Page 90 of The Souls We Claim

I step behind her. “When you punch, lead from here.” I pull her fist back to her shoulder. Then I drag the unconscious sack of shit to his feet. “Ready when you are.”

And I swear to God, I get a boner when she licks her lips and grins at me before doing exactly as I told her.

Patrick’s head flails as she does it over and over again until she’s running out of breath and steam.

Like a wolf pack, my brothers and Catalina have started cheering with every punch she lands. Encouraging her to hit harder.

Blood pours from his nose; I’m pretty certain she broke his orbital bone. And when she’s done, I let him fall to the floor.

I take his weapon from the front seat, check the safety is on, remove the magazine, then put it in my pocket before I return the gun. Then I slip my knuckle duster off Arianne’s fingers. They’re bloodied and bruised. “We need to get you cleaned up.”

“Is that how you feel?” Ari asks.

“What do you mean?”

“When you do something like that.” She smiles shyly. “It was oddly invigorating.”

I laugh at that. “You’re braver than you know, kitten.”

“Thank you,” she says. “I would never have been brave enough to do that on my own.”

“I’ve got your back, Ari. Always.” I take her hand and lead her toward the clubhouse.

Switch looks at her hands. “Looks like I’m cleaning you up again.”

King pats her on the back. “Impressive hook, Ari.”

Once she’s cleaned up, I’m gonna take her to my room and do the kind of shit I like to do in there to her because watching her punch the lights out of Patrick made me all kinds of hard.

“We’ve got cleanup,” Niro says, his arm over Cat’s shoulder. “We’ll shove him in his trunk, drive him out somewhere, then open the trunk so he can climb out when he comes to.”

“Thanks, brother.”

“Impressive,” Catalina says to Arianne.

Ari is too good for me, for all this.

So, I make a decision. I’m going to give her an out. I’m going to find her a place to live and enough cash to leave. So that if she stays, I know she’s staying because she wants to. Not because she has no other choice.

And I’m gonna pray she picks me.

27

ARIANNE

Iflush the toilet in Halo’s room, and as I do my best to wash my hands without wetting my dressings, I study myself in the mirror above the sink. What I see there surprises me. Instead of shame, I see pride. My eyes seem bright.

And even though he isn’t here, I feel Halo’s presence behind me.

It’s reassuring.

Perhaps I should spare a thought for Patrick. I have no idea if Niro and Cat will do as Niro said, or if that was some weird coded phrase that means they are actually going to kill and bury him. But somehow, I can’t muster an ounce of sympathy.

There is no goodwill, there is no remorse, and not even a hint of fear that the police will find out and come looking for me.

Because I believe Halo will protect me.

And perhaps, given I fought back a little today, I’ll be able to protect myself.