Faith & the Dead End Devils (Sweet Omegaverse, #8)(84)

As I glared into the rearview mirror at the approaching enemy, adding gas and speed to my own bike, I decided I was proud of my princess. She'd survived and came out a fighter. I knew what that was like from clawing out of my old home, climbing my way to the top of the Devils. I would protect her from the worst and respect what she'd already lived through.

I signaled to Bear a new route, narrower, forcing us but also the Wasted to ride in single file. Bear backed off just enough to slide in behind me, guarding Faith's back, as we made a sudden sharp left turn down an alley.

Faith's grip tightened over my stomach, but she didn't fight the turn.

We'd reach the edge of town soon, and the open road would give the Wasted too much opportunity to surround us. I needed to gain as much room as possible between them first, if not send their bikes crashing off the road.

I rushed through back alleys and side streets, backyards and broken down cars and dry pools blurring out of the corner of my eyes. My grip on the handlebars was brutal, my fingers aching, as I spread my focus for any sign of a civilian stepping out. I didn't know if I imagined the pound of Faith's heart against my back, or if I was aware of my own, my pulse pounding in my ears.

A crack sounded, and Faith jerked behind me as a burst of plaster on the corner of a house hit our sides and dusted the narrow, pocked alley. Another crack, more gas, and I snarled into the rushing air. Faith's grip remained tight around me, and I couldn't risk looking back to check on her. If it weren't for her on the back of my bike, I would've pulled over so Bear and I could fire back. But I wasn't risking Faith getting hurt in the mix.

The gunshots were going to attract police attention, and I needed to get Faith out now.

I cut down a side drive, checking my mirror as Bear twisted in place, turning to face the Wasted.

"Bear's gonna buy us time," I shouted back to Faith, skidding out onto the road, cutting off an ancient pickup driver and grimacing against the blare of their horn.

There was no sign of the Wasted or my enforcer behind us as we raced out of town and onto the highway that would lead us back to Dead End. I wasn't sure if that was a good sign, or if I had just left one of my men behind in danger or worse.

They would strip me of my crown for certain if I did, if Bear met an unnecessary end at the hands of the Wasted, but there was no muscle in my body prepared to turn back while Faith was still wrapped around me. I would get her back to the clubhouse, and then bring Ghost and Chance and Rider back with me.

Faith was trembling by the time we shot into the front lot of the clubhouse, screeching to a stop under the eaves of the old motel entrance. I didn't know if it was fear, if she was back in her feral state, or if she was just shattered from riding like hell on wheels with all that tension. I had to push and nudge her off the bike to rise up from the seat myself, and my own hands were shaking as I pulled her helmet off.

"You okay, princess? You get hit anywhere?"

There was plaster dust on her jacket, and her pupils were blown black, gaze unfocused as I tipped her chin up.

"I gotta get back and see if Bear needs help, princess, but you have to tell me if you're hurt," I said, searching her again, twisting her to check her back.

"He's not hurt. He's coming," Faith murmured.

"I think so too, but I need to—"

"He's coming back," Faith repeated, more determined.

Fuck. If Bear was hurt, what would it mean for Faith? I couldn't be good for her the way he was, but I would sure as hell try.

"Okay, baby, but—"

Her hands flew up between us and I braced myself for her strike, but it never came. One gentle, clammy hand cupped my jaw, and my eyes followed the other as it landed over her chest, pressing into the zipper of her jacket.

"I can feel him, King," she said, eerily calm with those full black pupils, her scent all ragged from stress. "He's on his way back."

Anger, jealousy, blazed in me, my gaze scorching over her in search of the mark. "He bit you?" I growled.

And the dangerous, beautiful, perfect woman in front of me blushed and smiled. "I bit him, the day you all found me. It's not a bond, it's been fading, but—"

Her stare whipped away from mine, and my hands twitched to drag it back. There was an engine purring on the road, growing louder with every second. Bear was back, just as she'd promised.

She had bit him. Could feel him. And fuckin’ Bear hadn't said a goddamn word to me about it.

Faith's gaze was on the road as the words slipped out of my mouth. "I never stood a chance of getting rid of you, did I?"

She blinked and glanced back at me, and I cursed my own mouth. But she didn't shove me away as I gripped the back of her neck and dragged her lips to mine. She was safe. Bear was safe.

I didn't give a shit about their bond aside from wanting…

I growled against Faith's lips, licked them open and stroked my tongue to hers. She melted into me so beautifully, and I wasn't sure which of us was surrendering as we tangled closer. I'd never had a sweet tooth until this omega showed up, but now I couldn't get enough of her delicate sweetness.

My hands tightened on the back of her neck and her waist as Bear's bike made the ground under us thrum, but she pulled free of me. Her gaze was shy and it left me too quickly. She stepped out of my arms and ran for Bear's bike, not allowing him to stand fully before she was throwing her arms around him.