Page 32 of Devil's Vengeance

“What happened to her?” I asked after he went quiet for a moment.

His face twitched like he was fighting a scowl. “Trick happened. He got himself a bike and decided he was going to join a crew and hauled her out to a seedy biker bar on the edge of town. He didn’t know that the crew was in the middle of a war. Their rivals showed up, shot the place to hell, and took off again.”

Looking up at me with those sad baby blue eyes, he said, “Trick survived. Hannah didn’t. And now he wants to do the same thing with you.”

CHAPTER 20

CHASE

I never told anyone about Hannah. Trick might have been the one to bring her there, but I blamed myself for letting her go. It would’ve made me an asshole, but I could’ve told her parents. Gotten her grounded. Just to keep her alive and safe. She was only seventeen. She shouldn’t have been out at that bar anyway. Trick had fake IDs for the both of them. It would’ve only taken one damn phone call to get her ass back home. But I was hurt and angry and I stupidly wanted her to realize how badly she fucked up on her own. I thought she’d get scared, realize they were acting stupid, and come home.

“Why me?”

Mariah’s voice was quiet, confused, and when I looked at her, she was frowning so hard it looked painful. “We spent one night together. You’ve basically been ignoring me since. Why is he targeting me?”

I winced. I didn’t love the reminder of what a jackass I’d been. “Because I was tracking him on the computers in the library and he followed me there. You were just an innocent bystander sucked into his orbit.” Taking her hands, I squeezed them gently. “I promise, I’m gonna make this right, Mariah. I’ll keep you safe and I’ll handle Trick. Just bear with me for a little while.”

Her expression softened just a little as she pressed her lips together. “There you are. I honestly thought I imagined you.”

When I frowned at her, she explained, “You were so kind and thoughtful on the drive to the hospital. Comforting me even though you were the one bleeding and in pain. When I met you again and you were such an asshole, I thought maybe I was remembering things wrong.”

“Yeah, uh… I'm sorry about that. I was trying to keep you safe. I didn’t want you to end up like Hannah.” I lifted my hand to rub the back of my neck, flinching at the burn. Mariah noticed and grabbed my arm, twisting it to see better. She gasped.

“You are hurt! You said you were fine!”

I shook my head with a chuckle. “Technically, I said I’ve dealt with worse. It’s nothing. Just a graze. I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not! You’re bleeding! Have you seriously been sitting here bleeding this whole time?”

Her concern, while appreciated, wasn’t necessary. I’d dealt with a hell of a lot worse. Being part of this crew wasn’t safe. Now that I’d stupidly dragged Mariah into it, I was determined to keep that part from her.

Pushing to my feet, I headed for my bathroom. There was a medicine cabinet behind the mirror with some bandages. Riley already laid into all of us about using peroxide, so I’d wash the damn thing out with soap and water instead.

Mariah appeared at my side, looking at the wound in the brighter lighting. “You probably need stitches! You said you call Riley if you’re hurt, right?”

My stomach dropped, and I whipped around to stop her before she could take out her phone. “No!”

Startled, she jumped and dropped her phone, which made me feel like an asshole. She was probably still messed up after what happened tonight, and here I was scaring the shit out of her.

“Sorry,” I grimaced. “But no. Don’t call Riley.”

I didn't want the First Lady to know because then she’d ask questions I’d be forced to answer. And I couldn’t go to Doc either. Both of them would make me explain and then make me tell Croy. I wasn’t willing to do that yet. I could handle Trick on my own. The Iron Horsemen were a big crew, the dozen at the bar weren’t anywhere near their full numbers. With the way they were questioning Trick’s loyalty, I knew if I could just provehe was a lying scumbag, they’d drop him and leave. Then I’d deal with him by myself.

The fact that I hadn’t mentioned anything so far was also a big reason why I wasn’t willing to tell Croy. He’d kill me if he found out I dragged my business into our territory. I wasn’t looking to die because Trick was a coward who couldn’t face me on his own.

Of course, I couldn’t tell any of that to Mariah. Her loyalty to me was extremely limited right now, and I knew with her stubborn streak, she’d ignore my wishes and go straight to Riley or Lacey or hell, even Croy just to get me some backup. She was sweet, sticking around way too damn long during that confrontation to help me get away. I didn’t trust her not to do something like that again in some messed up attempt to help me.

“She, uh… She works long shifts. We aren’t allowed to call her unless it's an emergency on her days off. And this isn’t an emergency. I know how to deal with it. I’m good.”

Mariah didn’t look like she entirely believed me, but she didn’t know enough to argue either, so she let it go. Thank fuck.

“Can I at least help? It’s a weird angle for you to get on your own.”

I didn’t see the harm in that. I jerked my chin to the little shelf next to the door beside her. “Grab a washcloth. Riley said soap and water are best. We’ll clean it and bandage it with these.” I gestured to the bandages I took out. “Then I’ll be fine. Promise.”

Her mouth twitched like she was trying not to smile. When I raised an eyebrow at her, she grinned and shrugged. “Nothing. You’re just really different from the guy I got to know the last few weeks. That Chase would’ve told me to butt out and mind my business. I like the change.”

Part of me still felt guilty for the way I treated her. But I also didn’t feel like I was in the wrong. I didn't want her here, not when it put her at risk. Once this was all over, she’d go back to her safe life and finally understand why I did what I did. For now, she’d stay with me so I could watch over her. Since Trick knew where she worked, I’d need to join her there, but I told Lacey I was taking time off. I’d use that time when the crew thought I was busy working to find Trick and deal with him. Then I’d cut Mariah loose and keep an eye on her from afar. I was determined to keep her safe. Even if it meant keeping her away from me in the end. Nomatter how bad I wanted her, it wasn’t worth the risk. I had to keep her safe.

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