Page 62 of Never Wed an Outlaw

It was about all I could handle before I broke down, spilling more tears than little Lucy would as she tried to learn the baffling ins and outs of this world.

No, life wasn't perfect, not even close. But there were hints that it might be, sooner than I ever believed.

YOU'VE GOTA PRESENT ON THE BED WHEN YOU GET HOME, DARLIN. YOU AIN'T THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN BUY FANCY LINGERIE.

Dusty's text made me stop near the door to the parking garage and giggle. I covered my mouth, standing against the wall, sending him a quick reply before I gottoowet for the drive home.

All these weeks living together, newly married, and we hadn't slowed down. At the rate we were going, he'd need a new mattress next year.

Lately, he'd teased me a lot about several outfits I'd seen in a catalogue, plus some other items that still made me blush.

EASY, TIGER. WE HAVE A COUPLE THINGS TO TALK ABOUT BEFORE WE TURN IN EARLY TONIGHT. LOVE YOU.

I wasn't quite sure how to tell him what Firefly said. It was good news, at least. He'd probably welcome any chance to bury the hatchet with my brother to get the club back on track, and our little family, too.

The hospital parking was ridiculous. I had to walk down a long corridor to the elevator before I could get to the right floor. A long, spartan, dimly lit hallway no woman wanted to travel alone.

I moved as quickly as I could, breathing a sigh of relief when the elevator button lit up, bringing the lift down to my level.

If only I hadn't stopped to look at my phone again. I might've seen the hand coming when it reached through the doors, grabbed me by the throat, and flung me against the wall so hard my spine cracked.

I hit the metal lining the elevator with a resoundingthud. The doors slid shut behind the silhouette who'd attacked me. A man I'd never seen before stepped into view, just as the fiery pain in my lower back hit my brain.

“You scream, you die, bitch,” he snarled, pressing the flat edge of his switchblade against my throat. “You knew Franco? He was my fucking brother.”

Shit.

Shit, shit, shit.

If only there was a string of curses in the world fit for this. He was tall, dressed in a neat Italian leather jacket, his face vaguely familiar because he shared the dead man's features.

“What do you want?” I whimpered, closing my eyes.

“Me? I want to put this fucking knife in your throat, and then keep going. Slice you clean open.” My heart leapt into my throat while I heard him sigh angrily. “Real goddamned shame Dom's got other plans for you, peachy-pie. You're coming with me.”

Like I had a choice.

He punched the elevator key again, never letting go of my throat. His knife pressed cool against my skin the whole time the elevator moved.

I quietly prayed the elevator wouldn't stop again. Unless it was the entire Deadly Pistols MC, nobody stood a chance of helping me. They'd only get themselves killed if they walked in on me and this monster.

His knife pulled away when the elevator dinged. Then the goon grabbed me by the wrist, jerking me forward, dragging me out the doors with him.

My happy dreams died with every step.

I eyed each corner, looking for any signs of cameras. Just my luck that security around here was so lax, there was nothing.

Even if there were...what good would it do?

It wouldn't make this mad man release me without anybody else getting hurt.

It wouldn't bring me back to Dusty, Firefly, Cora, or Lucy.

It wouldn't take me to the beautiful place I'd begun to call my home.

“Stoop down and get the fuck in,” the goon commanded, giving my neck a rough push. We stopped in front of a black sedan.

He reached for the key fob, flicked the button, and I heard the doors unlock, heavy as a tomb rattling open.Oh, God.

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