“Now, I’m trying to be nice to you, and all you’re doing is pushing me away.” Gill wrapped his fingers around her throat, squeezing. She clawed at his hands trying to push him away.
Another hand landed between her thighs.
“I’ve been nice and patient with you, Sophia, but my patience is running out.”
He tightened his hold between her legs making her wince. There was nothing gentle about him.
“Now, I’m going to let go. I want you to tell me what I want to hear.” His hand released her throat.
She took deep gasps of breath, needing the air. Bending forward, she tried to clear her thoughts. Sophia wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of making her beg.
“I’m waiting, Sophia,” he said, running his hands down her back. He didn’t have the right to touch her. No man had the right to touch her just because Kate wanted it. She didn’t. Her body was her own, and she was nothing like her sister. It was time she started to remember that. She and Kate were two different people.
Standing up, holding her head high, she glared at him. “Fuck you.”
The backhand took her by surprise, along with the thump to the stomach. She spit out some blood as she tasted the metallic flavor on her tongue. No one had ever hurt her like this.
Grabbing her hair, Gill spun her around, pushing her against the metal fence. Her br**sts hurt from the bite.
Sophia panicked as he worked at her belt. “I’m going to f**k you so hard, and then my men are going to take you. Again, and again until you’re begging us to stop—”
A shot rang out followed by a scream. She was released, and she turned in time to see Lash with three men hitting Gill and his friends.
“You touch Skull property, and I’ll f**king kill you. Consider this your warning,” Lash said, firing his weapon through the of one of the friends. Sophia winced while inside cheering at Lash’s punishment. “Get the f**k out of here before I start snapping necks. I don’t give a f**k who you are, but you better make sure I never find out.” The threat was a real one. Everyone knew Lash had killed Angel’s father by snapping his neck. Lash was one tough biker, and no one messed with him.
She got a good look at him and saw several bruises on his face. He was also using his left hand rather than his right. Lash looked in pretty bad shape.
“Get Nash to where I told you and keep him out of it,” Lash said, giving out orders. The other two biker men left, leaving them alone.
Sophia stared at the gun in his hand, wondering if she was next on the list of people to go.
Chapter Four
Sophia stared at Nash’s brother. The gun at his side terrified her. He’d shot someone in the leg and showed no remorse. Not to mention the many guys he’d killed in the protection of the club.
“Are you going to use that on me?” she asked, bending down to grab her bag. She had nothing to protect herself with. If he was going to use that, then she’d be completely helpless to whatever he had planned.
Lash looked at the gun then at her. “No, I’m not going to use it. I find it helps weaken a man intent on rape.”
She flinched, recalling Gill’s hands on her body. Lash hadn’t needed to stop to protect her, but he had. “Thank you. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t showed up.”
“I know what would have happened. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know what they all had on their minds.”
“Thank you either way,” she said, wiping the blood from her lip. Her body ached in ways she didn’t like. She knew in a matter of minutes the places where Gill hit her would be badly bruised.
“Don’t thank me. I may not be here for when it happens again.”
His words made her pause.
“Again?”
“Yeah. A sick f**k like that, he wants you badly enough, he’ll try again.”
Sophia stared at her savior waiting for him to say something that would protect her. “I’m not strong enough, and I need that job,” she said when he made no move to say or do anything else.
Lash kept staring at her without saying a word. She started to fidget, hating his scrutiny.
“My brother thinks you’re an innocent one,” Lash said.
“What?”
“Angel was purely innocent. I know. You’re not. There’s something about you that shows experience.” He stepped forward grabbing her chin. “But you’re not full of experience. Nash sees that side of you. He thinks you’re weak enough that you can’t handle the life of being an old lady.”
She tugged out of his hold. “I’m not too innocent, and it’s none of your goddamn business.”
“Nash got his ass kicked today. He’s hanging by a thread, and Tiny’s this close to kicking his ass to the curb and out of the club life forever.” He pressed his thumb and finger close together.
“Is he all right?”
“No, he’s not all right. I made a deal to keep Nash in The Skulls. You want protection then you help me now,” Lash said.
“I don’t know what you want.”
“I’m about to get Nash back on his feet. It’s not going to pretty, but if you care about him, then you can help. In return you get The Skulls back for your protection, and no man will touch you.” He stepped forward blocking her in.
“I’m not a sweet-butt or an old lady.”
“I know. Sweet-butts earn their keep by giving us what we want. You’re no sweet-butt. You’ll help me with my brother, or you can see Gill and his goons in your future.” Lash rested a hand against the metal, leaning in close. His closeness was unnerving her, and she knew he was doing it all on purpose. “If you don’t help me then the next time I won’t stop. I’ll make sure everyone knows you’re not under The Skulls’ protection, and you’re free meat.”
“But Nash—”
He pressed a finger to her lips. “But Nash nothing. He won’t have any say, and I don’t give a f**k about you. You’re not important to me, and I will make sure you get hurt.”
The look in his eyes made her very aware of how he’d leave her behind.
“What do you want me to do?” she asked.
Sophia didn’t need any further warning. She needed The Skulls a lot more than they needed her.
“Get on the back of my bike and come with me,” Lash said. “No questions asked.”
He didn’t let her respond. She watched him walk to his bike and straddle the machine. “Are you getting on?”