He’d saved her three days ago. The clubhouse was still on lockdown. Any of the boys with family had brought them to keep them safe. It was a stupid plan, to let Blade live, but he needed to get him away from Beth. When the time was right, he’d kill Blade and mount his head on the fucking wall for safekeeping. Until then, he had to keep his shit together and his club safe. The only way to do that was to have them all in one place.
He watched as Dog brought down yet another full plate of food. She’d drank the juice and some water, but ate no food.
“Did she say anything to you?” he asked.
“Nothing. She stood still at the window. You sure they didn’t rape her?”
“Yes, she would have told me. Romy even said they didn’t touch her.” Forge ran a hand down his face, trying to clear the fog from his mind. This was all fucking shit. Bigger than shit.
“She’s hurting, Forge.”
“I can see that.”
“We’ve got Romy chained up, and the boys are watching the perimeter. You’re not needed here, but any more of this, she’s going to die. Starving herself is not the answer. Go and talk to her,” Dog said.
“Since when have you been the voice of fucking reason?”
“Look, I don’t get why she has this hold on you, I don’t. I don’t think any pussy is worth risking the club, but she’s under your skin, whether you like it or not.” Dog shrugged. “If something happens to her, I know you won’t be able to stand it. Now rather than us fight and shoot the shit, go and talk to her. Find out what’s wrong because I know the boys and girls are worried. Most of them liked her, and she certainly put you in a better mood.”
Dog walked back into the kitchen.
He was right, Forge wasn’t needed here.
Romy was a piece of work. She was a conniving little bitch, and he should never have allowed her into his club. Her two kids were taken from her by CAS a decade ago when she tried to sell them for drugs. She’d kept that to herself, but he knew all about her fucked-up past. He’d barely touched Romy and she’d told him everything about Blade and fighting for turf, wanting more land. He couldn’t trust her, and apparently, neither could Blade.
Forge didn’t give nothing to no one. He took, plain and simple. The fact Beth’s dad was still alive was a fucking miracle, but it wasn’t going to last much longer. He already intended to take care of him so he never caused Beth or him any more trouble.
Walking toward the back of the club, he took the stairs two at a time and made his way toward his bedroom. The door was still open and he didn’t make a sound as he looked inside the room.
Beth stood at the window. She’d gone back to wearing jeans and one of his shirts which completely covered her body. She should never cover herself. Not for him.
She didn’t turn to look at him. There was no movement.
In the last couple of days, she’d withdrawn into herself more, becoming a shell of a woman.
No smiles. No humming. No nothing.
This wasn’t right.
Stepping into the room, he folded his arms.
He’d never been the kind of guy to pussyfoot around shit, but with Beth, he didn’t want to hurt or upset her. Gritting his teeth, he tried to figure out what he could say without pissing her off.
Rubbing the back of his head, he glanced around the room and came up with nothing. Shit. “I’m not going to allow this to go on for much longer,” he said.
She tensed up at his voice. Still, she didn’t turn around.
“You’re not going to look at me now?”
There were still no words but she glanced over her shoulder to face him. She looked so fucking lost.
“Why aren’t you eating?”
“I’m not hungry.”
“That’s not a good enough excuse, Beth.”
“I’m not making excuses. I don’t want to eat. You can’t make me.”
He didn’t like this distance and so he stepped right up behind her, placing his hand against her stomach.
“Did those men touch what was mine?” he asked.
“No.”
“Then what’s the problem? I’ll kill every single motherfucker who hurt you.”
“I’m not yours.”
“What the fuck? Who says you’re not mine?”
She pulled away from him and stormed off toward the bed, sitting on the edge. She ran her fingers through her hair, gritted her teeth, and she looked angry as fuck. He didn’t like this.
“I know what it means to belong to someone. Romy showed me why I will never be good enough. Why you’ll always want her. You were supposed to be with her.”
He saw her hands clench as she said the words. Was she jealous?
“I never belonged to Romy.”