Page 75 of Sunshine & Ink

“I hope so,” Elise whispered.

I hoped so, too.

What if I was wrong?

What if Raker got hurt? Or killed?

My stomach twisted painfully. I wouldn’t feel so nervous except that we were the only ones awake. Most of the brothers, and all of the prospects were far out of town, trying to find the source of the Elders’ power.

My nerves were so on edge that I left Elise at the kitchen table in a shallow pool of light to check the front door in the hope that I might see Raker’s motorcycle pulling into the driveway, his big bulk reassuringly safe and protective.

Raker was strong and ruthless. He had always been strong. He would not stop until he thought I was safe.

The front door was unlocked. Shit, why was it unlocked? Raker always locked it. I turned to see Angel staring at me in the darkness of the hallway.

“Did you unlock this door?” I demanded.

“I did,” she said, smiling sweetly at me. “You deserve it.”

“Deserve what? Angel, what did you do?” I hissed.

She only smiled, her teeth sharp white points in the darkness.

I whirled around outside. And of course the driveway was empty. No Raker. No comforting rumbling of his motorcycle.

Then I heard a noise in the kitchen, just a little scrape, but it set all the hairs on my neck rising.

I slipped back as quickly as I could and I found Apostle there with his back to me, his slimy hands surrounded Elise’s slim, beautiful throat.

“Let her go,” I said, my voice stronger than I expected. “It’s not her you want. It’s me.”

Apostle dropped Elise roughly, my friend knocking her elbow painfully against the table as she fell to the ground.

“You’regoing to come with me,” he snapped, reaching a hand out for me. “That willforceRaker to make a deal with the Elders to stop this madness. First I’ll fuck you, though. I want to know what’s so special about a whore’s cunt that he’s willing to destroy the whole fucking world for it.”

I backed away. Panic pulsed through my whole body. Somehow I had to get Apostle away, before he harmed Elise.

His hand brushed by my skin, leaving a slimy trail of his damp fingertips, and I darted away.

“Don’t make this hard, little whore.”

As I tried to escape, I felt Angel’s hands on me, her breath in my ear.

“It won’t hurt too much,” she purred. “Or maybe it will. I let him in on one condition.That he fuck you up and make you pay.”

Fury seemed to build in me, hardening into a jagged molten column of fire.

“You really would endanger me because Raker doesn’t want to fuck you? I was going to just feel sorry for you but now you get what you deserve.”

I slammed my head back into hers, knocking her into the refrigerator as she cried out in panic. Then I did it again, twisting around to rip at her hair, huge chunks coming out in my hands as I shoved her back and she fell to the ground.

Then I turned to Apostle.

“I’m not ashamed of being a whore,” I said, my voice coming out strong and even. “But put some respect on my name. I’m Raker’s wife now.”

“His wife?” Apostle laughed, grabbing my arm again as I attempted to back away from him. But with my big belly there was no place to go.

His hands bit down and I twisted desperately away, my silken gown ripping as I tried madly to escape him.

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