Page 43 of Rage

Her eyes widen.“We?What do you mean?”

I hesitate, not wanting to burden her with more worry.But Meadow deserves the truth.“The clubs are working together.Devil Souls and Grim Sinners—we’re all in on this.Peterson’s days are numbered.”

Silence stretches between us as Meadow processes my words.I can practically see the gears turning in her mind.When she speaks, her voice is small but determined.“I want to help.”

I feel my muscles coil, a surge of protective rage igniting in my chest.“No fucking way,” I say, the words rumbling low in my throat.“You’re not getting involved, Meadow.End of discussion.”

She jerks back, eyes flashing.“Mason, I can’t just sit here while you all risk your lives.This is my fight too.”

“No.”The word comes out sharp, cutting through the air between us.I take a breath, trying to rein in the storm of emotions threatening to break loose.“Listen to me.You nearly died tonight.That psycho had a fucking scalpel to your throat.I won’t let you put yourself in danger again.”

“But—”

“No buts.”I cradle her face in my hands, my callused thumbs tracing the soft skin of her cheeks.“Do you have any idea what it did to me, seeing you like that?Bleeding, terrified.”My voice cracks, the memory raw.“I thought I was going to lose you before I even really had you.”

Meadow’s eyes soften, her small hand coming up to cover mine.“Mason…”

“I can’t go through that again.”The words pour out, rough and unfiltered.“The thought of you in danger… it fucking tears me apart.You’re everything to me, Meadow.Everything.And I’ll be damned if I let anything happen to you.”

I watch the conflict play out in her eyes, a battle between her need to help and her understanding of my fear.“But what about you?”she whispers, her voice thick.“You’re putting yourself in danger.How do you think that makes me feel?”

I lean in, resting my forehead against hers.Our breaths mingle, warm in the small space between us.“I know, darlin’.But this is what I do.I’m trained for this.And I’ve got the whole club backing me up.”

“So, I’m just supposed to sit here and wait?”Frustration creeps into her voice, sharp and biting.

“No.”I pull back, meeting her gaze.“You’re supposed to heal.To rest.To let me take care of you for once.”I brush a strand of hair behind her ear, my touch gentle despite the storm raging inside me.“Let me be the one to protect you this time, Meadow.Please.”

She’s quiet, searching my face.I hold my breath, silently pleading with her to understand.The tension in the room is thick, suffocating.Finally, she nods, a small sigh escaping her lips.“Okay,” she whispers.“I don’t like it, but… okay.”

Relief crashes over me, so strong it’s dizzying.I pull her close, burying my face in her hair.The scent of her, coconut shampoo and something uniquely Meadow, fills my senses.“Thank you,” I murmur, pressing a kiss to her temple.“I promise you, I’ll end this.For both of us.”

She melts into me, her body molding against mine like it was made to fit there.But even as I hold her, I can feel the tension thrumming through her.This isn’t over.Not by a long shot.

* * *

Meadow

I pull back slightly, my mind racing.The need to do something, to help, burns inside me like a fever.“Mason, please.There must be some way I can contribute.Maybe I could help with surveillance or?—”

“No.”His voice is low, firm.Final.“I told you, Meadow.You’re staying out of this.”

Frustration bubbles up, hot and insistent.“But I’m not some damsel in distress!I’m a doctor, for crying out loud.I’ve dealt with difficult patients, high-pressure situations?—”

“This isn’t the same,” Mason cuts me off, his eyes flashing.“Peterson isn’t some rowdy patient.He’s a psychopath who nearly killed you tonight.”

“I know that!”The words come out sharper than I intended.“But I can’t just sit here twiddling my thumbs while you put yourself in danger.It’s not fair!”

Mason’s jaw clenches, a muscle ticking in his cheek.When he speaks, his voice is dangerously quiet.“Fair?You want to talk about fair?It wasn’t fair when that bastard cornered you in the hospital.It wasn’t fair that he held a scalpel to your throat and made you fear for your life.”

His hands come up to cradle my face again, his touch gentle despite the steel in his voice.

“Nothing about this situation is fair, Meadow.But I’ll be damned if I let you risk your safety again.”

I open my mouth to argue, but Mason’s next words stop me cold.

“I swear to God, Meadow, if you try to argue with me on this, I’ll put you over my knee and spank you until you can’t sit for a week.”

My eyes widen, a shiver running down my spine that has nothing to do with fear.The look in Mason’s eyes is deadly serious, a mix of protectiveness and something darker, more primal.

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