“What did you do? You said I was your woman.”

“You are.”

“Then why does your whore think it’s okay to talk to me however she wants to?”

“My whore?” he asks with a raised brow.

“Yes, your whore! Or maybe I’m the whore, huh?”

“Don’t fucking say that.”

“Why not? According to her, you’re just with me because you feel sorry for me, and you’re going to drop me at any moment and make her your old lady.”

“Babe, you know that’s bullshit.”

“Don’t babe me.”

I can’t think straight, and I can’t keep still. I need to fucking hit something. Turning to the punching bag, I let loose. Deep, deep down, the rational part of me knows she’s probably lying but it’s losing to my irrational, royally pissed-off side. He tries to grab me again, but I push him away.

“I said don’t touch me!”

His face hardens. Now, he’s getting angry. Good.

“Raven, cut it out. Right. Fucking. Now.”

“Fuck you! Go tend to your whore. I think I broke her nose.”

“Raven –”

“Don’t. Just don’t.”

Anger turns to hurt. The kind where you feel like your lungs have been ripped out and you can’t breathe. Hurt so deep you think your heart will stop at any moment because you simply can’t go on living. That’s how I feel. Tears stream down my cheeks, and I press my palm to the ache in my chest.

“I don’t know what she told you –”

“How could you? How could you screw her every night and then hold me in your arms like you cared?”

“Is that what she said? And you believe that?”

Like I expected him to admit it. I grab my backpack from the closet and start shoving some clothes in it. I can’t be here right now.

“What the fuck are you doing?” he demands.

“What does it look like?”

“You’re not leaving.”

“You can’t stop me.”

“You’re not leaving,” he repeats. This time, it’s the voice.

I pause momentarily, almost giving in. But then I remember Britney’s words. I zip up my bag, pull on some jeans, and grab my phone from the nightstand. His eyes follow me as I remove a hoodie from the closet.

“You walk out that door, I swear I’m going to put you over my knee.”

I stop in the doorway and turn to him. He’s not facing me. Coward.

“Goodbye, Gage.”

***Gage***

Goodbye? She’s out of her fucking mind if she thinks I’m letting her walk out of here. That stupid bitch Britney. I should have sent her packing a long time ago. I storm after Raven and find her begging Ron to give her a ride. He looks to me nervously, seeking permission.

“Raven,” I call to her.

“Ugh! Forget it. Forget you. Forget all of you!” she screams.

She rushes to the door, dialing on her phone. Who the fuck is she calling? I catch up with her outside and grab her wrist but she wrenches out of my grasp.

“Fuck off, pendejo!”

She starts rambling in Spanish, so I have no idea what the fuck she’s saying, but I know it can’t be good.

“Just calm down. Let’s go back inside and talk about this.”

“There’s nothing to talk about.”

“Babe –”

“Gage, please…”

Her tears fucking break me in half. I can’t stand to see her like this. Not again. And not over some bullshit.

“I just need some space.”

“Space for what? Come back inside.”

She looks down at her phone then toward the gate. “I have to go.”

I’m obviously not going to get anywhere with her while she’s in this mood, so I concede. For now.

“At least tell me where you’re going.”

“Chrissy’s.”

“Okay. I’ll take you.”

“I have a ride.”

“Who?”

“Chris,” she answers defiantly.

Fuck. “Fine. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Don’t.”

I watch her walk away, fighting the urge to throw her over my shoulder and take her back inside. She steps through the gates and right into Chris’ arms. Fuck! I storm back inside, needing to break someone’s fucking face. Everyone stares at me when I enter. E’s by the bar, working on Britney’s nose. I push him out of the way, watching her cringe as I get in her face.

“What the fuck did you say to her?”

“I –”

“Fuck it. Doesn’t even matter. You’re done. I see you in my club again, you won’t like it.”

“But Gage –”

“I fucking mean it, bitch. Fuck off.” I turn away and make my way back to my room. “Get her the fuck out of here.”

I slam the door behind me and pace the room in frustration. Fuck my life! What is it with these bitches? A few words. That’s all it took for her to walk out on me. A few words from the mouth of a fucking lying whore. There’s a knock at the door, and I know it’s E before he sticks his head in.

“Not now, E.”

He comes in anyway and sits on the edge of the bed.

“Your girl’s got a mean punch.”

“I know. I taught her.”

“Where’d she go?”

“Chrissy’s.”

He follows me with his eyes as I walk back and forth.

“You gonna go get her?”

“Let her cool off. We’d just end up fighting all night, and that’s the last thing I want.”

“What do you want?”

I stop pacing and turn to him in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“You have her in a precarious situation. She’s not a casual fuck, but you also haven’t made a claim –”

“She’s my woman.”

“Yes, but without that cut? To the Hounds, she’s just another woman.”

“They’re Hounds. They shouldn’t be in my fucking business.”

“True…but for some reason I can’t see, bitches love you.”

I crack a smile and sit next to him. This is why he’s my best friend. “Crazy bitches. I’m fucking lucky that Raven isn’t.”

“Which is why you need to man the fuck up. Just do it already.”

I take a deep breath and fall back on the mattress, staring up at the ceiling. I hate to admit it but he’s right. The question is, is she ready?

CHAPTER 18

***Raven***

“He’s such a dick! I can’t believe I swallowed –”

I stop myself, but a little too late. Chrissy’s eyes widen and she pokes me in the side with her index finger.

“You little slut! What did it taste like?”

“Why don’t you ask Britney?”

“Come on, Ray. You know that bitch was lying through her skanky teeth.”

Chrissy strokes my hair as I cry my eyes out on her pillow. I haven’t stopped crying since I got here. She had to try to piece things together because I could barely tell her the story through my sobs. Gage has been calling and texting all day, but I’ve been avoiding him. I just don’t know what to say to him.

“I know. That’s the fucked-up part.”

“Then…I don’t get it.” She gives me a confused frown.

I sit up cross-legged, searching for the words to make her understand. “I have no place there.”

“What do you mean?”

“He says I’m his woman but in his world, it’s not official unless he gives me that stupid jacket. She would have never spoken to Marlowe or Renae like that. There’s just no respect.”

“Ah…I know what you mean. I’ve had to warn off a few of those bitches.”

“How do you deal with it?”

“Ron knows I’ll remove his balls if he cheats on me.”

“It shouldn’t be this hard, should it?”

“Love is never easy, Ray.”

“Well, it should be.”

She moves closer and curls her arm around my shoulder. I return her embrace, wondering why men have to be so difficult.

“It’s good you left. Maybe this will help him get his shit together.”

“Hopefully.”

“Did you take the pill?”

“Of course.”

When we went shopping, I made a stop at the pharmacy to get a refill on my birth control prescription and grabbed some morning-after pills, too. I can’t afford to get pregnant right now.

Chrissy’s mom calls from outside the door, knocks, and then enters. “Raven, there’s someone here to see you.”

Even without the nervous look on her face, I would have known it was him. It’s not like I know many people here. Plus, he’s probably in a rage about me not answering his calls or texts.