Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 104403 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104403 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
“Told them they were a bunch of stupid fuckers for thinking this plan would ever work,” she said with a weak chuckle.
“Jesus, Beth.” That explained the bruises. Demo sure as fuck wouldn’t have appreciated that.
“Sorry,” she said. Her laugh turned slightly hysterical. She was probably in shock. “You’re not in love with a delicate flower.”
“Fuck no, I’m not. I’m in love with a badass.”
She kissed him this time, wincing as she pressed her sore lips against his.
“Can… can you please cut me out of this chair?”
“Fuck yes.” He released her and grabbed his knife from its holster, slicing through the zip tie on her hands first. It was so goddamn tight, she hissed in pain as he tugged on the plastic. “Sorry, baby. Those fuckers put it too goddamn tight.”
“It’s okay. Just get it off.”
As soon as he freed her hands, he helped her bring her arms to the front of her body. Beth did a good job hiding her pain. Someone who didn’t know her inside and out might buy her tough-as-nails routine, but Saint knew she was hurting. He kissed her fingertips, afraid to touch the raw and bloody circle around her wrists or the ruined skin on her palms.
“Someone needs to find Melody,” Beth said as he cut the ties on her legs. “She was with me on the way here, but I don’t know what they did with her.”
“Okay, we’re on it.”
“Saint, she’s pretty fucked up. They beat her badly. I’m worried about her.”
Of course, she was. Beth was too fucking good. Too good for him, but she was stuck with him now.
“One of the guys will get her. I want you out of here… now.” He scooped her into his arms.
“Saint! I can walk,” Beth said as he started for the exit.
“Don’t care.” Maybe she could walk, but her breathing sounded off, and he wasn’t taking any chances.
She sighed and relaxed into his hold, resting her head on his chest. “What about Demo? I thought for sure you’d come charging in here on a mission to kill him.”
“I did.” He’d had every intention of killing that fucker. Still did, given the chance.
“So why didn’t you go after him?”
“Because you’re a million times more important.” One look at Beth and he knew where his priority lay. “I’ll get my chance with him.” He had no doubt one of his brothers would keep Demo on ice just for Saint. Unless, of course, he wasn’t allowed near the club.
Saint strode outside with Beth in his arms. She closed her eyes against the harsh sun. As he strode toward a truck one of the prospects drove over, his gaze met Copper’s.
The president’s gaze landed on his daughter’s swollen face, the blood on her lips, the way she curled into Saint as if she might shatter. His expression shifted from fury to something colder. Something lethal.
Demo was a dead man.
The only question was how slowly Copper would make it happen. And that was okay with Saint. As long as the man couldn’t go after Beth again, he’d accept the outcome, even if he couldn’t make the kill.
As he approached the truck, the prospect rushed to the passenger-side door to open it, and Saint tucked her into the seat.
“Hey, prospect.” He dug in his pocket for his keys. “My bike is with the others about half a mile away. See that it gets back to the clubhouse in one piece, or you’ll never fucking patch.”
The guy’s eyes widened. He took the keys, nodding like a bobblehead doll. “You got it, Saint. I’ll treat it better than I treat my own.”
He chuckled. “You’d better. It’s a hundred times nicer than your piece of shit.”
When he looked back at Beth, she was shaking her head at him with a weak grin.
Saint grew serious. “Tell me how you’re really feeling.”
“Pretty shitty. Um… he, Demo, knocked me on the floor and kicked me with his boots a few times.”
Saint’s jaw ticked. “Then we’re definitely going to the ER.”
“I don’t think I need that.”
He seared her with a look that scared men twice her size. “It’s non-negotiable.”
Beth rolled her eyes, then she frowned and grabbed the front of his shirt. “I was scared,” she whispered.
He leaned in, cupping her hips. “I was fucking terrified.”
“Thank you for saving me.”
“Any fucking time, baby. Though, please never again.”
She chuckled, but it turned into a groan. “Don’t make me laugh. It hurts.”
Yeah, first stop, emergency room.
“I fucking love you, Beth.”
“I love you too,” she whispered.
Saint kissed her forehead, then backed away. After he buckled her in, he shut the door and started for the driver’s side, where the prospect left the keys in the ignition. As he turned, he found Copper watching them with a pensive stare.
Instead of barging over, chasing Saint away, or demanding to talk to his daughter, he gave Saint a single nod.