Page 32 of Ride Hard
His eyes burned into mine. “Lay.Off.”
I had this overwhelming urge to sink to my knees, pull out his cock, and just go forit.
“You’re right,” I said. “I’ve been acting like a bitch onpurpose.”
“I neversaid…”
“Yeah, you did. Prettymuch.”
His eyes narrowed, and the air charged betweenus.
“Give me something,” Ipleaded.
“I took a bullet for you.” His expression softened. “I took a bullet for you, Sloane. Do you believe menow?”
The phantom sound of the bullet ricocheting off the brick wall echoed in my ears, and my resolve cracked. He’d been shot because of me. That bullet was meant for my head. They were hunting me like a feral dog behind adumpster.
A sob escaped my lips as the gravity of the shit storm I was in the middle of hit me. Like, finally hit me with its full force square in the chest. My knees buckled, and I slid down thewall.
I’d almost been raped. I’d almost had my throat slit. They’d tried to get me in my apartment. They’d shot at me. Who were they? Fucked if I knew, but that made it worse. Faceless men were after me. They could be anywhere oranyone.
Chaser sat beside me, his wounded arm on the other side as the tears fell down mycheeks.
“Go away,” I said with a sob. “I don’t need your crap rightnow.”
He said nothing, nor did he move. He just let me cry. A biker wouldn’t sit there and watch a woman ball her eyes out, attempted murder or not. Chaser wasn’t a biker, or at least, I didn’t think hewas.
I sniffed and let my head fall onto hisshoulder.
“Sloane?”
“I’mfine.”
“Yeah,” he whispered. “I’m sure youare.”
I didn’t know what to do anymore, but the one thing I was certain of was the fact I couldn’t run on my own. Chaser said it himself. He took a bullet for me. I guess that meant he was the only person who gave a stuff, even if he was only here because he was orderedto.
“Chaser?”
“Yeah?”
“When it comes to my life, I guess I trust you with it now, but…” I trailed off, not knowing how to voice the next part or if he’d even go forit.
“Butwhat?”
“There’s got to be anotherway…”
“There isn’t,” he replied. “The best chance you’vegot—”
“Is with my father,” I finished for him. I snorted and nestled closer, pretending not to notice when he tensed. “I beg to differ, but I’m pretty sure my best chance is with you,Chaser.”
“I’m temporary,” hemurmured.
“You don’t have tobe.”
The air cooled, and he pushed to his feet. “I’ve gotta cleanup.”
“Chaser…”
He ignored me and strode into the bathroom. The door slammed, signaling the conversation wasover.
And just like that, all traces of the caring Chaser were gone, and we were back at square one. I was still a package addressed to my father. Nothing had changed, which meant I should’ve got in the car while I had the chance and left Chaser here to rot. Now I wasstuck.
Snorting, I let my head fall back against the wall. All roads lead to Fortitude. I best rememberit.
