“Need to know, Belle,” Shooter said, sounding regretful. “Not to be a dick, but you don’t seem the best judge of character. He was supposed to have cut all ties with his family years ago—it’s the only reason we’ve allowed him to operate here. His business, his home, it’s all been left alone because he said he had nothing to do with his family.”
“Has he hurt you?” Casa asked, coming closer.
I looked up, noticing that all of them were close now, like they wanted to protect me. Only Beast remained outside of the little circle they had formed, pacing and glaring, his hands clenching and unclenching.
I swallowed. “He…he forced me to do things.” I shook my head, feeling ridiculous.
“He raped you?” Gauge asked, sounding furious.
I shook my head no. “No, not really. I mean, I didn’t want to, but he made me feel like I couldn’t say no. And it was different—”
“Different?” Shooter asked.
“Aggressive. Violent. Forceful.” As soon as I said the words, I felt sick. The memories of Lorenzo and the way he’d treated me, the things he’d made me do.
Beast lost it.
He just lost it.
He picked up a heavy armchair and threw it against the wall. It smashed with such force as he roared and picked up the coffee table and threw that. Anything within arm’s reach he grabbed and threw, roaring through his anger. Violence surging through him as he lost control. Gauge and Casa ran to him, grabbing him in an attempt to control him, and I stared on in total shock.
Shooter nodded thoughtfully. “We need protection on you at all times then. Gonna need someone staying with you so you’re not unprotected.”
“Protection?” I frowned. “I thought you were going to kill me.”
“We’ll deal with that shit later. Right now I need you to help me get the fucks that did this to my boy over there. Our brother Echo still needs revenge, and I have no doubt that you have a little anger broiling over for all the torment they’ve put you through, huh?” he said matter-of-factly.
“I’m not killing anyone,” I replied quickly. “I can’t do that! I’m not like all of you.” I looked between them all, my eyes frantic.
Casa looked over and smirked like I’d just paid him a compliment. “We’ve got your back on the killing shit, nurse.”
“Just need you to go on as normal. Wait for them to come to you, and when they do, we’ll be waiting. That’s your job—your role in all of this—and maybe, just maybe you’ll come out of this unscathed,” Shooter continued.
Unscathed! I blinked, relief and anger twisting inside of me. How could they think I would come out of this unscathed? I was already scarred to my core from these men and this club and all their drama.
“I won’t be unscathed, Shooter. I’ve already been broken, by them and by this club. But fine, I’ll do it, if nothing else but too be free of all of this—all of you.”
“Whatever helps you sleep at night,” he drolled.
Casa snickered and I turned and glared at him.
“What? What’s so funny?” My hands were on my hips and I knew I needed to calm down. This was good, and I should have at least been a little grateful for the fact that I wasn’t dead yet. Beast had shrugged Gauge and Casa off and was staring at me, his nostrils flared, an indecisive look on his face like he was being tormented.
Casa lit a cigarette, taking his sweet time before replying to me. “That you think you’ll ever be done withanyof this. Any of us, nurse.”
“I will be.” My eyes narrowed at him but he continued to smirk around his cigarette, smoke trailing up past his face.
“Shut the fuck up, Casa,” Beast growled.
Casa shook his head. “Nah, girl, this club is in your blood now. Besides, you really thinkhe’sabout to let you walk out of his life for good?” He nodded toward Beast and I frowned.
“Hewon’t have a choice,” I bit out.
“Belle,” Beast warned, turning his attention back to me.
“I told you not to say my name,” I gritted. “We’re done. And when this is all over I want you out of my life for good. In fact, from now on I don’t want you anywhere near me.” I turned back to Shooter. “So who’s going to be my protection?”
It was his turn to smirk now, a coy smile that lit up his face, and I knew automatically who he planned to keep with me.
