Page 25 of Dirty Salvation

He'd thought she was cute as hell.

He'd never had sweet in his life; any fucking wonder he didn't know what to do with it.

He'dfuckedup.

Had that decision led to where she was now?

The thought plagued Rider.

Fuck. She was meant to be far away in some fancy lawyer school, that much he remembered, how animated she'd been telling him of her plans. He recalled he thought she was a cute as fuck nerd. One of those book jocks who got off on grammar and math. Sweet and intelligent. Any wonder he'd fucked the hell out of her.

But now his bad decision was coming home to roost and if he found he was to blame for her predicament. Fuck. Fuck.Fuck.

How could he know? That wasthreeyears ago. Maybe she'd done the school thing and returned home, how long was the lawyer gig for?

Whichever direction Rider turned his thoughts to, his gut had a sinking feeling he was involved somewhere along that chain of events.

He'd fucked sweetness and now this bad shit was happening to her

Thank god, he had raided that shithead's place.Thank fuck.

She was still sleeping in his room, he had a prospect on the door to alert him if she woke any time soon. He wanted to wrap up the meeting and get back there.

Club first. Clubfirst. He reminded himself.

Who the fuck made that rule, he scowled.

Oh yeah, it was this fucking idiot.

Anyone would think he cared. Caring wasn't in Rider's wheelhouse.

No. Nope, he did not care.

But yeah, fuck, he kind ofdid.

What the motherfuck was wrong with him?

Within the space of a few minutes, he'd already decided what was going to happen, now he just needed his brothers in accordance. It was the first of its kind and was likely to go over as well as a flea bath.

He steeled his jaw, waited until all was quiet and eyes on him.

"If we take her to the hospital those nosy do-gooders will only bring in the law, they'll ask questions, which in turn will point fingers toward us, we did blow up a building tonight of our known enemies, as it is we still have that heat comin' at us." Grumbles of shared agreement.

"We deal with this ourselves. No one talks outside of this room we brought those girls back here, far as anyone knows we're fuckin' clueless to anyRebels women. And we continue to round those cocksuckers up.”

Hawk hung back after Rider dismissed everyone. He rose his brow, waiting for it. Didn't have to wait long.

"Are you sure about this, Rider? We just got right, we're in the middle of a club war, now we're harboring Hades’ property."

A growl boiled out of Rider's mouth, lips curled back. He spat out with quiet venom.

"She isnothis!” his hiss was fiercer than intended and probably gave away his masked thoughts. “You realize what he probably did to her? You fuckin' realize, that right? And you want me to what... send her back out there to be picked up by one of his crew if he catches on she didn't go up in flames with his club?" His anger was on an uncharted course, unstoppable as he growled at his best friend.

"You of all people, Hawk, should under-fucking-stand this shit, should understand why I want to help her." When he saw the paleness of Hawk's already colorless eyes bleach out, his lips thinned and two meaty fists clench at his side Rider shut up.

He wouldn't apologize.

Fuck that noise.