An Outlaw Monster (Back Down Devil MC #10)(60)

I turned another corner and I saw Duke standing there.

He looked like a wall, like he wanted to block me.

He stood outside a hospital room and when our eyes met, something snapped inside me again. It wasn’t his fault but he was the easy target.

I put on the brakes and made fists.

“What the f*ck happened?” I asked.

“The apartment was on fire,” Duke said. “I got there just in time. Found them both…”

“Where’s Eden?” Trev growled.

“They have her in a different room,” Duke said. “The baby…”

“What were you doing there?” I asked.

Duke looked at me. “Excuse me?”

“What the f*ck were you doing there, Duke?” I asked.

“You’re kidding me.”

“You’ve wanted her dead because of what she did to you,” I said. “You didn’t realize Eden was there, did you?”

“Bite your tongue, *.”

“I’ll rip yours out,” I said.

I lunged forward, shoulder first. I collided with Duke and took him back to a wall. We hit a picture and it fell, shattering. I grabbed his leather cut and spun him, slamming him against the wall behind us.

“What is wrong with you?” Duke bellowed. He swung a hard fist and got me in the jaw.

I absorbed the punch and then pushed at him, taking him to the wall again. I pulled my fist back and felt an arm hook around my arm.

“Fuck!” I yelled.

“Not here,” Cash said. “Brother, stop this. Why would Duke hurt us?”

“He’s a f*cking *,” I yelled.

“Both of you!” Trev growled.

I turned and saw Trev’s hand fly at me. He had me by the throat and pushed me away. Truthfully, I could have killed Trev. I was the enforcer. I was the muscle. I was the monster. But he was the President. And I could see the terror in his eyes.

“Go, Prez,” I whispered. “I’m sorry.”

The hospital door opened as Trev turned and ran. Xavier and Max went with him. Cash slipped behind me and Duke. I saw the rage in Duke’s eyes.

Who the f*ck else would do this though? It made sense, right? Duke plotted a way to knock off Harlee while I was gone. He attacked the apartment but didn’t realize Eden was there. So then he f*cking saved them…

“Everything okay out here?” a nurse asked.

“We’re great,” Cash said. He walked right to the nurse. I felt bad for the pretty little thing. “Hey, can you help me with something?”

“Uh, sure,” the nurse said.

“Do we have an open room somewhere? I have this cramp…” Cash gritted his teeth and gently placed his right hand between his legs. “It’s down here. I need some attention…”

“Is she awake?” I asked, pointing to the door. “Harlee?”

“Yes,” the nurse said. “Only family…”

I was already at the door. I looked at the nurse. I felt my heart racing and twisting at the same time.

“She’s… I’m… we’re family…”





thirty.



(harlee)



I remembered Duke. His mouth near my ear. Telling me I was going to be okay. Then he disappeared. I reached for him but he was lost in the smoke. I shut my eyes and rolled to my side, wishing Trent would come save me.

That’s when the world went black.

I opened my eyes and I was in the hospital.

A nurse telling me to just stay calm and relax. She touched my leg and told me I inhaled some smoke but I was going to be fine. I was going to be released and there was nothing to worry about. Just to stay calm…

That’s when I heard a thundering sound. Walls slamming over and over.

The nurse left the room and I was left alone.

In the silence of the room, I started to piece the rest of the night together.

The door to my room opened again. I turned my head to the left and when I saw Trent, I let out a gasp.

He was really here.

But he looked really rough. Really beat up.

When he realized I was awake, he charged to the side of the bed and crouched down. His hand grabbed mine, his other hand reaching for my face. He stroked my cheek and then leaned over the bed and kissed me.

I knew I loved him already but that kiss made it all that much more true.

So true that I…

“I love you, Trent,” I whispered as his lips moved away from mine.

My jaw then dropped, realizing what I’d done.

Trent touched my cheek and slowly gave a nod. “I know, darling. I feel the same.”

“You love…”

“Darling, I need to know what happened,” Trent said. He grabbed for a chair and sat next to the bed. “Tell me everything.”

So I filled him in. With every detail I could remember - the two windows breaking with the flaming bottles. The smell of the chemical and then the smoke getting so thick, so fast.

I watched anger wash over Trent’s face in a way that scared me. It scared me because I could see in his eyes that not only did he actually love me but he would do anything to avenge my pain. Even if it cost him his life or cost him time in prison.

I grabbed for his hand but he pulled away and ran his hands through his hair.