Page 46 of Savage Salvation

I move in front of her, her eyes dropping to my bare chest then to my wrapped-up fists before she looks away. “I’ll give you whatever money you need. Just tell him to find someone else.”

Her arms tuck across her chest, her nails digging into her already bruised forearm. “I’m not gonna bail on him. And I don’t want your money.” She turns to walk away.

Reaching for her, I grasp her elbow, pulling her to me as her hands press against my abs, keeping a barrier between us. “But you’ll bail on me.”

“I’m going to work, Gage. You had to know I’d eventually step foot outside of this house.”

Yeah. But I’d hoped to keep us locked away a little longer. “Just give me today.”

Her palms move up, over my damp skin, pressing against my chest. “No.”

Tilting to her, I put my mouth to hers, skimming her lips, and to my surprise, she kisses me back and doesn’t pull away.

“Let me drive you, then,” I say against her mouth. “I’ll hang out there.”

“Stop it, Gage. I’m not some fragile fucking porcelain doll. You can’t shadow me every second of the day for the rest of my life. I’ll be fine. Johnny is aware of some of what happened, thanks to Isaac, so he knows to keep an eye out for Ryan.”

It’s not just wanting to protect her, I don’t want to be alone today. But I know trying to hold onto her is a losing battle. “I’ll hang around, then we can grab a bite to eat afterwards.”

Her body stiffens as she pulls slightly away. This is not surprising. Neither is what she says next. “I’m gonna crash there tonight.” But it cuts deep.

Bending forward, I hold her to me for a few more seconds, savoring her lips on mine because I know it’ll be a while before I get to taste them again. Cupping her face against my palm, my thumb strokes over her cheek. “Fragile is not a word I’d ever associate with you.”

Leaning in, I give her one more lingering kiss before I release her, turn, and resume jabbing my fist against the punching bag.

I don’t see her leave, but I know she’s gone. Even more so when Memphis steps beside me. “Your brother told me the burial is today. Are you going?”

“No.” My fists connect harder, faster with the bag as Memphis lingers.

“If you decide to go, let me know, and I’ll go with you.”

“I won’t.” Because the only thing I’d like to do is go piss on his grave.

“Are you going to the Den tonight?”

I hadn’t planned to because I thought I’d be here with Kinsley, and that sounded so much better than a fighting. “Nope. There’s no one for me to beat the shit out of.”

From behind me, the annoying fucking parrot chimes in his thoughts. “I disagree. I believe the battle is already in progress and the only opponent you have your mind set on beating the shit out of is already standing in this room—you.”

I don’t respond. I’ll just get some more unwanted musing. Eventually, he tells me to call him if I need anything and walks out. What I need can’t be captured.

* * *

It’s been hours since she left, but I see her everywhere I look. In my bed, in my kitchen, in the theater room, curled up next to me in the recliner as she shields her eyes from the gory parts during our Final Destination movie marathon. Her liking horror movies didn’t surprise me, her looking away and hiding her eyes, did. I didn’t think there was anything that caused her to cringe. Because even after what she’d endured from the asshat who’s practically her stepbrother, she tucked it away and went on like it never happened. The only time I got a glimpse that the trauma was seeping through was when she’d mentioned training. And I was ready to teach her every single maneuver she would need to fight off any threat, including me. Because that’s what I desire. Her to not need me but want me. The more I realize that, the more it suffocates me because she isn’t a choice in my life. She’s not a want, she’s a need. And I’m barely even an option to her.

When my phone dings with a message, I grab it and see it’s one of the guys at the Den. He wants to know if I’ll be there tonight because a fighter backed out and they need a replacement.

“Count me in.” I don’t care who, where, or why. I need to beat the piss out of someone. And since it can’t be the fuckface that used to handle all this shit, I’ll settle for some chump who steps into the ring with me.

I send Memphis a quick message that I’m gonna head to the Den. I need someone in my corner, and it’s become abundantly clear that Hayden and Memphis are the only ones who truly have my back.

It’s a few hours later when I’m pulling up to the Den, parking in the area around back that’s unofficially reserved for contenders. I step out of my car and bend down to retrieve my bag. But before my fingers clasp the strap, something hard smashes against my back, expelling the air from my lungs. Before I can pull air back into my chest, a hard blow moves across me again, sending me to the ground. I can take hits, but I wasn’t braced for those, or the others that keep striking my torso. Finally, the blows halt, and my hands press against the grass as I push up on all fours, only to receive another hit to my back. Sending me to the ground again.

“Damn. Even that stupid bitch was more of a challenge than this.” The seething asshole’s face hovers over mine, coming into view. Ryan. But he’s not alone. He didn’t do this damage all by himself. He recruited. Pete stands beside him along with a few other guys I recognize. None of them in my corner.

Out of all the things I can do, laughing is what I decide on. This pissant is so weak he knows he needs to sneak up on me and bring backup. But he won’t always have them to catch me off guard. “You’re done, motherfucker.” My arm swipes across my mouth, smearing what I’m guessing is blood as I look up to the weak bitches surrounding me.

“You won’t have the chance,” he cackles as Pete and his stooges seize my arms, hauling me up and slamming me against my car. “But since you spoiled my fun last time, then humiliated me in front of the entire goddamn world, I’m gonna love every second of this.”