“That ain’t what Battle said,” Ripped cut in, making me snap my jaw shut. A dark look passed over Ripped’s face and he smiled. “Yeah, we had a real good talk earlier. Cleared the air. You know how it is though. Us men can get real protective of what’s ours, and we like to play rough.”
“Ripped!” I cried out his name as pain in my chest rammed itself home like I’d been stabbed in the heart. “Please tell me he’s okay.”
“Well, he’s still breathing,” he said with a sneer. “For now.”
I couldn’t catch my breath. I was panting as panic raced round my body.
“What do you want from me?” I asked, my eyes wide as I pleaded with him. “Just tell me what you want and I’ll do it. Anything at all.” My gaze was on Gracie and I took a deep breath. She was still crying, shame and sadness marring her face. I looked away, too angry to have any sympathy for her, and looked back at Ripped.
He smiled wickedly and stood back up. He reached into his cut and pulled out his cigarettes and lit one. “All to save his sorry ass? Gotta say, Quinn, you’re just full of surprises.”
“And Gracie and Bonny,” I added. “Leave them all alone, please.”
He smiled wider. “It’s gonna cost you.”
I nodded. “Anything. Whatever the cost, I’ll do it.”
~ 18 ~
Quinn
Fighter was staring at me from across the room while Ripped pawed at my breast under my T-shirt and left trails of wet kisses along my neck. I felt sick, actually sick with every single kiss he left, but that was clearly nothing compared to what Fighter was feeling.
His face was bruised, his knuckles bloody, but it was his eyes that looked the worst. They were filled with rage. I recognized his rage because it was the same rage that filled me. But it was a small promise loaded with a very large threat; promise to stay with me or I’ll hurt the people you love the most.
I could do that, right?
Gracie and Bonny were everything to me, despite what Gracie had done, and I’d give up everything to keep them safe. Including Battle. Especially Battle, because it might be the only way to keep him safe.
“You don’t seem like you’re into this, Quinn,” Ripped whispered down my ear. “Do I need to remind you of our conversation earlier?”
I turned to look at him sharply, our eyes connecting. “When did you get like this?” I replied quietly, the disgust evident no matter how hard I tried to disguise it.
His smile fell. “Watch your tone.”
I scowled. “Who are you? The old Ripped would never have treated me like this.”
He reached up and stroked a hand down my cheek before gripping my chin between his rough fingertips. “Yeah? Well the old Quinn wouldn’t have been fucking around behind my back.”
I clenched my teeth together so hard I thought they would shatter.
“So don’t go acting like you’re whiter than white,” he added, and he leaned over and placed another rough kiss on my lips.
I didn’t recognize his kiss or his touch, nor his gray eyes that looked at me with such total disgust. That man was a total stranger to me.
“You can’t force someone to love you if they don’t,” I said when his lips left mine.
Ripped barked out a loud laugh. “Who said anything about love?” he growled out with a sneer. “Now quit talking, lean down, and wrap those pretty lips around my cock like a good girl.”
I sucked in a sharp breath and jerked back from him. “No!” I bit out angrily, my voice tremoring. “I’m not a clubslut, Ripped, I’m your old lady.”
He laughed again and shook his head. “Never said you were gonna be my old lady either. You lost that privilege. Do I need to remind you of why?”
Shame and embarrassment flooded my face and I tried to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill.
“So what is this? Why are you doing this?” A tear slid down my face and I swiped it away angrily.
“This, you beautiful little slut, is me showing every red-blooded man in here what happens when they fuck with me.”
