“I’m fine!”
He carried her towards the truck and hoisted her up into it. “Fuck, we need an ambulance, but the hospital has to report gunshot wounds.” He climbed up and placed a hand to the side of her neck, feeling her pulse. “Thank God, your pulse is steady.”
Just then, Duke emerged from the house, with Rose wrapped securely in his arms, and she hung there limply, like a rag doll.
“What the hell happened to her?!” Daisy screamed.
“She fainted, that’s all,” Duke said as he appeared at the passenger side door. He shot a glance at her wound. “We need to get you bandaged up.”
Duke climbed in, and the men shuffled both her and Rose around, placing her sister between them on the seat and then laying Daisy down across everyone’s laps and propping the injured leg up, letting her foot dangle out the passenger window. Duke yanked a black bag from the floorboard and began pressing gauze pads to the wound on her thigh.
She took her sister’s limp hand in her own and kissed it, pressing it against her cheek. “I love you, Ro.” Tears pricked her eyes.
Oh, thank God, I got her back.
Suddenly, she started to feel dizzy again.
“She’s lost a lot of blood,” Duke muttered as he bandaged her leg.
“Stay with me, Wildcat,” Cowboy said softly. “You need to stay awake for me. Duke is going to patch you up, and then you and me will go for biscuits.” The last thing she remembered was Cowboy’s face swimming above hers.
And then she passed out.
***
Daisy awoke to a dull ache in her leg and bright lights overhead.
Eddie’s blurry face came into focus above her. She glanced around, trying to get her bearings, but didn’t recognize the bedroom. She sighed. “Okay, I’ve had enough of being knocked out. Where am I?”
“You’re staying in my spare bedroom,” Eddie said, sitting down on a chair beside the bed, and smoothing the hair away from her face. “Duke treated you, gave you a truckload of antibiotics, some transfusions, and he’s been changing your bandages every few hours to prevent infection. He says you’re going to be just fine, other than some scar tissue.”
Thanks to Cowboy. Eddie handed her a glass of water and she gulped it down gratefully. “How long have I been out?” she asked.
“Almost twenty-four hours.”
“Where’s my sister? Is she okay?”
Eddie frowned, shaking her head. “Physically, yes. Although she is a little skinny and weak. We put her in a room at Hades and Voo will get her fixed up with some food. I don’t know the details, but I get the feelin’ she’s been through hell. She’s been real quiet.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “She has. I only got to talk to her a little bit, but I could tell she’s changed. Can I see her?”
Eddie squeezed her hand. “Of course you can, honey.” She pulled out her cell and sent a text. In a minute, she received a reply and smiled at Daisy. “Fetch is comin’ over with a pair crutches and then he’ll drive you over to see her.”
“Thank you.” She glanced around the room. “Where’s Cowboy?”
“Hopefully sleeping. I had to pry him away from your side.”
Daisy smiled. She needed to see him. They had something very important to discuss, but she had to make sure Rose was okay, first.
“Frankly, he was buggin’ the shit out of me, snapping at prospects, bickering with Duke.” She leaned forward. “Is it true he shot you?”
“How did you know that?”
She raised a brow. “Well, damn. I owe Elizabeth $20. I overheard Duke givin’ him shit about shooting his old lady,” she said slyly. “And is that true too? Are you his old lady?”
“I’ll answer you after I have a little talk with Cowboy,” she answered ambiguously. But she couldn’t keep a smile from spreading over her face.
Eddie let out a whoop. “I’m going to take that as a yes! Damn straight! Saddle up and get your Cowboy.” She pulled Daisy into a big hug. “This is perfect! Steele wants you to work at the shop so bad, he can’t stand it and Cowboy needs to pull his head out and move back into that beautiful house of his. You need a place where you can raise babies, and—”
“Woah!” Daisy said, raising her hands. “You got my whole life planned out there, let’s take it slow.”
“I’m sorry, have you met me?” Eddie said, with a smirk. At Daisy’s look, she rolled her eyes. “Fine, fine, I won’t push too much. We’ll take the slow mo Ryker approach.” She paused for a minute, eyes widening. “You know, I overheard another interesting bit of gossip you might be interested in.”
