Page 36 of Savage Hunter

“I hear him talking. Let me in there,cabrón,or I will take your left nut and put it with the head I found in the fridge.¿Tu me entiendes?” Do you understand me?

Head in a jar? I swivel around to see Wolfe wearing a grim expression.

Oh, God. “Whose head?” I ask.

“Rage’s brother.”

Persi suddenly looks exhausted.

“Casanova, Rage is going to help her put both your nuts in a mason jar. I wouldn’t keep her out much longer.”

I head for the stairs and feel Wolfe’s warmth press up against mine as he follows me into the medical bay. I flick the tip of my tongue over the small hoop piercing in the middle of my lip. It was the first thing I did on my own after I came to live here. It helps me remember I get to make my own choices now, no one else.

But no matter how fast and hard I play with the piece of gold, nothing stops a fire from blooming inside me. It starts from the core of my being and shoots to the very ends of my fingers and toes.

Whatever you need. But I’m not going anywhere.

His words give me a sense of calm, but also stirs a worry inside me I’m trying not to give life to. How do I blend my past with my present? It’s not an answer I need right this second so I offer Wolfe a small smile and continue on my way to find Rage.

Eight

Avery

Savages form around a metal bed I think suits a morgue better than an emergency room.

Kendra and Piper move to the side and the second I see Rage I shoot up a prayer of gratitude to the powers that be he didn’t die today. I finally lose the battle and let my emotions take over.

Tears roll down my cheeks as I come up to the side of the bed he’s spread out on. They hooked an IV up to one arm and the heart monitor beeps on the opposite side of the bed.

I brush at a wayward tear and take Rage’s hand in mine.

“Hey, what’s wrong, sweetness?”

I lean in. I can tell he’s hurting but I recognize the other hurt in him too. Whoever this Persi woman is he cares for her and with everyone bustling around and wanting answers he can’t be with her.

“Persi is upstairs and livid. But she’s okay. I don’t think it will take long for her to plow through Casanova to get to you.” I pull back wearing a smile for my friend.

Blue tired eyes find mine and Rage squeezes my fingers with silent appreciation. I physically see the tightness surrounding his eyes soften.

“If everyone is satisfied, let’s get the room cleared. We have some talking to do.” That is my cue to leave. Ares braces his hands on the side of Rage’s bed and looks all business.

Riot, Dragon and Wolfe take up the back wall wearing scowls. All three men, along with Casanova and Blaze—the youngest patched members—replace the surrounding women except for Nova. She moves up to her man’s side, a hand resting on her belly.

Back when I entertained fantastical ideas of a life with Wolfe, I wondered what I would look like round with his child. Unable to keep my gaze from him long, I cast my head down and flick my eyes over his large body. I swallow taking in the bulge of his forearms crossed over his chest and the way he appears relaxed and alert at the same time. How did he escape my mother’s wrath? Does he hide scars from the fight to save me under all that dingy cotton and stained denim?

Guilt wraps unbreakable fingers around my throat and settles in my veins like poison.

“Look, I know I need to answer some questions, and I will. But—”

I move out of the way as Riot walks down the stairs, plucks a bag between Rage’s legs, cutting his words off. Using rough, jerky motions, Riot rips open the zipper and pulls the sides down. I raise to the tips of my toes but I can’t see past the brutes blocking my view.

Wolfe grabs my hand and moves me in front of him and I immediately wish I could wash the sight from my memory.

“I have an idea. Let’s start with why your brother’s head is in a jar.” Riot sounds pretty pissed off.

I turn in Wolfe’s arms and tuck myself under his chin.

“It’s okay, angel. There’s nothing you can do for Rage’s brother now. Tears won’t help him.”

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