The men talk about other club business but I get lost in my thoughts: images of Stevie under me whimpering my name, theway her body felt against me and how fucking tight she was. From that to this, I have no fucking clue.
My gut tightens thinking what could have happened.
I need to go and see her, find out what the hell is going on.
“Anything else?” Racer asks.
I blink coming back into the room. Savage is staring at me, his gaze penetrating.
The gavel hits the table and I am on my feet, leaving the room. I stop at the doorway to the medical room, watching Valarie lie there. Her eyes are closed, and blood still coats her skin since she refused to let Bolt clean her up or tend to her wounds.
What my brothers said in church bounce around my head. Their words sink in, but my guilt and doubt rule any other emotions.
Her phone beeps, and she franticly reaches for it. I move back a little so she doesn’t see me. She frowns, types out something, then hides her phone back under the pillow.
Who did she text? Needing to know who she is in contact with, and needing to find out if she is putting my brothers at risk, I step into the room.
“Who are you texting?” My voice scares her, and she jumps, crying out in pain from the sudden movement.
I rush to her side, feeling a new roll of guilt.
“Have you had pain medication?” She shakes her head. “No? Why didn’t you let Bolt treat you?”
I pour her some water and hand her two Tylenol. She takes them from me, swallowing them. Taking the cup, I give her a look that says I am not letting it go, but she turns her head away.
“I did not want anyone touching me. I only feel safe with you.”
“You are safe here, Val.”
“Am I?”
“Yes.” She is quiet for a second then she lets out a soft sob and my gut knots at the sound.
She sounds broken; there is no way that she is here for any other reason except being hurt.
Right?
Fuck, I can’t seem to settle on what is right or wrong here.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
STEVIE
Walking through the mall, I do some everyday shopping—I need a few new girly things. I pick up some underwear and feminine products, and when I spot a sale sign, I head straight for it. I’m a sucker for a good deal. Browsing the racks, I find a few nice tops, a dress, and a pair of ripped jeans with stars on them. At the counter, I grab a new lip gloss before paying for everything. Leaving the store, I grab a warm cinnamon pretzel and keep walking, scanning the shops for what else I might need. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, and I feel like I am being watched, but when I look around, no one seems to be paying me any attention.
Shrugging, I keep on walking. I pop in and out of stores, window shopping to pass the time before I go home and get ready for work.
Walking past a store with a model on the window poster reminds me of Logan. My chest aches thinking of him— he has not texted or called in two days and it has made me think all kinds of things.
Especially after what Val said.
It was stupid of me not to reply to his earlier texts but her words hurt, and I had to convince myself that she was lying, but then his texts stopped two days ago.
My stomach suddenly feeling uneasy, I decide to call it a day. Maybe some time with Aunt Cass will help me. Maybe some of her herbal tea will settle my anxiety— I feel like I got played by them both.
A part of me is still believing that Logan wouldn’t do it.
I have had boyfriends cheat on me before and it is not nice, even if things were not serious. It is the idea of being with someone, while they spend time with other people, that make me sick to my stomach. It also did not help when I refused to have sex with them.