Page 14 of Hook

"What the hell!" She shrieks, "I'm not fucking crazy. That man hurt me and now he won't stop until he finishes the job." Her body shudders and she drops her head forward, squeezing her eyes shut to keep from crying.

"Hey, none of that. I'm here. I know you're not crazy. We'll figure this out." I reach over and squeeze her thigh. I'm not used to comforting people. It's never been in my makeup before but with Bea it comes easy. I don't want her to hurt or be upset.

"How? What other options do we have? I'm not seeing the light at the end of this tunnel, Hook."

"I don't know about a light at the end of the tunnel but I have a few warriors I know will go to battle for you if I ask." I nod my head and use my finger to lift her chin. I need her to believe me. For some reason, getting her to trust me is the only thing I care about right now.

"Who?" She asks.

"My MC. The Brutal Chains. We all try to stay out of drama because we all know what it's like to be on the other side of the law but if it calls for it I know not one of them will hesitate to help me if I ask." It's the first time I've alluded to the fact that I'm an ex-con to her. I wait for the judgement to pass over her expression but I don't see any.

How surprising.

"You'd do that?" Bea's voice was barely above a whisper, tinged with both hope and disbelief.

"It's risky," Hook admitted, his gaze meeting hers. "For both of us. But leaving you to handle this alone... it's not an option I'm willing to consider."

"First things first," I say, my voice steady despite the adrenaline pumping through my veins. "We need to get back to my clubhouse and plan our next move."

"You're clubhouse? You mean the tow yard?" Bea's eyebrow raises and I can't help but chuckle at her reaction.

It's amazing how things can stay hidden in plain sight.

The small strip mall where I have the tow yard is lined with several businesses, all of them owned and operated by members of Brutal Chains MC. Behind the buildings though is one large building fenced in and connected to the back entrances of the business, our compound. To the outsider it might look like a warehouse or a rundown factory but inside is where I call home.

Only approved members either patched or public can walk through the doors. That's going to be my next problem, trying to convince Brick that Bea is worth opening the gates for.

"Hook," Bea's voice is soft, hesitant. "Why are you doing this? You barely know me."

I pause, considering my words carefully. "Because it's the right thing to do. And because... there's something about you, Bea. I can't explain it, but I know I can't walk away from this – from you."

I've never been one to let my feelings get the better of me but this is deeper than just some feelings. This is pure intuition. I'vebarely got a soul left in my body and I know if I let her walk out into this hell alone I'll never be able to live with myself.

Sleeping doesn't come easy for me and I'd rather not add yet another regret for me to mull over when the darkness settles over me.

Eight

Bea

I feellike I'm jumping straight from the boiling water into the flame.

I should've known Hook wasn't an upstanding member of society. Not the way he looks at me. Not the way he reacted when I pulled my pocket knife out on him.

I didn't react when he told me that he was an ex-con or when he told me that he was in a gang. I know better than that.

The ride back to this mysterious compound isn't very long but with every street we drive down I can't help but wonder what the hell I'm getting myself into. How can this help me?

"What's the matter?" Hook questions without looking from the road.

"Hmm?" I startle and turn in his direction. Lost in my own thoughts, I didn't even think he was paying any attention to me.

"You're sitting there like I'm taking you to the fucking firing squad or something. The tension in your body is almost painful to look at.

"Nothing." I answer quickly.

"You're a liar. I don't have time for liars. Fix your answer." He snaps at me.

With a sigh, I adjust myself in the seat and will some of the tension to leave my body. "You're not a good man."