Chapter 8

Eight

J in and Rebel pulled up in a rolling tumble of dirt, their red rig a beautiful sight. Another one pulled up beside them filled with water from the looks of it.

Smoke boiled low across the field like a thick fog and burned her lungs but still, her heart soared and she smiled.

"Where's Holden?" Riley called out coming in from the field, every inch of his muscled body covered in dirt.

She pointed to where he helped Jin unload a bigger hose while other men jumped off the rig, shovels, and axes in hand.

Keeping the flames from reaching the tree line on the south side, she watched Holden and Riley, their muscled backs and chests glisten with sweat, as they beat back the flames while Jin and Rebel took care of the broader field below the house. Two of the other men working on taming the house fire.

The beast of a flame reared up, fighting back as if alive.

Behind her, an overlooked propane tank exploded sending parts of the grill it was attached to flying in all directions.

Birds roosting in the grass scattered. She cringed as pain ricocheted through her shoulder and the right side of her head. Huffs of anger flooded her veins and she threw up her hands fast but too late to keep from hitting the ground full force.

Her world blurred along the edges. For a long second, it was hard to tell which way was left and which was right. She turned an ankle, and from the way her legs shook, it was safe to guess nothing was broken.

With her heart nearly choking her Zahara rolled to her knees trying to spot her men. They were rushing toward her yelling but all she heard were their voices like dulled masculine moans.

"Zahara."

She turned, nearly falling to the ground. She raised her hand to her head and brought it back with blood smeared across her palm. "Whoa. Whoa, Zahara. It's us. We've got you. Don't move, baby. Fuck we need to talk about you putting yourself in danger like this."

She took a deep breath and tried to cope with the waves of nausea bombarding her. Love, loyalty and a massive case of pissed off woman clouded her judgment.

She wanted so much to be a part of saving Holden and Riley's home.

Twelve hours ago she'd never pictured herself in the middle of fighting a massive fire.

"Told you. You don't belong with the Savages. Fucking this whore. I told you, boy, you do things my way or I'll make sure you don't have anything at all."

The ringing in Zahara's ears had faded and the first voice she heard left her heart cold and frozen in her chest.

All three of them turned to see Riley's father step from the tree line, cigar jutting from his mouth, his lips peeled back in the most evil grin she'd ever seen on a man.

"You!" She pushed to her feet and tried to lunge for the man. Anger seethed so deep inside her it blinded her to the fact she wanted to kill her lover's father.

A strong hand gripped her by the arms and shoulders.

"That's right, keep your little hussy bitch in check or I'll make sure she's inside when I light the next fire."

The next few minutes happened in a blur of motion.

Riley, covered in soot and dirt, crossed the ten feet or so between him and his father in one giant leap. Strong fingers wound around the aged throat of the man, his cigar hitting the dry grass by his feet. She was tempted to let the fire starting up burn around the pure evil and rid the world of his stain. But she knew it would hurt Riley and she protected family.

Ashwood senior sneered at his son. "You won't do anything, boy. You're too fucking weak like your momma."

She didn't see it as much as she heard the loud crunch of bone break as Riley buried his fist into his father's face.

She pushed out of Holden's arms and rushed to Riley, but Holden was right beside her, wrapping her in his arms. "Give him a minute, baby. Let him defend your honor."

"My soon-to-be-wife is not a topic you will ever speak of again. Whatever feud you have with the Savages is yours, not mine."

"Wife," the old man spat, blood dribbling down his chin. You're no better than trash. You're no son of mine."

Behind them, Jin and Rebel fought the flames but, in the distance, she saw another plume of dirt kick up from the road. Someone else was on the way.

Riley buried his hands in his father's shirt and leaned in, his voice barely above the lethal whisper she never knew he possessed.

She flinched, afraid of what Riley would do next and the stain on his soul it would leave behind. If she'd left this morning as planned none of this would be happening.

"Think you can kill your own father, boy?" But she heard the quiver in the old man's voice. He feared the wrath he'd place in his son and had nowhere to go now that it was unleashed. "Think you can stop me from getting what I want?"

How could someone talk about their flesh and blood that way? Especially after Riley spent his whole life trying to make his father proud.

"You have no power over any of us. You can do whatever you want but that won't change the fact that we three are an item. Married, bonded, mated...family. Whatever label you want to put on it. Something you obviously know nothing about. And for that, I truly pity you, Ashwood. The ring on her finger and baby in her belly will come soon enough."

Beady eyes turned to her and the old man spat in her direction catching another well-aimed right hook from his son. She walked up and placed a gentle hand on Riley's shoulder.

"You'll never live with yourself if you hurt him, Riley. Don't do something that will stain your soul. He's not worth that kind of price."

She could feel Riley's muscles bunch and flex beneath her palm.

