Chapter Twenty-Four
“HOLD UP,” SAINT said as he rolled to a stop in front of Hell’s Hounds Clubhouse. “I’ll come around.”
Saint strode around the driver’s side with sure, efficient steps. When he reached her door, he opened it, reached in for her waist, and plucked her from the truck as if she weighed no more than a doll.
Well, look at that, a sexy man to help her out. Just as ordered.
“Thank you,” she said as her feet hit the ground. She didn’t move away. Instead, she wrapped her arms around Saint’s waist and breathed him in, storing his scent for later when she needed a hit.
“I feel like shit for bailing on you today,” he said, rubbing a hand over his scruff. Usually, he shaved every morning, but today she’d convinced him to hold off. His stubble felt incredible, scraping across her skin, and she had plans that included that very sensation later.
“How many times do I have to tell you, you’re not bailing on me?” She rolled her eyes. “You’d be stupid to turn down this job.”
Saint had planned to join her at the salon for what she hoped would be the final day of cleaning. Tomorrow, the first delivery of equipment will arrive, so she has no choice but to finish preparations today.
A last-minute, high-paying repo job came through early this morning.
Saint would be a fool to turn down the money for what seemed like a reasonably easy job.
Some big-shot tech guy drove his mistress to Dollywood for a scandalous weekend rendezvous.
It turned out the guy had a mountain of gambling debt that caused him to default on multiple vehicle loans.
While he and his girlfriend were enjoying Dollywood, Saint would be scooping up his Lamborghini for a pretty penny.
Money and a way to fuck with a cheater. Who could resist?
Beth’s only frustration was not being able to ride along on this task.
She’d love to see the asshole’s face when he realized his precious seven-hundred-thousand-dollar Lambo Revuelto had disappeared from the parking lot while he was screwing someone who wasn’t his wife of twenty years.
“Besides, Screw will be here in a few hours to help.”
He frowned, unconvinced.
“Lee, I’ll be fine. Go have fun in Pigeon Forge. Maybe ride some rollercoasters while you’re there. Or catch a country music show.” She smirked.
He grunted. “Do I seem like the banjo music type?”
That had her giggling. She slid her hands down to his ass. “No. You’re all rock and roll, baby,” she said before squeezing his firm cheeks.
“Smartass,” he replied with a growl, attacking her neck with kisses.
Beth laughed. Two days ago, she’d been convinced her world was ending.
But the sun rose as usual, and the mountains surrounding them looked as beautiful as ever.
Her heart carried a heaviness she didn’t know how to name, but Saint promised her repeatedly that they would get past this monumental hurdle with her father.
Because she trusted Saint with everything in her, she tried to push aside the worry and despondency in favor of hope.
She’d texted back and forth with her mom a few times over the last couple of days, and they had Shell’s full support.
Still, both thought it best to let Copper have some time to process and pull his head out of his ass before trying to have a productive conversation with the bullheaded MC president.
“All right.” Saint straightened. “Get inside before I fuck you against my truck in the middle of Main Street.”
Now there was an idea. Maybe not in the center of town, but against his big work truck had some potential.
“Stop it,” he said with a growl, making her burst out laughing. “Such a troublemaker.”
“I didn’t say anything.” She blinked at him innocently.
“Your eyes are begging me to fuck you.” He adjusted his crotch. “So much fucking trouble. Now go.” He nudged her toward the building, slapping her ass as she walked by.
Beth yelped then wiggled her butt for good measure, smiling at Saint’s groan.
As she reached the door, he called out. “Hold up,” then grabbed her hand and yanked her back to him.
“You forgot something.” It was all the warning she got before he tipped her backwards and kissed the ever-loving hell out of her.
By the time he righted her, her head was spinning, her pulse raced beneath her skin, and she throbbed between her legs.
“Um…” She staggered back when he released her, pressing a hand to her pounding chest. “Wow. Okay.” Her back hit the glass door. “That was mean.”
Saint laughed. “See you later, baby,” he said with a perky wave and a lascivious wink.
“Yeah. Bye.” Her brain hadn’t come back online yet. It was still stuck in that hot-as-hell kiss.
