Released (Devil's Blaze MC #3)(8)

I shrug it off. I’m probably just imagining it because I hate her and would like to see her die a horrible fiery death, or at least have to move to another country. One of those.

When we make it back to my room, Skull slams the door and then leans against it with his arms crossed. He seems to be waiting for me to talk. Too bad my brain seems to have short-circuited. I’m trying to remember my new resolve to face things head-on. Instead, I notice the changes in Skull. In the week since I’ve been back, I haven’t really looked at him. He’s gotten older. Sure, it has been two years, but he looks so much older. His eyes, which always sparkled with heat and humor, now look dull and cold. Another thing I did.

I shake it off. I can’t go down that road.

“Well? Spit it out, Beth,” he growls.

“So sorry I’m holding you up from getting lucky,” I snarl back. I’m pretty fed up and, all of a sudden, it feels easier to stick to my new decision. I’m done letting him or anyone push me around.

I’m done.





Her response shocks me, but I’m not about to get into this with her. I need to stay away from her. I can’t let her see just how much she gets to me.

“I don’t have time for your bullshit, Beth. Just tell me what you wanted to say and get it over with. I have things to do,” I tell her, keeping my voice cold.

“I want to leave.”

“Not happening.”

“Kidnapping is against the law, Skull, and I’ve had enough of men keeping me against my will. I want to take my daughter and leave,” she growls.

That pulls my attention to her face instead of the way that damn robe is caressing her body.

“My daughter stays here. She’s not leaving this compound, Beth.”

“Bullshit. Living in a club with a bunch of horny bikers getting their rocks off is no place for a small child.”

“I can remember a time you didn’t mind it.”

“I’m not that woman anymore, Skull.”

“A pity. I actually liked that woman,” I tell her, and I can see the exact moment my words hit her. She flinches. You would think that would bring me some sort of satisfaction. It doesn’t. If anything, it bothers me that it hurt her. Which, in turn, just makes me mad for still being a fool when it comes to her.

“Something about being lied to, held captive, almost dying and killing someone, changes you. Go figure. You said you weren’t turning me over to Colin,” she states, waiting for me to answer. I want to yell at her, shake her and ask if she ever knew who the f*ck I was. How could she even think I would do that? How? God, I wish I could hate her.

“I’ve had enough of this bullshit,” I growl, turning to leave.

“I’m not staying, Skull. I’m going to leave, and I will take my daughter with me.”

“If you think I will ever let you keep my daughter away from me again, Beth…”

“I don’t want to keep her away from you,” she says, and the shock in her voice is not fake. I study her face, looking for signs that she’s taking me for a ride, but don’t find any.

“Then she stays here. You need to be close to her, so you need to be here too, at least for now. Problem solved. Now, if you’ll excuse me…”

“I’m not staying, and you’re welcome to see and visit Gabby anytime.”

“That doesn’t work for me,” I tell her, turning to face her fully.

“Too bad. Gabby and I can find a home close to your club. You can see her anytime and you can keep her and spend time with her within reason.”

“Will you listen to yourself? ‘Within reason’? This is my child we’re talking about. A child that you kept hidden from me. I’m not about to give you that chance again and no one, Beth, will ever keep my child from me again!”

“I’m not trying to keep you from her! But, I’m not about to give her up either. We have to learn to work this out, Skull! For Gabby!”

“She’s here and you’re here and that’s it. It’s worked out!”

“It’s not worked out. You can’t stand to look at me! Your girlfriend is outside waiting to…”

“To what, Beth? Go ahead say it! I dare you.”

“It’s none of my business what you choose to do with her,” she growls, her face red and her hair scattered across her shoulder, rumpled from her being in bed. I shouldn’t find her sexy in the midst of this fight. I shouldn’t even notice it, but I do.

And my dick does. Motherf*cker.

“You got that right. Christo! You lost the chance to care about who was in my bed when you lied to me and planned to leave me that day in Beast’s hospital room! Anything that has happened since is on you, Beth. It’s all on you.”

“Bullshit! What would you have had me do, Skull? I was nineteen, scared of my father. I was ready to tell him to f*ck off, to leave me alone. In fact, I had. But he had one last card to play. My sister. Did you expect me to just let him kill her? I couldn’t do that. I still wouldn’t, even if I could go back, I’d help Katie. I’d save Katie!”

“And that’s the problem, isn’t it Beth? You chose Katie over me. Over a life with me and my daughter. You turned your back on me. You didn’t give me a chance to try and save Katie for you. You didn’t trust me with anything!” I growl, her words wounding me, cutting open holes in my soul I thought scabbed over, creating pain where I had finally thought I was dead.