Page 70 of Stag

“They won’t do anything. They’re just here to support me.”

She nodded again, her eyes a little glassy as she focused on me again.

“I’m glad. I mean, it’s good that you found so many good people to look after you. It’s not like you need me now anyway. I’m… I guess I gave you everything I had, and that wasn’t enough for you.”

Oh god. I saw Stag move, and I hurriedly rested a hand on his knee. This was my fight, not his. Not really.

“They’re supporting me by being here. They’re not doing things for me that I can’t do myself. I’m perfectly capable. I only can’t hear, Marissa, no other part of me doesn’t work.”

She picked at the skin on her thumb, her eyes moving around the room, like she was assessing them, or maybe for once she was measuring her words.

“And none of them know how to sign? You say they care for you or support you, but not one of them has bothered to learn how to communicate with you properly. Don’t you see that? You’re fitting into their world. Fitting into how they do things. They’re not stepping out of their comfort zones, you’re stepping out of yours.”

“Henley knows how!” I snapped, and she smiled grimly, like I’d just walked into a trap.

“But not the man who’s acting like he’s your saviour? He won’t make the effort for you, but you’re throwing everything away for him!”

Stag moved again and I practically leaned over him to keep him still. I still wanted to say my piece, but I realised I was running out of time. Grimm was now standing right behind her, looking ready to grab her and throw her out, the vampire persona and red contacts making it look like he was ready to bite her instead. His bouncer, Josh, was right beside him, and the other bikers were closing in. Moving closer. Getting in position to end this.

“Stop. Everyone just stop for a moment. She’s said her piece, she got to spout that crap at me, and now it’s my turn.”

Marissa practically sneered at me.

“See? You have no power here. You’re just another fucktoy for a bunch of assholes who think women are just for sex. You’re no more valuable than a fucking whore. You’re just holes to them, Claud-”

Grimm and his bouncer grabbed her before I could reply, forcibly removing her from the VIP room, while I fell back against Stag, shock and horror clouding my mind, as my heart throbbed in my chest. It wasn’t anger, or adrenaline, or fight or flight. It was heartbreak. It was my heart, so connected to hers, being gutted by the knife of her words.

“Oh god,” I whispered, turning to press my face against Stag’s chest. This was one of the weirdest things about being completely deaf, knowing there was sound going on all around me, and none of it was for me to know. They’d be talking, they’d be angry, could even be shouting, but for me there was just silence. Silence after the words she just spat at me felt like another blow to my soul. If I cried, I wouldn’t hear it. I wouldn’t even hear my own sorrow and despair.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Iknew it was a bad fucking idea, but she convinced Micro it was something she needed to do, and he didn’t want to breach her trust and put a stop to it. This is the result. She’s a fucking broken mess.

I held her through her tears, nodding to biker brothers as they patted my shoulder, or nodded at me, and left. When only Micro and Grimm were left, they watched us for a moment, and Micro sighed.

“I’m sorry. I thought maybe there was a bridge that could still be built, but that bitch isn’t worth the effort. Tell Claudia I’m sorry.”

“Wasn’t your fault, Pres, I should have tried harder to talk her out of it.” I’d literally just been blaming him in my head, but I could see he wished he’d said no to her. I couldn’t exactly beat him up even more, could I? Maybe I was finally learning not to be a prick.

He offered me a morose smile, and left the VIP room, leaving me alone with Grimm. We’d never spoken beyond him kicking me out of this place and banning me, but he’d allowed this tonight for Claudia. He opened his mouth and I groaned, kissing Claudia’s hair as she sniffled in my arms.

“Thanks for this, but don’t worry. I won’t outstay my welcome. I’ll be gone as soon as she’s calm enough. Don’t make me try and take her on my ride like this, man.”

He rubbed his chin, buffing a little of that pale colour from his skin in the process. He looked about as awkward and uncomfortable as I felt, so at least we were both in the same boat.

“Look, I don’t like how things went down that first night here, but I can’t deny that you’re treating Claudia well. You’re looking out for her, and you’ve caused no more trouble here, so uh… Jesus… yeah, you’re temporarily unbanned, okay? You can come here and party or whatever, but the first ounce of trouble and that ban is permanent forever, right?”

Wow, I thought this fucker would never back down because he was an arrogant dick, but then that was the voice in my head that I let out too often. That’s how I always fucked shit up. Instead I focused on gratitude, because he was giving Claudia her favourite happy place back, with me in it, instead of stuck outside.

“Thanks. Appreciate that, and I won’t let you down. She comes first, and she loves it here. Makes her feel like she’s no different than the rest of us.”

“She isn’t. She’s-”

“I know that. I think that’s how she sees herself, not how I do. I’m not dissing her, man. She’s perfect.”

He grinned. “Good. Stick around tonight if that’s what she wants. I’ll uh, see you around.”

He left the VIP room, and I lifted Claudia’s chin, the pink cheeks and teary eyes breaking my fucking heart. How could a person treat their loved one like this? I used my thumbs to push the tears away, cupping her face in my hands.