Page 4

Hannah

I knew I was on borrowed time. Pain would be here soon to look me over, but one thing I’d learned about Knuckles since I’d met him a few weeks ago was that he absolutely would not let something go if he thought it was important. Knuckles was exactly like my father. Dad always knew what was going on in our lives no matter how hard we tried to keep it secret. He even knew I’d been the one to kill my boyfriend, Robert, instead of Gunnar. Dad had tried to get me to confide in him, to let him handle Robert’s death and Gunnar’s situation the way it needed to be handled, but I’d made a promise to Gunnar. Knuckles was just as perceptive.

True to his word, thirty minutes later, there was a knock at my door. “Hannah?”

“Is Pain here?” I didn’t open the door. It was childish but I wanted to keep him waiting just because I could.

“Yep. And he’s grumpy.”

“I didn’t tell you to call him. If he’s gonna be a grouch, I’ll just stay in here and lie down. I’m tired. It’s been a long fucking day.”

“Hannah.” There was a warning in his voice. “Out here. Now.”

Before I could stop myself I muttered, “You ain’t the boss of me.”

“Not yet.” I shivered at the promise in his voice and wasn’t sure if it was from fear or something else entirely. “Give it time.”

“I’ve never wanted to punch someone in the balls more in my life.” That wasn’t true. I’d wanted to punch Dillon in the balls way the fuck more, but for a myriad of other reasons. And I would. Once everything died down.

More banging. “Hannah!”

“I’m coming! Christ! It’s like a sickness with you!” I’d just finished dressing in the yoga pants and tank top someone had left for me. My money was on Gunnar’s woman, Pippa. She was exactly what my brother needed, and I was so grateful she had his back. As for Knuckles… I had the feeling this man was going to be the biggest, prickliest thorn in my side ever imagined. And, Christ, it didn’t help he was the hottest man I’d ever seen in my life. I jerked open the door and glared up at him. “You happy now?”

“Not in the least. Get your ass in here to Pain so he can check you over, then me and you are havin’ a come to Jesus meetin’.”

“Knuckles. Cool it.” I’d only met Pain once since coming to Nashville to be closer to my brother. Now that I had him back, I didn’t want to let Gunnar out of my sight. I couldn’t stay in the big industrial complex they called a compound. I needed freedom to move around without the scrutiny of the men in the club. Despite his name, Pain was one of the most naturally empathetic people I’d ever met. He wasn’t a doctor, but he had a natural gift for helping people.

“Not until I find out what the fuck’s goin’ on.” Knuckles crossed his massive arms over an equally muscled and impressive chest. Honestly, how did the man get so big? He was well over six feet tall and he had to weigh at least three hundred pounds. All of it solid-as-fuck muscle.

“You saw what was goin’ on, Knuckles.” Pain didn’t raise his voice or look at the big man. Instead, he handed me an ice pack and set about looking in my eyes and shit. “Now, if you can’t be civil get the fuck outside until I’m done.”

“Or you could not come back at all.” I tried to give him a bright smile but couldn’t quite manage.

“You take a good look at her, Pain. Really see her injuries. All of them.” Knuckles looked straight at me.

“Trust me,” Pain answered in a tight voice, glancing up at me. “I see them.”

“How long, Hannah?” Knuckles simply to God wasn’t going to let this go.

“How long what? Is your dick? From what I hear, not very.”

Pain snorted before attempting to cover it with a cough. “Hold this ice pack to your face, honey. It’ll help with the swelling. I’ve got a little something for pain too.”

“I don’t need anything other than maybe some acetaminophen and ibuprofen. The ice pack’ll help.”

“Cut the crap, you two.” Knuckles snapped his fingers to bring our attention back to him. “This isn’t the first time he’s hit you. Why didn’t you come to your brother?”

“You Goddamned well know why.” My voice was barely above a whisper. “And if you tell Gunnar, I will kill you, Knuckles. Slowly and painfully.”

We faced off and I knew he could see how angry I was, even with one side of my face swelling pretty badly now. He could see my fury.

His gaze narrowed and he tilted his head to the side, like he was studying an insect. It was the first time since I’d started my… work, where I thought someone saw straight through me. “Yeah,” he said slowly. “I believe you fuckin’ would.” His voice was a rough growl, his gaze penetrating, digging for the secrets I’d buried from everyone.

Pain looked from one of us to the other and stood slowly, inserting himself between me and Knuckles. “Maybe you need to take a step back here.”

Knuckles shrugged. “No need. I see her now.”

“I seriously doubt that.” Yeah, I was good and pissed now that I’d had time to shake off the beating. I was bruised and battered, but I was pretty sure there wasn’t anything seriously hurt. I suppose Pain would be the final judge, though.