“Oh?”
“I know how the boys found you.”
“How?” Daisy asked. Frankly, it had mystified her. She’d been almost willing to chalk it up to an old fashioned miracle.
“Apparently, Duke chipped you.”
She gaped at Eddie. “He did what?!”
***
At her insistence, Fetch helped Daisy run an errand, before she pulled up to the curb outside of her sister’s room at Hades. She grabbed her backpack and slung it over her shoulder before she hobbled towards the door on crutches.
As she was about to knock, Duke propped himself against the wall, right next to her sister’s hotel room door.
“Good to see you’re up and around, Daisy.”
“You mean, you didn’t know? Since you can track my every move.”
He crossed his arms over his broad chest and cocked his head to the side. “Would you rather I left you to make special friends with the dungeon master?”
Point for him.
She blew out an irritated breath. “Thank you for finding me and bandaging me up, but tomorrow you’re gonna dig that thing out of my body.”
“Fine. Are you going to see her?” he asked, nodding to the door. She suddenly realized he hadn’t been out here by accident. Was Duke watching Rose’s room?
“Yes” She watched him carefully.
“Good,” he said with a nod. “She could use a familiar face.”
She grimaced, not liking Duke’s tone. He seemed concerned about Rose and frankly, she was none of his business. If she wasn’t mistaken, some sort of strange bond had developed between them, probably because he’d pulled her out of the cage.
“And I think Rose needs a neutral space to sort this out,” he said. “She can stay at Hades as long as she likes.” The tone was casual, but she wondered if his interest was less than altruistic.
“Thank you.” She raised a brow. “Why are you guarding my sister’s door?”
“Cowboy asked me to keep an eye on her.”
Duke was a dangerous man on an epic scale. She didn’t want him anywhere near Rose, for any reason. “Well, you can stand down, soldier. I got this.”
His eyes became hooded, unreadable. “I think we’ll let Rose decide whether or not she wants my protection.” He turned and walked away, leaving Daisy feeling uneasy, but she would handle that particular problem another time. Today, she wanted to celebrate Rose’s homecoming.
She knocked on the door.
“Ro, are you in here?”
No answer. She tried the handle and found it unlocked, so she went inside.
Daisy had to adjust her eyes to the dark shadows in the room, but she could eventually make out her sister’s form against the wall. She sat on the floor, arms threaded over her legs.
Daisy switched on the lamp near the bed and Rose pressed herself further into the corner as though she could disappear into the wall.
“It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you.” With a hiss of pain Daisy gingerly knelt beside her, about a foot away.
“Hey, Rosie,” she murmured, making her tone as soft as soothing as she could, but Rose didn’t acknowledge her or make eye contact. She stared at nothing in particular, seemingly lost in her own thoughts.
Daisy opened her mouth to speak again, but nothing came out. Asking her how she was seemed ludicrous. Obviously, Rose wasn’t doing well. She lived in some sort
of mental hell and Daisy didn’t have a freaking clue how to help her. But she’d do anything she could.
“I swear I’m going to help you get better,” she promised.
Rose didn’t look at her, but she frowned, as though thinking about what Daisy said, processing it slowly.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what to do, what to say, but I wanted you to know I’m here for you and I love you, Ro.” She had to suck back a sob. “More than you can possibly imagine.”
The ghost of a smile curled Rose’s lips, and for a brief moment she got a glimpse of her sassy, confident sister. “I know, Daze.”
Oh thank God!
Rose was in there somewhere, she was just buried beneath the pain and the fear. Hesitantly, Rose reached for her, holding out one trembling hand and Daisy took it, threading her fingers through her sisters. They sat there in the dark together, holding hands and not speaking, just basking in one another’s company. Both she and Rose had come out of this situation with some serious wounds, but they would heal. Together.
***
An hour later, Daisy stopped by Voodoo’s for some hot biscuits, and then crept into Cowboy’s room.
