Payne (The Soldiers of Wrath MC: Grit Chapter Book 3) by Sam Crescent, Jenika Snow Page B

looking for her in his room, and what he found turned his stomach. He had a small wardrobe, and drawers. Both were open, empty of her clothes. Going to the bathroom, he saw that all of her stuff was gone as well. Vicky had gone. She had left.
    He knew it without a shadow of a doubt.
    “Will you leave me a note if you ever go and I’m not here? So I don’t worry about you?”
    “No, Payne. When I go, I’ll only be a memory. I won’t cause any trouble. That’s not who I am.”
    It was a distant memory, so old it had almost faded. She had been part of his life for so long that he’d not even considered her ever leaving. Clara’s pale face. The fact Vicky hadn’t come out with her. She knew, and he was going to find out where the fuck Vicky was.
    He left his room, slamming the door as he did. Leaving the clubhouse, he saw Clara resting against a tree. King was there in front of them. They both looked so happy, so at peace, and he was about to ruin that. He would kill Clara if he had to.
    “Hey, Payne,” someone said.
    Payne shoved them out of the way, charging toward the woman that had known. She knew Vicky was leaving, and rather than warn him, she just let her go, and he was pissed. So fucking pissed.
    He pushed King aside and wrapped his hands around Clara’s neck, pinning her against the tree.
    “Payne, what the fuck? Get your hands off my woman!”
    “Where is she?” he asked.
    Clara held onto his arm but she didn’t fight him. Squeezing her throat a little tighter, he stared into her eyes, letting her know he would kill her.
    “Payne!” King said.
    “Vicky is gone. She knows, and I’m not going to rest until I find her.”
    “You think this is the way to let everyone know that you’re in love with Vicky?” King asked, stepping in close.
    King didn’t make a move to attack him. He was a smart man. There was a reason that Payne was the Prez of the Soldiers of Wrath: Grit Chapter. No one could best him in a fight. He was the best, the strongest, and the hardest.
    “Do I look like I give a fuck right now? She’s gone. How long?”
    “Clara doesn’t know anything.”
    Payne smiled. “Do you want to tell him the truth?”
    “Yes, I know.”
    King froze.
    Clara swallowed. He felt the action against his palm. “I knew she was going. I didn’t say anything, and I gave her a chance to get away.”
    Payne pulled her toward him. “Where is she headed?”
    “I don’t know. I don’t know where she is going, only that she is.”
    “Why?”
    “She told me it was time for her to move on,” Clara said.
    “You’re lying.”
    “I’m not. Vicky wouldn’t tell me because she knew your crazy ass would do this, and she didn’t want to risk me getting hurt. That’s all you seem to know, isn’t it, Payne, hurting people?”
    He glared at her.
    “You were breaking her heart. It’s what you do best. You break hearts, and don’t give a fuck about the person that you leave behind,” Clara said.
    “Stop it, Clara.”
    “What? Stop telling the big bad Payne what an asshole he’s been? Vicky deserved better than you. You saw what a gem she was, and you stuck your claws in, dragging her back to your fucking lair, and then proceeded to hurt her.”
    “I would never hurt her,” Payne said, gritting his teeth.
    “No? Then tell me why she has spent so much time crying in my lap? Why she would do anything to get away from you?”
    “I love her,” he said. He spoke the words against her ear so that only she could hear them. “I need her.”
    “Not enough to claim her. She was just a hole for you to use.”
    Payne let her go. There was no point choking her, or killing her. It wouldn’t get him any closer to Vicky, and when he did finally find her, she would be pissed at him for killing her best friend.
    “Vicky was never a hole. Do you think it was easy for me to keep holding back from her? She is all I think about. I’ve got a club to lead, and with that comes risks. I thought you’d understand