Page 58 of Avenging Devil: Part 2

Only you.What’s the point of saving my foot if I’m going to lose Saffie? I’d sacrifice anything for her to be my old lady for real. I rest my head back and again close my eyes, mumbling, “I’m okay for the moment.”

I know that I’ve fallen for this woman sitting beside me, fallen hard. She’s been the yin to my yang from the very beginning. Starting perhaps like Kink had suggested, someone who called to a dominant, protective streak inside me. She’d been broken, I wanted to fix her. Then it morphed into more than that when I saw the strength inside her. When I got myself taken to be with her, it was to save her, but only for myself, not so any other fucker could sweep in and take her.

It hits me hard with her few words that she doesn’t reciprocate the feelings I have for her.

I should tell her to go. Keeping her around would just be torturing myself with something I’ll never have, delaying the inevitable when I finally have to say goodbye to her.

I should.

But I won’t. She’s here with me now and I’m going to take advantage. Not in the way an able-bodied man would, but as much as I can with one leg missing and the other of no fucking use.

I’m not a Neanderthal. While I’d love to drag her off to my cave, I’ve come to realise that to win Saffie, I’ve got to break down her barriers. Which means talking to her, really getting to know her, and in the process, letting her get to know me.

Would she be here if there wasn’t just a small bit of her that cares? My brothers wouldn’t have pressured her, would have allowed her to leave if she’d insisted. Even a concern for an injured man has to be something I can work with.

Opening my eyes, I let them feast on her again. She looks drained and tired, her face bruised, and her eyes blackened and sore. It prompts me to ask how she’s feeling.

She startles and smiles. “I think I should be the one asking you that.”

“I’m okay,” I tell her honestly. “Spaced out from the pain meds and dreading knowing the prospects for my foot. Talk to me and take my mind off it.” I might not have lost it, but will what remains be of any use? Will it be weight bearing, and flexible enough to allow me to ride my bike?

She bites her lip, then does a quick up and down of her head. “Where do you want me to start?”

“Start with how the fuck you’re alive,” I rasp, a little more forcefully than I intended, and thank fuck, my voice still sounds weak, though it breaks when I add, “I saw you take a bullet.” My eyes squeeze shut in a vain effort to wipe that memory from my brain. I know I’ll be seeing it in nightmares for the rest of my life.

She giggles, then explains, “Sheer luck. I tripped just as the shot rang out. I honestly thought it had hit me.” She laughs self-deprecatingly. “Crazy, huh? I didn’t see how at that distance they could have missed. So I stayed put, unmoving, just waiting for death to take me.”

“If you’d been hit, you’d have felt it.”

“I’ve never been shot before.” She shrugs. “I thought I should have felt something, but then I thought maybe he’d gotten my spine. I was in shock, I suppose. Or that’s what the doctor Preacher made me see suggested.”

“Why Preacher?” Have I got a rival? I frown as her words register. What the fuck is he doing hanging around? Which leads me on to my next question, “Where am I?” I’m in a hospital room, but that could be anywhere.

“Preacher was the one who arranged for you to be airlifted out. He suggested you come to Utah, to a hospital near their clubhouse. Bolt said there was an expert on prosthetics in the north of the state, so it seemed a good place to bring you. Preacher dabbles as a medic as well as a pilot.” She sounds impressed.

But at her words I do remember Preacher being the one to look at my leg, but then I’d been in a pain-filled haze. Trying to get my brain working, I recall he’s the sergeant-at-arms of the Utah chapter.

“You’re staying in the clubhouse? You’re close to Preacher?” As soon as the words leave my mouth, I know I’m an ass. She’d made no promises to me.

“No.” Her eyes widen as if I’d accused her of a crime. “I couldn’t, Niran. They’ve put me up in a hotel close to the hospital.” While I’m processing that probably means she still hasn’t overcome her fear of bikers, even though they were who rescued her, she’s back to biting her lip again. “They think I’m your old lady. I didn’t contradict them. I don’t think they’d have let me stay otherwise.”

So my brothers from Utah think she’s mine? At least that means she’s off-limits. “Good call.”

She gives another shrug.

I’m glad she perpetuated my lie. As my old lady she’s the responsibility of the club. I give her a sharp look, then agree to keep to her story. “I’m just glad you’re here. I’ll keep up the pretence.”

Shaking her head, she winces. “I feel guilty for accepting your club’s help. They’re paying for the hotel and my expenses.”

“Don’t be,” I refute fast. “Let’s be selfish about this. I’m apparently stuck in a hospital far away from my brothers, having to cope with fuck knows what.” They may have managed to weld the bones together, but that doesn’t mean I’ll be able to walk. Or ride. Both consequences I’ll have difficulty facing. “I’d appreciate a friend around, Saffie. I’d like you to stay for my sake.” As she opens her mouth, I raise my hand. “As for you, Saffie, you’ve got one hell of a lot of shit that you need to get straight in your head. Your relationship with Duke was fucked. You were kept captive, and when you escaped, he found you and dragged you back. On top of that, you’re dealing with the loss of your baby. Why not take this time to think about what you want to do now you’re free to live the rest of your life? We’re friends, aren’t we? Why not help me, and while you’re doing that, let me help you?”

Duke. Why is something niggling at my mind when I think of his name? I shake my head trying to clear it, but all I do is make it hurt again.

Saffie is watching me carefully. “You destroyed my trust in you, Niran. I hated you. Then you saved me.”

I was hoping actions spoke louder than words. “If I hadn’t lied to Duke, he’d have killed me in your apartment. You saw what he did to Kid.” I pause and have to wait for that pain to fade. “Lying wasn’t to save my life, but a chance to go with you, to keep you safe. I had to lie to you, Saffie. I had to act the part. Otherwise, I’d never have been convincing.” I put as much conviction in my voice as I can.

She grimaces and again stares down at her hands. “It shook me, Niran. All my life I’ve been taken in by everyone. Even as it turns out, my father. That you’re capable of lying—”

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