Destroy For Her - R.B. Hilliard Page 0,10

and in a tone much too old for a six-year-old, she said, “She needs you.” Damn, she was killing him.

Before he knew it, he was being dragged around the back of the Durango to Sage’s side of the car. The passenger door was open. Doc was standing in front of Sage. He appeared to be doing something to her arm, but all Ax could see was her face. He took in the purple and yellow bruises, the swollen eye, the knot on her cheek, the fresh scar above the other eye, and thought, What. The. Fuck?

“Could be broken,” he heard Doc say, followed by, “If so, it’ll have to be set and casted.”

Steele, who’d been conversing with the driver, called out, “Hospital?”

“No hospital,” Sage replied.

Ax’s jaw turned solid at the fear in her voice, his hands tingling with the need to hit something—or someone—specifically the motherfucker who’d done this to her. He assumed it was that dickhead Carlos. Petal’s hand clamped down on his—an indication that she, too, was sensing her mother’s fear. He took in a calming breath. Now was not the time to lose it.

“It could be a sprain, but we won’t know without an X-ray,” Doc said.

“No hospital,” Sage repeated, this time staring at Steele.

“Take her to the clinic,” Ax interjected.

Sage’s head jerked, her gaze shifting beyond Doc and Steele to where he stood. Their eyes collided, her lips parting in surprise. Did she think he wouldn’t come?

He stepped toward her.

Her hand came up as if to ward him off, her beat up but still gorgeous face crumpling. “I’m sorry,” she wailed before bursting into tears.

“Fuck,” he muttered.

“Told you,” Petal warned.

“Careful,” Doc said on his approach.

Mindful of her arm, he lifted her from the Durango and carried her to Steele’s Expedition. Petal followed after, and between the two of them, they got her settled into the backseat. Somehow, he ended up between them. Doc hopped in front while Steele finished talking to the driver.

“I’m okay,” Sage sniffled, once she’d gotten it under control. She sounded exhausted.

Five months ago, he would have pulled her onto his lap. The fact that he couldn’t bothered him. “Sleep. You’re safe now,” he murmured.

“There’s no such thing,” she softly replied. Moments later, she was asleep. Not long after that, he felt Petal’s weight against his shoulder. His mouth turned up into a smile. He finally had his girls back.

It was barely five in the morning when they arrived at the clinic. Dr. Harvey—who was a friend of the club and whose clinic they utilized when the hospital wasn’t an option—was waiting inside for them. A scan confirmed that Sage’s wrist was sprained and not broken. While the two docs got her fixed up, Ax and Steele entertained Petal. She was like a nervous colt—something that neither of them missed. It was when Dr. Harvey kicked everyone out in order to examine Sage further that Ax started to worry. Had they missed something? If so, what?

Steele mentioned calling LuLu before disappearing down the hallway. Doc took Petal to the vending machines. This left Ax to stew in his anger.

Dr. Harvey stepped from the room right as Steele reappeared from his call. While Petal was out of earshot, he gave his diagnosis. He said that Sage hadn’t said much, but from what he could gather, this wasn’t the first time she’d been beaten. When he addressed the subject of rape, she’d completely shut down. He felt this was a red flag that needed to be addressed. Her refusal of a pelvic exam only furthered his worry that something might be wrong. After giving them the name and number of a counselor, he told them to watch for signs of PTSD, not to push for answers, and that she would talk when she was ready.

“I’m going to kill the motherfucker,” Ax growled.

“Not if I get to him first,” Steele replied.

“Before causing anyone bodily harm, I suggest you get your lady home. She says she’s hungry and would like a bath,” Dr. Harvey informed them.

“I’m taking them back to my place,” he told Steele.

Steele’s brow furrowed. “And how are you gonna explain that to Em?” Shit, he’d completely forgotten about Emma. “Luciana wants them at our place, but until we know what we’re dealing with, I think they’ll be better off at the club.”

Ax hated not having them close, but Steele was right; until they knew what they were dealing with, The Cave was the safest place for them to be.

_______________

When Sage saw Alex standing there