Jethro gasped, true fear coating his face. “It’s not over—”
“Shut. Up.” Cut sliced the air with his arm, silencing him. Looking at me, he snapped, “Leave, Ms. Weaver. Your time is up. I won’t tell you again.”
Jasmine’s gaze shot to Jethro’s. “Don’t let her go, Kite.”
Kite.
My soul splintered.
Bonnie shuffled forward. “I see what you’re doing, girl. Your family have been clever with their tricks and treachery, but I won’t let you spin any more of your filth.” Her wrinkly skin furrowed deeper with rage. “Get. Out. Now.”
“Was this always your plan, Father?” Jethro looked at Cut, panic and rage twisted his face. “You set me up to fail?” The depth of confusion and agony in his voice broke my heart.
My eyes flared wide. I didn’t understand.
“Jethro…he doesn’t matter. None of them do.” I squeezed his arm. “Believe in us. Believe in me.”
“Hush, stupid girl,” Bonnie snapped. “You’re the same as all the rest. Get out.” Pointing at the door, she hissed, “Go!”
The other bikers didn’t do a thing. Just sat and watched.
Jethro never tore his eyes off his father—they were clouded and strained. He was a trebuchet straining to release his tension.
“Don’t do this,” I whispered. “Don’t let them ruin what we have.”
We were damned to our fates, brought together by a ridiculous vendetta. Yet…something right had come out of something so wrong. We’d somehow found the one person we were meant to find.
I can’t go.
“You don’t understand, Nila. It’s not that easy.” Jethro looked at me, running his newly inked finger along the inside of my wrist. “Go, before it’s too late.”
Memories of the way he’d thrust inside me last night filled my mind. I’d meant what I said—I felt him—not just inside me, but what he hid inside him.
It was more than truth.
It had been gospel in its legitimacy.
“Jethro…it’s too late already. I’m meant to stay. With you.”
“She’s right, Kite. Tell the police to leave. Find a way,” Jasmine said.
I looked at Jethro’s sister in her navy wool dress and white pashmina in her lap. Her face was pinched and full of concern. What did she know? Why was she fighting on my side?
Cut slammed his fist onto the table with a resounding thump. “Get your hands off my son and get the fuck out!”
Jethro's face darkened. His gaze sent a brutally painful message.
Leave…at least one of us will be free.
My body wound tighter and tighter.
Tears clogged my throat. “I can’t. I won’t.”
I won’t be free without you.
Cut suddenly barked, “Daniel, seeing as Ms. Weaver refuses to leave, escort her off the premises.”
Daniel chuckled, his eyes glittering as he moved quickly around the table. “With pleasure, Pop.”
“Stop! All of you!” Jasmine shouted, but it didn’t do any good.
In a flash, Daniel grabbed my elbow, hauling me away from Jethro, from our bond, from the only existence I ever wanted.
“No!”
Daniel’s voice licked into my ear. “Fight me and I’ll do something un-fucking-forgivable. Do you want me to do that?”
I tried to stomp on his foot. “You’re a bastard.”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
Jethro lunged, grabbing me and punching Daniel in the jaw. “Get your fucking hands off her.” Whipping me behind his body, he glowered at Cut. “I’ll get rid of her.”
Cut breathed hard. “Good. Then I can deal with you.”
Jethro jolted, every inch tight and breaking.
Without a word, he dragged me toward the exit. He trembled as if he’d shatter at any moment, buckling under the weight.
I squirmed, fighting my aching body. “Let me go! I’m not going anywhere.”
“You’re leaving. If it’s the last thing I do, at least I can keep you safe.”
I struggled harder. “Safe? I don’t want to be safe. I want to be with you.”
“Quiet,” he choked, his face ashen. “It’s better this way.”
“You’re choosing them over me!” I tried to punch him. “Stand up to them. Leave with me. Don’t stay here, Jethro.”
He clenched his jaw and didn’t reply.
He wasn’t strong enough to fight for what we had.
He’s choosing his family over me.
I rolled my arm, twisting out of his hold. Scurrying from his hands, I turned to face Cut. “I don’t know what power you hold over him, but it isn’t enough. He’s mine, not yours.”
“Nila—don’t!” Jethro grabbed me, dragging me backward. “You don’t know what you’re doing. For fuck’s sake, don’t make this worse than it already is.”
Cut grinned broadly. “Congratulations, Nila. You’ve successfully just changed the future.” His eyes fell frigid and evil on Jethro. “I thought there was hope. But you were just too fucking weak.”
The men shifted in their seats. Cut never moved. “Get rid of the girl, Jet. You and I have something we need to discuss.”
Life seemed to siphon from Jethro’s limbs, growing colder by the second.
“No!” Jasmine screeched, rolling forward. “You can’t. You promised!” Tears slid from her eyes, looking at her brother. “Stop this, Kite. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for making you change, for causing—” She stopped, unable to speak through her sobs.
The worst horror I’d ever felt slithered through my blood.
I’m hollow. I’m hurting. What the hell is happening?
Something darker was at work. This wasn’t about me anymore. This was about Jethro. His father.
What would they do to him the moment I left?
I wouldn’t leave him behind.
Linking my fingers with his, I pulled. “Jethro, come with me.”
But he just stood there, rooted to the spot. His eyes wild, lips parted.