Chapter 2
The blonde in front of him hadn’t weighed a hundred pounds. Vex pushed his anger into a box in his head. He’d deal with the people who had tortured her later. Right now, he needed to keep her safe, and all hell was breaking out.
“Lean the same way I do,” he coached. Without asking, Vex knew from her rigid posture that she’d never been on a bike. He curved his body around her, trying to block the wind from the petite woman. Wrapping his left hand around her waist, he erased any space between them.
When she scooted away, he tightened his grip. Vex growled. Most of his words would be distorted by the wind. “Stay there or I’m going to spank your ass when we’re safe.”
In response, he heard “Filthy.”
“We’ll deal with that when we’re safe. The only thing that matters is that you’re out of there.”
She nodded so vigorously that her head struck his chin. Her gasp of pain went straight to his heart and erased any discomfort he felt. She stiffened against him and tried to put some distance between them again. His hand splayed across her stomach, tethering her in place.
“You’re fine. Your place is here.”
Behind him, the rumble of many bikes gained strength. Vex checked his rearview mirror and spotted the first motorcycles racing over the hill behind him. He returned his hand to the handlebars and shifted to boost his speed.
The Devil Daddies’ bikes had pulled slightly away from him. Vex cursed and forced himself to shut up when she cowered away. He could only go so fast. She was balanced too precariously on the bike and didn’t have a good grip on him. The Ravagers would be on his ass in a few moments.
Hellcat dropped back and nodded to Vex. The other biker fell in behind them to deal with the Ravagers. Vex continued to push as hard as he dared. The woman trembled against him. She was terrified and probably cold. As soon as they were safe, he’d be able to take care of her.
“Hold on sweetheart, if you can,” he urged.
She glided her hands to his thighs and squeezed her fingers underneath his legs, clinging to his jeans. Her fingernails tightened into his skin on the next turn, biting into the heavy denim, but she was more stable.
“Good girl,” he praised her and barely caught himself from kissing the top of her head. Idiot! She didn’t need him creeping on her from behind.
Vex didn’t understand what was churning inside his brain.
She was filthy and smelled strongly despite the wind blowing most of the odor away.
Skin and bones, she was the exact opposite of every other woman he’d pursued and fucked.
He loved full curves that flowed against him.
She had none. The evidence she’d been so poorly treated pissed Vex off to a degree he didn’t understand.
From somewhere deep inside him came a driving need to care for her.
A bullet whizzed from behind, and he hunched closer over the handlebars. Angel’s fingers tightened on his legs.
“Please don’t let them get me,” she begged hoarsely.
“That’s not going to happen, Little girl. You’re protected by the Devil Daddies MC now. They’d have to kill me to capture you again. Hold on.”
The cars in front slowed down for a red light.
Vex reduced his speed but didn’t stop. He tightened his grip on the handlebars and chose a path, driving on the dotted white lines between the lanes.
Scanning the vehicles, he waited for a driver in a car to panic or for someone to be an asshole.
Sure enough, a car’s length ahead, a driver pulled over to block the Devil Daddies’ Enforcer, Wraith, who led the group, carrying Razor to safety.
Thankfully, Wraith could dodge and weave through another way.
Vex could feel the Ravagers getting closer.
In this tight space, he didn’t dare take his eyes off the road obstacle course in front of him.
While he’d risk a higher speed alone, with the injured woman on the bike, any swerve to the side or sudden braking motion would likely unseat her. He couldn’t risk that.
Finally, the Devil Daddies reached the intersection and turned onto the access road that led to Inferno. Cycles flooded out of the popular restaurant and bar’s parking lot to snarl the traffic as they got close. He would thank each one of his bike brothers for racing out into danger.
He glanced over his shoulder to see the Devil Daddies’ welcoming party had stopped the Ravagers in their tracks. Vex continued toward the compound. The rest of the MC would protect his back.
Wraith pulled over to let Razor off at his driveway. His Little girl, Honey, danced with excitement and relief to see him. They’d gone through a lot, but Honey had returned. Vex pulled into his driveway a couple of cabins down as he guessed Razor wouldn’t let her leave again.
Cautiously, Vex supported his passenger as he set the kickstand and switched off the bike. Standing, he dismounted and scooped her up into his arms. He turned to see Hellcat in the driveway behind him.
“Good driving, Hellcat. Thanks for protecting my back. I owe you one,” Vex said. “I’ll owe you too, Razor, if you’ll come check her out.”
“I’m okay.” The woman’s faint voice didn’t convince Vex or anyone else, as Vex noted their expressions. “Water?”
