“You touch me again you won’t see a dime,” I replied, my tone far braver than I felt. I was dangerously close to completely losing any semblance of bravery.
If my father had in fact orchestrated this, I had to at least cling to the hope he’d request I be unharmed. I wanted to curl up in a ball and scream for Axel, but that wouldn’t get me back to him or Maddox any faster.
He shrugged and licked his lips. “You’re probably right. Might be worth it, though.”
“Come on, Aron, stop fucking around,” Jeb cut in, using the man’s name for the first time.
Aron turned his dark eyes to Jeb, shoving me back onto the bed as he stalked in his direction. He punched Jeb hard in the face and I reeled back in shock as the two men began to fight in earnest. “You do not call the shots, boy. You got that?” Aron grunted as he gained the upper hand.
I used their distraction to my advantage. I couldn’t make it to the front door since they were right in front of it, but I sprinted to the bathroom, locking it behind me. My whole body shook with panic as they immediately began banging on the door. I vaulted up to the tiny window, trying with all my might to shove it open. It groaned and rattled in protest on its hinges before I opened it with enough force to shatter the glass.
If I was injured, the adrenalin pumping through my veins made it so I didn’t feel anything but the fierce need to escape. I was able to hoist myself through the small space screaming the entire time, praying someone would call the police. I landed in the concrete hallway and started to run. I didn’t know where the hell I was going, but putting the motel behind me was all I cared about.
I staggered into the parking lot looking frantically right and then left, hoping it’d be clear which way to turn.
I heard the rumble of bikes before I saw them. For a moment, I was terrified it was Black Riders until I saw the familiar bikes and SUVs come careening into view.
It was the most beautiful sight I’d ever seen.
I fell to my knees, the superhuman strength I’d been exhibiting leaving me in a rush now that I knew I was rescued.
“Fuck!” I heard Axel’s voice roar as car doors slammed and bike engines cut to silence all around me. He was soon sliding to his knees in front of me, his large hands cupping my jaw, his gentleness juxtaposing his thunderous expression. “Baby,” his voice caught as he assessed the damage.
From his expression, I was guessing I didn’t look too good. I was aware of activity around me. Many of the guys went running toward the motel shouting commands to each other.
I was finally able to ask the one question that had been burning in my brain since this had all started. “Maddox?” I rasped out.
“He’s fine, baby,” Axel was quick to reassure me.
“Shit, Sophie.” Sal’s tense voice came to me from above. I looked up to find my brother staring down at me with pain and anger glittering in his dark eyes.
“Where are you hurt?” Axel demanded as his eyes roamed my face.
“I-I think just my face and where the glass from the window cut me,” I answered, confused and overwhelmed. “I’m kind of out of it.” I looked down at my bloody arms. It was as though I was having an out of body experience, like this wasn’t really happening to me.
“What do you mean?” he asked with quiet intensity.
“He knocked me out with something and then I got smacked around pretty good,” I murmured, my hands moving to my throbbing temples. Had I been thinking clearly I would have thought more about what this news would do to him.
His expression froze, his eyes blazing with fury.
He stood, lifting me in his arms bridal style as Sal strode alongside us. Suddenly, gunshots pierced the evening air and my whole body shook with renewed fear. If anyone I cared about got hurt over this, I’d never forgive myself.
Axel lifted me into the passenger side of an SUV and quickly draped his jacket over me. I hadn’t realized that my clothes were torn to shreds. He turned to me with an expression so dark I barely recognized him. “Your brother is going to take you to get checked out. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” His gaze locked on the motel beyond.
“What? You can’t leave me!” I exclaimed in a panic, clutching his shirt in my hands.
Sal put a hand on his shoulder, the only display of friendship I’d seen between them since I’d been back. Despite the initial truce they’d come to in Dallas, things had still been tense between them.
“I know what you’re feeling, brother. Believe me, I do,” Sal grit out. “But she needs you right now more than you need retribution. Got me?”
Axel’s massive chest heaved as he blew out a ragged breath, trying to pull himself together. He looked like a caged beast as he met my brother’s gaze. “Their blood. It’s mine,” he growled, pointing a finger toward the motel. “You promise me that.”
“I swear it,” Sal agreed, grasping the back of Axel’s neck as the two men touched foreheads briefly. “Take care of my sister. She needs you.” I knew this was huge for them both.
Axel blew out a breath trying to rein in his anger. “Yeah, man,” he agreed just as the guys returned hauling Aron and Jeb forcefully out to the parking lot.
Axel strode over to where Cole restrained Jeb, his long legs eating the space as he moved to take Jeb’s neck in his firm grip. I couldn’t hear what he said but Jeb’s face paled more than it already was.
Then he was returning to me, his expression softening as he pulled my seatbelt on before moving around to the driver’s side.
“No hospital,” I mumbled, fighting against my drooping eyelids. The adrenaline had fully crashed and I was feeling it.
“Babe,” he protested.
“No. Hospital,” I reiterated. “If you need to, call Jill, she’ll help,” I grit out, trying hard to hide my pain.
“Jill’s in Dallas,” he argued.
“She’ll help,” I replied stubbornly.
He sighed but fell quiet. I took that as a good sign I’d get my way and allowed my eyelids to win the battle they’d been waging since the SUV started up.
Chapter 10
I woke up when the motor cut. I looked out the window with bleary eyes, relieved to see we were at Axel’s.
“Is Mad here?” I asked as Axel came to my side and lifted me out, moving to carry me inside.
“No, babe, he’s with Scarlet. Cal’s there, too. Someone will either bring him home or we’ll get him in the morning, okay?”
I bit my lip against the disappointment. “Okay,” I answered. After a night like this, I wanted nothing else but to hold my boy.
“Tonight, I need to take care of you,” he added quietly, stepping into the quiet house.
“What time is it?” I thought to ask, wondering how long I’d been in that godforsaken motel room.
“Just after two,” he replied. “Seven hours,” he added grimly, recognizing the direction of my thoughts.
He moved us to the bathroom, sitting me carefully on the counter. I couldn’t get a handle on his expression as he looked me over. He looked haunted.
“What is it?” I asked quietly.
He swallowed audibly. “I’m gonna have to take the glass out,” he explained in a deep, troubled voice. “Your perfect fucking skin.” He looked dangerously close to losing it again like he had back at the motel.