Her lashes had lifted at his request, and her gaze met his. The blue was dark and shuttered. She’d left him. Seychelle might be standing there, but she’d left him. He could feel panic building. His chest hurt, pain exploding through him.
“It’s important that you believe me,” he reiterated.
“Why?”
He frowned, trying to understand her question. Of course it was important; how could she trust him if she thought he was fucking other women? “Why?” he repeated aloud.
“Yes, Savage, what difference does it really make? Does it change anything? Does anything change the dynamic between us? Nothing ever will change it. You’ll come back and tell me how much you love me. You’ll say I’m your entire world. You’ll kiss me and we’ll have amazing sex and every single thing will be exactly the way you want it to be. Everything. When I object, you’ll sweep my objections away. When I say I need something, well, that’s too bad, and if I’m upset, we start the process all over again. I’ve become that girl.”
“What girl?” He didn’t like where this was going. He had to hear her out. That was what Torpedo Ink did. They listened to one another, but what she was saying was damn hard to hear, mostly because when he went over it, she wasn’t wrong, not from her point of view.
“The one without a voice. Without any life of her own. I live only to serve you and your club. I don’t even know if they truly are laughing and talking behind my back about what a fool I am to do whatever you ask me to do. I’m even beginning to wonder how different I am from Sahara or Tessa.”
She shook her head. “In the interest of full disclosure, Czar said to me that if there ever came a time that I felt I needed help, I was to call him. He said not to ever call the cops, that he would handle it. I texted him and told him I wanted out. We’ll see if your president keeps his word and gets me a ride home. If he does, I’m packing my things and leaving. I don’t want you to follow me or look for me.”
Savage couldn’t speak. The pressure in his chest was so severe he couldn’t breathe. A roaring in his ears took away his ability to hear. Sweat broke out, trickled down his forehead, his chest. It was a weird sensation because mostly, he was numb. His mind shut down until all he could see was black. Screaming mixed with the thunder and pounding of his blood in his ears. He gripped his shirt with his fist and held on.
The red began to swirl through the black in his mind. The terrible chaos receded slowly as he fought for control. He inhaled. Exhaled. The hammering in his blood grew more demanding. The rush was hot with rage-laced adrenaline. It moved through his body in a familiar flow, pushing away panic, leaving him with total clarity as he took back control.
“I can guarantee you that’s not happening, Seychelle,” he bit out.
“It is if your president keeps his word.”
“I don’t give a damn what he says. You aren’t leaving.”
“What’s going on?” Czar asked. “I received your text, Seychelle.” He wasn’t looking at Seychelle; his eyes were on Savage, assessing him. With him were Reaper and Maestro.
Savage ignored Czar. “Why is it always me fighting for us, Seychelle? You knew I’d be fucking up repeatedly. I made that clear from the beginning. You can take off the ring, but you don’t get to run. That was always the agreement. We see it through. We make it work no matter what. I’m fucking up, we talk it out. You don’t get to run. So no, whatever you’ve got going with Czar and my brother and Maestro, just know, it’s going to turn ugly really fast.”
Czar’s piercing gaze swept over him and then slowly turned to Seychelle. “I understand you want to go home, honey. Tell me what’s wrong.”
Savage folded his arms across his chest and waited. Her hand moved from the edge of the picnic table to rest on top of the folded jeans. Once more, her lashes lifted, and this time she looked past Czar to take in Reaper and Maestro. There was no welcome on her face. Seychelle wasn’t exactly a poker player. Her expression gave her feelings away. She didn’t like them. She didn’t want them there. She didn’t understand why Czar brought them. Savage knew. Czar was aware Savage was already fighting that edge, and if anyone tried to take his woman, he would fall right off the cliff. When he detonated, he was going to take a lot of people with him.
“This just isn’t going to work. I don’t like it here, and I want to leave. I’ve already packed my things. I want to go.” Her voice started out firm, but her gaze flicked to Savage and trembled at the end when she made her declaration.