Iron Wolves Book 2 ~ Xan & Breezy
I worked the kinks out of my shoulders after a long day in the ER.
Lord, how I loved my job, but hated some of the doctors on staff.
I grimaced as I thought about the newest fuck who thought he was god’s gift to women.
Sure, he was gorgeous, with a great body and a good job, but that didn’t make him a good catch in my mind.
“Hey girl, you going to come out with us tonight?” Cheyenne asked, slamming her locker door shut.
The other nurse had already changed into a cute outfit ready to party, but I just wanted to go home and soak in a hot bubble bath. “Nah, I think I’ll just go home and read a book.”
My friend snorted. “What has happened to my cool friend? You know the one who was up for body shots and partying all night with me?”
It was my turn to snort. “First of all, the body shots were you, girlfriend. I just held your hair when you tossed your cookies later. You’re welcome, by the way. Second, I don’t think I ever partied all night.”
Cheyenne shrugged her shoulders. “I told Dr. Hottie you’d be there. He wouldn’t agree to come if you weren’t. Please come. You can leave after one drink.”
Big brown eyes pleaded down at me, but I wouldn’t be swayed.
I’d seen the way the doctor had looked at me and didn’t want any part of him or any man, for that matter.
Well, no man other than the one who thought I was nothing better than a whore.
If only he knew...I stopped my thoughts from swaying to the asshat who didn’t deserve me and focused on Cheyenne.
“I promised my dad I’d pick up some dinner and bring it home. Sorry, girl.” I put just enough sorrow into my tone that the other woman seemed to believe me.
"Tell him I’m running late, and then pretend I texted you. Heck, I’ll text you and say I changed my mind."
With a nod of her short dark head, Cheyenne grabbed her bag and walked out of the locker room.
Breathing a sigh, I quickly changed and then headed out, shivering as I entered the parking garage.
At eight o’clock in the evening, the lot was almost empty except for several cars I recognized as the late shift.
I wished I had parked closer to the elevator, but at the time, there weren’t any spots.
My shoes echoed through the concrete space, and I glanced around before reminding myself I was a wolf and could take care of myself.
My vehicle was against the back wall, but with a feeling that wouldn’t let up, I looked around.
The hair on the nape of my neck stood up.
I reached into my bag for the can of Mace I kept there.
A large arm grabbed me from behind, pulling me between two parked cars, one gloved hand clamped over my mouth.
I froze in my attacker’s arms, forgetting all the training my brothers and the Iron Wolves had taught me. “I’ve got you now. Don’t fight me, and you won’t get hurt...much,” hot breath whispered in my ear.
I couldn’t get any air inside my body with his large hand encased in leather gloves, covering both my mouth and nose.
I felt lightheaded when my wolf woke up.
Even though we all knew not to show our other half to humans, the fight-or-die instinct took over.
Claws replaced my nails, and I dug them into my attacker’s thighs.
My head went back. The satisfying sound of bone crunching had the man releasing his hold.
“You fucking cunt. I’ll kill you."
I gasped for air, my wolf wanting to lash out, but my human half still had control.
I took a step away when his arm snaked out.
Without thinking, I turned and hit him, getting my first glimpse of the masked man.
He was large, almost as large as Xan. Fear and adrenaline kicked in.
My knee came up, connecting with his family jewels, and at the same time, he swung a right hook.
I thanked the goddess my knee had hit first, or I knew his fist would have broken something.
Stumbling back as he dropped to the ground, I didn’t stop to think about my actions, just kicked him in the side of the head.
Xan’s words to never let an opponent get back up or they’ll stab you in the back rang in my head.
His groans and curses could be heard when I fled, but I didn’t stop until I got to my car.
My hands shook so badly I dropped my keys.
Tears streaming down my cheeks, I swore it was like I was in a horror movie where the villain would jump up behind me at any moment.
Finally, I unlocked my car with a button press and wasted no time backing out of the spot.
Looking back, I saw the masked man standing at the end of the lot.
The feel of my dinner threatening to come back up had me swallowing several times.
