Ifeel him before hereaches me. It’s too dark to see him, but I know he’s there. His soft warm hands scoop me off the cold hard ground, cradling me close to his chest. His shredded muscles rise and fall so fast they pound against me. I loop my arms around his neck and lean my face against the side of his. Sweat beads on his forehead. He’s sexy as hell.
“I wasn’t sure you’d come for me.” His eyes linger on me, scanning the bruises on my face.
“I’ll always come for you, little bird. You’re mine and no one will ever hurt you again.” I know it’s the truth when I see the emotion swirling in his eyes.
Tears swell in my eyes, relief rushing over me. I’ve never felt so safe. Warmth seeps through me as he holds me tight against his chest. His voice is comforting, the melodic tone whispering in my ear, “I got you now and I’m taking you home.”
My breath catches in my throat. “Wait. Put me down.”
“Now’s not the time to argue with me. There’s no way in hell I’m leaving you here. You belong with me.”
“It’s not that. Put me down.” He sets me on my feet. I straighten my aching body but stay close to his side. “Adam said he was counting on you coming for me. He won’t let us walk out of here.”
“Trust me, you’re safe now. Fuel and Cobra are right outside the door and Crusher and Axel are close by, but we need to move now.”
“Chainz, you need to listen to me.” My instincts are screaming at me to listen. I have to make Chainz hear me. “I trust you. I’ve never felt safer than with you by my side. Now you need to trust me. He brought me here to lure you out. He has something planned.”
“Can you walk?”
“I think so.”
“Stay behind me.” He shifts me behind his back, drawing a gun from under his cut. He leads me cautiously through the door into the hallway where Cobra and Fuel are standing over two bodies.
“Is there anyone else here?” Chainz asks them.
“Just these fuckers.” Fuel kicks one of the dead men in the side. There’s a darkness in his eyes and bruises on his face that unsettles me. He tosses me a pointed look I can’t quite comprehend. A hint of sadness and acceptance rolled into one narrow gaze that lasts too long.
An awkward tension hangs heavy over me as I hold close to Chainz. The last time I was with Fuel, I turned down his advances and now here I am clinging to his President like my life depends on it, because it does. “I’m sorry you got caught up in this Fuel. I’m glad you’re alive.”
“It’ll take a hell of a lot more to keep me down, sweetheart, but right now I’d like to get my Prez and his woman to safety.”
“Then let’s fucking move. Keep your eyes open, this was too easy.” Chainz adds.
Cobra and Fuel both draw their guns and tuck Chainz and I between them as we make our way outside. I was unconscious when Adam brought me here, so seeing we are deep in the woods catches me off guard. I grip tighter to Chainz. He keeps his finger on the trigger, waiting for trouble as we move into the clearing in front of the cabin.
Gunfire rains down on us from the left and then the right. A bullet whips past his head and I let out a scream. Chainz grabs a hold of me, covering my body with his. We dart for cover in the tree line. Cobra and Fuel open fire back as we run. The rapid succession of gunfire has my heart pounding in my chest. My stomach lurches. I can’t breathe. All I can do is fear for my new family and their safety. With each pull of the trigger, the deafening sound cracks into the air and reverberates off the trees. My instincts were dead on. Walking out of the cabin landed us in a trap. We’re pinned down and vulnerable. Chainz presses me closer to the ground as the three of them form a tight circle around me, standing back to back. Without a gun, all I can do is watch through the gaps between their legs as they move in unison, firing rounds with skilled precision. A snap of a branch catches our attention, and Chainz raises his gun and fires toward the noise. His target grunts and falls to the ground only a few feet away. They’re closing in. Fuel takes aim and another body drops. The smell of blood wretches my stomach. Bullets fly past us wildly, but with every return fire Chainz, Cobra and Fuel drop another body. More gunfire and what sounds like an explosion goes off somewhere in the distance, followed by a long stretch of silence. I let out the breath I’m holding. The distraction may be our way out. Just when I think it’s over Adam’s voice slices through the misleading silence surrounding us, “I have something that belongs to you. Let’s make a deal”.
Chainz cocks his gun and takes aim toward Adam’s voice, “This isn’t a fucking game show.”
“Aww, you’re no fun. I want to play whose life is worth more to you. You have my woman and I have one of yours.” Adam steps out from the darkness, his gun pressed to Shawna’s temple. I gasp loudly, enticing an evil cackle from Adam’s lips. “You can save her, Tessa. Just walk toward me.”
I push to my feet behind Chainz. He reaches back to stop me and takes a step forward himself, refusing to lower his weapon. Adam’s demented laugh sends chills down my spine. “I was counting on your loyalty to the club. I know she’s just a whore, but she’s Krymson Destroyers property. All three of you toss your guns over here and step out with Tessa or I blow this whore’s fucking brains out.”
“Not a fucking chance.” Chainz growls.
Would he really choose my life over hers? I don’t know if I can live with myself if he does, there’s enough blood on my hands. Exhaling, I step out from behind him.
Fear etches in the lines on his forehead, the vein in his neck pulsing as I move around him. Chainz pulls me backward. “I can’t let you do that, little bird, you belong to the club too. You belong to me.”
“How fucking sweet. Times up. The bitch is dead.” Adam circles his fingers around the trigger.
Shawna turns feral, twisting and screaming in his arms, “You fucking asshole. I told you how to get to her and this is how you repay me?”
“What?” My voice cracks “You fucking bitch.” I lunge for her, but Chainz tightens his hold on me.
“No, fuck you. What makes you so fucking special you get to have them all? I hate you,” Shawna screams.
“Shut the fuck up.” Adam bites out and pulls the trigger. The gunshot explodes around us. Shawna’s body propels sideways, blood gushing from her head. I scream as she falls and another small explosion booms around us. The air thickens with white smoke. Chainz spins me around, pressing my face into his chest, and covers my ears with the palms of his hands. When he lets go, only a thin haze of smoke remains. Cobra and Fuel have an unconscious Adam hoisted between them by his arms. Axel and Crusher are dragging bodies, dumping them in a pile.
