Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 39473 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 197(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39473 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 197(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
I stood, grateful for his approval, and as I walked out, the plan developed more fully in my head, crystallizing into something colder than before.
I’d been turning Tripp’s betrayal over in my mind again and again, remembering every detail he’d ever revealed. He rarely spoke about family, but when he did, he mentioned his sister carefully. There was love there, an attachment strong enough to exploit.
The idea formed itself clearly now. I’d find Tripp’s sister and make her fall for me. I could be real fucking charming when I bothered to try. She would become my emotional leverage, an insurance policy against Tripp’s revenge. He wouldn’t dare betray me openly or hurt me further if it meant destroying his own sister. He’d hesitate, second-guess, and ultimately back down, leaving the club safe. Then when I was sure he was no longer a threat, I’d disappear and break her heart, leaving him to pick up the pieces.
I felt something uncomfortable twist inside me at the thought, but I pushed it away quickly. This wasn’t about morality or right and wrong. It was about justice. Revenge, pure and simple.
Tripp had brought this on himself by betraying the very loyalty I had extended him. Now he’d feel the same pain and sense of loss.
As I walked down the hallway, I silenced the voice inside me that warned how wrong this was, how it made me no better than Tripp himself. I couldn’t listen to that now.
This was strategic. Necessary. The only way to ensure that Tripp’s betrayal never touched my club again.
But deep down, beneath the cold logic and hardened resolve, I knew the truth. I was crossing a line that had always defined me—using someone innocent as collateral damage. But I was too full of hate and anger to pull back now.
After leaving Kane’s office, I sent Jax a quick text.
Me
Put together a full dossier on Tripp’s sister.
He replied right away.
Jax
Already on it.
Of course he was. Jax always handled the digital end quickly and efficiently.
I headed to my office, forcing myself to dive into club work, hoping it would help me regain control of my thoughts. But as the hours passed and I tried to focus, the anger and frustration remained stubbornly present. The harder I worked, the more clearly I realized I was barely holding on to my carefully constructed calm.
Eventually, the clubhouse came alive around me, the sounds of laughter and conversation drifting in from the lounge and the large yard behind it. Though I wasn’t exactly in the mood for festivities, I knew better than to skip the party celebrating the first birthday of Travis, Edge and Callie’s son. Family mattered more than anything, and the club was family.
Despite the tension and anger simmering beneath my skin, I joined them in the lounge, settling onto a couch with a glass of whiskey. Given my injury, nobody expected me to do more than sit back and watch, which suited me just fine. From this vantage point, I observed my brothers mingling with their old ladies and kids, and the family atmosphere soothed my restless anger enough for me to breathe easier.
That calm shattered when I saw Tripp step into the lounge.
My muscles tensed as I watched him carefully, feeling the betrayal all over again. I forced myself not to react outwardly, unwilling to show my hand before I was ready. Instead, I took a sip of whiskey, allowing my body language to remain casual despite how my chest tightened at the sight of him. Tripp laughed and joked easily with a few brothers nearby, playing the perfect prospect. His cover remained intact for now.
The party eventually wound down, with guests and families dispersing slowly back to their homes. Jax was just about to leave with Lark, his old lady, but paused near the couch where I sat.
He leaned in slightly, his voice lowered. “Left what you asked for on your desk.”
I gave a brief nod, waiting until they walked away before slowly standing from the couch. Curiosity and anticipation mingled in my gut as I moved down the quiet hallway toward my office, pushing open the heavy door and stepping inside. The folder sat in the center of my desk, and I hesitated for a tense moment before sitting and flipping it open.
A photograph rested on top, immediately drawing my gaze. Petite, dark-haired, and undeniably beautiful, the woman in the image looked unaware that her picture was being taken. She had clear blue eyes and a genuine smile, the kind that made me pause, despite the anger fueling my intentions.
Desire surged hot and unexpected, tightening every muscle in my body with an intense awareness. I stared at her photo, surprised at the immediate physical reaction that slammed through me. I hadn’t reacted to anyone in a very long time, and never like this.