Abel (Sabine Valley 1)

Instead, once again, he’s stepped in to protect me from something I don’t need protection from.

I take a breath and force myself to turn to Abel. Even bruised and covered in blood, he’s a handsome fucker. Powerful and entrancing, he’s got the kind of charisma that makes people sit up and take notice even before he opens his mouth. “I will do my part because I gave my word that I would, but I won’t play punching bag or let you harm me. If you try, I’ll cut your fucking balls off.”

He barks out a laugh. “You’ll try, sweetheart.”

“Even you have to sleep sometime.”

He glances at me, new appreciation lighting his dark eyes. “Guess I do. I have no beef with you, Harlow. You just shacked up with the wrong man, and now you’re mine for the next year. Play nice, and I’ll play nice back. Try to stick a knife in my back, and I’ll cut off your pretty head.” He delivers the threat mildly, so mildly that it takes me a moment to register the words.

He’s a Paine. He’s not bluffing.

3

Eli

I fucked up.

I’ve spent my entire life learning to control my emotions, to never let them get the best of me, and I threw it away when I could least afford to. Abel brings us to some kind of warehouse. It’s got a large room with plenty of space for the trucks and then some, and each wall is lined with four doors. Nothing fancy, but then, they can’t have been here long. I have people reporting to me throughout the entire faction, and surely someone would have noticed the Paine brothers returning if they’d been here a while. But then, Abel’s managed to acquire a fucking warehouse without me noticing, so I can take nothing for granted.

I am a fucking fool.

I never saw this coming.

I watch the Paine brothers and their Brides climb out of the truck beds. They gather around Abel, and rage makes my vision bleed red at the sight of him holding Harlow by the arm. She doesn’t look too freaked out, but she’s got one hell of a poker face. She’s got to be terrified.

Abel looks at each of his brothers in turn. “Consummate the handfasting tonight. No exceptions. Get it done.”

Abel hauls Harlow to stand before the bed of the truck and levels a hard look at me. “Get the fuck up.”

My body grumbles in protest as I leverage myself to my feet. My face is one big, throbbing ache. I’m going to have a black eye by the end of the night. At least he didn’t break my ribs or do any lasting damage. I suspect that was on purpose, and I hate that he had the control to hold back when I was in a frenzy. Even when I was lost in rage, Abel was delivering punches with pristine focus. Goddamn it.

My vision goes a little blurry when my feet hit the ground, but I stay standing through sheer stubbornness. “You got what you want. Let her go.”

“Nah, I won Harlow twice over. I’m going to enjoy the fuck out of her.” He leans in, dark eyes mean. “I can’t wait to taste her pussy and have her come all over my cock.”

I shoot forward, but Abel’s ready for me. He grabs my throat and drags me the rest of the way to him until our noses are nearly touching. “I’ll tell you what I told her; play nice, and I won’t fuck her up.”

At our side, Harlow jerks. “That’s not what you told me.”

“Yeah, well, the principle is the same. Play nice, Eli, or I’m going to take my anger out on this pretty little woman of yours.” His grin is just shy of gruesome. “Hell, she’s not nearly as sweet as her reputation says. She might even like it.”

“You piece of shit.”

“Call me karma.” He turns and drags us in the opposite direction that his brothers went. I catch sight of half a dozen trucks and cars before we reach a nondescript gray door. Abel gives Harlow a little shove. “Open it.”

“Stop manhandling me, asshole.” She sounds more angry than scared, but I don’t trust it. I knew when I fell in love with her that having her at my side was the most selfish thing I could do. Being with me puts her in the kind of danger I promised I’d never let touch her again. Still, I rationalized that I could keep her safe from the worst of it.

Joke’s on me.

The door leads to a white hallway and a trio of doors identical to the first. Abel points to the one on the far left. “In there.”

Harlow stalks to the door and pushes it open. Inside is a bedroom. Brushed concrete floor. Plain white walls. King-sized bed. An open door that shows a small bathroom. That’s it.