“He raped Ava.”
The color drained from Angel’s face. She gripped her stomach, taking deep breaths. Try as she might to hold back her tears, she lost the battle. My girl had a tender heart. She didn’t need to be strong for me. I adored her vulnerability.
She shook her head, tears rolling down her cheeks. “No, Storm.”
I wrapped my arms around her. “I know baby. I know.”
“Jesus, that poor woman.” Her body shook against mine. It cut me deep, seeing her breaking this way.
Madeline shouldn’t be involved in this shit. No woman should but my Angel? Fuck, I hated knowing she had a target on her back because of me. It could have been her they assaulted.
I held her for a spell, rubbing her back and assuring her she was safe.
“Want your drink?” I asked when she calmed. I sure needed mine. Fuck that was hard.
“Mhm.” She sniffled, wiping her fingers under her eyes.
I plucked a few tissues out of the box on the nightstand and handed them to her.
“Thank you.” She blew her nose and dried her eyes. “I want you to get those fuckers out of our town. Whatever it takes.”
My eyebrows shot up at the lethal tone in her voice. “Yes, Angel. We’ll get those fuckers.” I gave her the cup.
She gulped it, then stood. “How about that shower?”
“Anything you want.” I was in awe of this phenomenal woman.
No question Madeline could handle anything my world threw her way.
31
Madeline
“What can I get you, beautiful?”
I lifted my eyes to Copper behind the bar. He was the official clubhouse bartender when he wasn’t tending at The Bullet in the evenings. During the day, he guarded Ava and Nancy’s room until AJ switched with him. We’d been getting to know each other a little each day. He was one of the few people around to talk to.
“Rum and coke, please.” I forced a smile, not wanting to act like a pouty baby, though I felt like one.
“Comin’ right up.” Copper had a great smile—full lips, straight teeth. Most of the men around here didn’t smile much. Brooding or pissed off seemed to be the everyday look of a Knight’s biker. Each time I saw Copper, he appeared happy.
He looked like a hockey player with his ginger hair hanging over his forehead and flowing to the side. I’d attended a few games in college and Copper was built like a goalie.
“What’re you up to tonight?” He set my drink in front of me.
I shrugged, looking around the room. Aside from the music playing and a table of kittens gabbing, the place was quiet… For the second night in a row.
“Not much at all.” I took a large gulp of my drink. “Why aren’t you off with the others?”
“Someone needs to stick around to guard the women and serve them drinks.” He waggled his eyebrows, his eyes sparkling like emeralds.
“Lucky you.”
“I’d say so.” He crouched down, resting his forearms on the bar, staring at me. “What’s wrong, beautiful?”
That was twice he called me beautiful in less than a couple of minutes. Storm would be furious if he heard him.
I studied his arms. They were muscly and tattoo-free. Copper was clean-cut and charming for a man wanting to get patched into an outlaw biker club. It made me curious about his story.