Chapter 2 Hammer
Hammer
We came to find someone in particular, but I’ve left with far more than I ever planned.
This woman hardly weighs much against my lap. Even as she’s curled up against my chest, I refuse to let even a single bump in the road wake her up.
She’s got copper-colored hair clinging to her forehead, tangled with long eyelashes. Her skin is pale, sickly. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more beautiful person before. When her face is relaxed like this, she’s beautiful. Even the grime coating her skin doesn’t hide the fact.
I don’t realize I’m getting lost with taking her in until there’s the nudge of an elbow against my arm.
“You want to let her stay at the clubhouse?” Next to me, I feel Warden’s eyes taking her in. Rather than drinking in her beauty, his face is pinched. “Pretty sure that’s the last place she’s going to want to be.”
When our getaway driver mentions going to a hospital for the body sprawled out in the back of the van, I wonder if it’s a good idea. They could get the help she needs. Not here in Meadow Falls, but back home. The clinic would treat her right, but it would raise suspicion.
“It’s the only place we can.” Mumbling the words to keep the hot-blooded woman asleep, my chest goes as far as stilling when her lips part with steady breathing. My eyes linger on the bow of her upper lip.
While Warden calls up Leah to meet us, I realize I’m going to need a checkup myself.
My shoulder throbs, a reminder of the nail wedged in my muscle. Call it a moment of weakness, but she stabbed me so easily. Now I’ve got a hole in my cut. When was the last time I let someone injure me without putting up a fight?
I can’t think of a single time. Strange how things work out.
It’s chaos when we return. Having gone without permission, Ripper had already accepted his punishment with a smile on his face, thanks to his success on the mission.
While I’m not the one disciplining him, I must admit that I don’t envy him.
Our president isn’t a man I want to be on the bad side of. His fists are thicker than mine.
With the constant weight in my arms, I don’t think twice about moving. Knowing I’ll have my own punishments to deal with for helping Ripper, I don’t wait to see what’s coming my way. Right now, this woman is my top priority.
As soon as I’m in the clubhouse, I’m reaching the bar. For once, the jukebox isn’t blasting tunes, leaving an eerie silence.
Our twin bartenders linger together, opting to avoid the show of brutality and punishment happening outside.
Raven gets one look at her, sees the bruises on her skin, and immediately heats up. Her eyes lift to mine, demanding answers. I don’t have any to give.
“She needs clothes. Some food in her stomach.” The words leave my lips, and my grip on her thighs tightens. “A shower, too.”
Penelope lets out a soft gasp once she gets a look before disappearing toward the back.
Circling the bar, Raven approaches to take a closer look. As she reaches toward her, I find myself stepping back without thinking. The ebony-colored hair woman isn’t amused.
“She’s dangerous.” The words feel like a lie and an excuse. “Be careful.”
She rolls her eyes, reminding me of the kind of people she interacts with daily, before gently touching her with a light pressure.
As the redhead stirs in my grip, I watch as her eyes flutter open. In this lighting, I can see that she has green eyes, and surrounding her pupils is a soft brown. Her expression slowly morphs into something more fearful as she realizes she’s being touched. When she jerks, I hold her tighter.
I should reassure her that she’s safe, that she’s far away from the men who intended to sell her body off. Yet, my tongue feels like it’s swelling larger by the minute.
“Hey, hey.” Raven’s the one to speak, her hardened voice turning soft. “You’re safe, sweetie. I just need to check for injuries beyond the bruises.” She smiles when the woman pauses. “You have a name? I’m Raven. You’ve already met Hammer.”
Green eyes move between us, and I watch as her mouth curls into a scowl. She really doesn’t like me.
“Tell her.” The words leave my lips far harsher than I mean to, but she jerks, frowning ahead.
“Destiny.” Her brows pinch together when she realizes I’m still holding her. “Put me down.”
I don’t want to, but now that she’s awake, I don’t have the excuse. So, I do. The moment her feet hit the ground, she’s clinging onto me, her legs weak.
