Free Defying Destiny (Forsaken Sinners MC Series Book 3) by Shelly Morgan

surprised as fuck. And holy shit, that slap must have hurt like a bitch, my ears are ringing from the sound of it alone.
    When Harlow finally turns her face back toward us, I can see a handprint, clear as day and red as can be, on her face. And it looks like her lip was split open a little bit, because there are a few drops of blood on her bottom lip.
    I feel like I need to do something, anything, to stop what’s going on right now, but I’m so shocked that I just stand there and watch two of the three women I care about in my life standoff toe to toe.
    The first to break the silence is Dani. “I have had enough. You walk around like the world has wronged you and that you’re all alone, but you’re not, Harlow. We’ve been here from the very beginning, but you don’t get that, do you? We are family !”
    “I don’t have a family—” Harlow starts to say, but she’s cut off.
    “Yes you do!” Dani yells. “From the first day you started working here, you became our family and we became yours. But you walked away from us—not even telling us what happened, where you were going, and when you’d be back— if you’d be back. For all we knew, you fucking died, Harlow! How the hell were we to know, huh? But then you come back, and we were so fucking happy that you did. But what you’re doing, the way you’re acting and treating those around you, it needs to fucking stop. I’ve stayed quiet because I thought you’d snap out of it, or shit, at least talk to me about what’s been going on. Whatever chip you have on your shoulder, share it with us. We’ll help you carry it, honey. That’s what family does—we will be there for you and help you walk those hard roads so you aren’t alone. So, please , just tell us what is going on, Low. We love you and just want to be there for you.”
    I watched Harlow’s eyes the whole time Dani said her piece, and with every word Dani spoke, it was like I was watching a little piece of Harlow leave her body, until there was nothing left. There is now nothing in her eyes—no hurt, no anger, no confusion, no love. Just nothing. She’s completely broken. Void of anything that resembled the girl we once knew.
    I take a step toward her to take her in my arms, but my movement snaps her out of wherever she just was. A little bit of clarity touches her eyes, and then she’s gone. She turns around on her heels and runs out of the shop. But this time, I won’t let her get away.
    I briefly glance down at Dani to make sure she’s all right. She nods. “Go get her. Bring our girl back, Louie.”
    She doesn’t have to tell me twice. I’m out the door in two seconds and chasing after the girl that got away once before, but I won’t let her run a second time. This time, she’s gonna face what’s happened, whatever it may be, but she’ll have me this time. She’ll have all of us. Because Dani was right—we’re fucking family .

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 6
     
     
    Harlow
     
    After running out the door, I walk at a fast pace down the street, trying not to draw unwanted attention.
    I have no idea where I’m going, but I don’t want to stay here. I wish I could just hail a cab and book it out of this town—out of this state, for that matter—but something inside is stopping me. As much as I want to run and never look back, I can’t do that again. I won’t. I know I need to face everyone here and explain, it’s just harder than I thought it would be. I don’t want to see the pity in their eyes or for them to say it’s okay when it’s not. I just need to get away for a while, even if it’s only a few blocks. I want to be alone and figure out what just happened and why I reacted the way I did.
    I honestly don’t know what overcame me. I mean, I know Dani doesn’t feel that way for Louie—she never did. It’s always been Blaze for her. But seeing her in Louie’s arms like that hurt. It cut me so deep that I had to cut back. I wanted them both to feel