Page 40 of Tell Me Lies

When Cassie left Hanging Cove, Rage had joined her father’s MC as a prospect. The Vice-President patch on his cut told Cassie he’d since clawed his way up the ranks. Judging by his performance today, Cassie hadn’t a single doubt that Rage wouldn’t hesitate to do what was needed for his club.

Cassie remained where she was, unsure of what to do or say next. Rage walked up to her and grabbed her left arm.

“We’re going,” he simply said.

He tugged at her, like Cassie was some errant poodle who would do whatever he said. Her fear ebbed, replaced by anger. Just who did Rage think he was?

Cassie shook his big hand off and he let her go, an indifferent look on his face. She had to leave this spot, that much was certain. Cassie wouldn’t know how to explain the dead bodies to the police or what the bikers had wanted with her in the first place.

Damn it. She had a clean record here. Why had her past decided to catch up with her now of all times?

“I’m not going anywhere with you,” Cassie said firmly. “Hell, where are you even planning on taking me, back to Hanging Cove?”

“Didn’t Breaker tell you?” Rage asked. “I don’t care about your feelings. I’m not asking, I’m just doing my job.”

Without warning, Rage placed his big, callused hands on her waist. Cassie squeaked as he hefted her over his broad shoulder, like Cassie didn’t weigh a thing.

Then he carried her away from that stinking alleyway filled with corpses, ignoring her weak protests the entire time. If Cassie had to be honest, she was relieved. She would’ve never stood a chance against those bikers. Cassie should feel safe, right? Then why was she so afraid of Rage and what he would do next?

Chapter Two

At first, Cassie didn’t buck or struggle on Rage’s shoulder. Then she started screaming at him to put her down. She even pounded her fists against his back, but they were weak blows.

Rage shook his head, ignoring her complaints. They had to get out of there. Breaker’s little princess didn’t have the faintest clue how much danger she was in.

What did she think would happen if he hadn’t come to her rescue? Those three Devil’s Kings MC members Rage had gotten rid of was just the beginning. Their rival MC would just send more men.

Hawk, the President of the Devil’s Kings MC, knew Breaker only had one weak link in his armour and that was his precious little girl.

Like a dog with a bone, Hawk would keep going after Cassie. The best way to prevent her from becoming a bargaining chip in an MC war was to bring her back home to Hanging Cove. Back to Breaker.

Huh. Rage thought about the situation more and decided that wasn’t how he wanted this story to end. There was opportunity for him here. Rage patted her curvy ass and that sent her in another fit of anger. There it was. The fiery spirit he initially thought had been extinguished.

Cassie probably had gotten soft, living in the city. Still, there was no denying the spoiled brat who made his high school life hell, had grown up to become a pretty fine woman. She must be so unsatisfied with the boring men in this city. She needed some excitement, a man with a firm and loving hand like Rage.

Cassie and Rage—what a pair they’d make, and Cassie would be fun to break. He’d make her pay for all those times she and her friends humiliated him, make her see the man he’d become. The thought amused Rage as they reached his Harley.

“Are you going to behave and stay put when I set you down, or are you going to run?” he asked her.

Cassie fell silent and Rage let her stew for a little while. She knew running away from him would only cause them problems. “I don’t have a choice, do I?” Cassie demanded.

Hearing the desperation in her voice, Rage finally set her down. She wiped the tears from her face with one hand, smeared some of her makeup. Rage wasn’t sure if it was an act or if it was real. Cassie had always been a good actress. That was how she always got what she wanted when they were kids.

Rage reminded himself he was immune to her but some part of him did pity Cassie. She could’ve lorded it up back in Hanging Cove as Breaker’s princess. Breaker would give her anything she wanted. Instead, she left Hanging Cove the moment she turned eighteen and tried to make a life for herself in the city. There was something admirable about that. Too bad some roads led back to home and home was where Rage intended to take her.

“If you’re done crying, get on,” Rage said, mounting his bike.

“You’re heartless,” she whispered.

“I don’t give a damn what you think about me but the longer we dawdle here, the more danger we’re putting ourselves in,” Rage said.

“You killed those men like they were nothing,” Cassie said. There was silent accusation in her eyes.

“Believe me, sweetheart, if I hadn’t gotten rid of them, who knows what they’d be doing to that sweet little body of yours right now,” Rage drawled. “They certainly wouldn’t leave you intact for Hawk.”

He didn’t mince words. Cassie could take it. She’d grown up alongside men like her father, after all. None of Rage’s MC brothers were saints.

Cassie stared at him, biting her lower lip. She looked so damn vulnerable, standing there on the sidewalk, barefoot, with her dress ripped in certain places, and her makeup smeared. Pity wormed its way inside him. Rage might be a lot of things but he wasn’t a complete jerk.

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