AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A humorless laugh erupts out of me at his quick defense. “If it’s dark as fuck like a dungeon, smells like a dungeon, and is decorated like a dungeon, newsflash. It’s a dungeon!”
I shake my head, sucking in a deep breath to calm down so I don’t bust open my stitches. I let out a low growl, and I’m not even sure if it’s from the pain or the disbelief at the shit hole where Nova expects me to chill while I’m healing. “Nova, I swear to fuck if you don’t get me out of here.”
“Maggie, shut up!”
His words stop me cold, and I snap my mouth closed, eyes wide in shock. “So much for the nice guy I met earlier.”
So, I find my balls again. Yeah, I stand a little taller and fold my arms across my chest, glaring at him, but it falters after a brief moment. The pain is too intense, and I start to sway from a combination of nausea and dizziness.
I reach for the wall to steady me and say, “Okay, so what’s the plan now? You gonna waterboard me or somethin’ until I tell you all my secrets?”
I give him a grim laugh and shake my head. “Sorry to say, Doc, you wasted your time because I don’t have shit to say.”
Considering what the Bloodthirsty Devils did to Viper, who knows what the Reckless Souls have planned for me. They could pump me full of smack and turn me out, sell me to the cartel, or just let me starve to death in this shit hole that’s the most dungeon-y non-dungeon I’ve ever been in.
Nova’s lips purse together in a move that draws my attention to his full lips and his strong, scruffy jawline, the kind that makes me hot.
“First of all, I am a nice guy.” To punctuate his point, he moves a step closer.
I force my legs to remain in place. No fucking way am I gonna back down from a fight. I simply arch a brow at his declaration. A second later, my legs wobble, and Nova grabs my arm to steady me.
“Second, this isn’t to punish or imprison you. It’s to protect you. We can’t risk your old crew seeing you here, knowing you’re alive. If that happens, we lose our advantage, and they’ll try to finish you off. Right now, this is the best place for you.”
Deep down, I know he’s right. Right now, the only thing in this world I have going for me is that the people who want to kill me think I’m dead.
Nova looks at me with genuine concern on his face. “I know it’s not ideal. I get that. But the only way we can protect you from the people who beat you up is if you’re out of sight until we can figure this out.”
“Look at the shape you’re in. You can’t go anywhere like this.”
I shake my head, but it’s bobbing all around as the pain meds kick in. “Fuck that, I’ll take my chances.”
“You think you can manage to outrun your old crew when you can’t even stand up?” he counters. The concern in his voice makes me angrier, reminding me of my vulnerability. “Where will you go?”
“Anywhere but here,” I snap, standing tall despite the dizziness that threatens to knock me off my feet. I’m not about to let him see me weak, see me falter. But my body betrays me, swaying dangerously, and he wraps his strong arms around me before I hit the floor.
He’s so close that I can smell his cleanliness. No sweat, no marijuana, just pure man. Something Demon didn’t have. That clean smell. I should be disgusted with myself after all I’ve been through, and I damn sure shouldn’t be turned on. My nipples shouldn’t harden at his nearness.Stupid whore-y traitors.“That place is right here. No one knows you’re here, and I can keep you safe.”
My gaze narrows. “That’s not the reassurance you think it is.”
This time, he does laugh, and it’s deep and rumbly, kind of rusty as it wraps around me like a guy getting a little too close a little too soon. “I know you have no reason to trust me. But I took an oath to do no harm. You’re safe with me.”
“We both know when it comes down to loyalty, you’ll choose your gang over me. Hell, my gang made the same choice.”
He lifts me easily and carries me past the bloodstain and into the darker part of the dungeon. “You’re tough and you’re stubborn,” he declares before he eases me onto a surprisingly comfortable bed.
“I’ve been called worse,” I say, despite the thick fog of pain meds clouding my brain. I’m fighting a losing battle, my body exhausted and throbbing, but my pride won’t let me give in.
Nova smiles. “I bet you have,” he says, his voice a warm rumble that resonates through me, making me uncomfortably aware of his masculinity.
“You’re tough and stubborn and suspicious.”
“You said that already.”
He hit me with a beaming smile that almost makes me forget that I’m fucked up right now. “I get it, Maggie, I really do. You have no reason to trust me, but there’s one thing you should know.”
“Yeah?” I cock my head to the side, unconsciously licking my lips at the sight of that devilish fucking smile. “Spit it out.”
He leans in, close enough that his chest grazes mine, and his breath tickles my ear. “Your tough, and stubborn side? It’s got a rough-and-tumble, street-smart charm to it. I kind of like it.”
