(Olivia’s POV)

Beeping. Rhythmic and persistent.

That was the first thing I became aware of as consciousness slowly returned. The second was pain—a deep, throbbing ache in my chest that seemed to pulse with each heartbeat.

My eyelids felt impossibly heavy as I struggled to open them. Bright light assaulted my vision, making me wince.

“She’s waking up,” a familiar voice said. Matthew?

I tried to speak, but my throat was parched, raw. A gentle hand slipped behind my head, lifting it slightly as a straw touched my lips.

“Small sips,” Matthew instructed, his voice thick with emotion.

The cool water was heaven against my dry throat. As my vision cleared, I saw Matthew’s face hovering above mine, his eyes rimmed with red.

“Take me to my room, or I’ll find somewhere to sleep outside.”

My eyebrows were well past my hairline. The audacity of this girl. The fucking sheer audacity. She fucking turns up here after everything that happened?

How stupid can she be?

And the way that she fucking snapped at Everly and then me? That’s not like Blythe. Not the one I used to know. Or maybe it was. Maybe that was the side that Ev always told us about. The side that Blythe hid.

At least she’s not being fake anymore I guess.

Just what the hell is she even doing back here? She said it was against her will. Did C.G. find her? Did Karma and Psycho bring her back? I find it hard to believe Psycho willingly left the clubhouse knowing they were going to go get her.

Fuck, Blythe looks so different. She’s still so small, but with more curves. I’m not sure if that’s because she looks thinner, or if she really did just get curvier. Her jet-ck hair was a mess on top of her head, her cobalt eyes were still as entrancing as ever, but there was something else in them. Deep anger and exhaustion.

There were dark circles under her eyes too. She was the palest person I’d ever met in my life and that hadn’t changed, but now it was different. Before, she used to radiate with health. Now she just seems…

dull. Like the life has been drained out of her. I hated how much I missed those dimples when they showed as she spoke.

Blythe was clinging to a cat-carrier and I couldn’t believe Karma let her bring a fucking cat along with her. Of course, she gets everything she wants. She’s fucking Blythe Lyra Owens. Hell, there was a time that I’d have given her the world too, but…

Fuck! I thought she was married now. I thought she was living some fairy-tale life. I thought she forgot all about us. Just like I wanted her to.

“Follow me,” Karma finally replied to Blythe after a moment.

Everly scoffed as Karma pulled his arm out of her hold.

“You’re just going to let her talk to you like that?” She asked incredulously.

“Ev,” I warned her.

“What?” She replied, clearly not giving a fuck. “She just bossed him around and insulted the whole club!”

“I didn’t insult the club,” Blythe bit out, narrowing her eyes at Everly. “I actually like the club. It’s the bunch of you assholes that I don’t like. All I said was that I didn’t want toe back here, so don’t bother me. So, if you feel insulted Everly, that sounds a lot like your problem. Karma can handle me how he sees fit. For someone talking about disrespect, you sure are doing a good job of that by questioning the prez in front of everyone.”fn3a32 Checktest chapters at /fn3a32

Everly’s face turned red as she red at Blythe. Karma shoved Blythe in the direction he wanted her to go before the two of them could start cat-fighting. I was kind of shocked by the whole situation. Everly seemed angry about what Blythe said, but normally, she cries a damn river about that kind of stuff. My twin is too kind-hearted and timid to be a fighter. She might get around and act desperate for Karma, but she’s not a mean or violent person.

“Ha!” Everly’sugh rang out, bringing me back from my thoughts. “You’re taking her to the hall the sweet tarts stay in? Wow, no wonder why your back Bly. You needed a job, huh? Your hubby get sick of you and dump your ass?”

C.G. stiffened next to me.

“You fucking told her about Blythe?” He hissed at me.

“She’s my twin, I can tell her whatever I want,” I hissed back.

“Hope all of you guys are looking!” Everly shouted, making a scene. “This is the new club whore! Take a good look boys! Sure, she looks rough, but she’s still gotta be good for something, right?”

Many of the club whores and the guysughed along with my twin.

“She does look like a wreck,” a sweet tart said.

“Nobody wants to bang a hobo, Prez!” a member shouted.

“Maybe after she showers it won’t be so bad!” another brother joked.

“Please, she looks useless and… a little like a cancer patient, but with hair. I mean, so thin and pasty… ew.”

Another bimbo added.

And what did the rest of us do? Stood there and listened. Watched Blythe to see what she would do.

Much to my surprise, she wasn’t crying. In fact, she looked back at the crowd and Everly and raised a brow at them.

“Thank fucking god!” She groaned dramatically before looking at Karma. “I really thought I was in deep sh.it there, and I’d have to actually sleep with someone. Thankfully, I don’t have to worry about any of that now. Wonderful! Can I go to my room now?”

Ev and I stared at her dumbfounded. I looked at C.G. as Karma and Blythe disappeared down the hallway. He was smirking, looking amused as hell as he watched them. The moment he was sure they were far enough away, he turned to me with a hard look before looking at the rest of the club.

“All of you listen to me very carefully,” he shouted, and they did because C.G. rarely ever talks, let alone address the club as a whole. “I don’t want to hear any of you say a fucking thing about Blythe again. Leave her the fuck alone unless you n to befriend her, and I mean only friends. Got it?” Without waiting for anyone to respond, he looked down at Ev, giving her a pointed look. “And none of you better fucking bully her one bit while she’s here. You don’t like her, stay away from her. This is your only fucking warning.”

With that, he spun on his heel and followed where Karma and Blythe disappeared to. I watched him go, feeling like I had just hit the twilight zone. Somebody turned the music back up, and I was suddenly being dragged to the bar.