lean. A bed, a dresse

ith decent

y shaking hands. Derek's blood was still o

t to make cho

woman walked in carrying a first aid kit. She had gray

d. "The club mom. L

m fi

y." She sat beside me, openin

ow-purple and black, spreading

htened. "That

ek.

singly gentle as she examined me. "Nothing broken, b

l they do

yes. "He hurt you. In this wor

I do not want anyone

back into Colt Richardson's life, people were going to bleed. The questi

my protector.

n your ass." She finished wrapping and packed up the kit. "That boy loved you more than life itse

wanted to

g for the door. "Now you have to

cking the do

urting. Outside, I heard engines. Voi

g was norm

could not tell. No clock.

in around what I th

o

Fresh clothes. But his knuckles w

p," he

hy

he crossed the room and hauled me to my feet. "You want

and out a back door I had not seen before. We walked in

ware

old. "Colt, what

is mine." He pulled open the door. "After tonight, you

dows. A single light hung from

. Face swollen. Blood

re

ce was a croak.

away from Colt.

" Colt said.

not wa

"This is the man you defende

them to let me go. We can disappear. Start

rd, circling Derek like a predator. "How many times di

outh open

med into the chair beside Der

"But she always came back. She alwa

ed to

aned in close. "She is terrified

save her? You think she will stay with you? She is weak. Broken. She needs someone

d to me. "Is that why you

voice

he questi

kill you. To burn down your family's garage with your mother inside. He showed

very sti

fire. The accident. How he would make it look natural. So I r

ver thought

t know what to do!" I was sobbing now. "So I ran. I ran until I met Derek, and he seemed ni

le

Colt

ands framing my face, f

eats he made, whatever plans he had-they died with hi

it like a p

years after my father died, and

Der

night." Colt's thumb traced my cheek. "And then you are going to st

, ple

shattere

d, spinni

doorway, gun smok

still alive. S

into the wall six

em. The Serpents just rolled up to o

t cold. "The Serpents

or's eyes found mine. "By name.

art s

Colt demanded. "She has noth

teeth. "You think I worked alone? You think I did not have insurance?" He laughed. "I sold her, Richardso

room

My voice was b

's smile widened. "And th

before I could blink, press

are l

. "Go check. They have the contract. Your

s, they are getting impatien

k at me. And I saw something in

e

ert. Nobody in or out." He grabbed my arm.

he mean? What a

deal in guns, drugs, and trafficking." He met my eyes. "And if they thin

engines

my nightmare wa