He didn’t stir when she’d turned on the bedside lamp. Cowboy had dark shadows under his eyes and more stubble than usual on the lean planes of his handsome face. He must have been exhausted. Cowboy usually slept naked, and today was no exception, the white bed linens slid down his hips, giving her an enticing few of his muscled thighs.
Damn he’s beautiful.
Daisy gingerly sat down on the edge of the bed and undressed, stripping off her shirt and the roomy sweatpants Eddie had purchased for her. Naked, she slid into bed next to Cowboy, being careful of her injured leg. Right now, she wanted to be close to him as possible. He stirred as she brushed a thumb over his lips.
“Mornin’, Cowboy.”
“Mmm, Wildcat,” he murmured, as his eyes fluttered open. His hand encircled hers, holding it to his face.
“I brought you some biscuits.” She set the carryout bag on the nightstand.
“I thought I’d sneak up on you in bed this time,” she teased.
He gave her a sleepy smile so sexy it nearly stole her breath. “Anytime you take a notion, please do. Have I ever told you, how much I love wakin’ up with a beautiful woman?”
“You might have mentioned it a time or two.” She could feel a grin tug at the edges of her mouth. It felt so right, lying in his arms –in this town, with this man, her sister, and his club. She’d finally found a new home.
“Damn.” He yawned. “It’s been a rough couple of days. I feel like I been chewed up, spit out, and stepped on.”
She laughed. “Believe me, I know the feeling.”
“Have you seen your sister?” he asked.
“I did. She’s…” Daisy paused, trying to find words. “She just isn’t the same, it’s going to take a lot of time for her to heal.”
“You’ll be there for her every step of the way,” he promised, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
He glanced down at her leg, pulling the covers to the side to examine the bandages. His big, blue eyes became suspiciously shiny. “Are you in a lot of pain?”
She shook her head. It hurt, but Duke loaded her up with painkillers. She didn’t want to know where they’d come from, but she’d taken a couple before she went over to Hades. It hurt a bit, but she and Rose were both safe. “No, I’m fine, thanks to you.”
“If I’d been off by an inch or two, I could have clipped your artery and you would have bled to death,” he said quietly. “For a minute there, I thought I had.”
“Not a chance,” she said fervently. “Not with the way you shoot. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be free or have Rose back.”
His expression changed, became smooth and even, betraying no emotion, but she heard a hitch in his voice when he finally spoke. “So, does this mean you’ve come to say goodbye?”
“No.”
“No?” he said, and she could read the hope in his eyes.
She sighed, and gathered up the courage she needed to say this.“Cowboy, I’ve come to love this place. I love Eddie and Elizabeth, and Voodoo, and even the club. It’s become more and more clear to me, my future isn’t at Fort Bliss, not anymore.”
“It isn’t?”
“I think my shot at bliss, if you’ll pardon the pun, is with you.” She bit her lip. “You said you wanted to be the only man who’s ever touched my heart, and you are. I’m not sure what to call it,but I think it might be love.”
A big smile spread over his face. “I’m falling in love with you, too.” He bent his head, kissed her softly. “Tell me again,” he whispered against her lips.
“I’m in love with you,” she said quietly, meaning every word. And surprisingly, it didn’t seem so scary now. “I love you,” she repeated.
Cowboy kissed her once more, softly teasing her lips with his own, it was gentle but undeniably possessive. “You are officially my old lady.”
“Yes, I am.” She touched the pendant necklace around her neck.
He tucked a hand behind his head, and sighed with pure male satisfaction. “I know exactly where I’m going to put my name on you.”
“Hey,” she said with a scowl. “What makes you think I’m going to let you?”
“Because you love me,” he answered smoothly. “You want to know where?”
She groaned.
“I’m going to ink my name next to that sexy cat tattoo of yours.”
“We’ll see,” she hedged.
He raised a wicked brow. “That’s okay, Wildcat, I’ll eventually wear you down. I’ll just make you cum until you lose the will to fight with me about it.”
