Page 67 of Pretty Broken Wings

I make it three steps before strong arms wrap around my middle.

“Help!” I scream. “Someone help!”

Axel hoists me over his shoulder, and I struggle, clawing at his clothes and beating on his back. He just stalks up to Gage’s door.

“Stop making a scene.”

He knocks as I straighten, throwing him off balance. I feel myself fall backwards, bracing myself to hit the door. But instead, I fall back, hitting a warm body.

“What the–”

I scramble to my feet as Axel shoves inside, shutting the door behind us. “Hey, brother!”

Gage stares at us both, and Buddy is there at our feet, jumping up and down and licking my hands.

“What the hell?” Gage sputters.

I scramble to get around Axel and back out the door. Axel plasters himself to the door, blocking my escape.

I’m trapped. I can’t go anywhere with both men caging me in.

Fighting didn’t help. It didn’t help, and I ruined any trust I built with Axel.

“What’s going on?” Gage looks between us.

I swallow harshly, staring at Gage. I’m not sure what he knows or if he’ll be on his brother’s side. He mostly just looks confused, with a furrow between his brows. Buddy sits on my right foot, panting up at me.

“He kidnapped me.” I don’t break eye contact with Gage.

“What?”

Axel growls, “Raven might have broken her thumb.” He takes a step toward me, and I tense, stepping back.

Gage looks confused. “What is going on?”

“Look at her thumb; she might have broken it.” Axel steps forward again, and Buddy stiffens under me. She gives a low growl.

Axel stops, looking stumped.

“Raven?” Gage growls my name.

I suck in a breath, trying to calm my racing heart. Buddy pressing into my foot grounds me.

“Axel handcuffed me to his bed.”

“What?” Gage’s nostrils flare.

There’s a second of silence, and then Gage turns to Axel. “What the hell?”

“He threw me over his shoulder and took me to his house. He kidnapped me.”

“You handcuffed her to your bed?”

Axel squares his shoulders. “I was trying to keep her from hurting herself. Which she clearly did.” Axel waves at me. “I brought her here so you could check her.”

Their voices are loud, and both men are so tense they might start throwing punches. Great, fight each other so I can run. I look around behind me to the back door, but as I do, Gage turns back to me.

“What’s wrong with your hand?”