Raven’s hands move to her hips, a smile forming. “You look like you could use something to eat. Tell me what you’re hungry for, and I’ll see what I can do.”
Destiny hesitates, blinking like she can’t understand what’s going on. Looking between us, there’s no denying the way her eyes linger on me.
I’m hovering over her without thinking. Not sure if it’ll help, I take a seat at the bar. “I want a burger. Fries, too.”
Raven shoots me a glare, but Destiny nods like she agrees. Biting her lip, she looks around, unsure of what to think.
“It’s safe here.” Muttering the words, I’m relieved when Raven disappears to throw something together. Taking Destiny in, my jaw tightens when the front door opens and some bodies start making their way in. A few prospects. Punishment is done, from the looks of it.
It’s Jinx’s whistle that makes me growl. He’s talking about Ripper’s injuries, his attention still on what’s happening outside. Like the others, he hasn’t noticed Destiny yet.
Looking at the redhead as she settles three stools away, I realize how her current state appears.
Reaching for my shoulder, I grip the nail planted in my muscle and grunt as I pull it out. Setting the bloody steel down, the throb burns as I feel the blood soaking my skin. Only an inch deep, it’s nothing to worry about. Shrugging off my cut, I get up.
“What are you—” She huffs as I throw my leather over her.
“Wear this until you get cleaned up.” Growling the order, I don’t miss the way anger flares up in her eyes. Pursing my lips, I don’t move until she’s putting it on. “No one will look at you this way.”
Their eyes won’t linger, anyway. Best I can do for her right now without pissing Diesel off. If any of his prospects end up with a broken nose, he’ll be the one breathing down my neck.
For now, she settles. She’s thankful when Penelope appears with some clothes. Enough for tonight. I’ll have to get more for her if she stays.
Raven returns with her food first, and I watch as she scarfs it down. Clearly starved, I finish my burger when I get mine, and offer my fries to her.
Despite the heat behind her gaze, she accepts.
While she devours every bite, Leah makes a trip to see me. The paramedic grimaces at the nail and tries to lead me away from the eating area. When I immediately refuse, she huffs. Something about tending a bunch of us all at once has pushed her patience.
“Not leaving.” Stubborn, I refuse to leave Destiny’s side.
“Fine.” Leah huffs and puffs, purposely flushing my wound an extra time to cause me a little extra pain.
“How’s Warden?” I know he’s fine, but a little tit for tat is needed.
She flushes, her cheeks painted red. “Perfectly fine. He knows how to avoid danger.”
Solely because he’ll get a hard-on if she takes care of him, that’s why. Doesn’t want her knowing about his feelings and all that.
I grunt, keeping his secret safe. Muttering a thanks, I tilt my head towards Destiny. Leah’s eyes follow, and unlike Raven, her eyes fill with pity. Does she already know about our findings? Warden would’ve filled her in.
She reads my concerns and drifts toward Destiny, carefully and cautiously asking if she needs anything.
“Is there anything else you guys need?” Penelope’s leaning over the bar, worry behind her gaze. “Just say the word.”
“A room.” The answer comes easily. Knowing there’s no place for me to take her, I don’t even entertain the thought of taking her to my home. Not until she understands that she’s not in danger. “Something for both of us to stay in.”
There’s no denying the surprise behind her gaze, but she doesn’t voice her concern. Maybe she understands that I need to keep the woman close to keep her safe.
Thanking her, she goes and figures out the details. This clubhouse wouldn’t run so smoothly if it weren’t for both sisters maintaining the atmosphere. If something were to happen to them, I can only imagine the chaos that would ensue.
As Leah clears Destiny, and the woman finishes her meal, I’m grabbing the clean clothes. Jerking my chin, I try to keep my voice even.
“Come get cleaned up. We have showers.” I’m surprised by how quickly she gets up.
When was the last time she had the chance to eat and clean up? If I ask, will she tell me?
She takes a long shower—long enough to make me wonder if she’s trying to drown herself.