How the hell was she supposed to concentrate on anything now that he’d fried her brain?
Saint watched from his truck until she was safely behind the closed door. She waved, but he pointed to the door handle with a frown and mouthed, Lock it.
Rolling her eyes, she did as he demanded.
Knowing him, he’d stress about her all day if she didn’t turn the lock in front of him.
They’d had this discussion at least a dozen times so far.
Once the shop opened, there were times, many times, she’d be in there alone during the day, and the door would be unlocked.
How the hell did he expect her customers to come and go if she kept the place boarded up?
He informed her that cameras and a top-of-the-line alarm system would be installed as soon as the equipment arrived.
Part of her wanted to argue that she wouldn’t need such an elaborate system, but she’d learned over the years that the MC went overboard with security.
She’d never win the argument, so she decided to pick her battles.
There were sure to be others who needed her attention more.
Once the door was locked, Saint winked from his truck. She blew him a kiss, waved, and then he drove off. Alone with a mountain of cleaning, Beth popped in her ear buds, blasted her favorite playlist, and got to work.
Several hours later, she set her mop aside. The whole place smelled lemony-fresh and gleamed as though brand new.
Over the past few days, she’d cleaned and sanitized every nook and cranny.
The space looked wonderful and ready for the tubs to be installed.
Her knees ached and her back twinged from kneeling and crouching half the morning, but the result was worth it.
When equipment began arriving, it would slot perfectly into the pristine building.
She had about twenty minutes until Screw showed up, and she deserved an iced coffee for all her hard work. Lucky for her, a new café opened a few months ago, two shops over. She’d yet to try it but had heard great things from Lindsey.
“Fuck, this is heavy,” she said with a groan as she lifted the bucket full of filthy mop water.
She hefted it toward the back door, muscles straining, but somehow managed not to spill any dirty water on her freshly scrubbed floors.
She planned to dump the bucket in the drain out in the alley behind the salon as she’d done several times already.
Using her ass to operate the push bar, Beth shoved the heavy door open.
Stifling hot air accosted her sweaty skin the second she stepped outside.
“Ugh, I must smell fantastic,” she muttered as she flipped the door’s kickstand down.
It’d be a miracle if the café let her in like this.
She’d probably drive away half their business with her sweaty clothes and stench.
After emptying the bucket down the storm drain, she set it beside the door to dry in the sun. As she turned back to reenter her shop, she froze.
Two feet stuck out from behind a large blue dumpster about twenty-five feet away.
Her pulse skipped once.
Then again.
They were small feet with pink, polished toes, encased in feminine sandals that looked way too expensive for someone who might be unhoused and searching for a shaded place to rest. A ripple of unease slid down her spine.
Saint would lose his shit if he knew what she was about to do, but she couldn’t leave someone out there when it was almost a hundred degrees.
What if they’d already passed out from heat stroke?
“Hello?” she called as she cautiously approached the dumpster.
One foot twitched.
“Are you okay?”
A thin, pain-filled whine answered her.
The hair on the back of her neck stood on end. Her instincts whispered something’s wrong, and her stomach clenched tight. She slowed her steps, every sense sharpening as she approached.
“I just want to check on you,” she announced, forcing her voice to stay light even as her heart began to thud harder. “Would you like some water?”
She reached the end of the dumpster and released a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding before peering around.
“Oh my God, Melody.”
Beth rushed forward and dropped into a crouch beside the woman whose curls gave her away every time. The sight of her hit Beth like a punch to the chest.
Someone had beaten Melody until her face was nearly unrecognizable.
Her eyes were swollen almost shut, her cheeks grotesquely puffy, and her lips split and crusted with blood.
A dark stream ran from her nose down her chin to her white T-shirt, staining it red.
Some had even splattered onto her denim shorts.
Beth’s hands trembled. “Jesus, what happened?” Panic surged, fast and sharp. “I’m calling for help.”
She reached for her pocket.
Nothing.
“Fuck. My phone’s inside.” Her breath came quicker now, uneven and wheezy. “Okay. Okay.” She swallowed hard. “Let me help you. We should get you out of the heat, then I can call for an ambulance. Can you stand?”
