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I had enough bruises on my face in the past to know only a punch could darken the skin on her cheek like that. A fist with enough force to have an impact. My teeth clenched as I tried to keep the rage inside from unleashing and frightening the fuck out of her and Embry.
My fingers seemed to have a will of their own as I pulled Molly’s body toward mine. I couldn’t stop staring at the purplish mark that marred her soft skin. She was so fair. I didn’t have a fucking clue why she insisted on lounging in the sun until she turned tomato-red. She didn’t have the same complexion that we did in my family—Italian roots. The sun bronzed our skin. We tanned without effort.
But Molly? She was already pink, even with sunscreen. I could smell the cocoa butter and coconut oil on her skin. Fuck. I loved the scent of her. It mixed with the light citrus and sweet fruity smell that always clung to her skin. Fresh. Clean. Irresistible.
Fucking delicious.
And so damn irresistible. That was why I kept a distance from her. She was too damn tempting. A sweet, tasty little sheep for the wolf to hunt and devour. I swore I wouldn’t come back here and fucking stalk her house, hang out in the street, and watch her from a distance, but I should have gotten closer.
Seeing that bruise enraged me. I had to know who dared to touch her. She might not be mine, but she had my protection.
“Tell me,” I growled as Embry’s big green eyes widened.
My cousin looked ready to burst into tears. Shit.
“Molls. What happened?”
“You didn’t see this bruise before now?” I asked, not bothering to hide my annoyance.
“Have you seen how bright it is out, Slash? Or are you too busy feeling up my best friend to notice it’s near impossible to notice shit right now with that glare coming off the pool? Besides, she had makeup on. I think it washed off when we went swimming.”
Molly sighed. “You can both calm down. Really. I’m f—”
“Don’t you finish that sentence.” Embry rushed to Molly’s side. “Tell me it wasn’t Fred.”
Fred. That fucking worthless piece of shit. I knew he was an asshole. I’d heard about the shit he got mixed up in. Drugs, mostly. I knew he got in debt with the Guererro cartel, but that wasn’t my problem.
Until now.
I’d never been given a reason to worry that he mistreated Molly. No one said shit. No rumors. Well, I heard conflicting gossip about Molly’s older sister, Lark. And her oldest sibling, her brother, Torin. We didn’t move in the same circles. He worked with the feds. I lived life outside the law.
Of course, I didn’t live here anymore so that meant I didn’t have the same insight.
When I patched into the Feral Rebels after prospecting for my uncle, I left Las Vegas behind and never had any intention of coming back.
To visit, sure. To live? Hell no.
But then I returned last summer to see my aunt and cousin. I didn’t expect to meet Molly or be slapped in the face with the attraction I felt for a beautiful woman fifteen years younger than me. It should feel wrong. It didn’t.
Holding her felt too fucking right.
Molly shook her head and refused to answer.
I tilted her chin up so I could stare into her eyes, hoping to make her cooperate. “Tell us.”
Tears filled her eyes, and I shook with fury. Someone was hurting her, and I’d fucking gut the bastard for it. I just needed confirmation.
“Molls. Don’t protect that asshole.” She reached for Molly, and I reluctantly released her, watching as the two young women embraced. “You never say anything. Why? We can help you.”
Molly shrugged. “I don’t want to be a burden.”
Embry pursed her lips. “This is different, Molls. It’s about your safety.”
“That’s right,” I growled, stepping closer because I hated the pain I could see in Molly’s hazel eyes. They could appear green or blue depending on what she wore or her mood. I learned that last summer. Right now? They were a stormy, turbulent sea. “We only want to help.”
She sighed. “I know.”
“So let us help,” Em pleaded.
