She cradled my face in her hands. “Something’s wrong. You’re shaking.”
Fuck, I hadn’t even noticed my fists and limbs trembling. “I…”
“Boxer!” Jill ran over, practically hysterical. The sight had me holding my breath. “It’s Snow.”
My heart stopped. To have my initial thoughts confirmed sent me reeling.
My Snow was here…?
Libby gasped, startling back as if I’d burned her.
“No.” I tugged her back into my arms and hugged her, burying my face in the curve of her neck. We might fuck on the regular, but she’d been more of a friend to me than a lover. She listened when I talked about Snow. I trusted Libby to not repeat what I’d told her.
Jill came to my side. “Boxer, it’s bad. Her car went into a ditch. She hit her head. Maybe has hypothermia. Hero doesn’t know how long she’d been without heat.”
“Storm and Raul will handle it,” I told her through gritted teeth.
Jill reared back as if I slapped her. “You’re the enforcer. She has bruises on her neck. A bite mark from what Tara could see when she removed her coat. Hero said someone had tried to choke her.”
Fury ignited in me as the image of someone choking Aspen flashed in my head.
But still…
“Not my problem, Jill. Go take care ofyourfriend.” I lifted my empty glass off the bar and waved it in the air for Copper to bring me another.
My sister shoved my arm. “You heartless asshole!”
I stabbed my finger at my chest, a snarl curling my lip. “Me? Heartless? Really nice, sis. Now get the fuck out of my face!” Had she forgotten the hell I went through?
Wolf stepped beside Jill and took her hand. The murderous scowl he shot me didn’t mean a thing. He could try to beat the shit out of me, but I’d take him down faster than he could blink.
I caught a glimpse of Patch running past the bar toward the dorms where Hero had taken Aspen. I almost darted after him.Almost. I wasn’t about to go down that road. No matter how much every piece of me wanted to make sure Snow was okay, I’d keep my distance.
“Let’s go, Jill. Aspen needs you,” Wolf grunted.
“Yeah, Jill. Listen to your man. Your best friend needs you.” I turned away and sealed my lips to Libby’s. I kissed her hard, so I wouldn’t think of Aspen in the same fucking building as me.
How would I deal with her being here?
“Do you want to go up to your bedroom, Box?” Libby asked through her kisses. “This is huge? I can take your mind off… stuff.”
I wanted to sayyes. Any other time I would’ve carried her away and plunged into her, getting lost in her voluptuous body. All the pain would disappear for the night. I’d wake up the following day without a single thought of Aspen. I’d be golden until the next time I found myself spiraling.
But that couldn’t have been farther from what I needed.
With Aspen under the same roof, I didn’t know what the fuck to do. It made me crazy how having her in my world knocked me off my axis. I’d only seen her for three, maybe five goddamned seconds. I shouldn’t have any problem being with Libby or any other woman. Aspen didn’t own me. I was free to do as I damn well pleased and fuck anyone I wanted.
Yet, I found myself saying, “No, babe. Not tonight. I’m too fucked up to think straight.” I kissed her forehead and patted her ass, then stalked out of the bar.
The frigid air slapped me in the face on my way to the gym behind the clubhouse. I was used to the extreme cold, but shit, being stranded in it was deadly for anyone. If Snow had been stuck in her car for too long, she could’ve died.
I burst through the door, squeezing my head between my hands, a feral roar ripping from my lungs. I needed to beat the shit out of something,anything.
My emotions were a mess. I felt out of control, my mind reeling with a million thoughts.
Slamming my fist into the leather punching bag, the sting did nothing to soothe me. I punched it again. And again. Repeatedly assaulting the bag of sand, pouring my energy into the beating I gave it. Unable to stop seeing her silky blonde locks. Pale skin… bluish-purple lips.
“Fuck!” I yelled, drilling my fists into the bag.