My brows snap together. “Where did you find that?”
“Never mind that. He ain’t gettin’ away is all that matters.”
Thank the gods for that. But still… “Now what?”
“Now,” Cleo says with a grim smile, “we call in reinforcements.”
I watch in a haze as she pulls her cell phone from her bra and punches in a number. “Yukon? Hey, it’s Cleo. I have a situation.”
I wrap my arms around myself, trying to keep it together as Cleo explains what happened with Eddie to the club’s enforcer. My face throbs where the bastard hit me, and I can feel my left eye starting to swell.
“Rambler’s ol’ lady.” She meets my eyes. “Yeah, that’s right. Her psycho ex was here.” A pause. “Oh, he’s still breathing, but I hope you can remedy that.” Another pause. “Address? I don’t know. It’s Rambler’s place. Out by Murphy’s Creek.” She nods. “We’ll be waiting.”
She hangs up and moves to my side, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “The cavalry’s on the way, sweetie.”
Less than fifteen minutes later, the rumble of motorcycles vibrates the windows. Then suddenly the door bursts open, and Aaron rushes in, his eyes wild with panic. He scans the room until he finds me, then crosses the space in three strides.
“Butterfly,” he breathes, pulling me into his arms. His body is shaking almost as much as mine. “Fuck, baby. I was so fucking scared.”
“Don’t let me go,” I sob against his chest, clinging to him with every ounce of strength I have left. “Please, don’t let me go.”
“Never.” His arms tighten around me, one hand cradling the back of my head. “I’ve got you, baby. You’re safe now.”
Behind him, Crazy Train, Yukon, Beast, Pee Wee, and Denali file into the house, their expressions dark as they take in the scene.
“When did you get back?” Cleo asks Aaron, her eyes flicking between us.
“Just made it home.” His voice is rough with emotion. “I was at the clubhouse, returning the club’s SUV when you called Yukon.”
I pull back slightly, wincing at the pain in my face. Aaron’s expression turns murderous when he sees my injuries, his eyes growing cold and flat in a way I’ve never seen before.
Yukon approaches, nudging Eddie’s still-unconscious form with his boot. “We’ll take this piece of shit to the basement,” he says, his voice devoid of emotion.
“That motherfucker is mine,” Aaron growls, his arms still locked around me. “Keep his ass on ice. I’ll deal with him when I know she’s okay.”
Yukon nods, then he and Beast haul Eddie off the floor. His head lolls, blood matting his hair where Cleo hit him with the lamp.
Crazy Train comes over to Cleo, pulling her against his chest. “You okay, Pebbles?”
Cleo nods, leaning into her husband. “I’m fine. I came by to drop off that crockpot for Pinky.” She looks at me. “Thank God I did.”
I feel the tears start again. “If you hadn’t been here?—”
“Shh.” Cleo pulls away from Train and wraps me in a hug. “Don’t think about that.”
I nod against her shoulder, my whole body trembling. She pulls back and looks me in the eye. “I’ll call you tomorrow to check in, okay?”
“Okay,” I whisper.
She presses a gentle kiss to my uninjured cheek. “You’re gonna be okay. You’re tougher than you think.”
Pee Wee clears his throat, looking uncomfortable with all the emotion in the room. “He’ll be ready whenever you are,” he says, his eyes meeting Aaron’s. “You just take care of your woman.”
Aaron nods, his jaw clenched so tight I can see a muscle ticking in his cheek.
Denali steps forward, his face grim. “We protect our own,” he says simply, giving my shoulder a gentle squeeze. “You’re family now.”
I try to smile through my tears. “Thank you.”
