Page 76 of Knox Unleashed
Yet, here I stand with Maren in my arms, feeling a thousand feet tall, because it was me she ran to.
Not her father.
Me.
Because she knew that, in spite of everything, I’d protect her. Even as she tried to keep our secret and push me away. The realization sits heavy beneath my ribs as something dangerously close to pride joins the adrenaline fizzing through my veins.
Maren’s fingers clutch the back of my cut hard enough that the leather tugs across my pecs and shoulders. Her breathing is quick and uneven against my chest.
From the looks of the damage to the gate, she busted through like it was a demolition derby. I’m glad the front of her truck has bull bars. Then, I notice the rear of the truck, and my fury spikes.
“Did those fuckers try to run you off the road?”
She looks up at me, eyes wet with tears. “They hit me a few times.”
“Define hit. They beat you again?”
She shakes her head. “No. They rammed me and hit me.” Then I notice the bullet holes she’s pointing to. My heart slams to a stop. They could have killed her. I could have been reading news reports tomorrow that she’d been found dead in her vehicle.
Venom fills my veins, the frigid cold rush of it.
“Motherfuckers are dead.”
The conversation I know I’m going to have with my club is an uncomfortable one. I’ve tried to ignore the implications of what I’m doing with Maren to the best of my abilities. So, explaining it to my men is going to be tricky.
But these two men are messing with my woman.
My woman.
The words hit me hard.
And we keep missing the men who would hurt her, every which way we look for them. I think back to what North said when we hit the motel and they never came back:Miss by a minute, miss by a mile.
I release my hold on Maren, for a moment, then tug her back to me. “I know what you’re thinking, brother, that she’s a Caldwell, but just wait to hear me out when the others get back. I need you to park her truck.”
Havoc looks at me, and I can tell he’s itching for a fight. Stuck on the line between an order from me and his hatred for Maren’s father. He’d been close to Drew. Not in the way he’s close to Vandal, but Drew’s death had hit him hard.
Maren shakes like a leaf in my arms. And the mascara-tracked tears are wrecking me. Like, ruining me down to my soul.
I should be furious. About our mistakes, about the demolition of our main gate, about the fact there’s a Caldwell in my arms.
But what tightens my jaw is taking in the healing bruises on her face.
“Why didn’t you call me?” I ask her quietly, as I turn to lead her inside.
“They broke into the store. I was in the office. Then, I tried to run. I jumped out of the bathroom window.”
“Jesus, Maren.”
“When I got into the truck, my cell slipped off the seat. I couldn’t reach it and keep driving, so I…so I…”
The words become tears, the tears become sobs, and as Maren buries her head against my chest again, I grab a fistful of her hair and kiss the top of her head.
“I just knew…if I got here…you’d save me.”
Despite the dozen pairs of eyes currently watching the two of us, I almost smile. “Damn straight I would. Every single time.”
“You should get her inside, Prez.” North places his hand on my shoulder and squeezes it. I have no idea how long he’s been standing there or what conclusions he’s come to. “There’snothing stopping those assholes circling back. Let’s get inside and make a plan to secure this place.”
