Page 16 of Savage Possession
“That’s tomorrow’s problem.”
She arches a perfect brow. “If you say so. What happens now?”
Her eyes search my face, looking for something. Maybe she’s looking for proof of hope that everything will turn out okay. Or maybe she’s looking for signs I’ll betray her, too.
I turn, brushing a loose strand of snow-white hair off her cheek. “Now you come home with me.” My voice is softer than I mean it to be. “We’ll get you cleaned up. Then you’re gonna answer a few questions for me, angel.”
She blinks, hurt flickering in those sky-blue eyes. “Questions?”
I shake my head, jaw tight. “I don’t know what to think. You showed up at the bookstore out of the blue one day and then returned with trouble blazing hot on your sweet ass. I need to understand why.”
She presses her lips together, glancing away, voice trembling. “That’s easy.” She looks over her shoulder and then to either side of the street. “I came here running from Grudge while he did business with my father. I came back because you make me feel safe. Safer than I’ve ever been. There’s nothing to uncover or some secret to reveal. I thought you could keep me alive. And I wasn’t wrong.”
I huff a rough laugh, running a hand over the scruff on my chin. “Yeah, well. I’m not good at much. But keeping you alive? That, I can do.”
I watch her tip her chin up stubbornly. God, she’s beautiful. She looks so small beside me, so damn breakable, and I want nothing more than to wrap her up in my arms and keep the world from touching her.
The street is empty, moonlight pooling over asphalt, the faint scent of rain clings to the air. It’s a perfect fall night.
“Let’s get off the street,” I say, slinging an arm around Isa’s shoulders, pulling her close. She fits perfectly at my side, like her body was made to fit next to mine. I guide her toward the bookstore and lock up on our way out to the back alley. I checkshadows as I load her up in my truck before I slide into the driver’s seat.
I crank the engine and slide her next to me and rest my hand on her thigh.
“Is this what your life is always like? Is there always violence, threats? Do you never feel safe?” Her voice is barely above a whisper as she fumbles with the edges of her dress.
We hit the end of the alley and I point the nose of my truck toward home.
My lips twist into a frown. “Pretty much and it seems yours is too.”
“Touché, Ash. You have me there.”
I grab her hand and press a kiss to the back of her knuckles. “It’s not supposed to be, though. Not for you. And I’m going to make sure that is true from here on out.”
She leans into me, exhaling shakily. “You promise?”
I stop at the last red light before home, turning to face her fully. I brush my thumb over her cheek. “Yeah. I promise. No one touches you again.”
She nods, eyes glistening.
For the first time in a long damn while, I feel like I’ve got something worth protecting and worth living for.
It grips my soul and I’m going to make it permanent.
5
ISABELLA
Iwent from being a tolerated daughter this morning, to being a pawn in a power struggle game between two men who are thirsty to control the other.
And they both have enormous trust issues.
If I really want to lay out the facts, I’m in the middle of a power struggle that involves the Savages, the Vultures, my dad and whoever the Russian guy from the bayou shack is.
It’s the understatement of the week to say I’m not in a good position at all.
We’ve been driving for about fifteen minutes when Ash slows the truck to a slow roll and lowers the window. He pulls off the road and gets stopped at a guardhouse. Large wrought-iron gates keep us on this side of what looks like a continuation of the gravel road. A man looking like a dirtied-up younger version of Liam Hemsworth only with a biker cut, tatts for miles and a smile made to drop panties steps out. Recognition hits and he waves us through. Ash rolls through but stops on the other side of the gate.
“Good to see ya in one piece, man.”
