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I saw Liam with an apologetic frown on his face halfway up the stairs to the private area of the club that led to my office.
He knew what I was thinking. Feeling.
He knew how betrayed I felt by Jax and all the shit my life rolled into after what he had done to me. And now, my wife was bundled up on the floor, caring for him, leaning into his fucking touch. It’s been ten fucking years, and only now am I finding myself in a better place with my father. I loathed him for what he did, and I loathed him for what he was about to do.
The thousand-dollar question was… What the fuck was he doing here now?
Maybe he was the one after Francesca.
“Fuck.” I hissed to myself at the thought. I just left her with him, alone, out of whatever it was that I was feeling right now. I didn’t even think about the threats. The only thing thriving in my brain right now was this sense of hurt pride. Betrayal. Eminent fucking loss.
“Liam, they know each other,” I said in a low, pained voice.
“I can see that.” He replied in a monotone, trying his best to hide the concern I already saw etching his features.
“He’s her ex.”
“Fuck!” He cursed before taking in a sharp inhale that I could hear even above the loud music. “Do you think…?” He trailed off, asking the question that was going through my mind as he lightly patted my back in comfort.
“Why else would he be here? Wanting her unharmed, calling her “baby” in the notes… shit like that. It makes sense. Maybe he wants her back. I guess it will be an easy takeover. Seems like the only thing he had to do was ask.” I motioned to where they were, in intimate proximity, as Francesca tried to help him up. “I can’t watch her kneeling there, caring for him.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye on them. I won’t let him take her anywhere.”
“Thank you, Brother. I’ll be in my office.”
“Do you need me to send someone to take a look at that?” Liam asked, motioning to my lip. I put my hand on my bottom lip, my fingers returning bloody. I hadn’t even noticed I was bleeding.
“No. I’m fine.”
I walked up the rest of the stairs, heading straight to my office. I closed the blinds of the tall window that oversaw the whole club, shutting myself off from the outside world. I collapsed onto the couch, the weight of my troubles pulling me down more than what gravity did.
Lighting a cigarette, I took a huge puff as if the smoke could cleanse me from within. Well, I guess this is what it felt like to be jealous.
I despised the fucking feeling, and yet Francesca had me chewing on it more times than I could count. It’s a petty, weak feeling that I despised. But I couldn’t help it. It was like a fucking glowing light I couldn’t stop walking towards, even if it blinded me. Yet somehow, this time, it felt different than all the others.
It was more than just jealousy. It was disappointment.
Francesca’s speech had regressed to be the exact same one as at the beginning of our wedding. As if she didn’t know me. As if I hadn’t spilled my heart out by telling her I loved her.
“I’m not yours, Matt. I’m not a fucking object that you own.”
I didn’t want to own her. I wanted her to willingly give herself to me.
Contrary to what I initially thought, I didn’t want her if I couldn’t have it all.
If I couldn’t have her heart.
She had reached and taken mine in such a short time. And now, after it belonged to her, I couldn’t stand the thought that I couldn’t have hers.
There was no middle ground for me. I was starting to realize that. I’d never been in love before, and not being loved back stung more than a fucking gun wound.
I was arrogant, cocky, and egotistic by thinking I could make her want me. That I could make her love me.
This was the first time I was questioning and maybe even regretting my actions. Not breaking that shit-face’s nose. Tricking Francesca into marrying me. Maybe even telling her that I loved her.
I was spiraling deep into my thoughts about my marriage to the first woman I’d ever loved when suddenly, the noise of the door to my office being abruptly opened rescued me from that dark place I was already reaching.
Liam, Francesa, Jax, and Max stormed in, shutting the door behind them.
