I was about to make it clear that he hadn’t fucked me over; that I’d known what I was getting into a year ago and I’d chosen to take a risk, but Reuben was speaking before I could.
“I thought better of you, Butch. I really did.”
“Jude is having a shit fit right now,” said Chico. “She’s also considering slicing off your balls. I had to confiscate her knife.”
“It’s nothing to do with Jude or any of you,” Butch stated, his tone even.
“Wrong,” insisted Chico. “This is Imani we’re talking about. She’s not just anyone. She’s a member of the legion, she’s under our protection.”
“If you want to be a hit and run guy,” began Harvey, “I figure that’s your business. But when the girl you’re running over is a member of the legion and under our protection, it becomes our business.”
Chico nodded. “We gave you the benefit of the doubt a year ago, because we trusted that you wouldn’t get involved with someone you’re supposed to protect unless it was serious. We realised we were wrong. So don’t think any of us will trust you not to hurt her a second time.”
“There are other females on this island for you to use and drop,” said Damien.
I narrowed my eyes. “And you’re so certain he’ll use and drop me?”
Looking at me like I was dumb, Damien snapped, “Well he’s done it before, honey.”
“Careful,” warned Butch. It was a lethal whisper that made Damien swallow hard.
“He doesn’t use women to be an asshole, Imani,” Denny told me, his voice gentle. “He does it because he’s not capable of more. That’s why we’re worried here.”
Nodding, Max turned to Butch. “I’d like to think you’ve changed. I’d like to think that you’ll be different with Imani. But I know you won’t, because you walked away from her once before.”
“And you know this isn’t good or you wouldn’t have hidden it,” added Reuben.
Butch lifted a single brow. “Since when do I have to announce the details of my personal life to all of you?”
No one had an answer to that.
Wiping a hand over his face, Stuart looked at me. “Imani, you’ve got to see that Butch isn’t who you need. You just got out of a relationship after being let down by someone you trusted. Do you really want to go through that again?”
“Is this like a rebound thing?” Harvey asked me. “You’re feeling lonely and vulnerable and just looking for something to fill the void?”
My eyes widened. “No. It’s so far from a rebound, it isn’t even funny—not that I need to justify myself to you. And I’d just like to point out that some people worried that Salem wouldn’t be good for Ava, but no one said shit about it.” Though that may have been because Sam threatened that any interference would be met with bodily harm.
Damien, Stuart, and Denny shifted uncomfortably as they glanced guiltily at Salem.
Reuben jabbed a finger in Butch’s direction. “If you have any decency in you, you’ll end this before you have the chance to hurt her.”
Looking bored, Butch ran his gaze along everyone. “You all done now?”
Reuben cursed. “Don’t you have any—” He cut off as Sam and Jared entered the arena. “Have you heard about Imani and Butch’s special news?” he asked, his tone mocking.
“I don’t think that’s the business of anyone here other than Imani and Butch,” said Sam.
I blinked, surprised.
Chico gaped at her. “You can’t tell me you’re okay with this, Coach.”
David cleared his throat. “Let’s just forget about this and start the session. Coach is right; this is their business.” Salem grunted in agreement.
After a moment, Reuben inclined his head. “Fine.” His annoyed gaze moved to me and Butch. “I think it would be best if you two go. Emotions are running too high in here right now, and we need to have our heads straight while we’re training.”
My mouth fell open. Had he really just said that?
Face blank, Butch said to him, “I don’t recall asking what you think is best. If Coach and Jared want us to leave, we’ll do just that.” Butch looked at the couple. “But I’ll never enter this arena again. I remember Max once making an offhand comment about you two out of jealousy.”
The image of awkwardness, Max averted his gaze.
“You told him personal shit has no place in this arena,” Butch said to Sam. “Is that true? Or does that only apply to some people?”
She didn’t reply, but her next words made her stance perfectly clear. “Take your usual places.”
Chico’s face hardened. “Coach, seriously—”
“I am bloody serious,” she fairly snarled. “You can be pissed at Butch and Imani in your own time. Though why you’re all taking this personally as if they’re together to spite you, I don’t know. It’s bloody ridiculous. Stop fucking whining and get your shit together.”
Jared nodded his agreement. “You get to feel how you feel, but you don’t get to use this arena as a place to vent.”
Glancing around, Sam frowned. “Where are the girls?” When no one spoke, she hissed, “Jared, call them here now.”
Looking a little worried on Jude’s behalf, Chico again spoke, “Coach—”
“Not another bloody word.”
Everyone fell silent as we waited for the rest of my squad to arrive. Paige fairly marched inside. Other than Ava, who cast me a weak smile, the girls pointedly ignored me. Nice.
Flicking her brown hair over her shoulder, Jude sighed. “Look, Sam—”
“If what’s about to come out of your mouth has anything to do with Imani and Butch, I don’t want to hear it,” Sam snapped, the mercury tint to her irises flaring slightly. It clearly took the girls aback. I couldn’t blame them for looking wary; I wouldn’t like to be on the receiving end of Sam’s anger either.
“Considering we might soon find ourselves in a battle with dragon shifters, we need to be at the top of our game,” said Jared, face hard. “We don’t have time for this shit.”
“You’re here to train, nothing else,” said Sam, slashing her hand through the air. “Now all of you stand over there and listen to what Jared and I have to say.”