Holding up my injured hand, I quietly inform him, "Z had some liquid bandage in his room he wanted to use, because my cut wouldn't stop bleeding. But it's good to know what you really think of me."

Disgust, horror, self-loathing all flash across his face. Or maybe that's my wishful thinking. I want him to hurt. Because he's crushed me and made me feel pathetic and stupid. Whatever lines we'd blurred these last few days of working together to get him ready for his fight, he just replaced with barbed wire.

I want to shake off the feeling of betrayal. We were after all, trying this friends thing out. Obviously, it's not working. The idea that he could ever want me to be more was ridiculous. Foolish. I'm nothing but another Cherry or Roxy to him. It's time to accept that.

He did me a favor, really. Clearly I needed to be reminded of what my place in the club really is.

Choking back a sob, I back out of the door. Heat radiates over my face, burning my eyes, blurring my vision. Like a fucking moron, I just spent ten minutes downstairs telling Z how Wrath and I have been getting along so well and maybe Dammit, I'm such an idiot!

I refuse to cry in front of either of them. Z will look at me with pity eyes and try to cheer me up with a joke. I can't stand the thought of it.

Nope. I'll suck those tears in until I'm alone in my room, where no one can see me. I can't afford to show weakness around anyone in this house.

Stumbling downstairs, the sickening images of what just happened in his room invade my imagination. What I should have done is brushed it off. I should have spun around, grabbed Z's hand, shoved him into his room and fucked him loud and hard. I should find Teller, or a prospect or anyone with a dick to help me ease this pain.

I pass Cherry on the way to my room. Everything in me screams to take her to the floor and choke the ever-living shit out of her. But I hold my head up and ignore her. It's not her fault.

The fault's all mine.

One idea after another flips through my brain as I sit in my room staring at the floor. How can I make this up to Trinity? Nothing I come up with seems appropriate. The doorway is empty. She'd gone without closing the door. Z stands across the hall staring at me.

"What the hell is going on with you two?"

My fists clench at my sides. "Don't know, brother," I answer.

Shaking his head like I'm the stupidest fucker he's ever known, he heads back downstairs.

Physical pain burns through my chest. My fucking temper and inability to ever stop to think things through fucking ruined things. Again.

The next morning, Trinity's waiting for me on the couch in the living room. The same way she's done every morning since we started training together. Relief floods through me. I fully expected her not to show.

She glances up when she hears me. A slight smile curves her lips, but I can tell it's forced.

No reason to play games. "Trinity, I'm sorry."

She cocks her head to the side and arches an eyebrow. "What for?"

I take a few steps closer to her. "Last night. I didn't mean-"

"You didn't mean what? To stick your dick in a girl that minutes before you said was annoying? Or you didn't mean for me to catch you? Or you didn't mean to have such a low opinion of me? Which is it?"

Shit. I want to tell her nothing happened. Except it's a fucking lie. I had every wrong intention when I brought Cherry into my room. Stopping her before she closed her mouth over my dick doesn't exactly make me a saint. "Don't. It's not like that."

Trinity rolls her eyes and flings a hand out. "You tried out one of the new whores. Good for you. I know how you like to break them in first. It's what you do. I'm a big girl. I know the rules."

I'm actually getting a little turned on seeing her all fired up, because it means she actually gives a fuck. Except I hate that I hurt her. Again.

"Trinity-" I take a step toward her, holding out a hand, but she bolts off the couch and backs away from me.

"Are we going to the gym or not?"

Hold up. What? "You're still going to help me?"

She glances around the room before answering. "Yeah. I promised to help. I owe it to the club to follow through. We're nothing to each other. It's none of my business who you fuck."

My eyes close trying to block out her flat voice. As much as I don't want her mad at me, it kills me that she thinks she means nothing to me, when she means everything.

This indifference is horrible. I'd rather she go back to angry. I'd rather she punch me, kick me, scream at me. Anything but this flatness.

"It's okay. We can take the day off."

She holds my gaze for a minute and nods. "Fine. I'll see you tomorrow."

Our president is a no-show for yet another party. His own birthday party, no less. Sending him a reminder text gets me nothing.

Fucker.

Trinity and I have reached a truce since the Cherry incident. We're not quite back to where we were-yet.

I've been trying to make things up to her. Show her how much she means to me. Make her happy. Some days it works. Then others, she seems to remember what an asshole I am and puts her guard up.

If Rock ruins this party Trinity's been planning all week, I'm gonna give serious consideration to kicking his ass.

"He'll be here," I reassure her.

"Do you think he's gonna bring Hope with him?" Trin sounds eager to see Rock's woman, and that surprises me.

"To a club party? Fuck, no. No way is he gonna expose his precious Miss Priss to this shit."

That's exactly why I think it's a perfect time to remind Rock of what he's been missing. When Z calls and asks if it's all right for Dex to let Inga and some skank friend of hers up to the clubhouse as a birthday surprise, I say hell fuckin' yes. Rock thinks it's some sort of secret that he hasn't nailed any of his regulars in the last year or so. Been saving himself like some sort of fuckin' virgin for his weddin' night. Although, I gotta give him credit, I've never had that sort of self-control.