“Yeah, Little girl. We’ll get you something to drink,” Vex promised.
“Vex? Is she staying with you?” Razor asked.
“Yes.” He’d never been more confident of anything in his life. He needed to take care of this woman. She met his gaze with a silent message of thankfulness. Vex squeezed her closer and forced himself to look at Razor.
Razor didn’t argue. He focused on his newest patient. “Carry her inside your cabin, Vex. Set her on the kitchen table. Wraith, grab a bottle of water.”
Vex rotated to follow the doctor’s instructions, leading the way through the front door to the open kitchen. As he sat her on the table, Fury, a Devil Daddies brother, entered quickly with Razor’s bag.
Before diving in for his tools, Razor said, “Let’s see if she needs to go to the hospital.”
“No!” the woman begged hoarsely before coughing.
Vex concentrated on the young woman but could see from the corner of his eye that the other men exchanged looks. Something was up.
“I’ve got you. You’re safe. Let Razor check you out,” Vex told her. He ran his hands up and down her arms to soothe her.
“O… okay,” she whispered.
When Wraith nudged him, Vex turned to see Wraith holding a bottle of water.
“Here’s some water. Drink,” Vex spoke quietly to her as Wraith handed her the open bottle.
Vex scowled when she guzzled the liquid so fast she choked. He reached out to adjust the bottle to a lesser angle to slow the flow. “Easy. You’re in a good place. We’ll get more. Tell me your name.”
“Angel.”
“Hi, Angel. I’m Vex. This guy is Razor. He’s our motorcycle club’s doctor. That’s Fury and Wraith. Everyone is leaving except for Razor,” he announced.
Fury and Wraith didn’t need a second hint. They nodded at Angel and headed for the door, then closed it quietly behind them. Razor stepped closer. He waited for her to focus on him.
“I was there as well. At the Ravagers. They’d told me Viper was holding a woman,” Razor told her calmly. “Vex volunteered to search for you. I’m glad to see you’re safe too.”
Angel glanced at Vex and smiled. “Thank you.”
Unsure of what to say, Vex nodded. “I’m glad I was there,” he finally told her.
“Me, too.” Angel took another long drink of water before looking at Razor. “Are you an actual doctor?”
“I am a medical doctor and a psychologist. I’m going to check you today for any medical issues. But I know the mental warfare the Ravagers used on me. If you need help working through any injuries here—” he tapped his brain before continuing, “—I’m glad to help with those as well.”
“I’m…. I’m okay.” She stumbled in reassuring him.
“If that changes,” Razor said, meeting her gaze directly.
“Okay,” Angel whispered.
“Good. What hurts?”
Angel shrugged.
“Everything, huh? I’m going to need to check you for injuries, but we need to get you cleaned up. Let me listen to your heart and lungs to check for the most vital health conditions.”
Razor quickly conducted a brief exam as Vex hovered protectively at her side.
Vex wanted to do more but trusted Razor to make sure nothing urgent was amiss with Angel.
“You’re alive, free, and hopefully free of anything majorly wrong.
If nothing appears when you shower, Vex will help you focus on rest, good nutrition, and recovering. ”
He turned to Vex. “Help her under the spray. She’s too off-balance to stand on her own in the stall.”
“I’ll make sure she’s okay,” Vex promised and put his arm around Angel’s waist. When she leaned into his touch, his anger flared back to full force, and he dragged it back under control to avoid scaring her. How could anyone mistreat her?
“Do you need pads or tampons?” Razor asked.
“No. It’s finished. I… I don’t know if this will come out.” She waved a hand at her jeans.
“Those are going into a bonfire,” Vex said. “I’ll get you some clothes.”
“I can pay you back,” Angel said quickly. “Well, when I get in touch with my family.”
“That won’t happen.” When she appeared concerned, Vex added, “The money part. Not the parent part.”
“Would you rather sleep in a nightshirt or a pair of sweats and a T-shirt?” Razor asked.
“Pants,” she blurted.
Vex grabbed his phone and put out a call for small sweatpants. His would tumble off her small frame. She’d wear one of his shirts for now.
“Rest is most important for the next couple of days,” Razor told Vex.
“Got it. I’ll call if there’s anything urgent.” Vex assured him. “Go let Honey see you’re okay.”
Razor turned and hobbled to the door with his medical bag. He stopped to meet Angel’s gaze directly and said, “You’re safer here than you’ve ever been in your life.”
She nodded and leaned against Vex. Her quiet acceptance made Vex’s heart ache. I’ve got this bad.