Wild Blaze (Back Down Devil MC 0.5)(28)

Lyle hit the gas pedal and the car spun around again. Heather screamed and then felt something like a thud and then a second one. Maybe a third, she wasn’t sure, because the car quickly lost control. It was like watching the world ripping to the left, then to the right. Finally, the world cut hard to the left and the car rolled.

That was the last thing Heather remembered seeing.

There was the sound of metal twisting and crunching. Then silence. A little hissing sound and nothing more.

Lyle groaned and got out of the car.

Heather came and went from the darkness to some sound. She swore she heard Brody’s voice but wasn’t completely sure of it. There was yelling, arguing, talking.

And then there was a gunshot.

Heather gasped and let the darkness overcome her once again. She knew this had to the be the last of the darkness. The good was that it didn’t hurt to die. She didn’t feel the bullet wound.

In fact, the next thing Heather felt was someone lifting her up. Strong arms, soft voice, so soothing.

For a second, when Heather opened her eyes, she thought she saw it was Brody carrying her. But that was impossible. Brody was alive. She was dead. Unless, of course, Brody was dead too.

Dead together. Like some kind of tragic romance.

The thought comforted Heather. Darkness came again.

The next time Heather opened her eyes, she was in a hospital room. She looked around and recognized it as one of the rooms from the hospital where she worked.

“No,” she whispered. “I’m in hell…”

She heard a laugh and looked straight ahead. Brody stood at the end of the bed, arms folded.

“Hell?” he asked.

“I’m dead,” Heather said. “And I’m where I work. That’s hell, right?”

“You’re not dead, sweetheart. At all.”

“How? The crash. Then the gun.”

Brody approached the bed. He bent down and kissed Heather’s forehead. “You’re not dead. I’m not dead. It’s all over, sweetheart.”

“Lyle?” Heather asked.

“Gone.”

“You…”

“Jace did it,” Brody said. “He saved both of us. I was losing my mind watching that car. I never want to experience that again.”

“But the truck was in my name. And murder…”

“It’s all taken care of,” Brody said. “As far as everyone knows, you were in a one car accident. Lost a tire and the car spun and rolled once. Lucky for you, the guys in Back Down Devil were on the same road at the same time. Saved you. That’s all you need to know, sweetheart.”

Heather looked up at Brody.

That’s all you need to know…

Heather took a shaky breath. Staring at Brody was staring at the rest of her life. The comfort. The protection. Knowing he’d kill, cover up, and do anything to keep her safe. Maybe it wasn’t right, but it sure as hell felt really, really good.

*

Brody kissed Heather and savored the taste of her lips. All it ever took was one wrong move, or turn, or moment to change everything. To watch someone die. To feel death creeping up on you. It was something that kept most of the guys somewhat sane, but teetering on insanity. It’s what kept them drinking, smoking, f*cking, and trying to grasp at the last frail strings of happiness while they were still there.

But staring at Heather, Brody felt something completely different rushing through his body. That need and want to have Heather went beyond her mouth on his body, the taste of her silky sex on his lips. It was because he cared about her. He was falling for her, falling fast and hard. It was out of control and Brody had no intention of trying to stop himself.

Not now. Not with what he’d seen and how he felt.

“The guys want to come check on you,” Brody said. “Then we have to get back to work. There’s a war out there, sweetheart. A war we have to fight and win. But you just need to rest. I’ll make sure there’s prospects here watching your room.”

“Am I in danger?” Heather asked.

“Not with us, no. But I want you to always feel protected.”

Brody walked away and opened the door, nodding to his family. To his brothers. To the men he could fight, hug, love, and hate, all at the same time. Led by Miller, they all approached the bed.

“You did good,” Miller said. “You were honest and you helped us.”

“You’re a brave chick,” Gaige said. “I trust you could take down Brody when he’s being an *.”

Heather laughed and blushed.

“Hey, sweetie,” Blaine said. “If you need anything from me. I mean, I can be a doctor if you need it. I can wash you down. Help you use the bathroom.”

“Blaine,” Brody growled.

“Get better,” Jace said.

“Wait,” Heather said. “You killed him? Lyle?”

“Yeah,” Jace said. “He was going to kill you. He was f*cking with Brody’s head.”

Heather reached for Jace’s hand and squeezed. “Thank you. Just… thank you.”

Jace nodded and walked to the edge of the bed. Brody was there and grabbed Jace, hugging him.

“Thank you, bro,” Brody said. “And I’m sorry I almost f*cking knocked you out.”

“I get it,” Jace said. “Let it all roll now. We have work.”