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I sighed. “No.” Why she cared one way or the other about that bitch irritated me. Carla didn’t deserve her kindness. My woman had the biggest heart. Incredibly sweet to everyone.
She fidgeted with her nails. “Okay. Go ahead. Ask your question.”
I backed her up to the bed so she’d sit. My gut was tight. This woman made me fear the unknown more than I ever had in my whole life. I needed to be gentle with her. Whatever she was going to tell me was probably why she was off this afternoon.
Kneeling between her legs, I took her hand and stared into her eyes. “This morning had to do with Dane, didn’t it?”
Just jump right in with both feet, right?
She nodded.
Dammit, my blood pressure skyrocketed. I did my damnedest to keep it in check. I didn’t want her withdrawing from me.
“Angel, if you don’t want to tell me, I won’t push you.” The way my gut twisted, it might be better to keep her secrets to herself.Pussy, I know.
“No. If we’re going to be together—”
I cradled one side of her face. “Wearetogether. That’s never changing.”
“Right.” She sighed, but none of the tension in her body disappeared. “I told you Dane was awful to me.” She held my gaze. “He made me feel like I couldn’t do anything right and sucked in bed.”
My jaw tensed. Couldn’t stop it or stop squeezing her hand as I gritted my teeth. “Yes.”
“He knocked me around a lot. Sprained my arm. Kicked me in the stomach when I’d fall on the ground. Fractured a couple of ribs. He was careful where and how he hit me so my bruises couldn’t be seen.”
“Fuck.” I felt like I couldn’t draw oxygen into my lungs.I will beat the shit out of that fucker for laying a hand on her.
“When I didn’t want to have sex, well… I didn’t have a choice.” Tears pooled in her eyes as rage engulfed my chest. She took my hands, holding me in place. “Please don’t freak out on me. Don’t do anything that will land you in jail. I need you.”
“Angel, I need you to be clear about this. Are you saying he forced himself on you? Because baby, that’s rape.” I saw red. Sweat beaded in my hairline, my heart thundering so fuckin’ hard it might explode in my chest.
“I don’t like to think of it that way.” She blinked back her tears.
“What?” I said harsher than I intended. “Don’t let this prick off the hook. Did you fight him off? Cry as it was happening? Were there bruises afterward? Did he take… your ass?” I choked the words out as images of that animal hurting my woman pummeled me. Was it possible for my heart to burst out of my fuckin’ head? It pounded so hard I was sure it could.
“Baby, please, calm down.” Her avoidance confirmed my fears.
I tried to pull my hands away, but she tightened her grip. “Goddammit, Angel. Fuck! Fuck no, he didn’t hurt you that way, baby. Jesus fucking Christ… I’ll…” I heaved and growled like a vicious animal, unable to tame the raging savage storm inside me.
Madeline threw herself into my arms, hooking hers around my neck. “Hold me. I need you.” She buried her face in my neck, pressing her body to mine as if trying to crawl inside me. “Please, Kaleb. I got out. He can’t hurt me anymore.”
I lifted off the floor, cradling her against me, and sat on the bed. We stayed there, holding onto each other like our lives depended on it. Mine certainly did. My soul cried in agony for what had happened to my beautiful, sweet Angel.
Sexual assault enraged me. Any person who took what they wanted from another was the worst kind of human. When the Hunter raped Ava, it tore me up. Ire still hadn’t recovered from not being able to protect her. Not one Knight stood for the mistreatment of women. Sure, we had our kittens, but they wanted to be here. Gave us their bodies of their own free will. Always.
If one saidno, we stopped. If one of my brothers didn’t, he would be dealt with firmly. I ran the club the way Uncle Matt did. We weren’t saints by no means. Our moral compass may have seemed skewed by some standards, but we respect others’ lives. We only killed when absolutely necessary. We dealt with the worst kind of scum. Had our own rules we lived by. Sexual assault, none of us took lightly.
If Madeline thought I wouldn’t take the son of a bitch, Miller, out after hearing what he’d done to her, she was sorely mistaken. I wasn’t a motherfuckin’ outlaw for nothing. I was a one-percenter. No pathetic, power-tripping deputy with a pencil dick wouldn’t get away with assaulting my woman.
“I love you, Angel. Fuckin’ love the hell out of you.” I kissed her forehead, swallowing down the emotion caught in my throat.
She peered up at me. “I love you too, my beautiful man.” She sat up. “But I’m not stupid. You’re going to take out Dane, aren’t you?”
Damn straight I am.“That’s not for you to worry about, baby.”
“Jesus, Kaleb. How can you say that? If you kill him, you could get caught. Sentenced to life for killing a deputy. What if I’m pregnant? Or get pregnant. Do you honestly want me alone, raising our child? Forlife, Kaleb.”
“You don’t need to worry. I won’t get caught.”
