Lily looked like the wind would blow her away; she looked so fragile.

“Beth, please don’t cry, kitten.” Razer sat down next to her, pulling her into his arms.

“I’ve lost her, Razer. I can see it in her eyes. She’s so hurt. It’s like looking into an open wound.”

“She’ll get over it.”

“No, Razer, she won’t. She thinks I’ve lied and deceived her, and she’s right. I should have told her at least parts of it; she could have taken that. What she can’t accept is the one person she trusted hiding things from her.”

“Did she tell you not to talk to her anymore?”

“No, but she told me to give her clothes away. She’s cutting herself off from me.”

“Then don’t let her,” Shade’s voice came from over Razer’s shoulder. Beth looked back at him.

“She knows everything now, Shade. She knows that Razer and you both are original members. How the women get the votes.”

“She was bound to find out sooner or later. When you, Winter and Diamond found out, was it any less painful? But each of you got over it and moved on. Lily will, too.”

“No, she won’t, Shade. Lily is different. She’ll believe that Razer and you took advantage of the women.”

“That won’t last long when she’s around them,” Shade said ironically.

Beth got to her feet. “You just don’t get it, Shade. She’s cut not only me, but us all from her heart. That’s what Lily does. Lily doesn’t give second chances with her love.”

“No, Beth, it’s you who doesn’t understand. Lily’s not going to be given the choice.”

Chapter 11

Lily walked back to her dorm from her class the next day. Her mind had not been on the class but on Beth’s face. Lily knew the position Beth had been in must have been hard, yet the ice encasing her kept her from reaching out.

Lily stopped, leaning against a tree as a wave of dizziness swept over her. Taking a deep breath, she straightened, just wanting to make it back to her dorm room and crawl in bed. She walked another few feet, seeing her dorm building not far away. Her sole focus was on simply putting one step in front of the other, so she didn’t notice the big truck pull up next to her.

“Get in, Lily.” Lily looked through the passenger window and saw Shade. She didn’t say anything, taking another step forward. “You can either get in or I’ll put you in.” His dark sunglasses did little to hide his harsh expression.

“Go away,” Lily forced herself to talk to him.

She heard the truck door open and Shade get out of the truck, opening the passenger door. “Get in.”

“If you don’t go away, I’ll scream,” Lily threatened.

“Try it and see what I do.” She could tell he meant it.

Lily sighed. If he wanted to talk like Beth, she would listen rather than argue with him on a busy sidewalk. Maybe then, he would leave like Beth and she could be alone again. She climbed into the truck, and Shade slammed the door closed before going around the front of it and getting back inside.

When he put the truck in gear, driving out of the parking lot, Lily didn’t try to talk to him as he drove through the small town. He pulled into a restaurant with a drive-thru, ordering food, and still not a word had been spoken between them.

He didn’t ask what she wanted when placing the order, yet she knew he was ordering the food for her. She was equally surprised when he didn’t pull to the side to eat. Instead, he got back on the road after the large bag of food was given to him.

The aromas coming from it were making Lily nauseous.

“Don’t you dare throw up. Rider will be pissed enough when he sees his truck is gone.”

Lily forced the bile back down.

Shade pulled into the parking lot of the local hotel, stopping in front of a block of rooms. Picking up the bag, he walked to one of the rooms and disappeared inside after unlocking the door. A second later, he was back, opening the door by her side.

“Get out.”

“Quit ordering me around. I’m not going in there.” The words were no sooner out of her mouth than she found herself lifted from the truck. Shade slammed the door closed with his shoulder as she was struggling to get away, and then carried her into the room, slamming that door shut with his foot.

The room was small, but it held two beds, a small table and a dresser with a television. He set her down on one of the chairs by the small, round table in the room. When she would have jumped to her feet, he leaned down, placing a hand on each side of the chair she was sitting in, effectively blocking her in.

“Lily, I am a man with infinite patience, but you are trying me. I advise you to keep your ass on that chair. Do you understand me?”

Lily did. She could hear the threat in his voice.

Shade straightened, going to the other chair and sitting down. He opened the bag, pulling out a small cup of soup and several packs of crackers then set them in front of her with a plastic spoon.

“Eat.”

“Will you please quit ordering me around?” Lily asked again, her voice as cold as ice.

“I’ll think about it.” Shades lips twitched in amusement at her frosty gaze.

Lily took the lid off the soup, and her stomach lurched.

“Eat a cracker first.”

Lily’s trembling fingers tore open a pack of the crackers, removing one. She nibbled on it until her stomach settled then ate another.

She watched Shade eat the large burger and fries as she picked up her spoon and took a small bite of the soup before she opened another pack of crackers. Her stomach gradually settled.

Shade finished eating, setting one of the drinks in front of her. Lily took a drink. The chocolate shake was delicious. She started to cry as she drank it, remembering the meals they had shared over the summer.

“I hate you.”

“I know.” Shade removed his sunglasses, letting her see his remorse.

Lily quit eating, sitting there with tears coursing down her cheeks, hating herself for letting him see how weak she was.

Shade stood, picking her up before going to the bed and laying her down. “Sleep, Lily. You’ll feel better when you wake up. You’re exhausted.”

Lily closed her eyes, unable to keep the drowsiness at bay.

* * *

She didn’t know how long she’d slept. Waking, she sat up and she could tell it was dark outside.

“What time is it?”

“Ten o’clock. You’ve slept six hours.”

“Oh.” Lily brushed her hands through her hair, trying to untangle the mess.

“There’re clothes for you in the bag. Go take a shower.”

Lily didn’t argue. She had learned it was useless against Shade. So, picking up the bag, she went into the bathroom. She took a quick shower, drying off when she got out, and peeked into the bag he’d given her. Everything she needed was in there. She dressed in the jeans and sweatshirt, putting on the warm socks and tennis shoes. She brushed her hair, leaving it down to dry before putting her dirty clothes in the bag.

She went into the other room to see he had somehow made them sandwiches.

She held up a hand, forestalling him. “I’ll eat.” She wasn’t up to fighting him. If she ate without arguing, then maybe he would take her back to her dorm.