Page 43

I leave her in the room and walk outside.

Phoenix and Wraith are leaning against the sedan. Both of them straighten when they see me.

The parking lot is otherwise empty. Dawn is just starting to break, pale gray light making everything look washed out and unreal.

"You want to explain what the hell is going on?" Phoenix asks. His arms are crossed.

"I was helping someone."

"By spending the night in a motel? With a woman you clearly just fucked?" Wraith raises an eyebrow. "That's some creative helping, Priest."

"Watch it," I warn.

"He's not wrong though," Phoenix says. "You disappeared with the sedan. Didn't answer your phone. And we find you in a motel room with a woman who has a bruise the size of Texas on her face." He pauses. "So, I'll ask again. What the hell is going on?"

I take a breath. Force myself to stay calm. To explain without getting defensive.

"Her name is Paige. She works as a cashier at the supermarket. I've been watching her for a few weeks. I noticed bruising, fear, all the signs." I meet Phoenix's eyes. "Last night her boyfriend picked her up after her shift. They argued in the parking lot. He hit her. Knocked her down."

Phoenix's expression doesn't change but something shifts in his eyes. "And?"

"And I knocked him out. Got her out of there. Brought her here because she couldn't go home. She had nowhere else to go."

"So, you brought her to a motel and fucked her." Wraith says.

"That's not—" I stop. Because that is what happened, technically. Even if it's not the whole story. "It's more complicated than that."

"It always is," Phoenix says. "Tell me about the boyfriend."

"Cole Barnes. Works in finance. Comes from money. Has been hitting her for months but she couldn't leave." I clench my jaw. "Until last night."

"You said you knocked him out."

"Yeah. Hit him twice. Once to the jaw, once to the stomach. He went down hard."

"Witnesses?"

"No. Parking lot was empty. Just the three of us."

Phoenix is quiet for a moment. Thinking. Calculating consequences.

"He's going to come looking for her," he finally says.

"I know."

"And when he does?"

"When he does, I want the club's help convincing him that leaving Paige alone is in his best interest." I hold Phoenix's gaze. "She's mine now. Which means she's under club protection. Anyone who touches her answers to all of us."

Wraith lets out a low whistle. "Damn, Priest. You don't do anything halfway, do you?"

"This is serious," Phoenix says. "You're asking the club to get involved in a domestic situation with a civilian who has money and connections. That could blow back on all of us."

"I know."

"And you're sure about this? Sure about her?" Phoenix's eyes are sharp. Assessing. "Because once we step in, there's no backing out. She becomes club business. Club responsibility."

"I'm sure." I don't hesitate. Can't hesitate. "She's it for me, Phoenix. I know it's fast. I know it doesn't make sense. But I've never been more certain of anything in my life."