Melody tried to speak, but the sound barely made it past her lips. She clutched her ribs, breathing in shallow, broken breaths.
“What?” Beth leaned down until her ear hovered just above Melody’s mouth. “Say it again.”
“You… were… right…”
Beth’s blood turned to ice. The only thing she could be referring to was the warning about Demo.
“Demo did this to you?” The words tasted rancid on her tongue.
Was he still in the area? Fear spiked, icy and sharp.
“We have to go. You need EMS, and I have to call S… my dad.” This involved the club, and as much as it gutted her, calling Saint wouldn’t get her to the MC right now.
She’d call him directly after her father.
And if they both showed up, well, she’d cross that bridge when she came to it.
Now she needed to make sure Melody wouldn’t die.
“I’m sorry,” she said shakily, slipping an arm behind Melody’s back. “This is going to hurt. On three. One…”
Melody pushed a weak hand against Beth’s shoulder. “No.”
“What?” Beth leaned in again, confusion tangling with fear. “We can’t stay here.”
“S-sorry.”
Beth shook her head. “Shh, we’ll deal with that later. Right now, we need to move.”
Melody shook her head again, making Beth sigh in exasperation.
“Mel, we need to move.”
She said something.
“What? Red?” She leaned in. “Is that what you said?”
“R-run.”
The word hit her like a gunshot.
“Run?” Beth’s stomach dropped. “Fuck, is he here? Melody, is he still around? We need to move fast.”
Melody shook her head but whispered it again with what seemed to be her last speck of strength. “Run.”
“I can’t leave you here,” Beth whisper-yelled. “You’re hurt. I—”
Pain exploded across her scalp.
A rough hand tangled in her hair, wrenching her head back. Beth cried out, instinctively clawing at him as she was yanked away from Melody and hauled to her feet.
“Get the fuck off me.” Tears burned her eyes as her scalp screamed.
A male laugh rang out above her.
Her heart slammed against her ribs. She knew that voice. Panic flooded her system, fast and blinding in its strength. Her legs trembled, and her chest heaved as she struggled to think. The world narrowed, sounds muffled by the rush of blood in her ears.
Stay calm. Breathe. Don’t panic.
The hand left her hair, but relief only lasted two seconds. Demo twisted her arm behind her back and jerked it upward. White-hot pain shot through her shoulder, forcing her onto her toes.
“You’re not exactly in the position to make demands, princess.”
If she never heard that fucking nickname again, it’d be too damn soon.
“What the fuck do you want?” She gasped as he jerked her, sending another burst of pain screeching across her shoulder.
“Just a little chat.”
“Yeah? Sounds good. How about we head to our clubhouse? We can chat there all you want.”
He laughed. “Shit, princess, you’re funny. I think I like you. That’s too bad.”
A large white van backed into the alleyway.
Fear slammed into her, cold and absolute.
Don’t get in the car.
Don’t ever let them get you in the car.
That was ‘How Not to Die 101.’
“But I think we’ll have a better time at my place.”
“Fuck no.” She fought him with everything she had, kicking, thrashing, and screaming, pain be dammed. Her heel connected with something solid, and he cursed, loosening his grip just enough.
She broke free and managed two frantic steps before he tackled her from behind, sending her crashing to the ground.
Gravel tore into her palms and knees. She barely felt it over the adrenaline surging through her veins.
“That was fucking stupid,” he snarled. His hot breath wafted across her face, stale and acrid. “I don’t think I like you anymore.”
The second his heavy weight moved off her, Beth pushed herself up, breath ragged and vision swimming. She would not stop. She would not—
His palm cracked across her face.
Stars burst behind her eyes. Her ears rang as her head snapped to the side.
A thick arm locked around her throat.
“No!” She croaked as her air supply disappeared in a brutal burst of pain. She attacked him, scratching mindlessly and kicking with weak jerks, but her strength drained fast.
Black crept in at the edges of her vision.
Saint was going to freak out.
If only she could have told him she loved him one more time.
As shadows engulfed her, she conjured the image of Saint’s face to keep her company in the darkness.