“Good girl.” I brushed my thumb over her cheek, smoothing the strands of hair that had fallen from her ponytail. My touch lingered a heartbeat too long, but she didn’t pull away. Her breath steadied under my palm, and I felt some of her tension ease.
I reluctantly released Linden, stepping back just enough to give her room to finish packing. My gaze followed her as she hurriedly tossed toiletries and clothes into her small duffel bag, her movements now slightly more confident. I’d noticed how quickly she responded to my calm tone and firm touch. It had felt natural, effortless.
I was trained to keep my emotions locked down, to think with clarity under extreme pressure. But Linden unraveled all of that without trying, pulling at something deep within me until I was forced to acknowledge the truth.
She’d crawled under my skin. I knew Linden was mine even though I barely knew her.
She zipped the bag closed and turned to face me, her eyes bright and chin raised bravely despite her anxiety. “Okay. I think I’m ready.”
“Good.” I reached for the duffel and shouldered it easily. My hand found the small of her back as I guided her toward the door, feeling her relax beneath my touch. “You’re safe now. We’ll figure this out.”
Her small sigh as she stepped closer pierced straight through my chest. But beneath her trust was something fierce—a stubborn resilience that drew me even deeper.
I kept a firm grip on her as we moved down the stairs to my waiting truck. It was dark outside now, and I scanned our surroundings automatically, hyper-aware of any movement or sound that seemed out of place. It was quiet, and tension coiled tighter inside me.
I didn’t speak as I helped her into the truck, settling her safely inside before closing the door and circling to the driver’s side. The engine rumbled to life, and I glanced over at Linden, taking in her pale face and wide eyes. She was staring straight ahead, her fingers twisting together nervously in her lap.
“Hey.” I reached over, gently prying them apart and wrapping my hand around hers. My thumb brushed over her knuckles, tracing soothing circles across her skin. “Breathe for me, little dove.”
She did, a shaky exhale slipping from her lips, and her shoulders eased slightly, her body leaning into my touch.
“Going somewhere safe,” I assured her quietly. “Relax. No one is gonna touch you.”
She turned toward me then, her green eyes full of questions and a quiet strength that caught me off guard. “How do you know I’ll be safe?”
“Because my brothers always have my back. Trust ’em with my life and they trust me with theirs. But even more important, they will do everything to protect what's mine.” My stare was hot and intense, packed with meaning.
Her breath hitched slightly, and I caught the subtle widening of her eyes, along with the faint flush that crept up her neck. I let the words hang between us, heavy with an implication that Linden seemed to understand, at least partly. I wasn’t sure if she fully grasped how far I’d go to protect her yet—but she would. Soon enough.
The drive to the Hounds of Hellfire compound was quiet. Linden stared out the window, lost in her own thoughts, but herhand never left mine. I let the silence linger, giving her time to process everything that had happened. And all that was coming.
When we finally pulled into the compound, she glanced around nervously, taking in the imposing gate, the dark buildings, and the silent figures who stood watch just out of sight. But she didn’t flinch or pull away. Instead, she tightened her grip on my hand and lifted her chin, facing it head-on.
Just like that, something possessive roared to life in my chest again, louder than before.
As soon as I parked the truck, I hopped out and rounded the hood toward Linden's door. She barely had her seat belt unbuckled before I opened it and offered my hand. Her warm and delicate fingers slid against mine. A protective urge surged through me again, and I tightened my grip as I helped her down from the truck.
I reached between the seats to snag her bag from where I’d tossed it in the extended cab, swinging it effortlessly over my shoulder before placing my other hand lightly against the small of her back. She tensed slightly at the contact but didn’t pull away.
Her shirt slid up a little, exposing a slice of skin between the hem and the waistband of her jeans. The tips of my fingers brushed silky, smooth flesh as I guided her toward the clubhouse entrance. Every muscle in my body was tight with awareness of her beside me, the warmth of her skin beneath my palm grounding me as much as it reassured her.
We stepped inside, and I ignored the curious looks and the smirks cast our way by a few of my brothers and a couple of prospects lounging in the main area. I had no intention of explaining myself or letting their curiosity slow me down. Linden was my only priority right now—getting her somewhere safe and secure was all that mattered. The rest of the guys knew me well enough not to get in my way or start asking questions.
I steered Linden straight toward the stairs, gently but firmly, not giving her the chance to hesitate or pull away. She moved with me willingly, her green eyes wide as she glanced around, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings with unabashed curiosity and a little bit of awe.
When we reached the top of the stairs, I led her down the hall toward my room, unlocking the door and guiding her inside without a word. Once we were safely shut inside, I set her bag down next to the dresser and turned back to face her.
Linden was looking around, taking in the orderly space of my room with nervous interest. Finally, her gaze swung back to me, uncertainty flickering across her pretty face. She bit her lower lip lightly, then asked quietly, “So, where am I going to sleep?”
I stared at her for a moment, caught off guard by her question. It seemed so obvious to me that it hadn’t even crossed my mind that she wouldn’t already know. Her expression was confused and vulnerable, as if it hadn’t occurred to her that she was exactly where she was meant to be.
My eyes locked on hers with quiet intensity, and I stepped forward. “Right fucking here.”
Her cheeks flushed with warmth, and for a second, she looked like she might argue. But she didn’t. Instead, she swallowed hard, her gaze never leaving mine as she gave a tiny, hesitant nod.
I saw the flare of trust in her eyes and felt the tension melt away from her body as she accepted the truth of my words. She was safe now, protected and mine. And I wasn’t fucking letting her go anywhere.
I stepped toward the bathroom door, pushing it open and flicking on the light for her. “Bathroom’s here, little dove.” My voice was gruff from the tension coiling through my muscles with every breath. “Everything you need should be stocked. Youget cleaned up, get some sleep. Don’t leave this room without me, understood?”
