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“It’s just…” She inhales deep, squaring her shoulders. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to be seen with each other right now.”
My stunned brain tries to parse her words.Is she trying to break up with me? She saidright now. What does that mean? Is this really what she wants? I refuse to believe this is what she really wants.
“You’re gonna have to give me more information than that,” I say, trying to keep my head on straight. “Why not? Why right now?”
“Just… please, Connor.” She shakes her head again. “I think maybe it’s just better if you stay away from me for a while. Okay?”
“No, it’s not okay.” It’s my turn to shake my head. “Look, I’m no stalker, and if I really thought you didn’t want to see me, I wouldn’t question it. But that ain’t it. I know it isn’t.”
Shit. I hate hearing the pleading tone in my fucking voice.Get a grip, Fury.
Kat’s eye flash. “What part of ‘no’ do you not understand, Connor?”
“The part of ‘no’ I don’t understand is that this morning we were together and everything was fine.” I cross my arms in front of my chest. “Huh-uh. This don’t play with me. ‘No’ without an explanation ain’t gonna cut it.”
“Well, no is all you’re going to get.” Kat whirls away.
“Goddamnit,” I spit, caught between anger and despair. “Katrina, wait!”
I storm after her, closing the gap between us, and grab her arm. Kat yelps, in surprise, but more than that. Inpain.She jerks her arm from my grasp, shying away from me.
“Jesus Christ, Kat!” I exclaim, freezing in my tracks. My stomach lurches. “Did I hurt you?”
She must see the shock on my face. A wave of sadness washes over her features. “Yes. But… no. It’s not you.”
I don’t know how to respond to that, but I do know I have to get to the fucking bottom of this. “What’s up with your arm, baby?” She doesn’t answer. “Come on, you need to let me see it.” I reach for her, but she pulls away again.
“Kat,” I say, more quietly now, even though my voice is thick with worry. “Baby, please. Let me see what’s wrong.”
This time, I reach down and gently take her hand instead of her arm. I lift it, and carefully push up the sleeve of her uniform.
There are bruises on her upper arm. Bluish-purple, and nasty-looking. In the shape of a large hand.
“Who did this?” I demand.
“No one,” she insists, her face flushing.It’s a ridiculous answer. But I don’t need her to tell me anything. I already know who it was.
“I will fuckingkillHooch with my goddamn bare hands,” I seethe, anger welling up in me like a tidal wave. “I swear on my mother’s fucking grave, that rapey son of a bitch is gonna regret the day he ever laid a finger on you.”
“No!” Kat protests, pulling her arm away. “Connor, it wasn’t Hooch!”
“Who, then? Tell me now, Katrina.”
She swallows, casts her eyes down. “It was Quad. When he was at the hospital earlier.”
Jesus Christ. I’m gonna have to murder Katrina’s brother.
“Please, Connor!” she begs. “I don’t want you to get hurt. I couldn’t stand it if something bad happened to you and it was because of me!” Kate starts to babble, the pitch of her voice rising. “The bad blood with you is still there as far as Quad is concerned. And with Hooch in the mix too, this could escalate so quickly! It’s not just between you and them. It could turn into your club versus theirs!” She grabs my shirt with her fists, pleading me with her tear-filled eyes. “This could get so bad, Connor! I’m afraid for you! You have to let this go!”
“Listen to me, Kat.” I take her by the shoulders and turn her to me, careful not to hurt her bruise. “I can handle myself. You know that.”
“Not you alone against an entire club!” she wails. “And what if they get you by surprise? I can’t stand thinking I could be the reason you get hurt, or worse!” She pulls back away from my grasp, and motions between the two of us. “I don’t want this. I can’t be in a relationship where I’m afraid all the time.”
My heart stills. “Do you really want me to walk away from this? From us? Or are you just saying that because of your brother’s threats? I want an honest answer.”
A tear slips down her cheek. I resist the urge to wipe it away.
“I don’t want to lose you,” she finally says. “But I’m scared.”
