Hellbent Hero by Naomi Porter

34

Hero

ALMOST FIVE MONTHS ago, a redhead with a smart mouth and a massive attitude rocked my world. There was something about her that made me breathless the moment our eyes had connected in Sugar Bliss Bakery. Since that day, I never let go of the hope of making her mine.

Three fucking days ago, her strung-out, mentally unstable sperm donor tried to take her from me. A grievous mistake.

“Mi vida, open your eyes, baby.” I brushed her gorgeous red hair away from her face. She stirred, making the same adorable sounds she made each morning. “Gimme your eyes, beautiful.”

Her lashes fluttered, working on waking up. She’d been sleeping around the clock since the ordeal with Paul Walsh. It’d only been a few days. She was emotionally drained.

I hated to bother her, but today was Black Friday. After I promised to take her to see Boxer and Ire fight, she’d been counting down the days the last couple of weeks.

I didn’t think she’d want to attend the event after the hell she’d been through. What did I know? Roja was set on moving forward and putting it all behind her. Goddamn, she was incredible.

I pressed a kiss to her lips, drinking her in. I could’ve lost her.

The guys and I had just arrived when a little kid ran out of the building yelling, “Miss Walsh was shot, Miss Walsh was shot!”

I didn’t take a second to think and ran for my woman, drawing my gun. She’d almost made it out before she fainted from the blood loss. Paul Walsh was running after her and the girl, his eyes closed, waving a gun.

I’d taken no chances with my Roja’s safety, shooting him in the kneecap to stop him. He was arrested again. This time to be placed in a mental ward after he went through surgery and recovery.

Roja’s injury was minor in the grand scheme of it all. The bullet was removed from the back of her shoulder. She was kept overnight for observation and released in my care the following day. My club showered her with flowers, gifts, and love. Sugar and Tina loaded up our fridge with a Thanksgiving feast after telling them we wouldn’t spend the day with them. My MC family was the best—priceless.

But I never wanted to go through that shit again.

My woman kicked ass through it all. Her biggest struggle was discovering she had a sister. Willow was only sixteen. She ran away from home after she learned of Tara. I didn’t know a lot about her. After escaping the Wizard, she shutdown, not talking. Her mom came for her within hours and whisked Willow away. It was pretty messed up. Roja didn’t even get to talk to her since she was in surgery to repair her bullet wound. By the time she came to, Willow was gone.

“Roja, my love. You’ll be late for the main event.” I ran my nose along her jaw, breathing her in. I must’ve thanked God a million times for not taking her from me. I’d spend the rest of my life praising his mercy.

She smiled, keeping her eyes closed. “Roll the R for me.”

A grin stretched across my face. “I love you, Rrrooojaaa.”

Her brown doe-eyes opened, love brimming at the edges.

“There’s my woman.” I brushed my lips over hers.

“I love you too,” she told me, her voice thick with emotion. “What made you say it now?”

“It just felt right. What about you?”

“Same.”

“You gonna stay in bed or get up so we can go to the fight?”

“Get up.” She lifted to a sitting position with my assistance. “Thank you, big guy.” She went to the closet and shuffled through her clothes.

I loved how she called me, big guy. Admired the fuck out of her. She hardly complained about the pain. I knew she experienced torment, having had a few bullet wounds myself. Roja didn’t want to take any pain meds. I understood. Growing up with an addict made her fear being like him. She’d rather deal with the discomfort than risk developing a craving for the high.

I’d been there, done that, so I supported her choices. I’d always stand by her through thick and thin.

Roja squeezed the fuck out of my hand, turning the tips of my fingers blue. For having just been shot in the right shoulder, she didn’t lack in strength.

“Box looks in a bad way,” Track muttered on the other side of me.

I didn’t take my eyes off my brother as he fought to get his opponent off him. It was the third round. Un-fucking-precedented. Boxer wasn’t in top form. He appeared distracted. Unmotivated. Almost like he welcomed the ass whooping. It didn’t make sense.

“I can’t watch.” Roja buried her face in my chest. “He’s getting the shit beat out of him. I thought he was the best in the country?’

I cuddled her close, emotion bubbling in my chest as my brothers shouted, fight motherfucker, finish it!

“He is. Not sure what’s gotten into him.”

Storm and Lynx got to their feet shouting like a couple of maniacs. Track joined them just as Copper sat next to Roja. He eyed me, seeking permission to be here. I nodded because it was high time those two made up.

“Red, come here, babe.” He tugged her out of my arms.

I growled at his choice of words. Fucking prospect. I kept my cool, only shooting him a death glare.

“Hey, Copper.” She put her left hand on my thigh. She knew my displeasure with the young prospect. I wouldn’t be an asshole about it. Roja was my woman. Copper would respect us. He was a good guy.

“You really scared the crap out of me. Don’t do that again.” He hugged her in a brotherly way.

“Believe me, I have no plan to.” She took my hand. “I’m sorry I was bitch to you that day, Cop. I was in a bad place.”

“I know, babe. You don’t have to explain. Let’s just move forward and be friends again.”

“I’d like that.” Her radiant smile lit up the whole room.

Just as they mended fences, the crowd erupted. Boxer got the upper hand and unleashed holy hell. Thank fuck.

Roja turned toward me. “Next time, I’ll stay at the compound with Maddy and the girls. This is too intense for me.”

I took her into my arms and kissed her temple.

The fight was over. Boxer’s face was bloody, but he won. I’d have to have a talk with him to find out what the hell happened.

Storm and the others left to meet up with Boxer and Ire in the locker room. Ire won his event, after losing the last two. He seemed a bit better the last couple of weeks. Not sure what changed, but I really didn’t care. I was just glad to see my brother living again.

I whispered in Roja’s ear, “I want to take you to California over Christmas. You down with that?”

She pulled back, beaming. “California? I’ve never been before. I’d love to go. I could see if Brad would like to watch Luna for us.” She bit her bottom lip and I thought about how she’d been warring with what to do about the kitten. Part of her wanted to give Luna to Brad as a gift for the terror he went through. But she loved the kitten.

“Sure, baby. I bet he’d enjoy cat-sitting.”

A small smile graced her pretty face, cheeks turning a naughty shade of red. “Could we be back for the Bang in the New Year Orgy at the club?”

I snorted at my dirty girl. “We’ll be back for it.” I helped her stand so we could go home. She already looked exhausted after two hours. “I want you to meet Monica and my son while we’re there. Hit some of my old stomping grounds.”

Her brown depths shimmered, stealing my breath away. I sensed she knew how much this meant to me.

“I’d be honored.”