Page 19 of Protected By Saint

I shake my head. While I was locked alone in that small room, I did think about Natalie and questioned why she would do this. We’ve known each other less than four months, but I’d thought we were becoming friends. But then I realized that the girl had never truly viewed me as her friend. She’d been cold and aloof when we started rooming together, but that changed a few months ago when she suddenly became friendly. I didn’t think much of it, but in hindsight, it seems she already had plans for me.

“I think she’s done this before. Buck implied that they worked together. I-I don’t think I can see her again. I don’t know how I’ll get my things from the apartment, but I can’t handle talking to her again.”

“You won’t,” Saint assure me, his tone menacing.

“Right. You just leave that to me, buttercup.” I want to snap at his repeated use of the nickname, but the tone he uses as he says it has changed from mocking to something like fondness. “Give Saint your address. Me and a couple of the guys will get your things and see about having a little…chat with Miss Natalie. Maybe she’ll tell us what those fuckers want with you now.”

My heart stops. At least that’s what it feels like as I blink at the large bearded man standing a few steps away from me, trying to make sense of the words he just spoke.

“T-they are looking for me?” I choke out, suddenly feeling lightheaded.

It’s not over? Buck and his men are looking for me? How many of them are there and what happens when they find me?

“Get the fuck out, Knox!”

I expect the man to ignore Saint and make some snarky comment, but Knox simply nods. I catch a look of concern in his expression as he walks past us, slapping Saint on the shoulder before he walks to the door. I don’t turn around to watch him leave, only catching the sound of the door opening and shutting, followed by the roar of a motorcycle engine before it fades as he rides off.

“Jade—”

I whip around to look at Saint, my fingers trembling as I grab the front of his vest, my eyes pleading for him to tell me that Knox was lying. “Y-you bid on me,” I whisper shakily, and he flinches at the words, but I’ve stopped seeing it as a bad thing. I know things would have been different if I’d ended up in the arms of someone else. “You won me. I became yours after the auction. Why would they want me?” I rack my mind for a reason. “The auction was just supposed to be for one night. Do they want to auction me again, or do they think that I know something and could go to the cops?”

“It doesn’t matter what the fuck those assholes want with you. You’re not going anywhere.”

“But—”

“I will tear apart anyone who touches you, Jade. No one harms anything that belongs to the president of the Steel Rebels and lives to tell the tale.”

Steel Rebels!

I didn’t think I had it in me to be surprised any more than I have been already, and yet here I am. I’ve seen the embroidery on the back of both Saint’s and Knox’s matching vests. I made out the patches as those of a motorcycle club, but I assumed it was one of the small harmless clubs in the city.

Everyone in Chicago knows who the Steel Rebels are, a gang of notorious leather-clad outlaws who ride through the city on their roaring motorcycles. While it’s never been proven, they’ve long been suspected as having a role in the weapons trade. Everyone knows to avoid the rural area outside the city limits where their clubhouse is located. They don’t even try to keep its location a secret like most clubs.

And yet, I somehow ended up in the home of their president.

I’ve heard of him too, of course. The president of the Steel Rebels is known to be a ruthless man with the patience of a… “Saint,” I whisper, my eyes widening in alarm. I want to smack myself for not connecting the dots sooner.

“You belong to me, precious. I will tear apart anyone who tries to steal you away!”

Chapter Nine

Saint

A whirlwind of emotions dance across her face as she processes the news. First, there’s shock. Her eyes widen as she tries to grasp the reality of what I just told her. Then I notice the flicker of doubt creep in like a shadow passing over her features. I can almost hear her thoughts racing through her mind, the stories she’s heard swirling around. Most of which are true.

The Steel Rebels have a reputation that is hard to ignore. Almost everything she’s heard about us is likely true. It wouldn’t be so easy to lie to her and claim that we’re just a group of harmless men who love riding after everything that has happened over the years. Things changed when I became president three years ago, and I took a much more peaceful approach to things compared to the last president, who happened to be my father. It took a lot of work to reform the club, and my cousin Priest, who’d taken over our sister club, the Steel Order, from his father—my uncle—helped me a lot. But it’s not exactly easy controlling a bunch of grown men who for the most part act like feral dogs with a knack for stirring shit up.

But I don’t want Jade to see me as the person she’s probably heard about in the news.

I can be a heartless motherfucker to the entire world, but to her, I will be whatever the she needs me to be.

Jade’s brows furrow slightly, and I can feel the tension grow between us. It’s almost she’s battling with herself with one part wanting to trust the me, and the other, well, I can’t blame her for being scared.

“I am more dangerous than any of those men looking for you.” That much is true. “But I am no danger to you, Jade. I will stand between you and anyone who dares come close.”

“But you’retheSaint!” Jade takes a step back, and I fight the urge to reach out and keep her close to me, but fuck, I can’t afford to scare her. “I’ve heard so much. God…your name is everywhere. On the streets, in the news… How did I not make the connection?”

“Precious—”

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