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26
Ryder
Without looking at Maddox or anyone else, I push through the crowd with Penny hanging over my shoulder.
The guys are hollering after me to come back, to share her with them like I’m supposed to, but I keep walking to the front of the bar.
Tank, our bouncer, gives me a questionable look when I pass him, but doesn’t make a move to stop me.Thank fuck. He is nicknamed Tank for a reason, after all.
I hurry around the side of the building where my truck is parked and deposit Penny in the passenger’s seat. I’m halfway around the truck when I see Maddox approach.Fuck.
“What the fuck are you thinking?” he snaps at me. “Have you lost your goddamn mind?”
“I’m leaving,” is all I say, grabbing the handle of the door. Before I can pull it open, Maddox shoves me away from the truck.
“Do you even realize what you just did?”
“I know exactly what I did. It’s you that doesn’t realize the mistake you made,” I spit back at him, shoving against his shoulders. “I told you! I told you, I’d fucking handle it, but you had to step in. You had to make sure you got your way.”
I’ve known Maddox for five years, and I can count on one hand the time I could see any kind of emotion written on his face. Right now, there is no doubt about what he is feeling. Utter shock. He is absolutely shocked by my words.
“When did I ever not stand by my word? When did I ever not deliver? In five years, not once, not one single time, did I give you a reason not to trust me, and still, you had to go against me on this.”
“I do what’s best for the club,” he says, a little more composed now. “That’s all I care about.”
“Maybe that’s your problem. I care about the club too, but that doesn’t mean I can’t care about something else along with it.”
“Are you saying you are putting her before the club?” Maddox points to the cab of my truck.
“I’m saying I protect what’s mine. That goes for both the club and her.”
“You are blind. She is nothing but some broad who fucked you over once. She is going to fuck you over again, and this time I’ll let you rot in jail.” Maddox turns away from me.
“Fuck you.” I open the door and climb into the truck. Turning on the engine, I watch as my best friend walks back into the bar without me, and I can’t help but wonder if I just made the biggest mistake of my life.
* * *
We drive in complete silence,which is a good thing because I don’t trust myself to say anything right now.
I pull up to a motel on the other side of town and put the truck in park. When I get out, Penny follows me into the run-down lobby.
She stands close behind me as I pay for a room.
Grabbing the key card from the counter, I turn and walk down the side road until we get to our room. I don’t have to look back to make sure Penny is following me. I can feel her, even though we’re not touching. Even though I can’t hear her footsteps, I know she is there.
Stepping into the shitty motel room, I flip on the light and sit on the bed, letting my head fall into my hands, running my fingernails over my scalp. I feel like pulling my fucking hair out.
I fucked up. I really fucked up today, but what choice did I have? It was this, or watch the guys fuck Penny in front of me. The thought alone renews my anger. My muscles vibrate, my arms shake, and all I want to do is punch something. Let go of this anger.
The door closes, and I hear the deadbolt being put in place. Other than my ragged breath and my heart beating viciously against my ribcage, the room is silent.
I feel Penny move in front of me, her small hands cautiously touching my forearms.
“Tell me what I can do? What can I do to make you feel better?”
Her question catches me off guard. What can she do?Nothing. She takes me by surprise yet again when she gets on her knees between my legs.
“Ryder, please, tell me what I can do? I’ll do anything.” Her voice is laced with emotion, and I know how much she means what she is saying.
