Page 77 of Shielding Aubree

There aren't two people who are more deserving.

But I can't go out there and wear the mask of an aloof charming guy when I have too much going on inside my mind.

"And I'll congratulate them at another time," I reply tiredly.

He shakes his head. "This has to do with Alice, doesn't it?"

My eyes swing to his with a sharp glare. "Don't start, Oak. You can't talk about shit you know nothing about," I snap at him.

"I know you care about her. I also know she caused you a great amount of pain. You honestly think I didn't hear you threaten their Vice President?" He raises a brow at me. I keep my lips firmly shut as I continue to stare him down as if his words didn't affect me. I had no fucking clue he heard what I said. "You expect me to believe you didn't do that on her behalf?"

"You wouldn't understand," I tell him lowly.

"How would you know? You haven't told me shit."

"Last time I checked you weren't my therapist."

"You don't have a fucking therapist!"

"Exactly so stop trying to be one for me. You have your demons because of what happened on that battlefield. I have mine because of her. It's that simple," I reply, my voice final.

He chuckles half heartedly. "If it were that simple you wouldn't be in here when you should be out there."

Before he walks away, I give him the middle finger. Then I return to the punching bag.

I don't even feel the pain as my fists smack against the bag. All I see is the blood spraying from my knuckles.

And all it does is urges me to wreak havoc on it more.

Maybe if I force myself into physical exhaustion my mind will finally get some rest. I'll become too tired to think about all the ways Alice Hall is fucking with my head. I won't have time to think how this persona I created is becoming tiresome. The demons inside will just let me be.

I'll be too tired to think at all.

"Stop! Snake, stop!" The sudden shout of a very familiar feminine voice who shouldn't be here has me following her command.

The bag violently swings back and forth after my beating.

Physically more drained like I wanted I turn sluggishly to find Haven standing at the entrance of the gym.

Her arms are crossed as her blue eyes stare at me with concern and might a dare say anger. She's wearing a black lace tank top paired with black leather pants. Finishing the ensemble is a pair of bike riding boots that Dex gifted her. He's always showering her with gifts. The girl wants for nothing now. All she has to do is mention something and Dex has it for her before she even blinks. She has that man wrapped around her tiny finger yet so does he. For as strong and fierce as Haven is Dex is the one person in this world she melts for.

"What are you doing here?" I ask her with ragged breaths.

She purses her lips. "I could ask you the same thing."

"Well, my answer would be obvious wouldn't it? I'm working out." My remark comes off a bit snarky and I don't mean it to.

Crossing the entrance of the gym her boots make a light thud. They stop until they're a few feet away from me.

Up close I can see more of the concern behind those blue eyes rather than the anger. "Fuck off, Snake. Being bitchy doesn't suit you like it does me."

I swear underneath my breath. "Now isn't the time, Haven. I can't-"

"Laugh and smile?" She interrupts me before adding, "You can't sling back a few beers and then bring a biker bunny to your room to fuck? Like you do every other night?"

God damn it.

This is why wearing a mask is dangerous. You let it slip for one second and people notice.