The image of him doing the slow walk that all serial killers did as they caught up to their victims flashed before my eyes, making red dots appear, and I realized I was holding my breath until I shot out of the enclosed garage.
“Oh, god. I almost died. Shit, shit, shit.” I looked at the speedometer and saw I was going way over the speed limit and laughed hysterically. “Having the police pull me over would be a bad thing, how?” I looked in the rearview, expecting to see a van or something following me.
Once I was sure I wasn’t being followed, I reached into my bag for my cell. The thought of calling my dad and upsetting him was abhorrent to me, but I didn’t have anyone else to call. Kellen was alpha of my pack and would always protect us, but I didn’t want to make that call either.
"It was probably just some random thing.” After the incident with the McCartneys, I hated bringing my troubles to the pack. Remembering the size and feel of the man’s hands on me, I dialed the clubhouse.
“Iron Wolves,” Coti answered.
I breathed a sigh of relief. "Hey, Coti. It’s Breezy.” My voice shook.
“What’s the matter, Nani?"
I always sighed when he called me beautiful. People thought we’d make a great couple, but in reality, he was more like an older brother or best friend. I explained what had happened and was about to say I was on my way home when the sound of rustling came over the line.
“Get your ass to the clubhouse, now, Bella.” Kellen’s voice was low.
“I really want to go home and take a long bubble bath. I…”
Kellen cut me off. “That was not a request. If you don’t want me showing up at your parents’ home and dragging you out of there, I suggest you drive that fine ass here stat.
I’m going to put Laikyn on the phone with you.
I want you to talk with her until you get here.
Do not hang up for any reason. Are you on a hands-free set? ”
The need to salute him and flip him off warred within me, but I also knew he was right. “Yes, I’m on my hands-free.”
“Good. How far out are you?” His deep voice rumbled, sending shivers through the phone line.
I didn’t even think about denying him. “About fifteen minutes.”
“Drive safe. And, Bella, you were smart in calling.”
Butterflies danced in my stomach.
I barely restrained my wolf. I’d been beta to the Iron Wolves since I’d turned twenty-five, when Kellen and I had taken over, physically beating the fuck out of the old alpha and his worthless shits of leaders.
We’d both been alphas in our own right, but I didn’t want to lead.
We opened the Iron Wolves MC shortly after and turned our little town back into a habitable place for wolves to live.
Now, ten years later, our families were all safe and well connected, albeit a little dysfunctional.
I couldn’t imagine what sweet little Breezy was thinking.
My wolf snorted. Yeah, she was far from sweet, but no woman deserved to be jumped in a parking lot, least of all one of our pack.
Violence. I was used to that emotion and needed an outlet for what I was feeling.
I turned to the back of the club. It was a Friday night, and the fights were just getting started.
My pack and the MC held regular, no-holds-barred fights in the club.
It wasn’t often I had the urge to join in the cage, but when I did, money tended to drop.
If I had any hope of facing Breezy with a semblance of control, I’d need to work out some of my anger, or I was liable to do something we’d both regret.
Of course, I’d enjoy the fuck out of it and so would she, but I wasn’t ready to mate any woman, even one as feisty as the delectable Breezy.
When I finally did settle down, I didn’t want one who’d been around the block like the town bicycle.
Nope, I wanted a sweet woman who knew her place.
The sound of the loud bass met my ears long before I entered. Wyck looked me up and down as I walked in. “You fighting tonight?”
“Yep,” I grunted.
Wyck smiled. The large African American slapped his hands together. The man was a bloodthirsty bastard. I wondered if he was going to jump in the cage with me. “I ain’t got a death wish tonight.” Brown eyes flashed at me as the bell rang, signaling the end of the current fight.
They didn’t allow a fight to the death, but pretty damn close.
Tonight, I had on a pair of worn denim jeans and my customary black leather vest with the club insignia on the back.
My black shitkickers were thick leather but would come off before I entered the cage.
I crossed to stand outside, watching as they carried out the unconscious man.
What a pussy, getting knocked out in the first five minutes.
I cracked my neck and waited to see if the winner planned to stay or leave.
It wouldn’t do to enter until the crowd was all riled up.