Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 40524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 203(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 203(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
No one had told Dom exactly what had happened, how they’d found me tonight. I really hoped they’d hold themselves to the promise they’d not let me leave with Hammer because, if he even hinted he’d hurt my sisters, I knew I’d go with him willingly. Eagerly. I’d do anything to protect my sisters. No matter the cost to me.
“I’ll relay your message.” Dom didn’t sound at all happy. I figured he also knew he didn’t have any choice. “I hope to God you know what you’re doing, Sting. Claw ain’t gonna be happy about this.”
“About what? The fact that we’re holding Scarlet in our compound where we can be sure she’s safe? Or the fact that he sent his daughter away from the protection of his club with a man who beat the living shit out of her?”
There was silence for so long I thought Dom might have ended the call. When he spoke, there was a hardness in his voice I’d never heard. This was the side of club life my dad had always tried to shield his daughters from. Sunshine and Rainbow had met the officers in Grim Road, but as far as I knew, had never actually spoken with anyone other than Rocket. I knew there were men from the club watching out for their families but as a rule, we never saw them.
“That’s a helleva accusation. You better sure you’ve got the facts before you push that narrative.”
“Oh, I’m pretty fuckin’ sure, you son of a bitch,” Sting bit out. “And if I find Claw knew what was happening and sent her with Hammer anyway, I’ll be comin’ for him.”
“I’ll relay your… message.”
Sting nodded at Wylde who ended the call. Sting then turned his gaze to me. I retreated into Mars’s chest like a coward, but I wasn’t ready for this. My throat hurt and the adrenaline leaving my body had left me strung out. Not to mention my chest hurt like a son of a bitch. I imagine it was where they’d given me CPR or something. I’d really done it. I just hadn’t been good enough at killing myself for it to stick.
“You’re safe here, Scarlet. And I meant every fuckin’ word I said. I will bury any motherfucker who had a hand in what you went through. From this point forward, you’re one of us. We protect our own. To the death.”
Chapter Six
Mars
Scarlet was passive in my arms while I carried her to Stitches’s clinic. She was beaten down and at her end. Hell, she’d meant for it to be the end. “If we’d gotten there even a minute later…”
“I’m sorry.” Her voice was small. Weak. Husky from her near strangulation.
“You got nothin’ to be sorry for,” I said in a gruff, tight tone. “We shoulda listened better to Lemon and Apple. They knew there was somethin’ not right.
“You came,” she said. “To the house. I heard you talking with Hammer.”
“I didn’t push to get in. I should have.”
“You didn’t know.”
“But Lemon did.” I shook my head, settling her closer to me as we walked down the hall. Once inside, I set her on the table but didn’t let go of her. Her hand was firmly in mine and I wasn’t letting go. Maybe not ever.
Stitches followed us in, moving to the corner to get some instruments and such. Didn’t ask. Didn’t care. All I was concerned with was Scarlet.
“I’d like to look you over, Scarlet. I won’t do anything you don’t want me to do or that you’re uncomfortable with. But considering everything that happened, I’d like to do some lab work and check your neck and spine for problems.”
“I’m really sorry.” She gave a little broken sob. “So sorry.”
Stitches shot me a quick look, his eyes saying ‘stay put, don’t move.’ I nodded, my hand still holding Scarlet’s, my gaze not leaving hers. She was broken. I could see it in her eyes, in the way her shoulders sagged, in the way her voice cracked.
“You have nothing to apologize for, honey.” Stitches rested a hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently. “Let’s just focus on getting you the care you need.”
I could tell she was hesitant, but after a moment, she nodded her head slowly. Stitches took that as a sign to begin.
The exam was pretty straightforward. He checked the bruising around her neck, touching her gently. “How bad does your throat hurt?”
She shrugged. “Not bad.”
“You’ve got bruises on your arms and legs. Can I look at your belly and back? See if I need to take some X-rays?”
She hesitated for a moment. Then she looked up at me like she didn’t know what to do. I could tell she didn’t want to bare herself and I’d never let her be completely naked in front of another man, but this was for her health and safety.