Page 61 of Savage Lust

Wrong again, lady.

I didn’t hear anything else she said, as a familiar look furrowed Mullet’s brow. He’d said the wrong something—and Riley was Archer’s daughter. Her bristle was visible from across the room.

That was my cue. I took a fifty from my wallet and tossed it on the table.

“Hey, are you even listening, sugar?”

“Nope.” I was on my feet, striding across the mostly empty seating area, before she had a chance to shout at me.

“Listen here, you mouthy bitch.” Mullet grabbed Riley’s arm and something flared white hot and deadly dangerous inside my chest.

Everything happened in a matter of seconds. There was a crackle and the snap of bone when I grabbed his hand and jerked it back, twisting his wrist and breaking a couple fingers in the process. His face contorted with pain.

Another thing Archer taught me: the elbow is the hardest point on the body and I needed my hands to ride. I smashed my left elbow into his face and threw him on the ground before the first skinhead scrambled toward me.

Riley smashed a glass right into his nose, blood and glass flying. He screamed like a bitch, grabbing at his face with both hands.

I don’t think I’d ever been so proud in my life.

I punched the other skinhead before he could jump from his seat, and he folded over the side of it like a paper plate. Riley smacked against my chest, already running. Her gaze met mine as I moved, and there was an open realization in her eyes. She was far from stupid. Maybe she was more cut out for this life than I gave her credit for.

The anger that tingled through me, icy hot, was no doubt showing on my face. I damn sure wasn’t trying to hide it. “Go!”

More were coming. Mullet was already on his phone. I hit the door and held it open for her, jumping on the bike and tossing her my phone.

“Text Merc that we’re coming in hot!” I fired up the Harley.

As soon as her arms wrapped around my waist, I kicked up the stand and pitched the bike sideways, spitting gravel all over their big green truck.

I was in third gear, blasting down the highway before any of them made it from the parking lot.

A shrill, warm sound sang over the roar of the exhaust. I glanced over my shoulder to see Riley laughing with her face tilted toward the sun and her hair blowing behind her.

Something else licked against my rib cage, pushing away the anger and coating it with a warmth and comfort I’d never imagined possible.

I was a goner.

twenty-four

Riley

The roar of the Harley was an angry reverberation that shot right through my chest and stole my breath. I wasn’t scared, not as I should be. I trusted Cam’s ability, but more…I knew that he’d keep me safe. Even if he didn’t realize it.

I wasn’t thinking about whatever had just happened. The washed-up server with more cheap makeup than good sense was a distant memory. I understood what he was doing now. I wasn’t happy about it, but I got it.

He’d been trying to scare me off. Too bad, it wasn’t going to work.

This blind trust was new, but it had been there since that moment in the bedroom when he’d taken Archer’s pistol from me. Cam was different from anyone I’d ever met. Nothing was ever done without careful deliberation, without a reason.

He wasn’t forgiven, but I shoved his phone in my pocket and clung tightly to his middle as we flew down the road. We weregoing so fast, the wind cut beneath my shades and pricked painfully at my skin.

I ducked my head against Cam’s shoulder. There’d been no time for a helmet, it had bounced along the parking lot.

When I noticed him glancing in the mirror, I hazarded a look over my shoulder. In the distance, a big green truck was accelerating toward us. Cam took that moment to slide into the oncoming lane and pass two cars before swerving back into the right.

We are being chased.

Fear creeped in then. Our argument in the bar, the fight with the creepy guys, it was all sliding together. Cam had wanted me to find another ride home because he saw this coming. He’d been preparing for it—and instead of telling me the truth, he’d tried to manipulate me.

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