Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 63842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
When he lifted the napkin to look at the wound, blood immediately oozed from the cut, bright red against my pale skin. The sight could have made me dizzy or triggered a panic attack. Instead, I watched with detached fascination. This blood was different from all the times Eric had hurt me before. This time, I’d bled fighting back.
“Jade.” Rip’s voice pulled my focus. His dark eyes searched mine, concern evident in the tight lines around his mouth. “You with me, honey?”
“I am,” I said, and meant it in ways I couldn’t fully express. “I really am.”
“Let’s get you patched up.”
I let him guide me toward his bike, Inferno following close behind. The other patrons watched us go, phones still recording. I didn’t care. Let them record. Let them be witnesses to my fight to reclaim my life. I didn’t care how uncomfortable it made me or anyone else. I would not hide my head in the sand anymore. I’d stood my ground. I’d faced my monster. And I hadn’t broken.
We rode down the two-lane road into the labyrinth of warehouses that signaled the Kiss of Death compound. They had most of the vast area of buildings fenced off to outsiders. I had no idea how they’d managed to cut off public access to the areas nearest Haven and the compound. But no one got in who wasn’t supposed to and, even stranger, no one seemed to question the club about it.
Rip took me straight to Haven and into the small first-aid room. He moved to the sink and washed his hands thoroughly, his back to me, shoulders still tight with barely contained anger. But when he turned and approached me, his expression had softened to pained concern and caring, and the change made my chest ache. Rip’s expressions were so genuine, even his anger or displeasure didn’t bother me because I could see clearly how he never directed his anger toward me.
“Let me see,” he said, his voice low as he pulled a rolling stool close to the table where I sat. I extended my injured hand. The cut ran diagonally across the back, from the base of my index finger toward my wrist. Blood had dried in places but still seeped from the deeper parts. Rip took my hand in both of his, turning it gently to examine the wound. “Doesn’t look deep enough for stitches,” he said. “Pain’s coming to look at it. He’ll make sure there isn’t any glass in the wound. Or whatever doctors do for shit like this.” He waved his hand helplessly. “Don’t want you hurt.”
I had to smile at his obvious discomfort. I knew he feared he’d come on too strong and would scare me or trigger me. The thought he took such care with my emotions made me lose a little piece of my heart to him. And he already had several pieces. I had a feeling it was only a matter of time before he had my whole heart.
He reached for the first-aid kit just as Pain stepped into the room. “Hi, Jade. What happened?” Pain gave me a gentle smile.
“A piece of flying glass caught the back of my hand. It doesn’t hurt. Just stings. My tetanus is up to date.”
“I’d like to clean it, if you don’t mind. Maybe some antibiotic ointment and a Band-Aid?”
I nodded with a small smile. “OK.” I glanced up at Rip. “Thank you for helping me, Rip.”
Rip grunted but looked down. “I’ll always help you, girl.” His voice sounded deliciously rough. Despite the recent events, I found a new thrill skitter through my insides as a deep rumble rolled through me like a sweet caress.
“This will sting a bit,” Pain warned, dampening a cotton pad with antiseptic. I hissed in a breath when he gently cleaned the area.
“You did good today.” Rip held my uninjured hand, his thumb rubbing gently over the back. “Real good.”
“He scared me,” I admitted.
“Brave is when you do something despite being scared.” His gaze shifted to my other wrist, where Eric’s fingerprints were already darkening into bruises. His jaw tightened, a muscle working beneath the skin. He touched the marks gently with his thumb while Pain put a thick ointment over the scratch and covered it with a large Band-Aid. His eyes met mine. “I shouldn’t have left you alone.”
“I’m glad you did.” My words surprised us both. “If you hadn’t, I might not have faced him on my own. I think I needed to stand up to him on my own. Knowing you and Inferno had my back meant everything to me, Rip.”
Rip nodded slowly, understanding filling his expression. “OK. I can understand that.”
I thought about how far I’d come since arriving at Haven. How the woman who’d stumbled through those doors broken, terrified, convinced she deserved what had happened to her, wouldn’t recognize the person sitting here now. I’d found pieces of my soul I thought I’d lost forever.