Chapter 45 Taking sides
Sage's POV
The clubhouse turned into a war zone.
Diesel stood with his arms crossed, his voice much louder than the others. "The president is right. Ryder crossed a sacred line. Even if it's not a written rule or law. You don't touch the president's family. Period."
"That's old school bullshit," Snake shot back. "Sage is a grown woman who can make her own choices."
"It doesn't matter how old she is. Some rules don't change."
"Then the rules are wrong!"
Tommy stepped forward, his usual easy going nature gone. "Jax, you're making a mistake. Kicking Ryder out isn't going to fix anything."
"It's going to send a message that actions have consequences." Jaxon's voice was hard. "He knew how I would feel about him fucking my sister, and he went ahead and did it anyway."
"Because he loves her! Since when is that a crime?"
"Since it involves my sister and my best friend going behind my back!"
The shouting escalated. Brothers who had been as good as family for years stood on opposite sides of the room, throwing accusations and defending positions. A brother named Johnny tried to play peacemaker but got shouted down. Two other brothers started shoving each other and had to be separated.
I watched the steel wolves tear itself apart and felt intense rage and anger building inside me.
"Enough!" My voice cut through the chaos as I screamed.
Every head turned toward me. The room went silent except for heavy breathing and the sound of someone's knuckles cracking.
I stepped into the center of the room and looked directly at Jaxon.
"You want to kick Ryder out? Fine. But understand this right now." My voice didn't shake even though my hands did. "If he goes, I go with him."
Jaxon's eyes widened. "Sage—"
"I'm not finished." I turned to address the whole room. "And if you hurt him, if any of you do anything to harm him, you don't just lose your enforcer. You lose me. Permanently."
"You can't be serious," Diesel said.
"I've never been more serious about anything in my life."
Jaxon stared at me like I was someone he'd never met before. "You'd choose him over your own family? Over me?"
"He IS my family." I moved to stand beside where Ryder had been before he left to pack. "And I'm done letting you control my life, Jax. I didn't choose the marriage contract you're trying to make me honor. I didn't choose to be watched and threatened and hunted by the enemies of the club. But I'm choosing Ryder, and I'm choosing myself."
"Do you have any idea what you're doing?" Jaxon's voice cracked. "You walk out that door with him and there's no coming back. The club won't protect you. I can't protect you."
"I don't need your protection. I need you to respect my choices."
"Your choices are going to get you killed."
"I actually think it's you who need my protection. If I don't honor the marriage contract, what then happens to the club? What happens to the agreement with the Blood Sisters?"
The air was very thick between us. Brothers looked from me to Jaxon, waiting to see who would break first.
Jaxon's jaw clenched. His hands opened and closed at his sides. For a second I thought he might actually back down and actually choose me over his pride.
But then his expression hardened.
"Get out of my sight," he said quietly. "Both of you."
The words hit like a physical blow and actually knocked the wind out of my lungs as I let out a sharp breath. I expected them but hearing him actually say it made everything real in a way it hadn't been before.
"Jax, please," Tommy started.
"I said both of them. Out. Now."
I turned and walked toward the room Ryder entered before anyone could see the tears in my eyes starting to fall. My legs felt like they might give out but I forced them to keep moving.
Ryder met me in the hallway with a duffle bag over his shoulder. His face was bruised and bleeding but his eyes were clear.
"You don't have to do this," he said quietly.
"Yes, I do."
He searched my face then nodded and took my hand.
We walked through the clubhouse together. Brothers parted to let us pass, some looking guilty and others looking relieved. Tommy caught my eye and mouthed "I'm sorry" but I just shook my head.
As we reached the door, I heard Diesel mutter to someone nearby. "This is how clubs fall apart. This right here."
He wasn't wrong.
I looked back one last time. Jaxon stood at the end of the hallway with his arms folded across his chest and his back leaning on the wall. He looked saddened somehow, more alone than I'd ever seen him.
For a second our eyes met. I saw the pain there, the regret he wouldn't let himself voice. But his jaw was still set in that stubborn line that showed he never planned to back down.
I turned away and walked out the door with Ryder.
Just a few weeks ago I had lost my carefully planned life in New York to rejoin and stick to the only family I had, Jaxon. Now I was loosing that too.
But when Ryder squeezed my hand, when I felt his unwavering presence beside me, I knew it was the right choice.
Even if it cost me everything else.
Behind us, through the open door, I could hear the arguments starting up again. It was obvious they were never going to agree on one thing in this situation.
I didn't look back again.
Ryder led me to his motorcycle and handed me a helmet. I wrapped my arms around his waist and held on tight, leaving behind my brother probably sitting alone in our dad's chair, looking more broken than angry, and surrounded by the pieces of the family we used to be.