Chapter 81 81
DAISY POV
“Diesel…”
I whispered his name again, still not sure if I was seeing things.
It can’t be him, right?
I pushed myself up slowly, one hand pressed against the cold metal of the container wall. My legs shook so badly I thought they would give out. I kept staring at him the whole time. If I looked away even for a second, I was afraid he would vanish.
He stood about twenty feet away. His black shirt was covered in dust. His hair was messy from the ride. His jaw was tight. His fists stayed clenched at his sides. His eyes stayed fixed on me. I never expected anyone to find me this quickly. Especially not him.
My eyes were still fixed on him as he started walking toward me. Slow steps. Heavy. His shoulders moved with each stride. His head was slightly forward. The closer he came, the lighter my chest felt. The fear that had been pressing down on me for hours began to break apart.
A few minutes ago I had accepted that this was the end. I hadn’t asked for anyone to save me. But seeing Diesel now felt like help I never prayed for. Just him being here made breathing easier.
My heart started hoping he would reach me. Pull me close. Hold me so tight I could forget how afraid I’d been.
Tears were already falling by the time he stopped right in front of me. I had to tilt my head back to look up at him.
For a second we both stayed still. My heart pounded hard while I looked at his face up close.
I waited for his arms. For him to hold me and make everything feel safe again.
But instead his voice came out low and rough.
“Who gave you permission to step out?”
The words felt like cold water poured over me. I didn’t expect that.
I blinked quickly. “What?”
“I asked you a question, Daisy.”
Yes, it’s a question, but…
I looked at his face again. His eyes were dark and angry. His mouth was a straight line. No softness. No relief. Only anger. And somehow I still felt the need to explain.
“I—” My voice broke. “I didn’t think—”
“I told you once,” he cut in, “you don’t have much freedom, Daisy. I don’t like it when my words are ignored.”
The more he spoke, the heavier my stomach felt. Like I was a child who had run into the street. At the same time, his words about my freedom twisted inside me.
I swallowed hard and tried to stand straighter even though my legs were shaking.
“Freedom… my freedom… Why didn’t I have it? I want to be free and normal like other women. I want a life. A real life.” Tears kept falling. I couldn’t stop them. “I want a good life without pulling other people into my problems.”
“Then hold a gun,” Diesel said flatly, cutting me off.
“What?”
“Hold a damn gun or stay where I put you.” He reached behind his back and pulled out a pistol. I flinched and stepped back in fear.
His eyes stayed on me. He spoke again, slow and clear.
“Hold a gun or—” Without finishing the sentence, he pulled me against his chest in one quick motion. His arm wrapped around me tight. He stretched his other arm out with the gun pointed forward. “Or you stay put like this, Daisy. While I fire.”
Before I could understand, he pressed his free hand over both my ears. Hard. Blocking all sound.
Then the gun fired.
The shot went off right beside my head. Even with his hand covering my ears, the noise was loud and sharp. My whole body jerked. I flinched hard against him. My fingers grabbed his shirt. Fear rushed through me so fast I couldn’t breathe.
It took several long seconds before the ringing in my head started to fade. I stayed pressed against his chest, shaking. Then I turned my head just enough to look where he had aimed.
One of the men from earlier was now lying on the ground, holding his leg. There was a gun by his side. I didn’t know what had happened, but it was obvious he had tried to attack from behind. Blood spread through his jeans. He screamed, but I couldn’t hear it clearly because Diesel’s hand was still over my ears.
Diesel lowered the gun. He kept his other arm around me. His hand finally moved away from my ears.
“This should be the last time you ever go against my word,” he said. His voice was low, calm, final. “You stay right beside me until I decide.”
“Decide on what?” The question screamed inside my head, but my mouth wouldn’t say it. I only nodded.
A strange warmth started in my chest. His words didn’t sound sweet or romantic. But they felt… safe. Like a promise he would keep no matter what.
I was still trying to understand the feeling when he stretched out his hand, palm up.
“We should go,” he said.
I looked from his hand to his face. His eyes were still dark. They hadn’t gone soft. But they stayed on mine.
I had left the clubhouse tonight thinking I would never go back. But standing here now, with Diesel in front of me, something inside me woke up and said maybe I had a reason to stay.
I reached out slowly and put my hand in his. His fingers closed around mine. Firm. Warm. Strong.
He stepped aside so I could move.
I took one step forward.
Pain shot through my leg. I gasped and stumbled.
Before I hit the ground, Diesel moved fast. He bent down, wrapped one arm around my waist, and lifted me. In one motion he threw me over his shoulder like I weighed nothing to him.
My body went stiff for a second.
“You should relax,” he said. His voice was low. The sound came through his chest into mine. “I got you.”
The roughness in his voice wasn’t anger this time. It was steady. Commanding. And quiet.
My muscles relaxed almost without me telling them to. A small, shaky smile came to my lips even though he couldn’t see it.
He started walking toward the bike. The guy he shot was dragging himself away in pain. Damn, I didn’t feel one bit of pity for him. My legs hung down. My face pressed against his back. Each step moved me a little. I couldn’t name exactly how I felt—relieved, scared, confused, wanted, claimed. Everything mixed together. But one thing was clear: I didn’t want to fight this anymore. I just wanted to let it happen. And if Diesel was going to be there every step…
I wanted to try.
He reached the bike. He lowered me carefully onto the seat. Then he swung his leg over and sat in front of me.
“Arms,” he said.
I wrapped them around his waist right away. Tight.
“Hold on.”
The engine started with a loud roar.