Page 92 of Jake's Angel

No crime goes unpunished in the MC world, especially those performed against a woman or a child. But those committed against a brother or his ol’ lady, those come with our own special brand of fury.

Avery continues to tell me all the things this son of a bitch did to hurt her and how his friends held her down so he could.

“Last night at the party, the guy he didn’t—the man who was dancing with us—he didn’t hurt me. I don’t want him to get into any trouble. It wasn’thimthat upset me. It was seeing his ring.” I sit up, lean against the headboard, and bring her to sit on my lap. Her head settles in the crook of my neck.

“Go on. What was it about the ring? Why did it upset you?” I ask, hoping she’s not about to tell me she recognized him as one of the assholes who attacked her. I don’t know how I would explain to Gabe and the club I killed the bastard without them, but then again, if it turns out he has something to do with any of this, no one will stop me from doing what’s necessary.

Avery starts shaking in my arms. I pull the blanket back up over her and cradle her to my chest tighter.

“Breathe, baby.” Her body has grown cold to the touch. She pulls the blankets back, slides off my lap, and stands before me at the side of the bed. I move to the edge, placing her between my legs, halting her movements. She grabs the hem of my T-shirt, ready to lift it off her body, but freezes when our eyes meet.

My brow creases, not sure what she’s wanting.

“I want to show you. Please.” The insecurity swimming in her beautiful green eyes is fucking killing me.

Using my hands, I rub along her thighs, trying to both warm her up and calm her down. Her body tenses when I rub herscars. “You don’t have to do this.” I tell her. A tear slides down her cheek, but she says nothing, only nods, letting me know she wants to.

I lift my T-shirt up along her leg slowly until I can see the scars the knife left on her skin. Her eyes are shut tight as more tears fall. I pause, waiting for her to give the signal to keep going. “I’m not going to hurt you, Angel. If you don’t want to show me, you don’t have to.”

“Do it.”

My brave, beautiful woman.

I reach up, caressing her cheek and wiping away the tears, but they keep falling. She nods, then allows me to lift off the shirt.

She stands before me in only a see-through pair of black lace panties and a matching bra. My cock jumps at the sight, but I keep my composure. As much as I want this woman in front of me just like this, now is not the time. She’s giving me something at this moment.

Her vulnerability.

Her trust.

I know how hard this must be for her to bare her soul and her scars to me. I won’t let the lust I’m feeling for her make a mockery of this.

I hold in the growl I feel in my chest, trying like hell to reign in my anger. I see the marks on her thigh and hip and touch them lightly with my fingers. As I run my hands along her hips, I notice another rough patch of skin. Her breathing stutters as I lean back to see the second mark.

I want this bastard!He fucking branded her!

The son of a bitch left his symbol on her skin as a sick reminder, one she can’t ever erase. I pull my shirt back over her head and stand up, pulling her body into mine, cradling her head against my chest.

She sobs softly into my chest, but doesn’t speak for a while. “I’m sorry Angel. I’m so sorry this bastard touched you like this.” Her sobs are ripping my heart to pieces. I need to find this motherfucker, and fast. But first—I need a name.

With one hand on her waist, the other stroking her hair, I gather enough courage to ask, "Do you know them?" She stiffens in my arms again.

Yeah, she knows. But she doesn’t want to tell me.

“Avery, look at me.” She leans up to meet my eyes. I graze her cheek with the back of my hand. “Will you tell me who did this to you? I promise he will never touch you again. But I can only keep my promise if you’ll tell me who he is.”

She’s silent for a minute but surprises the hell out of me when she straightens up, pulling away from my hold and says, “I can’t tell you.”

“Can’t or won’t? Those are two very different things.” I argue, trying to keep the rage from my voice.

“I can’t. Too many people will get hurt, and I won’t be responsible for that. I already ran away, which will cause enough trouble, but it was the only way I could see to escape. I left so he can’t get to us anymore,” she whispers.

My head is reeling and before I can reign in my temper, I let it get the best of me and shout, “What the fuck, Avery? Who’s us? Did this sick fuck touch Sadie too? I need a name.”

I try to calm myself when she jumps back from me. She’s just poured her heart out to me and she doesn’t need my shit added to it—but fuck!How can I resist the urge to kill this fucker?

She walks over to the dresser and leans against it, wrapping her arms over her belly to hide herself from me. She’s thinking about something. The scowl on her face tells me she’s still not too sure what she should say. She paces back and forth a few times until I’ve finally had enough. I go to her, taking her hand and bring her back to my bed. Sitting down, I grab her aroundthe waist and bring her to sit on my lap, her back to my chest, leaning my chin on her shoulder.

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