Riding Steele: Crossroads Read Online Free PDF Page A

thrust into her despite Steele’s presence, but then someone pulled him back.
    In her relief, her muscles sagged and the collar tightened painfully as her body sank. Panic rushed through her, but it was as if her body had given up now that help was here.
    Wild Card dodged in front of her. “Fuck, she’s choking. Someone get over here and help me.”
    There were shouts and the sound of a struggle behind her.
    Big hands wrapped around her hips through the bars behind her and lifted her slouching body, loosening the collar a little, as Wild Card fumbled with the door in front. She sucked in a breath.
    “Hold her while I get this collar undone,” Shock said behind her.
    Wild Card wrapped his arm around her waist and held her tight to him and lifted her, taking her weight. The pressure on her throat loosened and she fell forward against Wild Card’s solid shoulder.
    “Wait, now I need to get these shoes off her. Fuck, give me your knife.”
    Wild Card continued to hold her as he reached in his pocket then handed the pocket knife to Shock. She tensed as she felt the back of the blade glide along her ankle, under the strap of the shoe, but he jerked it away from her, cutting the leather and not her. A second later, he freed her from the other strap, too.
    “One of her ankles is swollen badly. Be careful.”
    Wild Card helped her step forward out of the shoes, supporting her body. He drew her from the cage with infinite care, then lifted her in his arms and carried her to the armchair. He gently set her down, then pulled off his leather jacket and covered her with it.
    She clutched the soft leather and pulled it around her.
    She saw the others now. Dom and Magic gripped Donovan’s arms tightly. Steele strode to her side and sank to his knees in front of her. His fingers stroked lightly against her cheek.
    “Are you all right, baby?” he asked in a hoarse whisper.
    She nodded, tears prickling at her eyes. “Now that you’re here.”
    Shock handed Steele a blanket and he tucked it around her gently. She clung to it, just wanting to get out of here, but at the same time needing to get her bearings.
    He slid his hands behind her neck and carefully unbuckled the thick collar. As soon as it loosened, she sucked in a big gulp of air. He ran his fingers gently over her tender throat.
    “What did that bastard do to you?” he muttered under his breath. Then he turned and glared at Donovan.
    In a flash, he lurched to his feet and stormed toward Donovan. His fist connected with the man’s jaw. Dom and Magic let him go and stepped out of Steele’s way. In shock, she watched as Steele pulled the man to his feet and hit him again, then when he was down, Steele kept on pounding his fist into Donovan’s face.
    “No, Steele. Please stop,” she cried. “You’ll kill him.”
    “He deserves it for what he did to you,” Wild Card said.
    She glanced to Shock. “Please don’t let him do this,” she begged.
    Shock nodded and stood up.
    “Steele,” he said as he strode toward him. “That’s enough.”
    He nodded his head to Dom and Magic. They grabbed Steele and pulled him off the bleeding man. He struggled against them. “Fuck, let me go.”
    “Steele. He’s not worth it,” Laurie implored.
    He glared at the man on the ground, his fists clenched at his sides. “But you are,” he answered with gritted teeth.
    “Please, Steele. For me. Just let it go.”
    *
    Steele’s heart pounded as he stared at the man lying on the floor. He wanted to pummel the life out of the asshole. He wanted to wrap his hands around his throat and squeeze out his last breath.
    When he’d seen him standing behind Laurie, all his fears brought to life as he saw the man about to rape her, a murderous rage had built inside him. He’d held it at bay still hoping that Laurie was all right, then when he saw the truth, it had consumed him.
    If Laurie hadn’t stopped him, he would have kept on hitting the man until he was a bloody, lifeless husk. But