Page 47 of Savage

“Why are you here, Noah?” she asked, surprised at how strong her voice was, how it didn’t shake.

“I’m here to get you.”

“How did you even find me?” she asked.

“You almost got away,” Jacob said with a laugh, “but you couldn’t keep from going out. I had about given up, was going to go back to the compound and be done with you. But then I spotted the two of you. After that, it was just a matter of asking around about bikers. Now get in the car and we’ll go home.”

“She’s not going anywhere,” Savage snarled.

Donna didn’t speak to him, just laid one hand on his arm where it lay draped along his back. She wondered if he’d chosen to stand this way because it would be easier to draw the pistol he kept in the small of his back.

“She’s mine and I’ve come to get her,” Noah addressed Savage, but held a hand toward Donna. “Come home to me, Donna.”

“I’ll never go with you again, Noah. I left because I wanted to. I’ve been trying to get away from you for some time. I don’t belong to you. I don’t belong to anyone but myself.”

His semi-pleasant smile turned almost feral as he turned to look at her. “That’s not what the state says. The state says you’re my wife. You will come home with me and be a proper wife.”

“The state is wrong, but that can be fixed. I’ve already started on the paperwork to rectify that error. But as for coming with you, not to mention your fucked up idea of being a proper wife, let me say this loud and clear so there is no mistaking how I feel. I’d rather die. And please don’t think that’s hyperbole, or that I’m being dramatic. I will never ever go with you or be a part of your life. If I’m forced to, I will make it my life’s mission to end my life and take as many of you ass backward, misogynistic, abusive fuckers with me as I can.”

When she’d finished her tirade, she realized that she’d stepped forward until her shoulders pressed against both Savage and Ghost’s arms, as if their refusal to move was holding her back. Noah had taken a step backward, she didn’t know if it was her words or her vehemence that had driven him back, but he had retreated, not her. That was huge and sent a small wave of triumph through her.

“You heard the woman,” Tuck stepped out of line, taking a single step toward the two intruders. “I suggest you get back in your truck and leave, then forget where you found her, but not what has been said here. If I, or any of these men see you here again, your troubles won’t have to worry about her divorcing your worthless ass. She’ll be a widow.”

“Who are you?” Noah looked Tuck up and down, and from the look on his face, obviously found him lacking.

“The owner here, and the man who has decided you’re trespassing. Leave or the police will be involved.”

Noah’s eyes narrowed and he stared back at the other man before he turned and looked at Jacob. He gave the man who’d been driving the SUV a nod, they both got back in and left.

No one moved until they were gone. Once their taillights disappeared down the road, Savage spun to glare at her, his jaw clenched and his eyes blazing with barely contained rage. Terror flashed through her but disappeared just as quickly. He wasn’t Noah. He promised he would never hurt her. Better to know for sure now than trust him and find out later, when she was trapped. He didn’t say a word, but bent, wrapped an arm around the backs of her thighs and lifted.

Taken by surprise she found herself bent in half, staring at his butt. It was a nice butt.

She fought the urge to laugh at the thought, knowing it was ridiculous given the circumstances. Then wondered at her own sanity. How had she gone from terrified of one man to wanting to laugh when another man-handled her like this?

37

Savagecouldn’tbelieveher.He’d been there, trying to keep her safe. To keep that fuckwad away from her and she’d stepped up and faced him.

Damn, he was proud of how she’d faced him, but still. Part of him couldn’t help but want to scream, to rage at her because how could he keep her safe if she wouldn’t stay put?

He needed to talk some sense into her, to make her see reason, but not here, not in front of everyone. Because if he had to, he’d give the baby as a reason that she couldn’t do what she’d threatened. How could she swear to end her own life? How could he live without her?

At the same time, Savage couldn’t help but be proud of her. She’d stood up to her abuser. She’d told him in no uncertain terms what she would do and that she would kill as many of them as she could if they forced her back to the hell she’d escaped. What man wouldn’t be proud that their woman had that much backbone? That much confidence in what she could do?

Once he’d picked her up, Savage debated where to take her. He wanted walls, real ones, not just the tent where anyone could hear what they were saying. He wanted somewhere they wouldn’t be overheard, and where she would feel comfortable talking back and telling him how she felt and in the middle of this group wasn’t it, he knew.

“Use my place,” Malice said from where he stood next to Sadist at the end of the line of Savage’s brothers. He hadn’t bothered to put on a shirt, but had come out in just his jeans to support the rest of the club while they’d confronted an unknown. He lifted one hand and pointed toward a path that led out of sight. “The front door is open.”

Savage nodded and headed in that direction, half surprised that Donna wasn’t making noise or fighting him. He turned and followed the road, after a couple of minutes, before they’d left the group behind, she spoke.

“I’m not going to run away. Can I walk wherever we’re going?”

Savage didn’t respond, just grunted. He was not in the mood to put her down. With what she’d said to that fuckwit, she was lucky she wasn’t bound as well as over his shoulder. He was also considering a gag, not because he wanted to silence her but because her words had hurt. Hurt more than he wanted to admit, even to himself.

Right now, the comforting weight of her in his arms and draped over his shoulder was all that was keeping him from losing his shit. Hopefully, by the time they reached the house, he would regain his control, if not all of his composure.

He didn’t know exactly how far the walk was to the place Malice shared with Bonnie was but when he reached the porch, he was ready to let Donna stand on her own.

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