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The muscles in my neck turned to steel, and I bit down on my back molars. If Ella had betrayed me with another man, I would want to hurt them both.
Stop thinking like a psycho. Don’t forget you love Ella.
Do I? I haven’t been with her in over five years.
That’s why you need to go see her.
Yes, I needed to talk to her and not react irrationally. As the fog in my head cleared, a powerful fullness settled in my chest, and it had Ella’s name all over it.
I sensed that reclaiming my former life would be an uphill battle. Ella and I would experience a lot of stress and pain during the process, but it would be worth it if we could survive the heartbreak before we restored our relationship.
And if nothing turned out how I hoped it would, I imagined my dark, nasty side would emerge through the destruction and wreak havoc on everyone who crossed my path.
A rustling in the bushes made me stop. I dialed in to my surroundings and scanned the area. I crept toward the noise, drawing my gun.
A crow flew above a cluster of cottonwood trees and cawed as if alerting its friends. Then another arrived, and another.
Dread speared into my gut when the sound of frenzied activity increased. More birds arrived.
An eagle.
A vulture.
The birds’ caws grew louder and louder and louder.
I went around the bend and stilled. At least a dozen feathered creatures were feasting on a body. A naked body. A woman’s body.
“Get out of here!” I roared at the top of my lungs, charging toward them and firing my gun. My heart hammered against my ribs. Images of finding my mother’s dead body assaulted my mind. “Get the fuck gone!” I killed several hungry bastards. Didn’t stop shooting until they were all gone.
I gasped for air and moved closer toward the slaughter. She had long blonde hair, matted with dirt and blood. Her eyes were missing, her face shredded by those feathery fuckers.
Jesus Christ, she was messed up and unidentifiable. It didn’t matter because she reminded me of Ella.
Bile shot into my throat, and I threw up my breakfast.
Could this be the person Vegas had mentioned? Had he not been bullshitting me?
I turned away from the corpse, got myself under control, and took out my phone. My next move went against everything I believed in. Most motorcycle clubs, good and bad ones like Hell’s Bells, never involved the police, but I was about to make an anonymous call.
“Yeah, I found a dead woman in the woods…”
24
Ella
My eyes flashed open when I heard a car door shut. I popped up from my prone position on the sofa and peered out the front window.
Shit!Why was Rocky here?
I scrambled to my feet and messed with my hair and clothes. I’d been lounging around all day. Tomcat had ducked out before Rockson had woken up. He’d told me to call Vegas and tell him my boy was sick and I couldn’t come in. Tomcat knew I didn’t want to see Rocky, so I took his advice.
So much for avoiding Rocky … It was just like him to do as he damn well pleased. He made my blood boil, and my claws came out.
I swung open the door and raised my hand. “You are not welcome here.”
He stopped at the bottom step, removed his sunglasses, and studied me. He said nothing as he took in my appearance. I’d be lying if I said he wasn’t affecting me. He was, and I hated it.
“If you don’t leave, I’ll call Vegas.” I crossed my arms and pushed out my hip.
