Page 94 of Twisted Fate

“I know, but it’s only because Skeet and Slash can’t knock the old rules yet. The worst we’ve done is beat women who…”

“You really don’t rape women?” I cut him off as I pressed my cheek into his chest more to get comfortable, peering up at his face as he scrunched up his nose in disgust.

“Fuck no. That rule was tossed out the door when my brother was still in charge, before I was even part of it. You can heal from a beating, but you won’t ever heal from being raped.”

“Trust me, I know that,” I almost whispered, moving away from him for some space.

We drank in silence for a while until he finally spoke again.

“Well, you’re one of the brave ones. You’re still fighting every day, no matter how bad you hurt. You’re strong, Donovan. I don’t blame Skeet for loving you.”

I lifted my eyes to his and gave him a small shrug, picking at the label on my bottle.

“Doesn’t matter now. Skeet and I are done.”

“You really don’t want to fix it with him?” he asked, cocking his head as he watched me with interest.

“I love all of them, Hunter. More than fucking anything, but when the bad days start outnumbering the good, you know somethings got to give. Skeet and I would’ve ended up killing each other.”

“That bad, huh?” He grinned, making me snort.

“You have no fucking idea. We both get off on it.”

I drained my beer and went to stand up to get another one, but he stopped me, standing himself and getting one for me without a word.

I watched him warily as he moved back to the couch and handed it to me.

“You know, I expected someone a lot worse when you showed up. Why the fuck do you like me enough to be nice?”

He shook his head as if in disbelief and grinned again.

“I’ve never come across a woman like you in my entire fucking life.”

“So, you’re just trying to fuck me?” I faked horror, making him roll his eyes with amusement.

“No, I just like you and see a lot of myself in you.”

I frowned as I went to speak, but he sighed quietly, all humour gone from his face.

“Can I tell you something that I’ve only ever told Skeet?”

“Of course.”

He didn’t speak for a while, but then he met my gaze with determination.

“My old man used to rape me when I was a kid, that’s why I’m so against it. It fucks up someone’s life so badly. I’m the reason my brother was killed, and that’s why I run the crew his way. I can never repay him for what he did, and leading the Devils was the only thing I could do to say thank you. One of Dad’s friends knew what he used to do to me, and he drugged me one night with intentions on raping me. He was caught out before he could do anything though, and a few days later my brother confronted him about it. It got him killed.”

My heart broke for him and I went to reach for his hand but stopped, knowing how people liked space when talking about things like that.

He noticed my hesitation and took my hand in his, giving it a small squeeze.

“That guy was the first person I killed when I took over the Devils.”

“Hunter…,” I said softly, but I was cut off by a splintering sound hitting the front of the house.

Hunter cursed as he yanked me onto the floor without a second thought.

“Looks like the Soldiers found you. Give me your car keys.”