Page 82 of Switch

I grit my teeth and keep walking, ignoring the looks I feel burning into my back. I’m just about to reach my office when Mason steps into my path, arms crossed over his chest, his expression blank but firm.

“The hell’s your problem?” he asks.

I blow out a breath, shaking my head. “Nothing. Just got shit to do.”

Mason doesn’t move. “You’ve had that same look on your face for days.” His voice is even, but there’s that edge to it.The don’t-fuck-with-me edge.“You going to tell me what’s going on, or do I gotta drag it out of you?”

I’mnotin the mood for this. “Mase, don’t worry about it.”

“I’mnotgoing to worry about it once you tell me what the fuck is going on,” he says, still calm, still unreadable. “Last chance, Switch.”

I exhale sharply. He’s not letting this go. And if I don’t spill now, he’ll find another way to make me talk.

I run a hand over my shaved head, my pulse beating like a war drum. “Me and Bella got into a fight when I got back from the run.”

Mason’s brows pull together. “Why?”

I shift my weight from foot to foot, not wanting to get into it, but at this point, I don’t have a choice. “She doesn’t get it,” I say. “She doesn’t understand this life, what I have to do for the club. She wants to knoweverything, and when I don’t give her answers, she thinks I’m shutting her out.” I shake my head. “She acts like she’s on the outside, but this isn’t some normal relationship. I’m an officer in this MC, and thatmeans something.”

By the time I finish, I realize the whole damn room is listening.

Tank, Piston, Blade, Rev, and even Miles have all stopped what they’re doing, eyes on me.

I scowl. “What the fuck are y’all looking at?”

Dagger steps forward, shaking his head. “Jesus Christ, man.”

I cross my arms. “What?”

Dagger shrugs. “From someone who’sroyallyfucked up in the past, I’ll be the first to tell you—you fucked up.”

My jaw clenches. “Are you telling me you all tell your old ladieseverything? Every detail about the club?”

Tank leans back against the table, arms crossed. “I don’t hide shit from Sophie.”

Dagger smirks. “Chloe probably knows more than I do at this point.”

Mason tilts his head. “We don’t hide shit from them, Switch.”

I scoff. “So you’re saying you give themfulltransparency?”

Mason shakes his head. “Nah. But they hear our calls. They listen to our conversations. Between the four of them, they put things together. We don’t have tospell it outfor them.” He narrows his eyes. “And we sure as hell don’t make them feelless thanfor wanting to know what’s going on.”

I shift uncomfortably, that guilt I’ve been trying to shove down clawing back up my throat.

Piston leans against the desk, rubbing his chin. “Look, I get it. You’re trying to protect her, keep her out of the club’s bullshit. But women like Bella? They’reinwhether you like it or not. And pushing her away is the quickest way to make sure she stays on the outside.”

I rub a hand over my face, frustration rolling through me.

“She just—” I start, but Mason cuts me off.

“She justwants to be part of your life,” he finishes for me. “You think she wants to know club business because she doesn’t trust you? That she’s trying tocontrolyou? Or do you think maybe, just maybe, she doesn’t want to be sitting at home, wondering if you’re coming back in one piece?”

That one hits me straight in the chest.

I let out a rough breath, my fingers tightening into fists.

Fuck.

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