Page 54 of Avenging Devil: Part 2

But Saffie surprises me, standing and challenging me with a look. “I want to come with you.”

Briefly I close my eyes, then open them and shake my head. In the few minutes I’d had, I’ve calmed down and revised my opinion. If she doesn’t want Niran, she shouldn’t be forced. If she’ll be leaving, she shouldn’t make promises she can’t keep, especially in whatever state he’s in. “Nah, Saffie, you’re free now. Despite what I’ve said, the decision is yours to make about whether or not you want to be his. It’s not fair to give him false hope.”

Gears’ jaw tightens, but he doesn’t speak.

Saffie glances at the dogs now lying at her feet. That she’s been able to control something, even if it’s two creatures each with four legs, seems to have put some spirit back into her. She breathes deeply then says, “I don’t want to be anyone’s old lady, Grumbler. And I don’t even know if now the danger has past, he really wants me to be his. But I’m the reason why Niran got hurt. I can’t walk away from him now, not when he might need me. Not when he was the reason for freeing me from Duke.”

Her eyes plead with me, while I wonder whether taking her with me will be a mistake. She clearly wants nothing to do with any man, and given her past, who could fuckin’ blame her? But Niran’s my friend, and over the past couple of years, we’ve bonded. I understand how he ticks. Once he took responsibility for Saffie, stepped up and claimed her, in his mind, I’m pretty damn certain, he’ll see her as his. Why the fuck else would he be here if not to stay close to her? Even if he hasn’t admitted it to himself yet, he cares deeply for her.

Any of my brothers would see she’s alright and get her to wherever she wants to go. She can return to San Diego now the threat’s over or move somewhere else.

Would Niran be upset if she left without speaking to him? Fuck yes.

Would he understand she wanted to remove herself from a life she never chose to enter? Again, a resounding yes.

Would it be worse if she comes with me, and he misreads her intentions? A thousand times yes.

“Please, Grumbler, I need this.” Saffie looks at me imploringly. “If Niran hadn’t been there, I’d already have been raped, and Duke would have kept me until I was no longer useful to him and then I’d be dead. I owe Niran.”

“Perhaps you owe him truth and honestly,” I counter. “You don’t like this life. I can understand that. You don’t want a man at your side, get that too, honey. But I tell you this, Niran’s heart will leap when he sees you and for all the wrong reasons if you don’t reciprocate his feelings. Can you answer truthfully whether you’re doing this for yourself or for him?”

I hate having this conversation. I’m only giving her time as I think it’s important.

She bites her lips, then turns away. She’s going to leave. That’s for the best, isn’t it? After a moment, her shoulders rise, and her spine straightens as she turns back.

“Niran was there when I needed him. If he’s hurt, he himself may need someone now. I won’t turn away from him. Either you take me, Grumbler, or I’ll find some way to him myself.”

“And if he misreads the situation?”

Suddenly she snaps. “Perhaps I can read him better than you. Niran knows what I’ve been through, knows I need time. Heaven knows if I can get past all that’s happened, whether I’ll ever be comfortable coming around the club. But one thing’s for certain, Niran understands.”

I stare at her for a moment, then without knowing if what I’m doing is for the best, heaven help me, I agree.

Two minutes later, I’m in the passenger seat while Brute’s driving the four-wheel-drive truck, virtually retracing the route she’d taken on foot. The clubhouse is a roaring inferno, and anyone left inside will only be identifiable by teeth. That’s if anyone bothers looking. This place is so out of the way, no one’s coming to investigate the flames or the smoke.

Still unsure whether I’m doing right by bringing Saffie to him, my thoughts turn to my injured brother instead, off balance by Preacher’s suggestion his injuries while not life-threatening, were serious.

It’s Swift who waves to me when she sees the truck approach, running up and calling through the window, “He’s over there with Preacher and Lost.”

“A woman member?” Saffie breathes beside me, turning around as we drive past and catching sight of Swift’s three rockers on the back of her cut.

“Haven’t you learned you can’t judge MCs by what you know of the Crazy Wolves?” I ask her, rather abruptly.

“I’m surprised you let women join, that’s all.” She huffs.

“Nothing prohibiting it, but she’d have to be special.” And Swift’s certainly that.

Then my attention is captured by the group in front, and we pull up to park next to what looks like a makeshift stretcher.

I fling myself out of the cab. I’d hoped to see Niran standing, not lying down. Doing my drag hop to his side, I crouch, hearing my knees pop. My eyes scan for injuries.

His face looks swollen, but I’d expected he’d take a punch. He’s obviously naked, going by what I can see, but his dignity is preserved by a couple of t-shirts. Fresh blood covers him, and I wonder where from. His prosthetic leg is missing, but his other foot? Well, that’s cradled on another t-shirt and looks misshapen. More blood covers it, and fuck it, there’s even part of a bone protruding. The leg above it is swollen and doesn’t look straight.

“What the fuck have they done to you?” I growl, reaching out my hand, then withdrawing it, uncertain whether he’s conscious or not.

“He’s got various stab wounds, lost a fair amount of blood.” Lost pauses, then adds grimly, “They busted the bones in his foot.” When I glance up and catch his eye, I can read the implication in his expression.

“Will they be able to save it?” Fuck, the man’s only got one leg as it is.

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