Page 46 of Devil Within

A thought made her eyes widen. “Wait. Your wound.”

“I’m fine,” he assured her. “Nero patched me up. He also saved your life. This is his mobile hospital. You know, if we were one minute later, you wouldn’t be here. I’d be burying you.”

She stared at his lips, hearing him but could only process every other word.

“I know you’re mad at me.” Shiloh squeezed his hand. “I’m sorry.”

A tear slid down from the corner of her eye. Shocked, she wiped it away. She hadn’t even known she was crying.

“I love you more than I’m mad at you,” he whispered. “If you had died ... I swear, Shi, I would’ve laid down with you. Promise you won’t ever do something like that again.”

“I promise,” she vowed. “I love you, Jade.”

“When you heal and get back on your feet, you’re gonna marry me.”

Her eyes widened. “I am?”

“Damn straight, you are. We’re partners, together for forever. And I’ll spend the rest of my life making you happy.”

She smiled dreamily. “Ditto.”

Chapter Sixteen

Jade entered a large red barn located behind the club. They’d named the monstrosity The Schoolhouse, a play on words. His gaze immediately saw War and Ryder babysitting the star pupil. Lawrence hung from the ceiling crossbeam, head low, and Jade could see that the fucker’s shoulders had already popped out of their sockets.

“Did he pass out?” he asked.

“Almost from the start,” War replied, frowning. “No fun.”

Ryder held out a whip. “Found it for you.”

Jade took it. “Thanks. We got a piss bucket?”

War nodded to a corner. “Over there.”

“Would you do the honor of waking the dead man up?”

War grinned. “That’s my favorite thing to do.”

Jade and Ryder shared an amused glance. They watched, staying well out of any splash zone, as War tossed the bucket of piss onto Lawrence, who sputtered awake.

“Wakey, wakey,” War said a bit too enthusiastically.

“Ah!” Lawrence screamed. “Please. My arms hurt.”

Jade stepped forward, and Lawrence focused on him. “This is your penance. A Sons of Sin baptismal where we’re going to break every bone in your fucking body. See, you put your hands on my woman, and I’m not a forgiving man when it comes to the piece of shit who raped her.”

He walked around Lawrence’s body and uncoiled the whip. He did a few test snaps, letting the recoil warn what he planned to do.

“No,” Lawrence said weakly. “Please don’t.”

Jade burst out laughing, although there was no humor in the tone. “Hear that, brothers? This waste of air thinks begging is going to get him out of this. Did you stop when Shiloh begged you? When she cried and pleaded with you not to stick your filthy incest-loving dick in her? Do you honestly think there’s any way you’re leaving here alive?”

He brought the whip back and then lashed Lawrence’s back. An angry, bleeding mark appeared through the flayed shirt. The asshole screeched.

“Oh, you didn’t know how this felt, did you?” Jade asked. “Let me demonstrate it again.”

He hit him again, and once more, Lawrence cried out in pain. Jade didn’t stop. Over and over, he whipped the cult leader until his wrist hurt from flicking the braided leather tail.