He ran a hand over her hair. “What do you want to do now?”
Cassie played with the sheet, gaze fixed on it as though it was made of diamonds. Now it was her turn to tense up like a board of wood. “Well, I was, um…I was thinking, maybe…well…”
“I’d like you to come with us,” he said, keeping his voice low to avoid waking Sarge. “It’ll be a long trip, and rough at first. We’ll need to lay low, stay off the grid for a while.”
Her gaze met his, eyes hopeful. “Why Tennessee?”
“Sarge knows of a motorcycle club there that’ll supposedly let us prospect. They’re called Hell’s Handlers, and he claims they’re good guys. Not into the shit the Tribe is into. But I gotta be honest. We don’t really know what we’re walking into. This all happened so fast, we didn’t have time to plan shit. We don’t have jobs or a place to fucking live. Got some cash Sarge and I scrounged up, but shit could be fucking rough for a long time. Don’t know how long it’s gonna take to get our feet under us.”
Unspoken was the dramatic difference in lifestyle for her. Fox had said she came from money. For all he knew she’d never worked a day in her life. Had never sweat and lived without the comfort and safety net of a fat-walleted daddy.
She tucked her lower lip between her teeth as though deep in thought. “I’m not worried about having to work hard or live a different type of life than I grew up in. None of that matters. Trust me, money only turns people into selfish assholes. But I don’t know much about motorcycle clubs, and my one experience hasn’t been good.”
His heart sank. She was gonna say no. “It’s in my blood, baby. It’s all I know. All I’ve ever wanted. Club life ain’t glamorous, but I’ll promise you this, I will not get involved with a club that hurts women. I—” He looked away unable to speak around the solid lump lodged in his throat.
Her soft hand landed on his cheek, bringing his attention back to her. A silent encouragement to continue when ready. Christ, she was beautiful. Add it to the genuine caring and compassion in her eyes and he found his vocal cords loosening.
“I was involved with a girl a few years ago who was raped.”
Her eyes widened and she placed a hand on his chest. “Viper,” she whispered.
He nodded, heart threatening to leave his chest. “It fucked her up. Few months later, she killed herself.” Those were all the details he could go into without breaking down or breaking something in the motel room. All thinking of Vanessa did now was remind him his father was no better than the man who raped his girl. Worse even because he continued to harm women despite seeing firsthand the heartbreaking destruction it caused in promising lives.
Cassie stroked her hand up and down, soothing as well as arousing. “I’m so sorry, Viper. I can’t even imagine the pain that must have caused you. Then you found out your club…”
“Right. I don’t stand for that shit. Neither does Sarge. I’m sure he has his own reasons. I was lied to my whole life about what the Devil’s Tribe was. I will not be played again. It won’t be an easy life, not like you’re used to, but it’ll be a good life once we get settled.”
“So you’d want me to go with you guys?”
“I want you to come with me. I want you to be with me. To take a chance on me.”
A huge smile lit her face. “Maybe it’s totally crazy, but yes, Viper, I want to go with you. I want to be with you. I—God, this whole thing is crazy, but it’s what I need. A fresh start on my own terms. On our terms. I don’t need an easy, struggle-free life, Viper. I need a real life chosen and lived by me.”
He couldn’t believe the feeling of relief and elation at her declaration. Perhaps the need to have her with him was just a continuation of rescuing her. A way to ensure his father’s club didn’t get their hands on her and ruin her as Vanessa had been destroyed. Or maybe it was something else. A deeper connection. All he knew for sure was her agreement to accompany them eased all the tension inside his body. He bent down. “Christ, baby,” he whispered against her lips. “You’re fucking amazing. Thank you for giving us a chance.”
“Thank you for saving me,” she whispered back before kissing him. Her slender arms wrapped around him, pulling him with her as she guided him down to the bed. Viper groaned into her mouth as her sweetness flooded him.
“You two start fucking, and I ain’t leaving this time. In fact, I’ll probably jerk off to the show,” Sarge called out.