Page 65 of Tattooed Love

“Amber, you are always my number one. No matter what. Come on, let’s get you out of here.” He smiled at me warmly as he wrapped an arm around my shoulder. “You want me to carry you?”

“No, I can walk. Just not fast.”

“Do your brothers know you are leaving with me?” he asked, holding the door open for me.

“No.” I walked slowly out of the room and down the hall. “What did they say when they saw you?”

“Nothing. I think they expected me.” His face turned sour. “I get why they’re disgusted with themselves. I looked after you for years and nothing happened.”

“Perhaps don’t mention that to them,” I said under my breath. I came to a halt at the long staircase; God, this was going to be painful.

“Come on Amber, just let me carry you down. I promise when we get to the bottom you can hit me or something so you don’t feel like a weakling.”

I glanced at Blake; he knew me too well. I nodded my head and just let him carry me down the stairs. When he placed me at the bottom, I shot him a small smile.

He winked at me and opened the front door. My expression went blank as I noticed all my brothers and Jax, leaning against his car.

“Why are you out of bed?” Adam asked, and then his face went tight as he saw the bag over Blake’s shoulder.

“As much as I enjoy seeing you guys draping yourselves over my car, can you get off it?” Blake said coolly and took a step in front of me. “I have somewhere I need to be.”

“Then you can leave,” Jax snarled at him, and glanced briefly at me, adding, “Without her.”

“Like I am leaving her in your hands,” Blake scoffed. “You guys couldn’t protect her if your life depended on it. But wait… you already proved that.”

All of the boys took a step towards him, each with an expression twisted in hate.

“Don’t Blake,” I hissed from behind him. “Just drop it.”

“Fine,” he grumbled, “But I just wanted to point out that Amber was my other half for years and she never copped my payback, or got hurt. Just proves what sort of brothers you really are to her, although I guess you guys were never around when she needed you.”

Blake dodged Cole’s fist and I moved to stand in front of him, holding my ground and not letting them fight; though Blake was baiting them.

“Amber, get back in the house,” Cole spat at me. “NOW!”

“NO!” I stood my ground. “I’m leaving with Blake and you guys are going to let me.”

All of them scoffed and Cole shook his head. “Like hell we are.”

“You are because I am asking you guys to.” I stopped for a moment, pain shooting through me. I fought to steady my breathing. “You guys are going to let me go, because I cannot live in the same house as you while I cope with this.”

“I already told you the mark means nothing to us,” Cole hissed, and I noticed his firm fists.

“But it means something to me. Just let me come to terms with it then I will be able to look at you guys without feeling disgusted.”

“Get out of our way,” Blake snarled from behind me; he never liked people standing in our way, but I suppose nobody does.

I glanced at Jax and he was just glaring into the house behind us, not looking at me. How could I expect him to, after what was on my body.

“Then why go with him?” Tyler spoke up, clearly hurt with my decision. “Why leave and take off with the HellBound?”

“Because she knows I can protect her,” Blake snapped from behind me. I couldn’t turn around to give him a dirty look; I knew it would hurt too much.

I felt guilty for what I was about to say, but I knew it was the truth. “Because I wear his mark and I know his eyes can never look at me with disgust,” I muttered, looking to the ground.

The boys stepped out of our way. Blake looked smug as he shouldered Cole, opening the door for me. He tossed the bag into the back and waited for me to take a seat.

Glancing at the boys, I noticed how hurt they each looked. “I’m sorry,” I muttered. “Just give me time.”

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