Page 104 of The Price of Love

Dimples interrupts. “Wiz gave you these?”

Shadow nods and blinks back tears.

In a calm voice I don’t feel, I say, “Let’s let Shadow tell her story. Without interruption.” I squeeze Shadow’s hand. “Go ahead.”

My fists clench under the table as Shadow spills the story of her meeting with Wiz. When she finishes, there is so much anger raging inside me I sit silently, afraid of what might spew from my mouth.

Shadow looks at me with concern. I want to wrap her in my arms and tell her everything will be okay, but can I?

I feel Dimples’ gaze on me. She’s waiting for me to speak—to take charge. The responsibility weighs heavy on me. I’ve brought all of this on Shadow and the club.

I meet Shadow’s gaze. “I am so sorry. This is all my fault.”

Shadow’s brow furrows. “How so?”

“She’s got a god complex,” Dimples says and rolls her eyes. “How is this your fault?”

“Shadow never should have been there. I should have said no.”

“Oh, my bad. I thought I’m an adult. Responsible for my own decisions.” Shadow’s voice drips with sarcasm. “I guess Margot was right about me all along.”

“That’s not what I meant.” I shoot Shadow a look before I turn my glare on Dimples. “If I had Frost in line, this shit never would have happened. It’s a failure of leadership.”

Dimples glances at Shadow. “See, I told you. God complex. World hunger is her fault, too.”

Anger bubbles inside of me. I imagine smashing beer bottles. My jaw locks. “Why are you two busting my balls?”

“Because we’re a team.” Dimples puts her hand on top of Shadow’s. “United.”

“That’s right.” Shadow turns her hand over and clasps Dimples’.

I want to believe it. I shake my head. “There ain’t nothing you two can do about Frost.” I jab my thumb into my chest. “That’s all on me. I just haveta rip her fucking patch off her cut.”

“Tempting, but you can’t do that.” Dimples picks up the photos and tosses them in the air, letting them rain onto the table. “You have no proof. Accusing your VP without proof is the fastest way to lose respect from the patches.”

“Fuck that.” I put my hand on the pictures and shove them toward Dimples. “Who else would’ve done it?”

Shadow picks up the picture of Dimples bleeding. “Frost was outside when these were taken.”

“Of course she was. Her cronies snapped them, so she can feign innocence.”

“Unfortunately, we don’t allow surveillance,” Dimples says. “So there’s no proof.”

She’s right. To protect the identities of our clients, we have no cameras inside or outside of the Velvet Rose Lodge. While it creates a security risk, it ensures confidentiality, which our players insist on. “It had to be somebody with her.”

“Obviously,” Dimples says. “But as a leader, you can’t go around throwing accusations. You need proof, or it’s gonna look like you’re carrying out a vendetta and protecting your girlfriend.”

“I am.”

“That’s sweet,” Shadow says. “But it’s too late for that.”

My heart drops to my stomach as her words rattle in my brain. It’s too late. Of course it is. If Wiz calls a tribunal, there’s only one way this will play out. Shadow will have to denounce any connection with the Thorns and me.

“Hey.” Dimples brushes my hair back. “You just lost all the color in your face. You okay?”

A movie of me flipping the table and trashing the bar flickers in my head. It’s been forever since such destructive thoughts took over my mind.

“Whoa.” Dimples grabs my arm. “I haven’t seen that look in your eyes in forever. Bring it down a notch, Storm.”