Burned (Devil's Blaze MC, #2)(58)

“Boss, it’s not like that,” I start, but that’s when I hear the door slam. Katie’s not only up, but she’s heard this shit. “FUCK! Boss, I love Katie. You have them wrong. They aren’t doing this to hurt you or—shit, boss, I have to go. Katie’s been listening.”

“Why the f*ck would you let her hear—??”

“I didn’t know! Okay. I was in this bathroom, hiding like a * and trying to do work for you when I should have just told Katie what the f*ck was going on.” I pull my shirt over my head.

“You better go after her! If she gets away, then—”

“Goddamn it, boss! Are you not listening? If she gets away, it’s not we, it’s me. Me. I love her! She’s mine! This isn’t some play to get your information. I love her!”

“Fucking hell,” Skull groans. “Torch, man…”

“It’s okay. I have the key. She can’t get far. I’ll get her back and—”

I’m heading towards the door with my phone and open it just in time to catch Katie zooming past our room in the jeep. She looks at me as she passes, flipping me off. She’s moving fast, but even with that, I can see the pain and tears on her face. I see them and I know I’m the cause. She pulls out on the main road like a mad woman and I’m left standing there in my bare feet, holding a phone and a key and feeling like my world just exploded.





I stretch my body, feeling delicious pings zap through me. Torch… No, Hunter. Hunter loves me. Me. Even with everything wrong with me, he loves me. Well, he doesn’t know about the dyslexia or my ADHD, but he knows about my leg and he didn’t even blink. It didn’t even make a difference to him. He asked for my heart. He asked me to let him in, to trust him, to take care of me and my sister. He’ll protect Beth as his own, too, because she’s important to him. The same with Gabby. I’m still worried, but he has been telling me over and over that Skull wouldn’t hurt Beth. He’s right. It’s safer for her to be with us than out there where Colin might get to her. I was going to tell him that last night so we could go get Beth and Gabby together, but once I told him I loved him, we both kind of got off track.

I grin. Not that I would change a damn thing.

I sit up in bed, the chill in the room causing goosebumps to break out over my skin. I reach over and feel his pillow. It’s still warm. The movement causes my body to tighten, soreness and delicious tingles of need moving through me. It seems weird without the plug he’s been making me wear. Last night before I passed out, he said I was ready for him. I expected him to claim me then. He wanted me to sleep, though. I thought he’d wake me up this morning. It’s barely dawn outside.

I stand up and look around for something to put on. His silly shirt is on the floor, so I grab it, bring it to my nose, and breathe it in. I love the way Hunter smells. His cologne is this scent that’s definitely all man, but there’s just something about the way he smells generally that makes me weak in the knees. It’s this intoxicating aroma of outdoors, leather, and wickedness. I don’t know how else to describe it. I just know I could get drunk on it.

I tiptoe to the bathroom, stopping to look at the mirror with a grin. My * clenches in memory, instantly wanting more. I need Hunter. Maybe he’s in the shower. Mmm… shower sex. Yes, please! We can have some fun, then find food, because I’m famished! Then, I’ll ask for his help in bringing Bethie and Gabriella home with us.

I’m about to open the door when I hear voices inside. It takes me a minute to realize it’s just Hunter I hear. He’s obviously on the phone. That explains why he’s in the bathroom. He didn’t want to wake me. I should reward him for being so thoughtful. A nice hummer in the shower. Heck, maybe I’ll even swallow. Normally I’m not a swallower, but Hunter has made me like everything.

Before I turn the knob, I hear Hunter call me a runner. Then I hear how he wants me home before I can run. I thought I made it clear to him that I wasn’t going to run anymore last night. I thought he realized I was surrendering to him… to us. I guess I’ll just have to make sure he knows it now. I trust him. He loves me. That makes me smile.

Then I hear a new voice. Skull’s.

I halt my movements, interested to know what they’re talking about so early. He calls me a bitch. It’s going to take a lot for me to like that man, despite Hunter’s assurances that I will. What I hear next kills every trace of happiness I was feeling. It’s cold and lodged inside of me now, choking me. When Skulls asks him if he was using his dick to keep me distracted, I want to scream. I fully expect Hunter to beat him down and stop him. Instead, he continues working on something, then offers to help him. No defending me. No denying that horrible claim. None of that. Skull’s next words are what brings me to my knees.

“Keep playing Beth’s sister, you’re doing good there. She’s letting her guard down with you. I could tell while you were letting me listen in last night. Keep working her…”

The words rip out my heart. They destroy me. Playing me? Using me? Will I never learn? Oh, God, Hunter… No, no, never Hunter.

Torch. Torch let Skull listen to us. My hands shake and I back away from the door like the Devil himself is behind it. And he is. The cruelest, most horrible…

He used me. I quickly find my pants. I get to my duffle bag, which has my clutch purse in it. I thought it was a sign of trust between us that Torch gave it back to me. I was an idiot. He used me. I feel the tears. They’re there, but I refuse to give into them. I can’t. Not right now.