Page 47 of Filthy Hot

Rider is everything I’ve always wanted.

But it’s too late.

I met him too late. I’m ruined in so many ways from the inside out.

He deserves so much better than I could ever be—than I could ever give him.

“I’m not defiant,” I say. “I’m tired.”

He hums. “You’re tired, but you haven’t given up yet. You still have strength inside of you. That Dark Horse gives it to you. So, you’re not that tired.”

I think about smiling, but while his words humor me to a degree, I have nothing to smile about right now.

“I will have strength until my dying breath. That doesn’t mean I’m not exhausted.”

He dips his chin in a single nod. “You have not been broken… yet.”

“And I will not be,” I snap.

He laughs at this. I suppose I’m glad he finds me funny, but I’m not trying to be. I will not be broken. I am not a wild animal. But most importantly, I am not his or anyone else’s to break. I refuse. I do not belong to any of these men.

“But you will. I’m just wondering if the Dark Horse MC will leave you here long enough for me to break you.”

I open my mouth to snap at him again, but this time, Xavier takes a step forward. “I thought the agreement was that she was mine. I am tired of being thrown around here. I’ve been working for you, tirelessly for years. I want what’s due to me.”

He sounds like a child. Although, to be fair, that’s kind of the way he always sounds, so I don’t really pay much attention to him, but the man in charge does not like the questioning. He spins around to face Xavier. I suck in a breath, waiting for what I can only assume will be a tongue-lashing.

I have a feeling that not many people speak to this man that way. I can’t deny that I’m a bit excited to see what will happen. Iwant to hear it all. I want Xavier to be put in his place and maybe even bitch-slapped a few times.

“Talon,” Xavier whispers.

Talon.

That is his name.

It fits him.

I’m sure his talons are sharp, too. I can only hope he’ll sink them into Xavier. If nothing else, I want to see him suffer—greatly.

“You better think about your words,” Talon warns.

And for the first time in my entire life, I watch as Xavier dips his chin and takes a step backward, his eyes on his feet and nowhere else. I wish I could make him do that a million times over.

GNAW

Clink ridesup to our group, but Talon and his men have already gone back inside, and I realize that this all means war. There is no negotiating. There is nothing except war. Because Talon wants something that we will not give them. It wouldn’t matter who he had kidnapped.

My phone vibrates in my pocket. I reach inside and slide my thumb across the screen before I hold it up to my ear. I don’t even bother looking at the caller ID. I don’t think I give a fuck who is on the other end at the moment.

“Hello,” I bark.

There is silence. Then I hear a female’s voice. It’s soft, almost sweet-sounding. “Gnaw, is that you?” she asks.

“Who is this?” I demand.

“It’s Bren. I just, the bar is completely empty, but Kyle’s car is here. I went by the motel, and Ophelia said she hadn’t seen her at all. I’m worried. Is she with you?”

The only good part of this conversation is that it seems as though Bren and the others are unharmed. It could be much worse.

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