Page 28 of Hell Yes
Jesse stepped out first, then Sage, Val, and Xander. Sonny was the last one.
“What the fuck happened tonight?” Gage bellowed. “And since when do you go rogue, Jesse?”
“I didn’t?—”
“You and Xander.”
“Krypt jammed the cell service. The comms,” Xander repeated for the third time tonight.
Jesse nodded. “We had no choice. We couldn’t just leave them in there.”
“Debrief, my office, now! Sage, take Val to your place.”
Sage nodded and she and Val walked off towards Dante’s cottage.
Xander watched her leave, Jesse standing beside him.
“She held up better than I imagined,” Jesse whispered to him.
Xander turned and stared at Jesse. The man looked exhausted and held up his wrist, now smeared with blood. But he never complained.
“All of us did. But it was a close call.”
Xander’s heart was pounding so hard just thinking about anything bad happening to any of them, Jesse in particular. Xander loved to tease the guy, and they bickered like crazy, but he couldn’t imagine the club—or his life—without him.
“Too close,” Xander whispered and leaned in, their noses almost touching. “Don’t do it again.”
CHAPTER 10
VAL
“We have a spare bedroom and plenty of food, just help yourself,” Sage explained. “Dante can be a grump in the mornings, but just ignore him.”
Val nodded and followed Sage down the gravel pathway.
“I guess you’re one of us now,” Sage stated.
“What do you mean?”
“The guys told me about the letter you received from back home. The religious order you grew up in. Sounds like they want you back.”
“They just want me back so they can punish me. But I’m not going. Ever.”
Sage nodded. “You’re in the right place. The Hellraisers can be wild and crazy but they know how to defend their crew.”
“I’m not part of?—”
“Not yet,” Sage chuckled.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Jesse and Xander are damn protective of you. And that’s not like them. With the crew, sure. But with other people? No.”
Val’s heart beat double time as she thought about the passionate arguments she’d had with both men. It stirred something wild inside her. Something she never imagined she’d ever feel. Her mind warred with her body, wholly unprepared for dealing with not just one, but two, alpha males.
Val said nothing in response to Sage’s comment as they walked up to a large cabin, the lights in the windows on. Dante was standing in the doorway, with the same look and posture as Gage Hellion. He was angry and Val could feel the waves of tension rolling off him.
“I’m fine,” Sage announced as she walked up the steps and into the arms of her boyfriend.