“Nope. Today’s the day.”
“I don’t want to go,” Angel told him, thinking maybe he wasn’t picking up on her feelings.
“I know, Baby girl. I also know you’ll never feel differently. If we put off your appointment, you’ll have more hours to worry.” He plopped a helmet on her head and tightened the strap under her chin.
“I’m not going.” He couldn’t make her. She didn’t need a job. She could stay here for the rest of time.
“You are keeping your meeting with Razor. He’s a busy doctor who takes care of a lot of people at the warehouse and in the Devil Daddies. He cleared his schedule for us.”
“No.”
He couldn’t argue with one word. She’d learned that in business. Don’t provide an excuse or a reason. That gave people leverage to debate with you. Angel glared at him when he flipped her visor into place, closing off the helmet.
“Eeeeekkk!” Angel clutched Vex’s waist as she dangled over his shoulder. The helmet weighed just enough to keep her off-balance, making it hard to wiggle away. “Put me down, Vex?”
“I can’t hear you,” Vex yelled loudly. He smacked her bottom sharply as he walked out of the garage to walk to his bike. Without pausing, he swung his leg over the bike and pulled her in front of him.
Struggling, she reared back as she thrashed to get free, accidentally whacking her helmet against his head. When he groaned and let loose a string of curses, she froze.
“Sorry! Did I hurt you?”
“You bashed me a good one, Baby girl.”
Her heart sank in her chest. She hadn’t meant to injure him. Before she could apologize further or see what she’d done, Vex started the engine and wrapped a steely arm around her before taking off. Angel grabbed his thick thighs to stabilize herself.
“Daddy!” she yelled. She was still yelling Daddy when Pirate opened the gate at the compound’s entrance to let them leave.
Her bottom lifted from the bike’s seat a fraction of an inch when he hit a bump in the road. Angel froze in place. That one-second airborne sensation was enough to remind her of her dangerous position. “I’m going to fall!” she shouted over the motor.
Vex’s arm wrapped around her waist even tighter. “I won’t let you tumble, Baby girl.”
The confidence in his tone reassured her that she was safe. Angel slumped back against his chest. Maybe she should get the appointment over with. If only she could fast-forward time and be done.
Vex kissed her shoulder where the neckline had slid down. The brush of his soft mustache against her skin tickled, making her smile.
Wait! Vex wasn’t wearing a helmet. That was dangerous. She’d acted like such a fool he’d had to jump on his bike without protection to drive her to the doctor. And she’d bashed his face. Angel wanted to turn and make sure he was okay but forced herself to stay in place so she didn’t jostle the bike and cause an accident.
“Are you good, Baby girl?”
She nodded carefully, not wishing to hit him again. Angel slid her hands under the outside edge of his powerful thighs to tether herself in place. Didn’t most women hold on behind the guy?
Angel remembered riding with Vex as they’d fled from the Ravagers. She’d never been on a motorcycle before that. With no energy to hold on, she would have fallen off within minutes. Especially at the fast speeds they’d used to escape. Vex had dragged her around to the front of him to keep her safe. He always took such incredible care of her.
The distance to the guarded entrance of the warehouse wasn’t far. Big trucks and vans moved around the space, loading and offloading a bunch of crates and boxes. A large man caught her attention when he waved. Automatically, she returned the gesture before recognizing Wraith. A sense of belonging settled over her. Any of these guys would help her—had rescued her.
When Vex pulled up to a separate building, Angel knew they’d arrived. He parked and lifted her to stand next to the bike. Her breath caught in her chest at the sight of his bloodied lip, and guilt turned her stomach.
“I’m so sorry. How can I make it better?” she asked, reaching a hand to touch his swollen lip.
“It’s nothing, Baby girl. I’ll clean up inside and all will be well. Let me help you with your helmet.” Vex unbuckled the protective device and lifted it away. He took the time to smooth down her hair before rubbing the helmet against one of his thighs to wipe the smudge of blood on the helmet off on his jeans.
Angel focused on the ground as she mentally yelled at herself for having hurt him. Vex raised her chin with one hand. “I’m fine, Angel. Are you going to flail around again when we get on the bike?”
“No. That was dangerous and stupid.”
“Not stupid. You’re allowed to have feelings, Baby girl.”
“You made me come, anyway.”
