Chapter 59 Promising to protect her
Ryder's POV
"He's going to die," Sage whispered as the paramedics wheeled Johnny past us and headed for the ambulance.
"We don't know that."
"Yes we do. Look at him. He's so unrecognisable. They beat him to a pulp."
She was probably right but I didn't say it. I just pulled her tighter against me and watched the ambulance drive away with it's lights flashing.
Marcus sat back down on the curb. "This is because of the marriage contract thing isn't it? Diego's punishing the club for not handing Sage over fast enough."
"How do you know about that?" I asked looking down in surprise at him.
"You think it's just the club management that knows? You lot and your management meetings! Everybody in the club knows why Elena and Diego Vasquez came here with a convoy."
"I don't know if that's the reason. Maybe it is." I answered, feeling defeated.
"Well I know." Marcus spat blood onto the pavement. "And I'm tired of it. We shouldn't have to suffer because Vincent made a deal we can't honor."
"Be careful," Jaxon warned. "That's my father you're talking about."
"Your father's dead. And his shady deals are killing us." Marcus looked up at Jaxon with his good eye. The other was swollen completely shut. "I got nothing against Sage. But if marrying Diego stops this, then maybe she should do it. Ever since she got back from god knows where she's been for six damn years, we've suffered series and series of attacks."
Sage went rigid beside me.
"Watch your mouth," I said quietly.
"Or what? You'll beat me up too? I'm just saying what half the club is thinking." Marcus struggled to his feet again. "We can't keep taking losses like this. Something has to give."
"It won't be her." My voice came out harsh and dangerous. "She's not getting sacrificed because some cowards keep attacking us from the shadows. You don't even know why we're being attacked!"
"Then what's your solution? Wait until they kill more brothers? Until they burn down the clubhouse with everyone inside?"
"My solution is we find who's doing this and we end them." I stepped toward Marcus. "And if I hear you suggest handing Sage over to Diego again, you'll be in the ambulance next to Johnny."
Jaxon moved between us. "Enough. Both of you. We're not turning on each other. Besides, she has already given Diego a positive answer, so he has no reason to attack us. This must be someone else's doing. Maybe ask the attacks we've suffered have been from somebody else."
He was right but I was still angry and still ready to put my fist through something.
A cop approached us to ask some questions and Jaxon went to deal with him. Diesel followed to give his statement too on what happened.
I pulled Sage away from the crowd toward my bike.
"You okay?"
"No. Marcus is right. This is because of me." Her voice shook. "People are getting hurt because of me."
"People are getting hurt because someone's attacking us. That's not your fault."
"Isn't it? I have agreed to the marriage but this hasn't stopped."
I grabbed her shoulders and made her look at me. "Until you are married to him, you are mine to protect."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying I'm your permanent shadow from now on. Everywhere you go, I go. Every second of every day."
"Ryder, that's not necessary."
"Someone just put Johnny in critical condition. Someone bombed our bar. Someone is destroying everything we've built." I pulled her closer. "You think I'm letting you out of my sight when there are people this dangerous coming after us?"
"But Jaxon—"
"Jaxon will deal with it. Right now my only job is keeping you safe."
She searched my face. "This isn't just about protection is it?"
"No. It's not."
"Then what is it?"
I looked at her standing there with worry in her green eyes and her hair falling loose around her shoulders. Everything in me wanted to claim her right here in front of everyone. I wanted to tell the whole club she was mine and anyone who had a problem with it could go to hell.
But I settled for the truth.
"It's about making sure no one takes you from me. Not Diego, not the Blood Sisters, not some masked cowards who attack in the afternoon." I ran my thumb along her jaw. "You're mine to protect. Mine to keep safe. And I'll be damned if I let anything happen to you."
The possessiveness in my voice surprised even me. But I meant every word.
"You're being crazy."
"Crazy's the only sane response when someone's trying to hurt the woman you love."
"I'm not the woman you—" She stopped. "Did you just say love?"
"Yeah. I did."
"Ryder—"
"I love you, Sage. I've loved you for six years and I'm done pretending I don't." I cupped her face in my hands. "So yes, I'm going to be your shadow. I'm going to follow you everywhere and react violently when anyone even looks at you wrong. Because that's what you do when you love someone in a world as fucked up as ours."
She stared at me with her mouth slightly open. Then she grabbed the front of my shirt and pulled me down into a kiss.
It was brief. Just a few seconds. But it was in public where anyone could see. Where Jaxon could see if he turned around.
When she pulled back her eyes were bright.
"I love you too. Even when you're being an overprotective crazy person."
"Good. Then you won't complain when I don't leave your side for the next few weeks."
"I'll complain constantly."
"I know. But you'll do it where I can hear you and keep you safe."
Jaxon called my name from across the lot. Time to give statements and deal with the aftermath.
But as I led Sage back toward the others, I kept one hand on the small of her back. Claiming her, protecting her.
Because Diego could send all the threats he wanted. The Blood Sisters could attack every business we owned.
It didn't matter.
Nobody was taking Sage from me. Not now. Not ever.