Never wanted to before.

Without his delicate little flower around, Inga should have a shot.

Trin touches my arm, thankfully pulling me away from my thoughts. I've been obsessing over my brother's sex life more than I care to think about tonight.

"Did he answer you?"

Fuck me, I don't think I've ever known anyone in the life who wears their heart on their sleeve the way Trinity does.

"Not yet, babe."

My phone buzzes.

Rock: Be there in 20.

I nod at Trinity. "He's on his way."

She's grinning from ear to ear, and while I understand their relationship a little better since Rock and I had our sit down, sometimes it still annoys the fuck out of me.

"You gonna put this much effort into my birthday?" Shit, I didn't mean for that to come out so harsh.

"If you let me, yeah."

"I ain't ever stopped you. You've always been too busy fawning over everyone else-"

"Are you fucking serious? Why are you doing this tonight?"

I don't want to fight with her. "I'm going outside."

I storm out the back door before that sexy fucking pout of hers changes my mind.

Fuckingfuckfuckfuck!

Rock's bike pulls into the parking area stopping me dead in my tracks. Hope's on the back.

Shit's gonna get awkward tonight.

Maybe Inga will be enough to scare Hope away for good. Because this bullshit with him not paying attention and dropping his work in my lap is pissing me off to no end.

And it's this chick's fault.

Jesus Christ, he can't keep his fucking hands off her for a minute. I whistle as I walk over to get his attention.

"Prez," I greet-you know, just in case he's forgotten what his fucking role in this club is.

I say hello to Cinderella with a sneer and then ignore her. Rock glares at me. Hope ignores both of us and pulls something out of the pack on Rock's bike and he takes it from her.

"What's in the box, prez?"

"Birthday present from Hope," he answers as he slips his arm around her.

Huh.

I follow them in, convinced she'll lose her shit when she steps inside and witnesses what's going down. Parties aren't usually like this anymore. But they've gotten significantly raunchier in his absence.

Rock gets attacked at the door. Hope should freak out any minute.

But she doesn't. Rock sits her down in a far corner and motions me over.

I meet him halfway and he slaps my shoulder, holding on harder than he needs to. "Watch over Hope. I'll be right back." He tightens his grip. "Watch your fuckin' mouth and treat her with respect."

"Oh, ab-so-lute-ly, prez."

"I'm not joking, fucker. You're the only one in this room I trust with her right now."

Okay, that sticks in my throat a little.

As I approach her, something resembling guilt touches me. She looks completely forlorn and out of place.

"Didn't think this would be your scene," I shout over the music as I drop down next to her.

She hesitates. Good, I want her to be afraid of me.

"How long have you and Rock known each other?" she asks.

Long enough to know you won't survive in our world. "Long damn time."

"Did you meet through the club?"

Her question surprises me. "No. We knew each other before." I nod at Z who's across the room auditioning potential fuck-n-gos. "Knew Z too. We all prospected together. Very different time," I add.

"Oh."

"You know much about MCs, Hope?" I don't even have to ask, I know the answer.

"No. I mean, only what I've learned from Rock."

Sounds about right and I can almost guarantee Rock has given her a carefully edited version of what the club is about. I let my gaze wander over her in a way designed to make her uncomfortable and I'm rewarded with her turning pink.

"What are you doing here then?" I ask.

She tilts her head, confused. "I'm here with Rock."

No shit. "What's a woman like you doing with my president? You guys got nothing in common."

Her eyes gloss over. Great, she's a crier. Girl ain't gonna last a minute here. I've barely gotten started. She blinks rapidly and sits up a little straighter. "I like him, and he likes me."

Is she fucking blind? Like? So fucking obsessed with her he almost pulled us into a war with the Vipers because he couldn't stay away from her, is closer to the truth. Never mind the club. She'll destroy my best friend. He's fuckin' in love with her and I bet she's one of those good girl types looking to satisfy her bad boy fantasy, but has no interest in him long-term.

"You're just as clueless as Cinda-fuckin-rella aren't you? He doesn't 'like' you. He's fuckin' in love with you. As in droppin' responsibilities and getting us into bad shit in love with you. And you're just over there in your little preppy, lawyer world, thinking what exactly? You'll take a walk on the wild side? Throw on some leather and be one of us? You ain't ever gonna be one of us, sweetie."

She recoils in surprise. But this is only a taste of what she's in for if she keeps hanging around here. No tears-yet. Nope. Girl sits up straighter-which pushes her tits out, distracting me for a second-and nails me with what I'm sure she thinks is a tough stare. "Are you sure you're not in love with him, Wrath? You sound like a jealous boyfriend," she spits out.

Well now. Bitch has some backbone.

"Well, fuck if you aren't a spitfire." I can't help laughing. That whole jealous boyfriend comment was completely unexpected.

"Well, fuck if you're not a big jerk."

All right then. "That I am, sugar."

A painful thud against my leg draws my attention up.

"That did not look like a friendly conversation, asshole. I told you to look after Hope, not terrorize her," Rock shouts at me before motioning Hope to move and then pulling her into his lap. She cuddles right up to him and he props his chin on top of her head.

That's new.