Page 49 of Cruel Savior

"Sorry," he laughed. "Just thought I'd tell you she's quite a woman you've got there before you haul her off to your cabin for the real party."

"Thanks,” I agreed, hesitantly. On one hand she did feel like mine, and she was amazing. But on the other I still couldn’t reconcile the fact that she’d worked for the Mazzeo organization. Everything I’d seen the past few days indicated a serious passion for getting the facts she needed and a strong desire for serving justice. Frank had stood for the opposite.

I really wanted to put the past behind us, but that little part of me didn’t want to let it go. We all had faults. We all made decisions that others didn’t necessarily agree with. So why couldn’t I let hers go? Even JD seemed to be over it.

Because you’re a stubborn asshole?

There was that. And not a one of us was in a position to judge. There were plenty of black marks on my soul, all done in the name of the club, and they would never see the light of day…

You reap what you sow.

“I hear we’re going after the man who’s been stalking her. I’m sure you want first dibs, but just know any one of us would take him down. We’ve got both your backs.”

I compressed my lips in a kind of grim smile. While I appreciated his words, they weren’t necessary. It was a given in our club that any one of us had the others back. Still, I appreciated him saying the words.

“Thanks, man. I definitely can’t wait to get my hands on that asshole. But first, I’ve got something else I need to do.” I’d already turned my focus back to Mandy, still standing at the bar, as each of my brothers stopped by to say a few words to her.

Bear followed my line of sight and started laughing. “I get you. Do what you gotta— “

Suddenly a loud explosion sounded from somewhere on the compound. It was so strong it rocked through the building, rattling the walls and everything inside not nailed down. Glass shattered as bottles and glasses crashed to the floor and pictures fell from the walls.

“What the hell?” In a few seconds the entire clubhouse exploded in chaos as the women screamed and others dove for cover.

“Was that an earthquake?” someone shouted.

“I don’t think so,” JD responded as he ran towards the door. But Bear and I were closer and we got the jump on the rest of them as we scrambled to get outside to see what was going on.

Bear, as big as he was, moved with lightning speed. He wrenched the door open, and another blast tore through the club, sending him flying through the air before crashing into a table and chairs. My mouth was open in a yell, as smoke and flames filled the doorway. I rushed to Bear's side and felt my heart nearly stop at the sight of him knocked out, a large piece of debris sticking out of his cheek, and his leg at an awkward angle.

"Fuck." I pressed my fingers deep into his neck and felt for a pulse. It took a second, but I finally found it, although it didn't seem particularly strong.

"Is he alive?" JD asked, rushing to my side.

"Yeah, for now. But he needs a doctor."

Out of my peripheral vision I caught Zook running for the entrance with a fire extinguisher in his hand. I glanced around the room and realized with a piercing pain to my chest that Mandy was no longer at the bar.

"What the fuck? Mandy!" I yelled.

"She's—"

I didn't hear whatever else JD said, as I rushed to where I'd last seen her and found her lying on the floor. Her eyes were open, but her pupils looked freakishly large. "Are you okay? Where are you hurt?"

"I'm okay, I think. My head hurts though." She reached up into her thick hair, felt around, and then winced. The pain she triggered forced her hand away from whatever it was, and blood now coated her fingers.

"Jesus Christ. Mandy, baby. Don't fucking move." I shifted towards her head and crouched lower so I could get a better look. I held my breath until I was able to determine that unlike Bear, she did not have anything sticking out of her head. "Looks like something hit you on the head, or you hit something when you were knocked to the ground."

"But the blood," her voice rose.

"Head wounds are always the worst when it comes to that. Even if they are superficial. But I think we have to assume that you probably have a concussion and will need to get to a hospital."

"No way. That's just the kind of thing he'll be hoping for."

My breath froze in my chest. Of course. That fucker would be looking for a way to get her off the compound. If he couldn't come to her, then he would make her come to him.

"It's okay," I finally said. "We have a doctor who can come to us."

She turned to look at me and met my eyes. "I'm going to assume I don't want to know why that is, right?"

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