Axel (Ride Series Book 3) by Megan O'Brien Page A

to my throbbing temples. Had I been thinking clearly I would have thought more about what this news would do to him.
    His expression froze, his eyes blazing with fury.
    He stood, lifting me in his arms bridal style as Sal strode alongside us. Suddenly, gunshots pierced the evening air and my whole body shook with renewed fear. If anyone I cared about got hurt over this, I’d never forgive myself.
    Axel lifted me into the passenger side of an SUV and quickly draped his jacket over me. I hadn’t realized that my clothes were torn to shreds. He turned to me with an expression so dark I barely recognized him. “Your brother is going to take you to get checked out. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” His gaze locked on the motel beyond.
    “What? You can’t leave me!” I exclaimed in a panic, clutching his shirt in my hands.
    Sal put a hand on his shoulder, the only display of friendship I’d seen between them since I’d been back. Despite the initial truce they’d come to in Dallas, things had still been tense between them.
    “I know what you’re feeling, brother. Believe me, I do,” Sal grit out. “But she needs you right now more than you need retribution. Got me?”
    Axel’s massive chest heaved as he blew out a ragged breath, trying to pull himself together. He looked like a caged beast as he met my brother’s gaze. “Their blood. It’s mine,” he growled, pointing a finger toward the motel. “You promise me that.”
    “I swear it,” Sal agreed, grasping the back of Axel’s neck as the two men touched foreheads briefly. “Take care of my sister. She needs you.” I knew this was huge for them both.
    Axel blew out a breath trying to rein in his anger. “Yeah, man,” he agreed just as the guys returned hauling Aron and Jeb forcefully out to the parking lot.
    Axel strode over to where Cole restrained Jeb, his long legs eating the space as he moved to take Jeb’s neck in his firm grip. I couldn’t hear what he said but Jeb’s face paled more than it already was.
    Then he was returning to me, his expression softening as he pulled my seatbelt on before moving around to the driver’s side.
    “No hospital,” I mumbled, fighting against my drooping eyelids. The adrenaline had fully crashed and I was feeling it.
    “Babe,” he protested.
    “No. Hospital,” I reiterated. “If you need to, call Jill, she’ll help,” I grit out, trying hard to hide my pain.
    “Jill’s in Dallas,” he argued.
    “She’ll help,” I replied stubbornly.
    He sighed but fell quiet. I took that as a good sign I’d get my way and allowed my eyelids to win the battle they’d been waging since the SUV started up.

Chapter 10
    I woke up when the motor cut. I looked out the window with bleary eyes, relieved to see we were at Axel’s.
    “Is Mad here?” I asked as Axel came to my side and lifted me out, moving to carry me inside.
    “No, babe, he’s with Scarlet. Cal’s there, too. Someone will either bring him home or we’ll get him in the morning, okay?”
    I bit my lip against the disappointment. “Okay,” I answered. After a night like this, I wanted nothing else but to hold my boy.
    “Tonight, I need to take care of you,” he added quietly, stepping into the quiet house.
    “What time is it?” I thought to ask, wondering how long I’d been in that godforsaken motel room.
    “Just after two,” he replied. “Seven hours,” he added grimly, recognizing the direction of my thoughts.
    He moved us to the bathroom, sitting me carefully on the counter. I couldn’t get a handle on his expression as he looked me over. He looked haunted.
    “What is it?” I asked quietly.
    He swallowed audibly. “I’m gonna have to take the glass out,” he explained in a deep, troubled voice. “Your perfect fucking skin.” He looked dangerously close to losing it again like he had back at the motel.
    “Hey,” I put a hand on his arm, the muscle flexing with tension under my touch. “I’m tougher than I look,” I assured