As soon as I heard her husband was here, I ran to her as fast as my feet could take me because she differed from any other woman I had met before. She’s the only woman I’ve wanted a future with.
For the first time in my life, I ignored my instincts, the pull I had to Ava at the wedding and the connection we shared. I could sense her discomfort at how scared she was of her husband, but I still let her go. What type of man allows that to happen? I could have saved her from the domestic violence.
Whatever it takes, I’ll protect her from him... but it’s not just him I need to protect her from—it’s from myself and the MC as well. A group of men swearing and partying. It’s not her scene.
We manage an illegal fighting ring and grow and distribute marijuana for a living. We are the opposite of what she needs, but I’m selfish and I can’t let her go. A part of me hopes she can see past all that.
Axle said she was here, but I had to see her for myself. When I saw Ava packing her bag, the sudden assault of emotions crippled me. After everything she has been through, I didn’t want to scare her. I could barely stop my hands from shaking when I gently pulled her away from her bag. Having her in my arms eased some of my tension.
“I’m nearly ready,” Ava says with confidence.
My warrior.
“Make sure you have your ID.”
She leans over, drags her bag across the bed, then rustles through it until she pulls out her driver’s license.
“I’m going to the bathroom to wash my face, and then I’ll be ready.” She moves to Elena and wraps her arms around her.
When Elena opens her eyes, they glisten. She pulls back. “Please don’t leave again.”
“I won’t,” Ava replies softly. She gives Axle a small smile and leaves the room.
Elena’s hands rise, covering her face, and she cries.
“Babe,” Axle says, bringing his arms around her. “She’s okay.”
Her hands fall and so do the tears coursing down her face. “I should have checked on her. What if Reaper didn’t get back when he did?”
The thought has me closing my eyes. When I open them, Elena is staring at me.
“Thank you so much.”
“I won’t let anything happen to her.” My tone comes out harder than I intended.
She searches my eyes for a moment, then nods as if she realizes Ava means more than being Axle’s wife’s sister. Ever since I saw Ava, I had this pull and a loss of control that is a concern. Bad things can happen when a leader doesn’t have his head on straight.
“I want her husband dead,” I blurt. The dark inner part of me rejoices. I want to remove him from this earth so that Ava doesn’t have to worry about him again.
Axle mashes his lips together like he’s trying not to laugh. Elena’s mouth goes into a straight line while horror flashes in her eyes.
“Will she hate me if I kill him?”
Elena goes quiet, lost in thought, so I wait for her answer. “She’s gone through enough already. I don’t want her to blame herself or feel any worse than she already does.”
Disappointment slices through me. “I won’t, but if he tries to hurt her in any way...” I shake my head. “I won’t have the willpower to stop myself.”
I glance at my gun. My hands itch to touch it at the thought. Having been a sniper at war, I’m used to eliminating the target, protecting my brothers. Stopping that urge will be difficult, but I’ll try... for her.
Ava walks toward the bed and grabs a smaller bag, then places her wallet and driver’s license inside of it. “Okay, let’s go.”
“Are you sure you don’t want me to come?” Elena asks uncertainly.
“It’s okay,” Ava says.
I stand and put my belt on, pick up and place my gun in the holster, and grab my phone. I put my hand out, gesturing for Ava to walk out first, and then I follow her through the hallway.
“Hold on,” I say as I open my door and step inside my room. I walk out to Ava. “Here.” I hand her the phone. “This is yours. My phone number is already in your contacts.” She stares at it. “It’s a burner phone, so it can’t be linked back to you.”
