Savage Love (Back Down Devil MC #7)(92)

Thinking about death made Gaige ride faster. He lived as though death was chasing him and all he could do was use the two wheels and throttle to keep ahead of it.

As he turned up the road to get to the escort service, a black car came flying in his direction. Gaige cut to the side and threw the middle finger at the driver. The car sped right out onto the main street without looking. The tires squealed and then the car was gone. It gave Gaige an uneasy feeling.

Before he could think another thought, he saw Emily standing outside, hugging herself, tears streaming down her cheeks. Gaige looked back, knowing that black car had something to do with it.

He rushed to Emily and wrapped his arms around her. “What happened?”

“I have… there’s…”

Gaige held Emily while she cried. He kissed the top of her head and kept his eyes moving. Just in case.

“It’s okay, beautiful. I’m right here. I’m going to protect you.”

“Take me away from here,” Emily said.

“Okay.”

Gaige gave Emily his helmet and they were off again. Back down the secret road and then back into town and to the clubhouse. Gaige pulled to the side of the road near the clubhouse and killed the engine.

“Beautiful, I need to know where you want to go,” Gaige said.

“To your room,” Emily said. “I can’t go to my apartment.”

“Fuck. Are you in danger?”

Emily’s eyes filled with tears again.

“Fuck,” Gaige said.

He started the bike and pulled into the parking lot of the clubhouse. He felt Emily’s head against his back. He didn’t care; it wouldn’t be the first time tears fell upon his leather.

Gaige stopped the motorcycle and took Emily by the hand. He took her right where she wanted to go. Gaige opened the door to his room and Emily rushed inside. She was hugging herself again.

“You’re afraid,” Gaige said. “What the f*ck happened at work today?”

“Just too much,” Emily said.

Gaige spun Emily around. “Talk to me. Fuck.”

“No. I’m not going to hurt anyone else. It’s bad enough Rachel is dead.”

“That wasn’t your fault.”

“I should have forced her to stay home. Her father came to see me.”

“Wait a second,” Gaige said. “Her father? Bob Strokner?”

“How did you…”

“Oh f*ck,” Gaige whispered. He backed away and ran a hand through his hair. “Police were here today. Questioning us. Gave us a friendly tip that Strokner would be coming to town. That he would investigate…”

“He’s here,” Emily said. “He knows everything.”

“What did you tell him?”

“Nothing, I swear.”

“Good.”

“But he’s smart. He’ll figure it out. He’ll know I lied. What if… I have to go.”

Emily took one step and Gaige was there to stop her.

“Like f*ck you’ll go. You’re staying.”

“No. You can’t tell me what to do.”

“You gave that up last night. I warned you.”

Gaige wasn’t afraid of Emily. Her eyes were deep and full of pain. She could try to act tough and angry, but it didn’t mean shit to him. When Emily slapped him across the face, Gaige didn’t move. When she attacked his chest with punches, he accepted them all.

Over and over, groaning as she attacked him, Gaige waited as long as he could. When she slapped him a second time, Gaige lifted Emily by the waist and tossed her to the bed. She cried out and bounced, then fought her way off the bed. She lunged at the door but Gaige was quicker. His arms wrapped around Emily and he lifted her. She kicked but he wasn’t letting her go.

“You’re not leaving,” Gaige said. “Not on my f*cking watch. You belong here. Tell me what else is going on.”

“Fuck you,” Emily said. “I won’t hurt anyone else.”

“I’ll stand like this all f*cking day.”

Emily came to a sudden stop. Her body went limp. She began to cry. Gaige walked her to a chair and sat her down.

“Are you done now?” he asked.

She looked at him. “I didn’t mean to hit you.”

“What else happened?”

“I’m hiding, Gaige,” Emily said.

“Hiding? What the f*ck does that mean?”

“That means there’s a reason why I keep to myself. I’m hiding from someone.”

“Who?”

“Someone who found me today.”

“Enough bullshit,” Gaige said. “Talk.”

“I was involved with a guy in northern California. Five years ago. He was third in line at the table.”

“You were with another club?” Gaige asked.

“I was with someone in a club. I had no real idea of all that came with it. But it was real. It was intense.”

Gaige crouched down and touched Emily’s waist. “Tell me everything right now.”

“He got into drugs. It went against the club, but he didn’t care. He had other guys involved, too. The drugs made money but the drugs he took made him into a monster.”

“He f*cking hurt you?”