Page 42 of Bully's Darkness
“It’s the disrespect he’s pissed about.”
She scoffs. “Rude. Is he saying Dagger doesn’t like you and he’s just using you to get to him?” I nod. “Or maybe he just thought you were fit.”
I laugh, pushing to stand. “Whatever you do, don’t say that to Bully. He’ll blow a gasket.”
I find him in his office, talking to Poison. She gives me a smug smile the second she sees me, and just like that, my hackles rise.
Bully looks stressed. And tired. There’s a line between his brows that wasn’t there yesterday, and guilt punches me in the gut. I’m part of what’s weighing him down.
“I’m happy for you to sort it,” he tells Poison, then looks at me. “Poison said you okayed a rota.” I narrow my eyes, already feeling heat rise in my chest. “It’s not going to work,” he adds.
“Thanks, Pres,” Poison purrs, smiling like she’s just won something before swaying out the door.
I step into the room, closing the distance. “Why not? Why overrule it without talking to me?”
He exhales, long and tired, like the world’s on his back and I’ve just added another stone. “Because I don’t care, Liv. I don’t have time for drama over who’s wiping the damn table or emptying the bin.”
“All the girls were fine with it except her. Poison’s just a lazy cow.” Misty taps my foot with her paw, and I crouch down to give her a quick stroke.
He arches a brow. “Name-calling? Seriously?”
“I was trying to help,” I snap. “Trying to take some of the pressure off you.”
He rubs his brow, jaw clenched like he's holding back a full eruption. “Just leave the club shit to me, yeah?”
I stand, and Misty totters off to Bully, lying by his chair. His words sting more than they should. “Then what exactlyismy role, Bully?” I challenge.
He looks at me, guarded and worn out. “To look after me, Liv.” His voice drops. “If you can manage that in between flirting with Dagger.”
I feel like he’s given me a blow to the chest, and I stagger back a step. “Fuck you,Bully.”
I turn to leave, but his voice stops me cold. “Whizz is digging, Liv. If there’s anything you need to tell me, now’s the time.”
I spin around slowly, my pulse thudding in my ears. “Like what?” His eyes meet mine, pleading, searching. He doesn’t say it outright, but I know what he’s asking. “You thinkI’mfeeding the Scorpions?” My voice is a low growl, sharp with betrayal.
He doesn’t blink. “Are you?” I stare at him, stunned. “Are you?” he repeats.
My jaw tightens, breath catching like something sharp in my throat. “Wow.” My voice is soft, bitter. “After everything,that’swhat you think of me?” He doesn’t answer, doesn’t deny it. Just watches me with those tired, guarded eyes like he’s waiting for me to prove him right. My heart cracks a little then crumbles completely. “You don’t trust me,” I whisper.
He looks away. That’s all the answer I need.
“Five years, Bully. Five long fucking years I’ve waited. And you know . . .” I hiss, stepping closer and pointing my finger at him. “YouknowI haven’t cheated because you had someone watching me.” I scoff, shaking my head in anger. “You asked me to stay, made me think this could all be worth it, and the second shit gets hard, you turn on me like I’m some random bitch off the street.” I step closer, my fury burning over. “I have told you everything that happened with Dagger.Everything.You saw us on the CCTV, so you know I never left with him, kissed him, or even flirted. I havenevercrossed the line. I havenevercheatedon you. Never given reason for you to think otherwise, and still, you think I’d sell you out?”
His jaw ticks, but he stays silent. “I was trying to help by putting the rota in because the girls are sick of Poison slacking. I didn’t want them to turn to you because you’re already under so much pressure. And the second my back is turned, she comes crying to you and you overrule me. How the hell are they ever gonna take me seriously if you can’t? And how will anyone in this club trust me if my own old man doesn’t?”
I take a steadying breath. “Yah know what it tells women like Poison when you do shit like that? That we’re not a team. That you don’t support me. It shows her the cracks she’s waiting for to claw her way between us.” I head for the door. “I’m done begging for a seat at your table, Bully. I don’t fit here.”
I storm out before the emotion spills its way out of me completely. If I stay, I’ll break, and I’m tired of breaking for someone who doesn’t see me.
Bully
The door slams, and the silence that follows is louder than her shouting.
I sit back in my chair, heart pounding like I just went a round in the cage. Only this feels worse. There’s no blood to mop up, no crowd to drown it out. Just me and the echo of her voice still ringing in my ears.“You don’t trust me.”
She’s right.
And, fuck, I hate that because it meanshe’swinning. Dagger is coming between us, causing doubt. Doing what he set out to do.
