Not wanting to think about it anymore, I gun the engine and fly out of the parking lot, leaving a cloud of dust in our wake. Her hold on me doesn’t let up the whole way back as my anger, my fear has my fingers gripping my handlebars until my hands start to cramp.
I fucking knew letting them go back to school was a bad idea, but she was adamant and pulled those puppy dog eyes at Prez and got her way.
I push the speed limit the whole way, taking more risks than I usually would, but thoughts of being followed, of being watched, don’t leave my mind, and I know I need to get her within the safety of the compound gates.
A growl of frustration rips from my throat as we make the last turn toward the compound. I have no doubt she felt the vibration of it with how tight she’s holding me, but I don’t give a fuck. I need to do something to expel this pent-up energy that’s zipping around inside me. Not that I really think anything other than killing that cunt or fucking her into next week will actually help.
The second I pull the bike to a stop, she climbs off and begins marching toward the clubhouse.
“Where the fuck are you going?” I shout after her.
“Going to lock myself away like a fucking princess. Isn’t that what you all want?” she screams, turning to face me. Throwing her arms out in frustration, she presses her lips into a thin line.
Marching up to her, I wrap my hand around her throat and push her behind a stack of tires, out of sight from the guys working in the shop. “No, princess,” I growl, my lips so close to hers they almost brush. “That isn’t what I fucking want.”
“So the two of you don’t want me to be the kind of girl who’s seen and not heard, the kind of girl who just sits around letting her guys use and abuse her at any given opportunity?”
She’s angry, I get that, but fuck, having a hissy fit isn’t the fucking answer right now.
“Watch it, princess, or that is exactly where you’re going to find yourself. At my fucking mercy.”
Her eyes dilate at my words, proving to me that she doesn’t find the idea of being at our beck and call that terrible.
“At least we would know you weren’t off doing something fucking stupid and putting yourself in danger.”
“One thing,” she seethes. “I did one fucking thing.”
“One thing that almost got you… raped and killed.” The words punch the air, making her breath hitch. But a stone mask slides back over her face as she narrows her eyes on me.
“And what about Dane, huh?”
“What do you mean?” I demand, my brows pinching.
“The day of the accident,” she says, “they went after both of us. Today, that photograph… It was of me and Dane. Not me and you, not me and Wes. Or me on my own. He’s going after both of us.”
My chin drops as I think about what she’s saying.
“Fuuuck,” I hiss, looking toward the compound gates as if his bike is about to appear any second. I know he’s not; I can’t hear the rumble of his engine. “Fuck,” I bark, the weight of what she’s figured out pressing on my shoulders.
“Why the fuck didn’t you say something sooner?”
“I don’t know, I…” The color drains from her face. “I froze, okay? Besides, you practically dragged me out of there. But it makes sense, Rhett. When you add up all the—”
Sadie squeals as my fist connects with the brick wall beside her head. “Now you understand why I didn’t want to leave without them?” she sasses.
“You need to quit the fucking spoiled brat act, or your ass is gonna be so fucking red you’re not going to be able to sit for a week.”
“Fuck you, Savage. Fuck. You.”
She storms off, and this time I let her go as I shake my sore hand out.
I catch up with her less than a minute later in the clubhouse.
“Sorry, sweetheart. Your dad and Micky are out meeting Chief Statham, hoping he can spare a couple of his men to help the search for Creed. They should be back in a few hours. Anything I can help you with?” Pike says.
“No, I’m good. If you see him before me, tell him I need him. I’ll be in Stray’s room.” She turns on her heels, her entire body locking up when her eyes collide with mine.
“Stray is at school.”
“He won’t be for long,” she mutters, walking toward me.
“Princess,” I growl, refusing to move.
“Savage.” She holds my eyes, defiance shining bright in hers.
There are plenty of men who wouldn’t have the balls to go up against me, but it seems our princess has plenty.
“You’re not going to Stray’s room.” My warning is low enough so that only she can hear me.
“I’m done listening to you.” She barges past me and takes off down the hall.
But she doesn’t make it farther than my door before I reach for her arm and drag her inside, pushing her up against it the second it’s closed. “You’re really trying my fucking patience, princess.”
“Good, because you’ve fucking ruined mine. If something happens to them, I’ll never—”
“Nothing is going to happen.”
“You didn’t think that when you dragged me away like the place was on fucking fire.”
“That’s because you’re—” I slam my lips shut, trying to get a rein on my emotions.
This girl drives me in-fucking-sane.
“Because I’m what, Rhett?” she taunts.
“You’re my responsibility.”
She laughs right in my face. My fists curl and my shoulders tense.
“Rhett Savage, loyal to the core. Follows his prez’s orders without question like a good little club member,” she mocks.
Anger burns through me, my blood boiling just beneath my skin. “I have to protect you.”
“Because he told you to.”
I hold her eyes. She’s playing me.
“Come on, Rhett. It’s time to stop hiding.” She leans in closer, taunting me. “Tell me how you really feel.” My teeth grind, but she adds, “I dare you.”
She gasps when my hand finds its home on her throat, squeezing hard enough to make her eyes widen. “You are my responsibility, Sadie. My job is to keep you safe. To protect you.”
“Why?” she urges, not willing to let this go.
My heart thunders in my chest. I know what she wants, but I also know that I can’t give it to her. Dane might be willing to bare himself to her, tell her how he really feels, but I’m not that kind of fucking person.
“Because—”
“Savage, open the fucking door,” Dane booms before his fist rains down on the wood.
“Saved by the bell,” Sadie mutters as I drag her away from the door and pull it wide open, allowing Dane, Jax, Wes, River, and Quinn to spill into my space—the last fucking place I want everyone.
“You get here okay?” I stupidly ask.
“What does it look like?” Dane asks with a smirk as he walks over to Sadie and pulls her into his side, dropping a kiss to her temple.
The smile she gives him makes my chest ache. That’s what she wanted from me. And I gave her the complete opposite. I gave her the only thing I’m capable of: rough touch and barbed words, because I’m too terrified to let myself do anything else.