 by Marteeka Karland.jpg)
Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 34939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
Eagle — I have issues. The kind that make me a good person to avoid. Even the club whores stay away from me. My brothers keep a close eye on me, and they shield innocent people from me as much as they can — until a slip of a woman comes crashing into my life. Beaten and broken, scared out of her mind, she calls to me, soothes the savage beast. She makes me want to believe in love. But when Milo comes after Nyla and threatens my club, I know I’ll do whatever it takes to protect her. And I’ll claim her, even if she can never accept my darker side.
WARNING: Graphic violence, adult situations, and references to human trafficking and domestic abuse that may be triggers for some readers. Features a protective hero and a determined heroine. Eventual happy ending and NO cheating, as always.
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
Chapter One
Eagle
Guard duty. Fuck. When there was a raging party going on with naked club whores all over the Goddamned place. Normally, I’d pass, but I just came back from helping a service buddy clean up a sex trafficking warehouse, and I needed to get the filthy taste outta my mouth. We fucked our girls hard, but they were all ready and willing. They chose to be here and always had the power to say no. Guard duty was the very last thing I wanted to be doing.
“Don’t even think about wandering off, Eagle. You’re stuck here for a reason.” Blaze pushed off from where he leaned against the gate. We’d grown up together and the man could almost read my mind at times. He also knew I had a temper on me.
“Never said I was gonna,” I grumbled, knowing that was exactly what I intended on doing the first chance I got.
“Yep. I’m here with you because everyone knows you were on edge when you came back from Grim Road’s little foray. Everyone knows how you are after a situation like that. You need to let off steam before you’re fit for decent company.”
“This is not lettin’ off steam, you motherfucker.” My growl had no heat in it. Mainly because I knew he was right.
“Nope. Since Walker wasn’t available to take you huntin’ for a couple weeks, it’s become my job to find another way for you to loosen up.”
I scowled at Blaze. “I don’t need no Goddamned babysitter!”
“No. You need a couple weeks in the woods. Or a night or two in the fights. Otherwise, you end up gettin’ too rough with the girls, and they’re used to rough. As much as they usually love your brand of fuckin’, I guaran-damn-tee you ain’t a one of ‘em willin’ to take you on tonight.”
I got it. I could be a handful when I was this wound up. “Still don’t need no fuckin’ babysitter.”
“Ain’t babysittin’ ya. Just watchin’ out for my brother.” Blaze gripped my shoulder once before lighting his pipe. Man smoked homegrown tobacco. Smelled good but was strong as shit. The scent was soothing, though. Still not as good as beating the shit outta someone. Or hunting in the woods. I’d go to the woods by myself but the last time I did I was gone over a month. When Walker finally found me, I was damned near a wild man. Lost in my own mind, the violence in my past completely overtaking me. It was why I didn’t normally go on runs like the one I had with Grim Road. Only reason I had gone on this job was that I owed Rocket a whole hell of a lot from our time in the service.
I was about to walk around the front part of the compound when I heard a strangled sob and the soft patting of bare feet on pavement. Female? Whoever it was, she was running like the hounds of hell were after her.
“Get back here, bitch!”
Blaze and I glanced at each other, both of us moving to the gate entrance. I could see a small figure now. The moon was bright. The second that figure cleared the cover of the trees lining the narrow road, I realized not only was the figure indeed a woman, but she was naked. And terrified.
“Help!” she sobbed and gasped as she approached us. Just as she neared the gate, she stumbled. I lunged for her, catching her slight form in my arms. “Please,” she panted, her breath coming in ragged gasps. “Oh, God! Please help me!”
“Where’d she go?”
“Ain’t nothin’ out here but that MC. They won’t let her in. They don’t let nobody in.”
Two men emerged from the shadows, following the same path the woman had come from. They trotted more sedately. Like they expected she’d stop here and that we’d refuse her entry but might keep her talking long enough for them to catch her.
“Girl,” I murmured, looking down into her upturned, terrified face. “They comin’ for you?”
She nodded, either unable to or afraid to speak. In my arms, she trembled uncontrollably. The summer air was warm and humid so even though she was naked I didn’t think she was cold.
Her hair was a tangled mess, and dirt streaked her face. A long scratch marred one cheek and I thought I saw a bruise darkening the other side of her face. Though she had lush curves, she was short and light in my arms. I thought her hair was either dark blonde or light brown, but it was so matted and dirty it was hard to tell. Even though she didn’t wince where my arms were around her, I’d bet my last dollar she was covered in even more bruises.
“You want to go with them?” This from Blaze. I shot him an irritated look, tightening my arms around her. I wasn’t protective over women, but something primitive and frightening rose up inside me. There was no way I was letting this woman get hurt on my watch.