Page 3 of Scorched King

Axel laughed. “That’s the fucking truth. And once she decides to take on a challenge…”

“So…”

I watched Axel grip the steering wheel from my peripheral vision and braced for what he was about to say next. I knew this ride wasn’t about discussing casual business. He had something particular on his mind and I probably wasn’t going to like it.

“When is Sasha coming home?” he asked, just throwing his cards on the table and hedging his bets.

I winced despite the expectation he’d been about to hit me with something I didn’t want to deal with. Sasha had not been what I expected, but I guessed it should have been. Axel and Mandy asked about her a lot as did some of the other women who worked for the club. After the fire, she was never far from our minds. She was well liked and everyone was anxious for her recovery and return.

As was I.

Although without a poker club for her to return to, I honestly didn’t know what to do with her. We’d have to find another job for her and it wasn’t going to be her old job. She may have started out stripping for the club, but she wasn’t going back to that—ever.

I’d fired her from that job, and I’d meant it. The real mistake, however, had been letting her back in after that.

But when it came to a wounded bird who needed my help… they were my achilles heel.

Especially her.

I was the lion who’d originally invited her into the den, making her the sacrificial lamb. I’d put her in danger. All because my dick had claimed her without so much as touching her. That made her my responsibility and I’d sworn to keep her safe at all costs.

I’d thought if I just kept my distance and my hands off of her, and she stayed under the protection of the club, she’d be fine. No one would bother her again.

Famous last words…

CHAPTER TWO

Nearly two yearsago

JD

“You’re fucking fired.”

My jaw clenched as the disbelief on Sasha’s face morphed into horror at the words I’d delivered as harshly as possible. It didn’t matter what my motives were, or that it was myself more than her I was angry at. Watching those men hold a gun on her had shoved me deep into a past I could NOT—would NOT—revisit. I could already feel the squeeze around my neck that signaled I had to get out now.

She had to go before any of this got worse and this was the best way to get that done. I’d taken my fear out on her, cutting her down as viciously as I could, and regretting none of it.

It had to be done.

I would not be fucking responsible for her death. Besides, she should be scared. I was the mother fucking king of a motorcycle club. I personified danger and everything about my life couldhurt her or worse. It was high time she realized that and got the hell out of my life.

“Boss,” Tel whispered, low enough so only I heard his words. “You can’t fire her.”

I rounded on him, my fist clenched at my sides and a violent haze of anger coloring my vision. I’d had enough of people telling me what I could and couldn’t do. Especially when it came to the woman who’d managed to crawl under my skin and take up residence. A place she had no right to be.

This had to stop now.

“I can do whatever the fuck I want. And what I want is her out of here.” Unlike Tel, I did not lower my voice or choose my words carefully. And the gasp from the woman in question made it loud and fucking clear that she was getting my message.

Tel winced in the face of my anger and yet that didn’t stop him from continuing on. If I didn’t kill him for it now, I’d appreciate his willingness to stand up to me later.

“Yeah, Prez. That’s technically true. You’re the boss. What you say goes around here. But if you throw her out now, then she’ll be more vulnerable than ever. She’s already been connected to the club, and without our protection how long will it take before someone else gets wind of her and takes her? Then what? We’ll spends weeks of resources to find her and still be more than likely to bring her home in pieces.”

Fuck. Tel had delivered the exact words to freeze me in my tracks. My heart might have even stopped pumping.

This seriously could not be happening again. My head pounded and I half expected it to implode.

I glanced around the club where my guys were already starting to clean up the blood. They were avoiding looking at me directly, but I could feel their concern radiating in my direction.

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