Page 16 of The Devil's Redemption

“Sasha?” I wrap her in my arms and let the dim light shine down on her beautiful face.

The moment I take in her appearance, my eyes pool with tears. One of her eyes is swollen shut. The other one is open, but her hazel gaze is unfocused and eclipsed. I can’t find any trace of the fire I once saw in them. Her nose is fucked up, and bruises, blood, and dirt cover nearly every inch of her perfect skin. It guts me to see her like this.

Shaking my head, I try to put my grief aside so I can focus on the task at hand. It takes everything I have not to put her back down on the floor and go upstairs, taking out every motherfucker in this house. I wipe tears from her face before swatting her cheek gently to try to keep her awake. If she closes her eyes now, I fear she may never open them again.

“Blade…” she exhales, almost inaudibly.

I don’t think she knows I’m here. It’s more like she’s moaning my name in her sleep.

I see Hawk grab Maggie out of the other cell as I work to untie the knotted rope around Sasha’s wrists.

“We need to go,now,” he urges.

I take off my cut and pull my shirt over my head, putting it on Sasha to cover up her body. She may not be lucid at the moment, but I know her. She wouldn’t want to be naked in front of everyone, no matter the situation.

I put my cut back on and pick Sasha up as the Boy Scout approaches me.

“Is she okay?” he asks as she lets out a weak sob.

“I don’t know. We need to get her home.”

He nods and follows me up the stairs. The Boy Scout and Cap take over watch with me, Hawk, and the girls in between them. Each of them with their guns drawn and at the ready.

The popping of gunfire continues as we hurry to where we parked upon arrival.

“Cap,” I get his attention as we near my truck. “Here.”

He catches my keys when I throw them to him.

“You’ve got shotgun, Boy Scout.”

He and Cap open the doors to the backseat of my truck, then we load the girls and ourselves into it. Hawk covers Maggie with his shirt as soon as he’s settled in then places her on the middle seat. I glanced at her body, taking in her injuries before Hawk covered her. She’s filthy, bloodied, and bruised, too.

Cap and the Boy Scout hop into the front seat, then we peel out of there as quickly as we can.

The short drive home is going to last forever. I need my girl back and safe under my roof, and we won’t be able to get there soon enough.

Chapter Seven

It’s beenthree days since we brought Sasha home. Both her and Maggie remain asleep yet responsive to touch and sounds. Maggie has had episodes of screaming and intense irritation. Sasha mostly stays quiet, but every now and then she cries out.

Sometimes she mutters my name. Other times she criesno. But every time it breaks my fucking heart.

Hawk said he’s seen this before in victims of PTSD. It’s like their brain shuts down to aid in self-preservation. As long as they remain closed off, they don’t have to come to terms with the trauma that they faced.

When we got back to the clubhouse that night, Hawk got to work, tending to their injuries. I nearly had to be restrained when he began examining Sasha. Cap and SoCo had to drag me from the infirmary and restrain me to keep me out until Hawk was finished. I know he’s a fucking doctor, but she’smygirl, and I don’t like anyone’s eyes on her but mine.

After his inspection was complete and he got her cleaned up as much as possible, he showed me his notes detailing the breakdown of all the damage that had been done to her. It made me sick to my stomach all over again.

Rope burns circling her wrists. Broken nose, which I watched him fix with a series of needles and almost passed out. Matted hair that no brush could ever get rid of. Scrapes and bruising over most of her body. When my eyes landed on ‘vaginal abrasions’ and ‘ruptured anus,’ I nearly destroyed Hawk’s infirmary. He kicked me out and told me I wasn’t allowed back if I couldn’t deal.

How the fuck can he say that?

IfIcan’t deal with it, it’s no wonder Sasha still hasn’t woken up. Maggie, too.Once I was able to compose myself, I gave Sasha a gentle sponge bath to wash away all of the dirt. Bon went out and bought a shit ton of hair detangler, and she has been helping me try to get rid of the matting. Since I can’t do anything to make her feel better, I can at least pamper her so she doesn’t have to wake up a filthy mess.

We were semi-victorious the night of the battle. After we rescued the girls, it took the rest of the club members thirty minutes to fight them off and kill the majority of them.The element of surprise was our saving grace; they were completely unprepared for the attack. Jasper and at least one other guy were able to get away. There's been a massive hunt, but nobody has been able to locate them yet.When they do, they’re under strict orders to bring them inaliveat all costs. I want the pleasure of being able to rid and dispose of their bodies in a manner fitting to their crimes.

Unfortunately, several clubs lost some of their members. We’re arranging a memorial ride for them at the end of the month. Hopefully that will be enough time for Sasha and Maggie to heal. We’re also riding to honor the girls’ strength and bravery.

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