Page 37 of Angel’s Claim

I walk over to her, slowly, because my ribs are protesting every step, and the second I'm close enough, she launches herself at me. Her arms wrap around my neck, and she buries her face against my shoulder. I catch her, wrapping my arms around her waist despite the pain it sends through my ribs.

"You're okay," she breathes. "Oh my God, you're okay."

"Told you," I murmur into her hair.

"They were kicking you! They were hurting you…"

"And now they're gone."

She pulls back just enough to look at me, and her hands immediately go to my face, checking for injuries. "You're bleeding."

I am? I reach up and touch the back of my head where I got hit. My fingers come away with blood.

"It's just a cut," I say. "Head wounds always bleed more than they should."

"You need to go to the hospital."

"I'm fine, Bree."

"You're not fine. You could have a concussion. You could have broken ribs. You could—"

"Bree." I cup her face with both hands. "I'm fine. I promise."

She stares at me for a long moment, then nods shakily.

"Prospect."

I turn, keeping one arm around Bree. Phoenix is standing beside my bike with the other brothers. They've got it upright now, and Saint is still assessing the damage.

"We're trailering the bike back to the clubhouse," Phoenix says. "You riding with us or staying?"

I look down at Bree, still wrapped in my arms, still wearing my cut, still shaking slightly from watching me get the shit kicked out of me.

"I'm staying," I say.

Phoenix raises an eyebrow. "You're staying."

"Yes sir."

"With the girl you met yesterday."

"Yes sir."

"Instead of coming back to the clubhouse where Saint can make sure you don't have a concussion."

"She can keep an eye on me," I say. "Wake me up every couple hours, make sure I'm still coherent."

Bree looks up at me with wide eyes. "I don't know how to—"

"I'll teach you," I say.

Phoenix crosses his arms and studies us both for a long moment. The other brothers are watching too. Ranger with amusement, Brick with something that looks like approval, Wraith with a knowing grin, Saint just shaking his head.

"If you're staying," Phoenix finally says, "it better be worth it."

I don't hesitate. "It's worth everything."

The words come out more intense than I meant them to, but they're true. This girl, this scared, brave, beautiful girl who ran from her entire life and ended up in my arms, is worth every kick I took, every punch, every second of pain.