Page 47

“ B aby, listen to me. Do you know where Quinnell is?” Dev asks, pulling himself out of my hold and gripping my face.

It feels so good to have his hands on me again, but I can’t hold it together anymore.

Now he’s here, I don’t feel like I have to be strong anymore, and the reality of what’s happened to me sinks in with a vengeance.

“He left…He left them to…” I look down at my body and break into tears all over again.

“I know… but it’s over now. I’m here. No one's gonna hurt you.” He tries to soothe me, but all the coping strategies I had in place have abandoned me.

“They raped me. All three of them.” My skin feels scratchy, like I can still feel them on me, and when I look down at my bare flesh, I can see why I’m aching so much. The bruises from how rough they were are already starting to show.

“I’m so sorry.” Dev looks as if he’s about to cry himself.

“I should have insisted I come with you when you spoke to your father. I really thought you were safe there, Millie.” He shakes his head, and I hate how he looks so disappointed in himself.

None of this is Dev’s fault. These men didn’t come after me because of him.

All this had something to do with my father.

“So did I. Dev…” I swallow back my tears, knowing that what I’m about to say is going to make him even angrier. “...Quinnell didn’t take me because of the club. My dad is mixed up with these people, somehow. We have to–”

“Your dad’s at the clubhouse, he’s safe. At least for now,” he interrupts, and I question what I’m hearing.

“We need to get you to a hospital, get you checked over.” Dev takes off his cut and lifts off his shirt.

“I just want to go home.” I shake my head.

“I want to get into your bed, and have you hold me till I forget all this happened.” I can hear the guy who got shot between his legs moaning on the floor.

I’m pretty sure the other two men are dead, and knowing Quinnell is still out there somewhere makes me want Dev to never leave my side.

“Baby, I want that too, but some shit went down while you were at your dad's. Long Beach ain’t safe. That girl you visited yesterday; she’s dead,” he explains, and I stroke my forehead as I try to keep up.

“The people who own the club are gonna think I did it, and they're gonna come for the club. All the girls are on their way to Vex’s cabin. I’mma get you to the hospital, have 'em check you over, and then take you there myself.”

“Dev, I don’t want the hospital. I just want this to be over.” All the walls I’ve held up around me crumble. I’m exhausted.

“Millie, listen to me.” Dev lifts my head in his hands.

“You’re through the worst. I just need you to be brave for me, one last time.

These men wouldn't have used protection.” His fingers tense, and his jaw ticks.

“You need medical help, darlin’.” I follow his eyes to the bloody sheets and see the anger in them, ready to spill.

“And what about him?” I look toward the man bleeding on the floor.

“I’ll find them again once I’ve got you taken care of. Right now, you're all that matters.” He slides his shirt over my head and helps me get my arms into the sleeves, before lifting me off the bed and carrying me through the luxury yacht until we’re back on land.

“Can you ride the saddle or are ya too sore?” I hear the pain in his voice as we get closer to his bike, and it hurts more than anything.

I wonder how he’ll view me now that I’ve been spoiled.

I know how much he loved the fact that it has only ever been him; he tells me so, almost every time we’re together.

All that's changed now. Will he still view me as his?

“I’ll manage.” I tighten my grip around his neck and try not to show how much pain I’m in when he gently rests me down.

“You just hold tight, okay?” He kisses my forehead before he climbs on and starts the engine.

“You good?” Dev asks, scowling at the nurse who steps out of the examination room behind me when I hobble out.

The nurse was kind to me, and I guess she was just doing her job when she asked him to wait outside. I won’t tell him that she asked me if he was the person who’d hurt me, once we were alone. I’m sure Dev already knows she judged him based on his looks.

“I’m fine.” I try to sound convincing. I even manage a smile, and he returns it with a sad one as he takes my hand, walking much slower than he usually would with me toward the exit.

“They gave me some pain killers and antibiotics… they should stop me from contracting anything infectious,” I tell him quietly when we eventually get to his bike. “ They gave me the morning-after pill too… Just in case.” I feel his hand tense in mine as he takes a deep breath.

“I’m gonna stay with you at Vex’s place,” he tells me, turning his body to face mine and cupping my cheek in his big, heavy hand.

“You don’t have to do that. All the girls will be there, and it sounds like the club needs you.” I show him how brave I can be with another fake smile.

“You need me more,” he rasps.

“Dev…I–”

“ I need it,” he blurts out before I can tell him again that I’m okay.

“I need to be close to you, okay?” He presses his forehead against mine and inhales me in deeply.

“We’ll stop by the club so we can pick up a cage.

It’ll make the journey more comfortable for you.

Then we’ll go to the cabin and stay there till it’s safe.

After that, we’ll go anywhere you wanna go. ”

“Dev, don’t you understand that I just want to be with you?”

“I’ll never understand it.” He slides his thumb across my bottom lip. “But I’ll never stop being grateful.” He kisses me before helping me onto his bike so we can head back to the club.