Page 33 of Property of Legend

He’s not a man in this moment.He’s wrath in motion.I can’t look away.Not from the swing of his fists, not from the way he owns the earth under him.My heart clenches, and it’s not fear.It’s want, hot and impossible.

It’s stupid.It’s dangerous.It’s mine.

Bullet takes down one of the Sinners with a brutal punch, dragging the guy through the dirt like a sack of trash.

“Who sent you?”Legend growls.

The man spits blood.Wrong answer.

Crack.

I flinch as Bullet’s fist meets bone.The sound is awful.Satisfying.

And then Legend’s back, panting, blood spattered, wild.

“Are you hurt?”he demands, grabbing my arms like he needs to count limbs to make sure I’m whole.

I shake my head.“No.I’m fine.Shaken.Not stirred.”

He lets out a sharp breath and then, without asking, pulls me against him, pressing his face into my hair like he needs proof I’m real.The heat of him, the scent of leather and smoke, it’s intoxicating.I melt against him because I can’t pretend anymore.

“You’re safe,” he says into my ear, fierce and low.“You’re mine to protect.No one touches you.Ever.”

I shiver.Not from fear.

“I believe you,” I whisper, looking up at him.And I do.

God help me, I do.This time I believe him.

His arms tighten around me like a vow.Around us, they chase the Sinners away, the mess winds down, the worst of it over, for now.But inside me, something else is truly beginning.

I should push him away.I should focus on the farm, the Derby, the fallout of this attack.

But all I can feel is Legend.

And for the first time in years, I don’t want to run.

Not from him.Not from this.

No matter what I want, he’s in charge.Once it’s clear I’m safe, he leaves me to go figure out what the hell just happened.

Chapter 17

Legend

Back at the clubhouse, Oaks is waitin’, passin’, a strain buzzin’ off him.

“Legend,” he says.“You need to hear this.”

“Talk.”

He glances around, leans in close.“Royal dug up something.Reverend’s meetin’ with outsiders.Depraved Sinners.Quiet-like.”

That’s all I need.

My blood goes ice cold.“He’s playin’ with fire.”

Oaks nods.“Real dangerous game.”

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