Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 37111 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 186(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37111 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 186(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)
“He’s right, Cain.” Sword stood and went to the chair in the middle of the room. It was used for interrogation. Or, in this case, punishment. Sword sat down and faced the president with a steady gaze. “I deserve more than being on probation or losing my position as an officer. Deadeye promised my daughter he’d give me a beating. I’m accepting it now.”
Cain sat back in his chair. “Fine. But I’m not stopping it. You give Deadeye leave to do this, he continues until he’s satisfied since he’s claimed Chloe as his ol’ lady. And I gotta tell ya, Sword. If you’d done it to Angel, I’d kill you.”
Sword just nodded. “Understood. I expect nothing less.”
I have no idea how long the beating lasted, but I didn’t hold back. Cain said nothing, and Sword took his punishment like a man. I think I’d have preferred if he fought back. Then I could have justified continuing. But he sat there stoically, not making a sound other than the occasional grunt.
It was Bohannon who put a hand on my shoulder. “He’s had enough.” Had he phrased it any other way, I’d have brushed the Sergeant at Arms aside and continued. Much as I wanted Sword to hurt for what he’d done, I didn’t want to kill the man. Not really. Not with him sitting there passively as I whaled away on him.
I was breathing hard. My knuckles were scraped and bleeding almost as much as Sword’s face. He was swollen and bleeding, one eye closed. The other one was glazed with pain, but he still said nothing.
“Clean up before you go to your woman.” Cain’s words were an order, and he was right. I didn’t want to go to Chloe like this. With blood literally on my hands. It hurt more than I thought it would, too. Not physically. I could take that easily. But the pain of beating a brother. Punishing one of my own for something he never should have done.
I nodded to Cain, then turned and left the room.
* * *
Chloe
Isaac had come back to me after the club meeting with bruised knuckles and more depressed than I’d ever seen anyone. “I take it things didn’t go as you’d planned?”
“Oh, they went according to plan.” He pulled me into his arms. “Bastard just sat there while I beat the shit out of him. Wasn’t as satisfying as I thought it would be. Which just made me angrier because you did the same thing, and he continued to assault you. God! This makes no fuckin’ sense!”
“It’s fine, Isaac. I’d think less of you if you enjoyed beating up someone who refused to fight back. You’re a strong man. You did what you felt you had to. That doesn’t mean you have to take satisfaction in it.”
“No, but I honestly don’t think anyone could punish Sword any more than he’s punishing himself. And that just infuriates me more. He has no sense of self preservation. The only thing keeping him from leaving the club without Cain throwing him out is Magenta and his kids. He knows the club will take care of them, but he also loves them and needs to be with them.” Isaac shook his head as he pulled back to look at me. “I don’t know what else to do.”
I wanted to cry all over again. “There’s nothing more you can do. This is between Sword and me. I want so much to give this to you. To forgive and forget. I can forgive. People do things they wish they could take back. I get that. But I’m not sure I’ll ever be comfortable around him.”
“We can move if you want. Bones has a sister club in Palm Beach, Florida. Salvation’s Bane will let me patch over if Cain gives his blessing. They’re not Bones, but I know most of them from ExFil. They’re good men, and I could easily make a home there.”
“No. The last thing I want you to do is leave your home.” I sighed, holding him close. Tears pricked at my eyes, but I wasn’t going to try to manipulate him with my tears. That was what my mother would have done. “Maybe it’s best if I move on, Isaac.” My voice was soft. That was the last thing I wanted, but I had to put it out there.
“If you move on, Chloe, I’m moving on with you. I’m not leaving you, and I’m not letting you leave me.”
“I don’t want to leave, but I just can’t help but feel like I’ve turned your life upside down. You don’t need this kind of drama. No one does.”
“No. But I need you, Chloe. In the short time we’ve known each other, you’ve gotten under my skin. I ain’t given’ you up easily. Besides, I told you when I claimed you -- this is permanent. I’m not letting you go willingly.”