“Why write to her? You started it, right? Has to be a reason,” Ace countered.
“Well, I wanted to thank her.”
“For what?” His gaze dropped to her breast. “Not her heart beating in your chest.”
Addison licked her lips. “No, but it is her brother’s. She was open to hearing from me, and I appreciate that.”
“Could’ve said that in a letter, but here you are. Why?”
“I wanted to meet her.”
“Why?”
Jesus, what are you a toddler?Why? Why? Why?Addison shifted in her seat, trying to maintain her composure. It was apparent they had zero interest in getting to know her. Did any of her answers really matter?No.Inadvertently, it put her on the defense.
“I guess I could ask you the same thing, right? Cleo said you all wanted to meet me.Why?”
She kept her eyes on Ace but felt the temperature in the room plummet to icy. He smirked, and his gaze narrowed.
Oh hell.It wasn’t meant as a challenge, but she was getting the idea he thought it was. Ace leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table and clasping his hands. A chill ran down her spine.
“’Cause we don’t know you. And when a stranger shows up, we wanna know who the fuck you are and why you’re here.”
“I think she…” Cleo clamped her lips tight when Ace held up his hand, silencing her. The man obviously wielded a lot of power over the club.
“Like I said, I came here to meet Cleo.” Addison swallowed the knot in her throat. “As for who I am? I’m a nobody, really. There’s nothing special about me.”
Making herself small and insignificant was never something she’d done. But she was sensing her presence was drudging up old wounds directly connected to Knox. How could she have not considered how they would all feel with her showing up? As Cleosaid, they were family. Knox’s. Cleo had been open to her, but they’d never agreed to it.
Cross jerked his head. “You got our brother’s fucking heart beating in your chest, and that’s nothing special to you?”
What?Oh my God, no!That wasn’t at all what she meant. She inched closer to the table, shaking her head and keeping her eyes locked on Cross.
“No, of course not. That’s not what I meant.” She had so much more to say, but Cross didn’t allow it.
He pointed across the table, a fire in his gaze as if she was his mortal enemy with venom lacing his tone. “The only reason you’re fucking here is because he’s dead. That ain’tspecialenough for you?”
Addison flinched. It was as if he’d struck her. A powerful gut-punch stealing her breath and leaving her speechless. It was the truth delivered with venomous hatred. She shook her head, searching for anything that could somehow make this right. But she wasn’t given any time.
Cross pushed up from the table, sending his chair flying back a few feet, and he stormed through the back door. She had no idea where it led to. The only saving grace was it put space between them. Exactly what she wanted.
The only reason you’re fucking here is because he’s dead.
Addison dropped her gaze to the table fighting against her tears.
I know.
****
Cross paced around the back room, doing laps around the fighting cage in the middle of the room. His anger was at an all-time high with no outlet.
“Well played, brother.”
Cross glanced through the fencing to the opposite side of the room. Cue and Ghost were positioned by one of the tables, watching him. He rounded the cage, glaring. The last thing he wanted was company or a lecture.
“What?”
Ghost laughed, looking over at Cue before addressing Cross. “What? Is that what you asked? Fuck, Cross. I was waiting for you to toss the table and go after her.”