“Oh, baby girl, I see way the fuck more than you want me to see.” I had to force myself not to swallow nervously at his words. Because I was pretty sure he was close to figuring me out. Maybe not all the way, but he suspected there was more going on than I wanted anyone to know. Any show of nerves on my part would be like blood in the water and Knuckles was a great white shark. The apex predator in my world.

“Probably,” I conceded. “But don’t pretend to know me or what I do. You just met me.”

“Yeah. But I know your twin pretty Goddamned well. I see the same core of strength in you.” He snorted at me. “You ain’t no wiltin’ flower, pinin’ away for the brother she condemned to prison.”

“Never said I was.” I was gonna fuckin’ kill this son of a bitch. Gunnar would just have to live with it.

“No, but you have everyone else believin’ it.”

“All right, Knuckles.” Pain pointed to the door. “Out. Now.”

“Not on your life, Pain. I’m sittin’ right here where I can keep an eye on this little hellion. She’s not leavin’ this house unless I’m with her.”

“You can try to keep me prisoner here, but I promise you, it won’t work out well for you.”

“Oh, baby girl. That’s exactly what I’m countin’ on.” That evil, predator smile was my last straw.

Without so much as a sound, I launched myself around Pain to drive my shoulder into Knuckles’s solar plexus. He grunted but barely moved backward against the force of my body hitting him. I was short and slight, but I had a leanly muscled body, so I was strong. I was light on my feet, even after the hits I’d taken earlier. Even though Knuckles seemed to barely notice the hit he’d taken, I’d put myself in the dominant position, getting the upper hand.

When he would have wrapped his arms around my waist, I dropped, sliding under his legs. Coming to my feet, I kicked out and punted him behind the knee. That got a startled yell from him.

“Hannah!” He roared my name as he spun around only to meet my foot with the side of his neck. I was aiming for his jaw, but he was just that little bit too tall, and I was just that little bit too short. He caught my ankle and lifted me up in the air with one big, meaty hand. I let out a girly squeal I was sure I’d be embarrassed about later. My free leg flailed as I tried to get my bearings and fight my way free. “Calm the fuck down, little hellion!”

“Put me down!”

“Christ, Knuckles! What the fuck ’er you doin’?” Pain had a hold of Knuckles’s wrist, trying to pull his arm down.

“Not until she promises to sit down and behave.”

“Knuckles, she just had the shit beat outta her! Stop it right now!”

“All right.” He still didn’t put me down. That stubborn look on his face said he had a problem with me, and we were hashing it out right now. “How about this? Tell me you didn’t let that bastard hit you. As in, convince me, after how you just attacked me, why you didn’t lift a fuckin’ finger to protect yourself when he came at you. You do that, then I’ll fuckin’ leave and you’ll never hear another fuckin’ word from me.”

“And you’ll keep your mouth shut about this to Gunnar.” I had to look up at him from where I still dangled from his hand by my foot. And yeah, I hoped I was getting too heavy for him, but from the way he hadn’t even broken a sweat, I didn’t hold out much hope.

He snorted. “Nope. That’s not a promise I can make. I’m not keeping this from Gunnar because you’re his twin and he loves you.” When I didn’t respond, Knuckles grinned. “What? No snappy comeback?”

Pain scooped me up, taking my weight from Knuckles. If I thought he’d let Pain take me back to the couch or even to bed so I could rest, I’d have been wrong. Pain set me on my feet and Knuckles wrapped one big arm around me before lifting me to cradle me in his arms.

Knuckles settled me close to his chest and I had no way of not snuggling next to him. He smelled so fucking good! The steady beat of his heart under my ear, even for a brief moment, was almost lulling. I knew if I had a full minute to do nothing but snuggle against his wide chest while listening to his heartbeat and the breath moving in and out of his lungs, I’d be out like a light.

From the first time I ever saw him, Knuckles called to me. Tall, dark, and tortured, to say nothing of the thick muscle sculpting his body -- the very embodiment of strength in its most primal form. Colorful tattoos ran from shoulder to wrist, creeping up the side of his neck. Though he was older than me by over a decade, the added age only bolstered his appeal. It was because of how much larger than life Knuckles was that I knew I could never let him know how he affected me. Unfortunately, I was pretty sure I’d blown that pipe dream right out of the water.

Pain gave an exasperated grunt before picking up the ice pack I’d dropped and handing it to me again. “Put this back on your face, honey. You might be a badass, but you’re not indestructible.” He gave Knuckles a hard look. “Pull a stunt like that again, she won’t have to kill you.” He shut the door softly behind him as he left.

I thought Knuckles would put me down. Set me on the couch or something. Instead, very slowly, never taking his gaze from mine, he moved to a wide, overstuffed chair and sat with me now sitting on his lap. He maneuvered me so I was straddling his hips and rested his hands on my upper thighs as he gave me a level look that brooked no nonsense. “Now. Tell me what the fuck is goin’ on, Hannah.”