Page 72 of Hate Mates

I blink up at him, dazed. Stars dance before my eyes, and I realize I’ve been holding my breath.

“I...I don’t know,” I whisper.

Blaze closes his eyes, a muscle ticking in his jaw as he visibly tries to rein himself in.

I should headbutt him, scream at him to let me go. But I can’t seem to find my voice or my strength. That kiss shook me to my core, unleashed something long buried.

The roar of a motorcycle engine shatters the charged silence.

Blaze jerks away from me, his head snapping toward the barn door. “Shit, that’ll be Iron with my ride.”

“Hey, cut me down.” I say, weaker than intended, as he strides over to the door.

He’s once again every inch the hardened biker, as though the last few minutes never happened, as if he didn’t just turn my world upside down with a single kiss.

The door creaks open, and Iron Callahan, CCMC’s enforcer, fills the doorway. His cold eyes land on me, and a slow smile spreads.

“Well, well,” the enforcer drawls. “You caught yourself a little bird, Blaze.”

Blaze tenses. “She’s not a prisoner, Iron. I’m keeping her safe.”

Iron laughs harshly as he stalks toward me. “From what? Her own club?”

Blaze steps in front of him. “Back off, Iron. She’s not a part of this.”

He leans sideways to eye me again, just before he focuses on Blaze again. “Or maybe…you’re saving her from the truth about what really went down at that meeting?”

I thrash, my wrists chafing raw. “What truth? I was standing right beside Blaze. He disappeared just before shots were fired. He set everyone up!”

Iron’s gaze slides to me. As he side-steps my only shield, Blaze tries to stop him again, but they exchange a wordless conversation before Blaze lowers his head. Iron crouches in front of me, and I hate being so short. The scent of tobacco assaults my nostrils.

“Got it on pretty good authority that Blaze wasn’t involved,” he says. “And what you should be concerned about is who theyarepinning it on.”

“Who’s that?” I snap.

Iron chuckles darkly. “There’s no right side in this war, sweetness. They—both clubs—are pinning the ambush on the two of you.”

My heart stutters. “What? That’s insane.”

“I brought your ride, Blaze. Gassed up and ready to go.” Iron tosses him a key, then digs into his cut and extracts a wad ofcash, also tossing it to Blaze. “Hide out for a while. I’ll send word to the Westend Motel when it’s safe.”

Blaze eyes shift from the money to Iron.“The Westend? That’s a CCMC safehouse.”

“Yup, but more importantly, I control it. No one will think to look for you there.” He jerks a nod at me. “Good luck with that.”

I twist my wrists, ignoring the bite of the ropes. “I’m not going with him.”

Iron fixes me with a hard stare. “You don’t have a choice, little bird, if you want to live. Your best chance is to stick together.”

Blaze pockets the cash. “What are you going to do?”

“Someone’s gunning for both of you.” Iron strides toward the door. “I’m going to find out who, but until I do, you two need to disappear.”

He ducks out, leaving Blaze and me alone. Iron leaves the door open as he marches toward a black SUV on the dirt road.

Blaze turns to me, his expression unreadable. “Apparently, you’re stuck with me, princess."

I glare, my mind reeling. It doesn’t make sense. But nothing about this situation does.

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