She shivered at the thought. Then, she remembered something very important. She reached down and snagged the backpack she’d slid off earlier. Then, pulled out a shiny, new horseshoe. “I made Fetch stop at the feed store on the way over,” she explained as she handed it to him.
“What’s this for?” he asked, bemused.
“For the doorway to your house. You need a good luck charm.”
Cowboy brushed a hand over the silvery surface. “Thank you, wild cat. I’ve been meaning to reclaim my house, put those bad memories to rest.”
“We’ll make some new memories there, happy ones,” she promised.
“Yes, we will. Speaking of,” he said as he grabbed the carryout bag and reached inside. “Let’s have some biscuits to celebrate and then I plan on spending the next couple of hours making love to you.”
“No, I got them for you,” she insisted. “I know how much you love them.”
He cut one of them in two with the pocket knife he grabbed from the nightstand and handed it to her. “Wildcat, I can promise you one thing. As long as I got a biscuit, you got half.”
Daisy happily accepted. She had a feeling they would be sharing biscuits together every morning.
For the next fifty or so years…
Keep reading for a preview of the next book in the series, Damned, Four Horsemen MC #3.
Damned
Rose Weston is in hell.
After being kidnapped and held as a sex slave, she is struggling to come to terms with the trauma. Under the care of her sister, Daisy, Rose is recovering at the Hades Motel and Diner, owned by the Four Horsemen MC. When Rose is threatened by her former captor, she asks Duke for help.
Duke has been to hell and back.
After surviving an abusive childhood, dangerous black ops missions, and a stint in prison, Duke is reluctant to give a damn about anyone but himself. Despite his better judgment, he finds himself helping Rose. She touches a place in his cold heart, no other woman has. He reluctantly agrees to teach her combat skills. Together, they will track down the man who held her prisoner and make him pay. But he doesn’t count on what a temptation Rose can be. She wants to share his bed, have a sexual relationship on her own terms, but is she ready after the abuse she’s suffered? Or is she damned?
Add Dam
ned to your Goodreads list here:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22546370-damned
Chapter One
She is a hot mess.
Duke watched Rose Weston as she ate dinner with her older sister, Daisy, and his club brother, Cowboy. The girl tried hard to hide it, but he could see the chaos bubbling beneath the surface, even two tables over.
Not that it was any of his fucking business.
Hades, the Four Horsemen’s motel and diner, had quite a crowd tonight. The diner had a fifties feel to it with a black and white checkered floor, red vinyl booths, silver stools, and Texas memorabilia on the walls like an old Route 66 sign and a Texaco star. Tonight, the place was packed for another one of their brotherhood dinners. Voodoo, a brother who served as the Hades chef and proprietor, barked orders at the prospects. And they hustled to take drink orders and deliver food to the brothers’ tables.
Duke did a perimeter sweep of the room, a habit leftover from his Special Forces routine. He noted the weapons his brothers carried as well as the exits and entrances, which they always kept clear in case a little escape and evasion became necessary, or E&E in military lingo.
He couldn’t help but stare at the train wreck of a girl again.
She did her level best to look normal. Rose laughed and smiled often. She even managed to eat most of the food on her plate. But her eyes! They told an altogether different story. Bleak, shuttered, and chilly, they reminded him of an abandoned home. And she couldn’t quite disguise the pain in their depths.
No one else seemed to notice, not even her sister. Maybe they were relieved she got home safe and didn’t really look too close. Two months ago, Duke had pulled her out of a cage. A fucking cage. Some bat shit crazy lawyer for the Raptors, a rival MC, kept her as a sex slave. Fuck only knows what the pervert did to her.
Cowboy saddled him with protecting Rose, but Duke didn’t consider babysitting or counseling to be part of the job description. So, he kept kept his distance and watched her like a fucking hawk, in case her former rapist came looking for her. Rose had decided not to move in with Cowboy and Daisy when his brother reclaimed his old house and who could blame her? Pretending to be fine all the fucking time could be exhausting.
Hot as Hades (Four Horsemen MC Book 2) Page 24