"You're done for, old man. Look at her." Riley clutched the man's jaw and buried his hands in the matted hair and jerked his head around. "Look at her. Is this what you wanted? Bitterness, rage, and death? Because I'll kill you and bury you out in the middle of nowhere if you ever try to harm her again. She's done nothing but love me and you can't stand that I found happiness without you lording over me."

He only offered a bloody smile as his answer.

Riley pulled back and caught the old man across the jaw. "Your reign of terror over the ones you should have protected is through. Crawl back to your land and never step foot on mine again."

The sound of a truck pulling up brought her attention around to see a tall, well-muscled white-haired man stepped out of a brown truck, handcuffs, and badge gleaming in the bright sun. He crossed the charred remains of the field in a slow gate, the fire finally under control from the looks of it.

It took all of five minutes to fill Reaper in on what went down. Watching him slap the cuffs on the man Riley called a father made her heart hurt when today was supposed to be a good day. After their lovemaking session, she'd hit a whole never-before-reached level of pleasure with her men and now…

She let out a deep, rattling sigh. Her head pounded and the vision in one eye was a little wonky.

Reaper knelt beside Ashwood where he'd fallen to his knees and leveled his pale gaze on Riley's father. "You've lost more than a son today, Ashwood. You lost your entire future. What you could have shared with a loving family. To your feet."

He hauled the heavy man up. "When you go to your grave take the knowledge your hatred did nothing but tear a hole in your family's heart."

Warm arms caught her around the middle and pulled her close. The smell of pine mixed with blood surrounded her. Riley's scent filled her nostrils as she dragged in air rapidly. He had her wrapped in his arms and his heart raced beneath her palms. "You know how to keep the excitement going, baby girl. You scared me and Holden today. Let me see your head." Riley spoke as if nothing had happened between him and his father. Everyone dealt with disappointment and fear differently, she supposed.

"Ya know, umm, I don't feel so good." The ground rolled under her feet and the edges of her vision turned black.

"I've got you. It's okay." The fear of one hundred lifetimes flashed across Riley's face.

Her eyelids slipped closed, but she jerked them wide again when Riley shook her gently. "You hit your head pretty bad. Stay awake."

He palmed her face and ran his hands over her body as Holden rushed back from escorting Riley's father to Reapers truck. "What's wrong. Is she okay?"

"Just need a minute. It will pass," she offered calmly.

She clutched Riley to her while Holden stood over her protectively with a hand braced on her shoulder.

"I'm so sorry about your dad, Riley. So sorry."

"Don't be. He did it to himself, baby girl. Today should have never happened, but I guess it's something that had to be done," he soothed in a whisper as Holden took her into his arms.

She nodded numbly, unable to do much else.

Reaper walked over to them, looking every bit the massive mountain man he was with a look of regret tightening his handsome features.

"I am sorry for your pain."

She pushed out of Riley's arms and stood then regretted it immediately as she fell forward. Reaper, moved to steady her, looking pointedly at her leg where the fire had left a small burn and her head where blood trickled down from her temple.

"You're men are lucky to have such a determined, loyal woman by their side."

Water welled behind her lashes. "Thank you for being here today. I don't know how you knew, but I'm glad you arrived when you did. I'm not sure Riley would have held back much longer."

"Jin and Rebel called. Don't shed any tears for that old man. He is a horrible person as I am sure your men will tell you if you haven't already seen it for yourself."

She nodded.

The fire of anger and pain that ate at her ebbed. "You're right."

Riley and Holden stood to either side, their body heat a balm to her nerves.

She wobbled forward as her men supported her on either side. She reached for Reaper's hand, holding his gaze. She turned to look at Holden and Riley. "I think I can speak for all of us when I say we are in your debt and you are welcomed here anytime, Reaper."

He smiled in answer, "I owe your family much more than just using my badge. But thank you." And then he said nothing more.

"From all of us," added Holden clasping Reaper's full arm, we won't forget what you did for Ethan and Remy either. "As Zahara said, we are in your debt for taking that problem off our hands." He nodded toward the cruiser holding Ashwood.

"If you need us for anything all you have to do is ask," Riley added.

He said nothing in return but nodded his appreciation. "I see the fire has died thanks to your cousins. I'll have men here in one week to help rebuild. My brothers also have a debt to repay."

"That oughta be interesting," Riley said as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Looking into her eyes, he gave a nod as if reassuring himself all was well and she truly lived and breathed beside him.

They turned to go as Holden called over his shoulder, "Is your name really Reaper? You don't have a second job that involves a scythe, do you?"

"Bram Wolfe." He offered with a positively evil grin.

No kidding.

Her mouth tipped up in a half-smile. "You know that's a pretty damn badass name. I bet women love it."

His smile grew and the mirth played over his expression. It was spooky with how pale blue his eyes were in the shadows of the trees, but handsome as hell all at once.

Her knees gave, and Riley swung her into his arms. "Guys, I don't feel so good."