Eye for an Eye

Chapter 34: Feelings

"None of this would have happened if you hadn’t stabbed Hope in the back—if you hadn’t stabbed all of us in the fucking back," Caleb seethed, his voice sharp with anger. "She wouldn’t have had to take over her uncle’s gang. She could still be a mother to your daughter."

West’s jaw tightened, his hands balling into fists. "Everything I did was to protect them. To protect you." His voice was rough, edged with frustration. "So shut the fuck up, Caleb."

Jace exhaled harshly. "You shouldn’t be here, West. She’s gonna lose her shit when she wakes up."

West’s expression darkened, but his voice was firm. "I don’t care, Jace. She needs to know why I did it. She needs to know why I broke her heart."

Jace let out a hollow laugh, shaking his head. "She doesn’t have a heart anymore, you prick. Not the one you loved two years ago." He took a step closer, voice dropping into something cold and unforgiving. "You did that. You broke her. She lost her daughter. She lost you. And Callum—who, by the way, wants her dead now."

West flinched, but Jace pressed on mercilessly. "Did you know she loved him? More than she ever loved you." He let the words sink in before delivering the final blow. "She was never the same after that. And then you went and killed her best friend."

Caleb chuckled, but there was no humor in it, only bitterness. "And you think you can get her back?"

West’s eyes flashed. "I will get her back."

Jace scoffed. "No, you won’t. And don’t even fucking try—she’s marrying Xavier anyway."

West’s entire body tensed, his voice low and dangerous. "I refuse to let her marry him."

A heavy silence followed, thick with tension.

I let their words settle in my mind as I slowly blinked my eyes open, my body aching, the sheets pooling just above my chest. My breath was steady, controlled—but my heart pounded violently in my ribs.

They were standing by the window, side by side, so wrapped up in their anger they didn’t even realize I was awake.

Jace sat beside my bed, his legs stretched out, arms crossed over his chest, wearing an expression of pure boredom as he watched the two brothers bicker. His messy hair fell over tired, pretty green eyes, and I could tell he hadn't slept much.

The whole situation felt surreal—Caleb and West in the same room, standing off like two territorial wolves. The only thing missing was Callum, but I doubted he'd ever show up for something like this. He wasn’t part of my life anymore. He didn’t remember me.

He hated me. And if I couldn’t get him to remember, there was no way he’d ever be on our side when it came time to fight whoever the hell West was—or had been—working for.

I sighed, feeling the dull throb in my skull intensify. "Can you two shut up? You're giving me a migraine."

I tried to sit up, but before I could, Jace was already moving, his hand pressing gently against my shoulder. "Careful, Carter. We don’t want you ripping those stitches again."

His voice was softer than usual, and I gave him a small, appreciative smile before sinking back into the pillows. "Can you get me a drink?"

Jace nodded and stood, leaving the room with a glance back at me. The door remained open, but the second he was gone, I turned my attention to Caleb.

"Please leave. I need to talk to your brother."

His jaw clenched. "I'm not leaving you alone with him."

Frustration flared in my chest. I took a slow, deep breath, only to wince as a sharp pain shot through my stomach. I’m so sick of this—being weak, being stuck like this. I gritted my teeth.