Wanted By The Devil (Devil's Riders 1)

Devlin cursed and stood up.

"He's a dead man."

She swallowed back tears. She hadn't told her mother or anyone what Grant had done. What he had implied that he could and would do. Soon.

"I'm so sorry, baby. I promise you that will never happen again. He's gonna pay for that. In spades."

"No- please- I don't want you to get into more trouble. I want you to be safe. Please don’t break the law for me, Devlin!"

She stepped into his arms and stared up at him. He was furious. His jaw was locked and the look in his eyes would have been terrifying if it hadn't been anger on her behalf. It was still beyond intimidating.

She'd never seen him like this. But she had to make him promise her. She loved him. She couldn't let him do something stupid on her behalf.

She loved him.

The realization hit her like a ton of bricks. Even after everything, she wanted to be his.

"Promise me, Devlin!"

He took a deep breath and nodded once, sharply.

"Good. Because I couldn't stand it if anything happened to you- not because of me…"

She stood up and walked out of the room. Her pace quickened in the hallway until she was on the stairs, then running through the clubhouse to the street.

She was out of the gate and a block away before he caught up- banging on the fence and calling her name. But he couldn't go after her. She'd known that when she ran.

The cop car was already parked outside.

Chapter 30

Devlin

“Fuck this.”

He stared at the monitor on his ankle. Some lady had come by to strap it on. He’d held still for her, deciding not to fight it.

Even though all he wanted to do was run after his woman.

She had come to see him and then- poof. After they had make each other come like there was no tomorrow.

She’d walked. And he knew why.

Fucking Grant and his sloppy seconds.

Devlin was beside himself. He walked behind the club and found some old plywood to break. He kicked it until it cracked in half. Then he found another piece. This time he used his fists. After about twenty minutes he looked up and realized he had an audience.

"Grant. He's done."

Jack and Donnie looked at each other. Donnie cleared his throat.

"You want me to go to Mae's tonight?"

Devlin nodded. He could feel the pulse in his cheek from clenching his jaw so hard.

What the hell was he going to do?

He felt sick at the thought of Grant treating Kaylie that way. Like she was a whore instead of the most perfect woman on earth.

His angel.

She hadn't wanted to tell him about it. She was trying to protect him he realized. Just the way he hadn't been able to protect her.

He walked back into the clubhouse and poured himself a shot of tequila. It was the first of many to come. He started slowly but worked steadily toward oblivion. He knew that Kaylie wouldn't be back tonight.

He was starting to wonder if she'd be back at all.

Devlin stared straight forward as people clapped him on the back, congratulating him for getting out, saying he'd beat the rap, not to worry. He ignored them all, just stared straight ahead and imagined tearing Grant's head from his body.

He'd do it too. It didn't matter that he'd promised Kaylie he wouldn't. Grant had messed with his woman. It was a point of honor now.

And a warning to anyone who ever considered messing with her again.

Keeping Kaylie safe was the only thing that mattered now.

Chapter 31

Kaylie

Just put one foot in front of the other. Look straight ahead. Don’t think. Don’t feel.

Kaylie went about her business like a robot, working her shift with precision, if not a smile. At least she wasn’t crying her eyes out the way she wanted to. She was able to keep it together.

At least until she served a cheeseburger and turkey club to Mr. and Mrs. Marcus. They were a sweet old couple who came in at least once a week. Kaylie had always imagined she'd have something like that someday- growing old together, taking walks, raising a family.

How could she ever have any of that with Dev?

Maybe he wasn't the problem. Maybe it was her.

His lifestyle was extreme to be sure. But he'd shown her that he was a good man again and again. Better than most she'd wager.

So what if he rode a bike and hung out with a bunch of tattoo'd tough guys. They stuck together like glue. If any of them ever needed anything, Dev would be there for them and vise versa.

He was loyal, to a fault. He was loyal to her, too. Even if she didn’t feel like she deserved it.

Not with the way she was acting.

If she couldn't get past all that then she would be the one missing out. She had no doubt that Devlin would have another woman just by snapping his fingers. A dozen.