Page 42 of Spinner's Luck

And I wasn’t about to let it slip away—not for Ashlynn, not for anyone.

I NEED TOrun to the bathroom, be right back,”Lucy said with a quick smile, touching my arm before heading toward the staircase.

Her laughter still lingered in the air when I turned back toward the bar, already scanning the room out of habit. I hadn’t even made it halfway when a voice sliced through the noise, freezing me mid-step.

“Spinner.”

It wasn’t playful. Wasn’t soft. It was laced with venom, a slow-acting poison that coiled around my gut like a steel trap.

Slowly, I turned.

Ashlynn stood near the corner, arms locked tight over her chest, her nails digging into her skin like she was holding herself together by sheer will. Her eyes burned into me—anger, possession, something unhinged lurking just beneath the surface.

Shit. Here we go.

“Ashlynn,” I said carefully, keeping my voice neutral. I’d been waiting for this blow-up, but I’d hoped it’d be behind closed doors.

She didn’t wait for me to come to her. She stormed forward, boots cracking against the floor like gunfire.

“What the hell was that?” she demanded, her voice low but jagged enough to cut.

I knew what she meant, but I wasn’t about to play this game.

I sighed, rubbing a hand over my jaw. “Ashlynn, I don’t have to—”

“Really?” She stepped into my space, head tilted, eyes wild. “You don’t owe me an explanation? You don’t care how I feel?”

My patience snapped like a frayed wire. “You better watch what you’re sayin’.” My voice was steady, but the threat was there. Around us, a few curious glances flicked our way. I didn’t need an audience, and I sure as hell didn’t need Lucy walking back into this mess.

Ashlynn let out a bitter laugh, her breath coming fast, almost shaking. “That’s all you’ve got?”

I stepped in close, my voice dropping to an angry whisper. “Ashlynn, you’re my friend. That’s all this ever was. And I’m fuckin’ done repeatin’ myself just because you refuse to hear me.”

Her lips parted, her breath shaky. She looked away, her jaw clenched so hard I swore I heard her teeth grind. “I thought…” Her voice broke, barely a whisper now, but still full of heat.

My own jaw tightened. “You thought what?”

Her eyes snapped back to mine, shimmering with unshed tears. “I thought maybe you felt somethin’ but were holding back.”

I exhaled hard, pushing down the frustration clawing up my throat. “Ashlynn, I don’t play fuckin’ games. I say what I mean.”

Her hands curled into fists at her sides, her whole body trembling with something I couldn’t name. “But you did. Whether you meant to or not, you did.”

She was delusional. That much was clear. And I wasn’t about to let this get uglier than it already was.

I set my shoulders, forcing steel into my voice. “I don’t want this to turn into a scene. Either accept what I’m sayin’, or you need to walk away and right out of this clubhouse.”

She shook her head, laughing without humor, the sound sharp and cracked. “A scene? Spinner, this isn’t a scene. This is a joke. You and her?” Her lip curled. “Look at her, Spinner! She doesn’t belong here. Not like I do.”

That was it. The final fucking straw.

I straightened, my hands flexing at my sides. When I spoke, my voice was low, calm, and lethal. “Who the fuck do you think you are?”

She flinched.

“I advise you to stay the hell away from me,” I continued, every word razor-edged. “And you better pray I don’t take this to Devil. You don’t get to tell me who I should want. You sure as fuck don’t get to talk about Lucy like that. For the last time—back the fuck off.”

Ashlynn’s mouth opened, but no words came out. Her face twisted in something raw—anger, pain, disbelief—but I didn’t give a shit anymore.

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