, Shade. She knows that Razer and you both are original members. How the women get the votes.”
“She was bound to find out sooner or later. When you, Winter, and Diamond found out, was it any less painful? But each of you got over it and moved on. Lily will, too,” he said firmly.
Lily was stronger than any of the other women. She had endured Hell, surviving to become one of the sweetest, loving women he had ever known. He had no doubt she could make it through this.
“No, she won’t, Shade. Lily is different. She’ll believe that you and Razer took advantage of the women.”
“That won’t last long when she’s around them,” Shade said ironically.
Beth got to her feet. “You just don’t get it, Shade. She’s cut not only me, but us all from her heart. That’s what Lily does. Lily doesn’t give second chances with her love.”
“No, Beth, it’s you who doesn’t understand. Lily’s not going to be given the choice.”
He started his motor, looking up at the dorm room and willing Lily to look out. However, it remained empty, and Shade’s mouth tightened. What he had told Beth was the truth—he wasn’t going to let Lily cut him out of her life without a fight. He had enough patience to outlast anyone or anything.
The problem was would Lily survive while he bided his time? Her fragility had shocked him. He couldn’t stand back and watch her suffer. If it worsened, he would be forced to step in, and when he did, there wouldn’t be any going back.
*
“Get in, Lily.” Shade saw her look through the passenger window at him without saying a word, continuing to walk forward.
“You can either get in, or I’ll put you in.”
“Go away.”
Shade opened the door, getting out of the truck and walking around the front to open the passenger door. “Get in.”
“If you don’t go away, I’ll scream,” Lily threatened.
“Try it and see what I do,” he dared her.
He had ridden back the day before with Razer and Beth just to turn back around with Rider’s truck and check into a hotel nearby. He wasn’t leaving until he knew she would be fine and was eating something, because it looked like she had lost too much weight. He also wanted to make sure she understood everyone’s need to keep her out of the loop.
Lily gave a long sigh, which had Shade wanting to paddle her ass. He wasn’t Beth; his relationship with The Last Riders was one he had every intention of explaining to her, but he wasn’t going to apologize for his relationships with them.