Page 20 of Ruthless Salvation

I didn’t know how else to explain the way Tor’s gaze lifted from the ground and collided directly with mine. He hadn’t scanned the crowd or been lost in a daze. His piercing eyes shot with intention straight to mine and locked on me with the precision of a sniper scoping his target.

The wig had been pointless.

He knew exactly who I was.

Fury darkened his face as he shot to his feet just as the bell rang.

Present

I couldn’t believemy eyes.

Stormy was there at the fight. And that look on her face? I’d never fucking scratch it from my memory. The desperation and torment. It transformed me from man into pure primal instinct, and that instinct demanded I get to her. The fight didn’t matter. The bets and spectators and obligations—none of it mattered. None of it even registered. There was only Storm and her need for help.

The bell rang as I lurched to my feet, and Razor made the mistake of coming at me. He got in one hit while my focus was divided. That was it. A strike to the jaw that didn’t even register.

The beast raging inside me wasn’t about to let this motherfucker stand in my way. I attacked with savage, merciless blows one after the other, never giving him the opportunity to defend or counter.

When he crumpled to the ground, the referee came at me as though expecting to have to restrain me, but I wasn’t interested in spending a second longer than necessary in that ring. I only had one thing on my mind.

Jumping from the platform, I charged into the crowd that was now going ballistic. The unexpected assault had riled them to a frenzied state, making it harder to form a path through the chaos. Some wanted to congratulate me. Others were spitting angry.

I didn’t give a fuck about any of them.

Ripping off my gloves and discarding them to the ground, I shoved people out of my way until she was finally within reach. The only way to get her out safely was with her in my arms, so I scooped into my arms in one swift motion and continued my momentum toward the exit. The crowd thinned toward the perimeter. Increasing my pace, I tore past everyone I knew and didn’t stop until Storm and I were safely in the locker room. Alone.

I set her on her feet and slammed the door shut behind us. Only then was I able to gain some semblance of control over my ragged breathing and racing heart. I didn’t take too long, though, because I needed to know what was wrong.

Turning to face her, I placed my hands on either side of her face, angling her eyes up to meet mine. My hands reeked in their sweat-soaked wraps, but I didn’t care. All that mattered was making sure Storm was okay.

“Did something happen? Did someone hurt you?”

She shook her head in tiny, uncertain movements. “I’m okay.” Her voice was so goddamn small that it wasn’t even her—not the Stormy I knew. What the hell had happened to upset her so deeply? If she wasn’t hurt, then what?

I swiped the wig off her head and tossed it aside. She tugged a cap off her head and let her golden hair fall to her shoulders. A twinge of pain stabbed deep in my chest. She was so fucking beautiful—an angel.

My angel.

“The fuck are you doin’ here, Storm?” My words came off harsh. I’d already been on edge, but those two words still echoed in my mind, stirring up my anger. I had no business thinking of her as mine.

If not yours, then whose?

My chest clenched tighter at the mental image of her leaving the club with that man. Someone as vivacious as Storm would end up with a ring on her finger sooner rather than later. Was I ready to accept that?

“Micky. She wanted to come.”

I’d been so preoccupied that I hadn’t even seen Micky.

Storm continued. “We were going to see you fight, but … I couldn’t … the others were different. I couldn’t stand…” Her now glassy eyes cut to my busted cheekbone, then drifted to each bruise and scrape like she was cataloging my injuries. Was she reassuring herself I was alright?

Fucking Christ, this woman.

This was bad. I was too on edge, and she was too fragile. We were going to do something we’d regret.

I needed to walk away, but there was no chance in hell. I needed to feel her. Taste her. Reassure myself she was whole and healthy and mine.

Fuck.

I needed toownher.

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