Page 18 of Aftershock's Fury

“Guys,” I shout as I continue to pull on his finger until it breaks.

The man screams, and I shove him away from me. He kicks out, tripping me when I turn to flee. My hands go out to catch myself, but I’m caught in a pair of arms before I hit the floor. I look up to see Cy holding me. The other guys rush past us, taking off after my attacker.

“I’m going to have to call him now.”

“No.” I shake my head. Tears flood my vision as realization hits of what almost happened to me.

“Sweet girl, he’ll be pissed if he finds out you were attacked and I didn’t tell him.”

“Fine.”

He helps me out to the front of the brewery. Police sirens wail in the distance, growing closer. Cy puts me on the back of his bike, and we take off before the cops can stop and question me. I know why we’re running, but it still bothers me.

He heads north out of Palmer toward Palmer Fishhook Road. Cy turns down a two-lane winding road. We finally stop at a house I don’t recognize off Church Road. The style reminds me of Rylan’s, with the three-car garage and the third being oversized. This house has more windows in front and is larger than my brother’s place.

The front door opens, and Crue rushes outside.

“On your bike, Dad? In that outfit? I should fucking kick your ass too.”

He plucks me off the back and carries me into the house without waiting for a response. I bury my face in his neck, still rattled and scared. I’ve never had to fight off an attack before.

CHAPTER

SIX

AFTERSHOCK

My heart is pounding, adrenaline rushing through my body. When my dad called and said there was a situation and that he was bringing Harlowe to me, I panicked.

But the call from Loki telling me she had been attacked was even worse. All I could think about was the possibility of having to send her away again. I know now that I can’t live without her. If it came to it, I would leave everything behind.

When my father finally pulled up, I saw my girl holding on for dear life. Even from a distance, I could see the tears streaking down her face. I didn’t really notice what she was wearing until I set her on the kitchen island.

Her shorts are so short that if she bent over, you’d see her shapely ass. Then there’s the fact I can see the fullness of her breasts beneath her top. I want to rail at her for what she’s wearing, but then I feel her trembling.

I pull my father’s helmet off her head and wrap my arms around her. She clings to me like a spider monkey, even wrapping her legs around my hips. Her core is over my cock, andthat dirty part of my mind wants to slip it out and slide into her heat. But I have to care for her.

She finally settles down, and she’s quiet. I lift her chin to look at me and see the mark on the side of her face.

“That fucker hit you?”

“No, I blocked it,” she says so quietly I barely hear her.

My father walks in and pours her a shot of whiskey. “Here, sweet girl, take a swig.” He hands it to her, and she takes a small sip.

“Harlowe,” Kodiak yells as soon as he comes in.

Fezzik is beside him and rushes to her. As soon as he nuzzles against her foot, she pushes me back. I don’t want her to go, but I know she needs him.

She unzips her boots before kicking them off. I help her down. She sits on the floor, and Fezzik pushes into her body between her legs. She wraps her arms around him, and I sit down beside them, wrapping both of them in my arms. I can’t let her go yet.

I hear my father telling Kodiak what happened, but I focus on my girl and getting her to calm down.

“You’re safe, Starlight,” I whisper into her ear, and she nods. “I won’t let anything happen to you.” She turns in my arms, letting go of Fezzik.

“Please don’t send me away,” she says.

Kodiak and my father come over and join us.

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