Chapter 5 Bruno
Bruno
Her words send a cold shiver down my spine. No woman should live in fear of men.
“You think my men would hurt you?”
It seems incredulous to me. We have a code of honor here. Women are to be looked after and protected. No man in my MC would ever lay a hand on a woman or take her by force. He’d be out the door and six feet under if he did.
Scarlett looks up at me with world-wary eyes, and I want to kill the motherfucker who took the innocence out of her heart.
“I’ve grown up in an MC, remember? I know what goes on.”
Slow anger builds in my veins. If anyone’s laid a finger on my girl without her consent, they’ll pay.
“That doesn’t go on in this club.”
It comes out as a growl, and Scarlett startles. I stand up because I don’t want to scare her with my intensity. But if anyone so much as looks at her sideways, they’ll pay.
She shakes her head slightly, unbelieving. “I know what MC men are like…”
“Not my men.”
My fist thumps on the dresser, and she jumps.
“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean…”
She thinks I’m cross at her, but I’m not. I’m angry that this is her truth, that this is what she believes is going to happen to her here. I will my anger away and crouch down so I’m facing Scarlett.
“I’m not cross at you, honey. I’m cross at the motherfuckers who made you so scared.”
I take her hand in mine. It’s small compared to my rough one, and I’m still hurting from the blow she landed on me, but I curl my fingers around hers, ignoring the ache in my knuckles.
“Did anyone…?” I can’t even finish my sentence because I’m too scared of the answer.
“No.” She shakes her head firmly. “I keep my door locked every night.”
Fuck. This girl’s been through hell, living in the lion’s den in that cupboard she calls a room. I imagine her in there, cowering while drunk assholes try to get to her.
What the fuck was her dad doing not protecting his daughter? If any man so much as looks at my daughter, I’ll rip their fucking eyes out.
Scarlett’s staring at me with wide eyes. The fire from last night has gone out, and here’s the vulnerable girl underneath, the woman who needs protection.
“Here.”
I slide my cut off and hold it out for her. It’s the best protection I can give her.
“Wear this and no one will touch you.”
She hesitates. Her wide eyes find mine, and there’s a question in them. Scarlett’s grown up in an MC. She knows what it means when a man gives a woman his cut.
“Are you sure?”
I don’t answer. I want to tell her how sure I am, but I don’t want to scare her. Instead, I help her slide her arms into my jacket. It’s big on her, but it looks good.
There’s a rumbling noise, and Scarlett clutches her stomach, her cheeks flushing pink.
“You hungry?”
She winces in embarrassment. “I guess so.”
“How do you like your eggs?”
She raises her eyebrows at me. “Don’t tell me the president of the Crows cooks his own breakfast?”
I crack a smile at her sass. “Nope. But Gina should be here by now, and she makes a mean breakfast.”
“Who’s Gina?”
The smile drops from her face and her eyes narrow.
“You jealous, honey?”
Scarlett turns away quickly. “No.”
I chuckle because if she’s jealous, it means she cares and I’m the luckiest fucking guy in the world.
“Relax. Gina’s like a sister to me. She runs the bar and looks after us.”
Scarlett pushes her lower lip out, and God help me, I can’t resist. I dart forward and capture her lips in mine.
The shock freezes her, then she’s kissing me back. Her soft, plump lips are the sweetest thing I’ve ever tasted.
My hand snakes around her neck. I’m going to hell for this, making out with my enemy’s daughter, but I couldn’t stop if all the hounds of hell were after me.
“Pres…” There’s a knock at the door and I pull away. Lyle’s wearing a smug look, which lets me know he caught us kissing.
“What is it?” I growl.
I want to be exploring Scarlett’s mouth, running my hands over her tits, and finding out how tight that kitty cat between her legs is.
“We need you. It’s urgent.”
My need for Scarlett is urgent too. But she’s wide-eyed and dazed, looking confused and lusty from our kiss. Fuck. I want to give her more than a kiss, but it’s better I take my time with her, give her a chance to catch up. Because she doesn’t yet know what I do—that we’re meant to be together.
“I’ll be back soon, sweetheart. Rest that foot, and no more escaping.”
“I promise.”
Reluctantly, I pull myself away and head downstairs to deal with club business.