“Yes.And I’m not sure I even scratched the surface.”
“You didn’t, honey.And I don’t want you to.Some things I never want you to know about.”He gave my hand a gentle squeeze.“Look, I realize you don’t know me.Not really.Even if we’d been friends elsewhere, I’ve been through so much since I went to prison you wouldn’t recognize me.”
“I don’t… I don’t know what to do.”The words were pulled free against my will in a strangled sob.Showing weakness was the worst option imaginable, but Pain only stepped closer, pulling me to him with a growl and holding me tightly against him.
“It’s all right.”He whispered the words next to my ear.“I swear I’ll protect you, Nadine.On my life.”
For some stupid reason, my fists seemed to clutch his shirt and my fingers simply to God would not loosen so I could let go.My breath hitched and I held to him even harder.
“You guys need to get going.”I wasn’t sure who was speaking but I knew he was talking to Pain.
“Give her a minute, Roman.She’s not comfortable going yet, and I’m not forcing her.”
“Not suggesting you do.It’s just better for you to put as much distance between you and Terre Haute as possible.Venus and Piston will lead you to the compound in Evansville, then take you on to Nashville tomorrow.Me and Clutch will get you through until Kiss of Death meets you.Venus and Piston are going all the way.”
“Good.Venus will help put Nadine at ease.”
“If you want to ride with her in the truck, I can make sure your bike gets back to our compound.Otherwise, Clutch will take good care of her.”
“I know.But I want her with me.”As he spoke, Pain held me tighter, like he was as reluctant to let me go as I was him.That’s when I knew I should trust my gut.Pain wasn’t going to let anything happen to me.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.“I’m sorry I doubted you’d keep me safe.”
“Honey, you have nothing to be sorry for.”
“I can go with Clutch if that’s what you want me to do.”It was hard to put myself in someone else’s hands, but Pain had saved me.If he said I should go with Clutch, then that’s what I’d do.
Pain stared at me for a long moment, searching for something in my gaze that gave him whatever answer he was looking for.Finally, he turned away and walked toward the truck.He opened the back door and pulled out a black helmet before stalking back toward me.
He held out the helmet to me.“You ever ride a bike?”
“I’m assuming you don’t mean a bicycle.”I took the helmet.Pain snagged my hand again, giving it a squeeze.
“You’d assume right.”He jerked his head toward one of the bikes and tugged at my hand.I followed without protest.“Get your helmet on.I’ll show you where to put your feet.”
He mounted the bike, then I climbed on behind him.He reached back and grabbed my ass, pulling me closer to him.“Sorry,” he muttered.“I shouldn’t have…” He cleared his throat.“Just get as close to me as you can.”I did, keeping my hands on his shoulders.“Wrap your arms around me.I don’t want you falling off the back.”
“It’s OK.”I said, swallowing nerves.Because, oh my God, I was sitting behind Dr.Ford Raven on a freaking motorcycle!
“What’s OK?”He looked at me over his shoulder.
“That you grabbed my ass.”I have no idea why I said that, but out it came.
“I see.”His lips twitched before puckering slightly.Then he gave up entirely and chuckled.It was the first time I’d ever heard him laugh.At the hospital he was always professional.He might smile, but as a rule when he was in public he showed little emotion other than kind compassion when it was called for.
“That came out wrong,” was my lame reply.
“No, it didn’t.You were right to call me out.I only meant to pull you closer.It’s intimate, but necessary.”He still looked amused.
“Just don’t tell anyone I said that.”
“Wouldn’t think of it, sweetheart.Wouldn’t think of it.”
Chapter Six
Nadine
Holy shit, was I really doing this?My heart raced as we roared down the highway, Pain’s body a solid presence in front of me.I never imagined I’d be here, on the back of a motorcycle with a man I barely knew, but there I was.
