Her sweet voice tortured me as I heard her telling me we were forever. It was always the same fucking scene replaying the same fucking lies that fucked me over until I turned into a brutal asshole…
“Z, it’ll always be you and me. Forever and ever. After I graduate, I’ll move wherever you are,” she told me. It was the night before I left for Marine boot camp. We made love to each other under an inky sky full of stars. Branding our souls with every caress. Sealing our bond with infinite love. Vowing to be together forever and ever. “I love you…” she breathed out, arching into me when her climax hit.
I increased my speed, chasing my own release. “You’re mine, Snow. Forever and ever.”
“I’m yours, forever and ever.” She looped her arms around my neck and kissed me as she cried. “Promise me this isn’t the end. Please, Z, promise.”
Tasting her salty tears broke my heart. I hated seeing my beauty sad. “I promise, Snow. This isn’t the end. We’ll get married after you graduate, okay?”
Her emerald green eyes glittered as she stared up at me. “Really?”
“Yes, really. Will you marry me, baby? I don’t have a ring, but I want you to be my wife.”
“Oh Zach! Are you asking for real?”
She was so damn adorable. Never one to make assumptions. “Yes, I’m asking for real. I love you, baby.” I cleared my throat to ask her properly. “Aspen Crosby, will you marry me?”
She giggled, pressing her addictive lips to mine. “I love you too, Zachary Harrisburg. Yes, I’ll marry you. A million times yes.”
“My heart belongs to you, Snow. Forever and ever.” The first chance I got, I’d have her name tattooed on my heart.
I pounded my fist into the punching bag as my chest caved in, remembering our last night together and all those empty fucking promises. Not one ever realized. For two years, I mourned the loss of her, then saidfuck itafter I’d met Storm. We had fought together and partied, building an unbreakable bond that carried me through some of the worst years of my life.
Storm’s enlistment ended a year before mine. He’d invited me to prospect for his uncle’s motorcycle club when my commitment was over. The way he’d talked up the brotherhood and being vigilantes in his small rural town in Bastion Township was enough for me to accept his offer. There was nothing left for me back home on the West Coast.
Risk seeing the girl who destroyed me? No fucking thank you.
I dialed into the door and knew exactly who would dare to come in here after the way I blew out of the bar like a hurricane.
“I don’t want to hear anything about her,” I barked, breathing heavily.
Storm went behind the bag to hold it for me. His jaw twitched, steely gaze on mine. It was like I could read his mind.
“Don’t fucking tell me shit’s about to get bad here,” I growled.
“Okay, I won’t.”
“Son of a bitch.” I plowed my fists into the bag, knocking him back as I let out years of aggression.
Storm didn’t say a word while I unloaded on the leather. When my arms felt like they were going to fall off, I collapsed on the gym floor, gulping air into my lungs.
“It’s fucking hot in here,” I gasped, wiping the sweat dripping down my face with the back of my hand.
“The heat is on. It’s fourteen below outside.” Storm stalked to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water and handed it to me. He guzzled his own.
I did the same, feeling a little better. I didn’t really want to know what was going on, but I was the club’s enforcer. And something had me blurting out the words, “Tell me.”
Storm sat on the floor across from me. “Patch believes she’s been handcuffed to something. Her wrists will probably be permanently scarred.”
My blood boiled, waiting for him to continue before I raged all over again. I might hate Aspen, but no woman should be held against her will. Christ, my gut told me shit was about to get brutally ugly.
“Patch is trying to warm her up. Hypothermia, ya know. Her car went into a ditch, ran out of gas. No idea how long she’d been there without heat. She’s confused. Slurs her words. All typical, according to Patch.” Storm held my gaze, assessing me. Not sure what the fuck for. I was calm. On the outside, anyway.
“What else?” I hissed.
“During the examination, Patch discovered blood in her pants.”
His words knocked the air out of my lungs. “Internal bleeding? Does she need to go to the hospital?” I held back from vaulting to my feet to run to the clubhouse and make sure Aspen got the medical attention she needed.