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Since Astrid was half a foot taller than she was, MJ was forced to look up, and the action had the other volunteers snickering behind her. MJ’s cheeks burned.
One perfectly shaped brow lifted. “Well? Didn’t you hear me?” Astrid asked snidely. She gestured to the bikes behind her. “Take your pick then it’s your turn.”
Astrid had thrown a magnificent fit in her own dorm when she learned that Helios Andreadis had taken a girlfriend of sorts. Being the President’s girl was what she had always aspired to be, and it made Astrid sick with rage that some small-town nobody had usurped her position.
Now, sensing the discord between Helios and the little slut, Astrid was determined to push the two further apart.
She crossed her arms against her chest. “Come on, little girl.” Astrid deliberately used the same reference Helios himself had used the other time, having her own little birds informing her about everything that went on inside the club.
MJ flinched at Astrid’s choice of words, her gaze immediately seeking Helios in her pain, thinking that he was the one who had told Astrid about it.
Helios’ face hardened. It was obvious what MJ was thinking – whateveryonewas thinking. Even Kellion was looking at him with grim disapproval, and Hallie was glaring at him. He had an urge to strangle Astrid for her taunts, but he kept himself in check.
She deserved this for daring to play him for a fool.
Astrid grabbed MJ’s wrist and dragged her towards where the bikes were parked. “I’m very competitive, but I’m not totally heartless. I heard you’re not so crazy about bikes so how about you just ride one until the end of this lane? No ramps. No stunts. Just one straight ride to prove that you want to fight for Helios.”
When MJ didn’t speak, Astrid asked with a smirk, “Or are you giving up on him?”
The surprisingly apt question had MJ paling, and she unconsciously turned towards Helios. Was she giving up on Helios?
Before she could answer, someone said in a furious voice behind her, “Don’t do it.”
Helios stiffened, recognizing Yuri’s voice even before he saw his friend stalking towards MJ’s side. Yuri looked haggard. He had been missing since yesterday. Had the two been together last night, talking about him? Laughing at him?
He had not used the CCTV to find out where MJ was, not trusting himself with the consequences if he did catch MJ in a more compromising situation with Yuri.
But now, looking at Yuri’s haggard face and the angry concern in his eyes as he gazed at MJ, Helios knew that the two shared something special. Somethinghewas not a part of.
It took a while for MJ to realize that someone was talking to her. Lack of sleep, stress, and the pain of Helios’ suddenly cruel attitude had made her especially vulnerable, and when she found herself surrounded by James’ favorite torture devices, she just could not breathe.
Relax, relax—
“MJ? She felt someone shaking her and looked up, blinking several times before her gaze cleared. It was Yuri.
“You don’t need to do this,” Yuri gritted out again. He had just come back from another trip to MJ’s hometown and this time, he knew the truth about her. He kneweverythingabout her. She was not going to be good news for the club, but she was good news for Helios. That was enough. Or at least it would be if Helios could get his head out of his ass before he ended up ruining everything for both of them.
The look on MJ’s face was that of a terrified child. Couldn’t Helios see this? When had he gone so fucking blind?
Yuri turned to the club’s president. “Why are you making her do this?”
Why do you fucking care?
Helios wanted to snarl the question out, but to do so would be to admit that he knew the two of them had been fooling him, and that he still cared for...her.Pain made Helios unable to see the deep-etched fear in MJ’s eyes. All he saw was a woman who had betrayed him. Just like Odessa.
“It’s up to you.” His words were dispassionate. “If you want to prove that you want me, then ride a bike. You should be thankful to Astrid for being so generous.”
Helios’ words were like nails being driven into her own coffin, and that coffin was but a cage...of her own love.
Suddenly, everything became so clear.
She used to think that fear was the only reason she did things for James, but it wasn’t. It wasn’t just fear. Not at all. What drove her to lie on the ground, to risk doing everything James did was because...
She loved James.
And she had wished, by doing what he told her to do, there would come a day he would love her back.
Her gaze turned to Helios, but she didn’t really see him. She saw James. She saw a man she loved. Right now, they were one and the same. And they wanted the same thing, too. Her heart on a platter. Just because.