Despite my taking my own, she lasts far longer than I do.
Just as I start to worry enough to check, she steps out wearing a shirt and shorts. Her skin is scrubbed pink, every inch washed. Much better than what I saw her in before. Without the grime, I realize something else.
She’s not just pretty, she’s gorgeous.
I don’t hold my gaze for very long. I guide her out, prepared to end the night. Tonight has felt never-ending.
When we make it to the room we’re staying in, I give her a minute to look around before I reach behind me. Unhooking a pair of cuffs I keep close, I’m snapping one on her unsuspecting wrist. Normally, these are used for discipline, but this is different.
“I can’t risk you trying to kill my brothers.” Using those words as an excuse, I slap the other handcuff onto the bedframe.
She’s not pleased, instantly yanking on it. For just a brief second, there’s fear.
“I’m not going to do anything.” Forcing the words out, she doesn’t believe me. Exhaustion prickles at my eyes, and I find myself getting more annoyed. “Just go to sleep.”
She gapes at me as I crash down on the bed. The mattress groans beneath our combined weight. Before she can complain, I’m shutting off the light.
“Go to sleep.” Repeating the words, they feel more for me than for her.
Can’t remember the last time I shared a bed with someone. Hard not to acknowledge her presence, especially when she huffs and flops back, getting as comfortable as she can with having one of her hands cuffed.
Counting the seconds, hoping I’ll fall under, it’s the soft sound of her exhaustion consuming her that must be what helps me find my own relief.
Her grunt is what wakes me up, but it’s the pressure of her body against mine that stiffens every muscle.
How much time has passed? An hour? Possibly two.
Opening my eyes, even through the darkness, I see her. Hovering over me, settling so comfortably against my lap, she’s trying her hardest to reach for the key.
She’s trying to escape.
My hands find her hips without thinking, earning me a gasp instantly. She freezes up, her head tilting down to meet my stare through the darkness.
Silence fills the air, cut by her shaky breathing. Hearing the wheels in her head rolling, I can only imagine what she’s trying to plan. She’s been in survival mode for who knows how long. Will she try to kill me? She’d promised it earlier.
A soft sound leaves her, her mind made up. The last thing I expect her to do is move against me, rather than away.
“If you free me…” Starting slow, my teeth grit when her hips roll. “I can move more easily.”
I don’t need to ask what she’s offering. Not when the slide of her body is an answer in itself. My cock, with a mind of its own, stiffens from the friction.
I think I prefer the death threat over this. This is… bad.
Destiny can feel it, and her frown is what I get in return. I can tell her that I’m not some horny bastard, but my word means nothing to her.
“Give me the key, and I’ll give you something in return.” Like she realizes she’s frowning, her mouth quickly curves up. “Something only you’ll be able to say you’ll have.”
When I don’t move, she lets out this impatient huff. My stare has her flushing slightly. I don’t understand what she’s talking about, and she has to spell out her virginity.
My cock twitches, but my frown only grows at her offering herself so easily.
Her breath tickles my ear as she leans down, and I can almost make out the snarl on her lips. “Why do you think we were so valuable in that container, anyway? Men don’t just want a pretty face, you know. Let me go, and it’s all yours.”
A voice in the back of my mind tells me that I want it. No, it demands I snatch the key and give her exactly what she wants.
If I say yes, I’m the monster she thinks I am.
What I need to do is set her straight. Make her get the thought out of her head so she doesn’t try something this dangerous again. Something this tempting.
My hand finds her thigh, and I feel the goosebumps already formed. One squeeze, and I can feel her muscles jerking.
I can tell her that I’ve dealt with plenty of people trying to act brave to save face, that I’ve memorized the telltale signs of when a part is being acted or not.
If I tell Destiny that I think she’s full of shit, that’ll end this. A part of me, one that never surfaces, demands I see how far she thinks she can take this before she realizes I’m not the person she thinks I am.
Maybe then, she’ll let me sleep, and we can take on tomorrow and whatever disasters it brings.