Trust The Devil (Devil's Riders 3)

Her eyelashes fluttered and she moaned. She blinked those gorgeous eyes of hers and stared up at me.

"What are you doing up there, Clint?"

I exhaled in relief, but I knew we weren't out of the woods yet. I hadn't realized a crowd had gathered. I kissed her hand in a decidedly lover-like way.

Hell, even if I had noticed the crowd, I doubt I would have cared.

"Hold still, honey. We got to wait for the doctor, you hear?"

She nodded and I flinched.

"Don't even do that. Try not to move at all, okay?"

She frowned, wiggling her fingers and toes.

"I'm fine Clint. See?"

"That's real good but I meant what I said- don't move an inch."

The doctor was there before she could argue with me anymore. He checked her neck and her spine, and nodded to me. I let out a big whoosh of air after he shone a light into her eyes and turned to me.

"Pupils are responding… She seems to be fine. I don't think there's a concussion. Still, she should take it easy for a few days. Lots of fluids. No riding until she's checked out again."

Pheonyx was moaning in protest but I was grinning ear to ear. She sat up and I was there, guiding her to her feet and right into my arms. I kissed her long and tender, careful not to squeeze her too hard.

Hootin' and hollerin' broke out along with applause. The crowd was glad to see her on her feet. They were even happier to see a pretty lady get kissed so thoroughly.

"What the hell is this?"

Jackson Delancey was standing behind me. I glanced over my shoulder and grinned at him. Well, it was time to pay the piper after all. So be it.

He was already lifting his fist but I shook my head.

"Not until the lady is clear."

A muscle twitched in his cheek but he nodded. I helped Phee out of the ring and into a seat in the rider's tent, taking my sweet ass time to make my lady comfortable. I handed her a bottle of water and told her to drink the whole thing by the time I was back.

"I hate to leave you but this won't take a moment."

"Where are you going?"

"I need to pay my respects to Jackson."

Her eyes widened as I strode outside. I nodded at Jackson. Daniel was standing beside him, both of them looking fired up. They were big sonofabitches.

I smiled.

I was big too.

"You whoreson! Who told you you could touch that girl?"

Daniel nodded, cracking his knuckles.

"Phee is off limits."

"Sorry boys. The lady is mine. It's a done deal."

"Like hell it is!"

Daniel rolled up his sleeves.

"You're going to have to get through us first."

I grinned widely, eager to let off some steam. I couldn't beat the fool who'd fired their weapon, but I could pummel the Delanceys. And make my claim on Phee official in the process.

"Gladly."

To give them credit, they took turns trying to stomp me into the mud. I had to respect that. If they had doubled up on me, it would have been a real short fight.

After about twenty minutes we were all starting to look a little worse for wear, but no one was winning. I held up my hand as Jackson cocked his fist to take another swing at me.

"Hold up. I need to check on Phee."

"Hell no. Daniel will do it."

I nodded my agreement.

"Aright. But make sure she drinks that whole bottle of water!"

Daniel nodded, still managing to look pissed off while being agreeable. They put their cousin first though, that was obvious. It was kinda sweet when you thought about it.

Not that I had time to think about it.

Jackson was swinging for me again.

"You stay away from our little girl!"

He landed a punch.

"She's not a little girl! She's mine!"

I landed a punch.

"No, she ain't! She's ours! We won't let you trifle with her!"

He landed a punch.

"This is no fling! I'm asking you for Pheonyx's hand in marriage!"

I landed a punch.

"Hell no, you can't marry her! She's still a child!"

I smiled at him slowly, my meaning plain as day.

"She's no child. You can trust me on that."

Jackson roared and came at me. That's when I saw her. Phee was standing with Daniel, watching the whole damn thing.

"You should be sitting down!" That was the last thing I said before Jackson tackled me into the mud. I'd turned away just in time to miss seeing him charging at me like a bull. We wrassled on the ground until we both ran out of steam and collapsed side by side.

I groaned, staring up at the sky as Jackson lay in the dirt beside me.

That was a lesson learned.

Never turn your back on a Delancey with a bone to pick.

Pheonyx

I stared in shock at Clint, who was sprawled out on the ground. Daniel was smiling and Jackson looked like he wanted to commit murder. But I didn't care.