Page 85 of Switch

I take another step, my voice lower now. “Butch, one of our club brothers, wasn’t having it. Didn’t like the way things were going. He made a scene at church and cut his patches right there in front of everyone.”

Her eyes widen. “Heleft?”

I nod. “Walked out, just like that. And it’s got some of the older guys stirring shit. They don’t like change. Don’t like the idea of doing things clean. Some of them have left too.”

She’s quiet for a second, letting it all sink in. Then she shakes her head. “Jesus, Jax…”

I let out a breath, raking a hand over my shaved head. “It’s been a fucking mess. I’ve been trying to keep everything together, trying to make this work without the whole damn club splitting in half.” My gaze finds hers. “And in the middle of all that, I fucked up with you.”

She tenses, her fingers flexing at her sides.

I step closer, keeping my voice steady. “I thought if I kept you out of it, you’d be safer. That you wouldn’t have to carry this weight.” I shake my head. “But all I did was make you feel like you didn’t matter. And that’s the last thing I ever wanted.”

She swallows hard, like she doesn’t trust herself to say anything else.

I reach for her hand, brushing my thumb over her knuckles. She doesn’t pull away.I tighten my grip on her fingers, grounding myself in the fact that she’shere—that she came with me, that she’s listening, even if she hasn’t decided what to do with me yet.

“You meaneverythingto me, baby,” I murmur, my voice rough. “I didn’t realize that in trying to protect you, I was pushing you away. And Ihatethat I made you feel like you weren’t important.”

Her breath hitches slightly, her eyes flashing with something sharp. “It’s exactly how I felt.”

The words gut me, but I nod, taking it, owning it. “I know,” I say quietly. “And I’ll never let you feel like that again.”

She swallows hard, her fingers twitching in mine.

I step in closer, letting my other hand trail up her arm, slow, steady—giving her the chance to pull away if she wants to. She doesn’t. I cup her cheek, my thumb brushing over her skin, my voice lower now. “I don’t know how to do this without you, Bella.” The words come out raw, unfiltered. “I don’twantto do this without you. I don’t want any of it if you’re not by my side.”

Her lashes flutter, like she’s trying to blink away something she doesn’t want me to see. “Jax…”

I shake my head. “I ain’t perfect, baby. Never will be. But you gotta know—Iseeyou. I see what you are to me. What you’ve always been. And I can’t stand the thought of losing you over my own fucking mistakes.”

Her breathing is uneven now, her lips parting slightly, and for the first time since I walked into her place tonight, she looksuncertaininstead of closed off.

I take another step, so close now I can feel the warmth of her body against mine. “Let me fix this. Let me fixus.”

She exhales shakily, and this time, when she presses her palm against my chest, she doesn’t pull away. That’s all I need. It’s not a full surrender. But it’s enough.

TWENTY-SEVEN

BELLA

My hand pressesagainst Jax’s chest, feeling the steady thrum of his heart beneath my palm. It’s strong, solid—just like him. Just likeus, or at least what we used to be.

He’s saying everything I’ve wanted to hear. That he sees me. That he needs me. That hewantsme. And my brain is spinning, my chest is tight because Iwantto believe him.

God, Iwantto believe him so badly.

But I’ve spent the last few days trying to put myself back together, trying to make peace with the idea that maybe—maybe—this wasn’t meant to work. That no matter how much I love him, some things just don’t fit.

And now he’s here, holding me, looking at me like I’m the only thing keeping him breathing, and it’s unraveling everything I’ve tried to convince myself of.

I swallow hard, my fingers twitching against his cut, the worn leather familiar under my touch. My body remembers this, remembers him—how it feels to be held like this, like Imatter.

But my heart?

My heart is still trying to catch up.

Jax’s thumb brushes over my cheek, his touch careful, like he knows I could bolt at any second. “Say something, baby.” His voice is low, rough, desperate in a way I don’t think I’ve ever heard before.

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