Steel 4: Blackthorne MC #4 Read Online Free PDF Page B

and led me back to the truck. He opened the door to the passenger side and nodded for me to get in.
    My cheeks were burning, and tears prickled at the corners of my eyes, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing how much he’d hurt me.  
    I had never felt so betrayed by anyone in my life than I did at that moment. To think that I had cared about him… I must have been crazy.  
    But I knew I had run out of options, so I climbed inside the truck and yanked my seatbelt on while Nick walked around the other side and climbed into the driver’s seat.
    “You have to be careful who you trust around here, Ella,” Nick said as he turned on the engine.
    I leaned back against the seat and turned my head so I was looking out of the window rather than at him.
    “Please, Ella, just give me a little more time. I know you think the town of Blackthorne is somewhere where you will be safe, but Victor has connections… And if he found out you tried to escape, which he would…” Nick shifted in his seat to look at me, but I kept my gaze stubbornly fixed on the window. “When Victor found you again, he wouldn’t treat you so well.”
    Nick’s voice sounded so sincere that I almost believed him. Was he really worried about me? Was his concern genuine? Or was I just being played again?
    When we pulled into the Blackthorne parking lot, I reached out to open the door, but Nick put a hand on my leg. “Wait, Ella.”
    I turned back to face him. “Yes?” I snapped.  
    I sure as hell wasn’t ready to forgive him yet.
    “I know this is really difficult for you. So I’m going to make you a promise. Come hell or high water, I will have you out of here within a week. I will keep you safe, I promise. And I take my promises seriously.”
    My eyes searched his face for some kind of sign he was telling me the truth. I could feel myself begin to melt. My resolve was weakening. Should I trust him?
    I didn’t really have much of a choice. Despite my plans, I wasn’t leaving there tonight, so now Nick was my best chance of getting out of there.
    “One week? You promise?”
    He swallowed hard and then nodded.
    “Ok, then,” I said, slowly nodding. “If you promise, then I believe you, but if you back out of this you have to know that you’re going to break my heart.” My voice wavered as I spoke.
    Nick flinched as if my words hurt him, but he nodded and gave me a half smile. “Okay, now let’s try to get you back inside without anyone noticing.”
    We climbed out of the truck and I’d just shut the door behind me when I heard shouting.
    “There they are! Grab them!”
    I felt a pair of strong arms grab me from behind and I screamed in terror.

8

    “Ella,” Nick called out to me.  
    But when I turned, I saw he was being held back by the two heavies that usually guarded Victor’s door.  
    They didn’t restrain him for long, though. He wrenched an arm free and used it to elbow one of the men in the face, giving him a cut lip. Then he turned and punched the other one, making the guy’s head jerk backwards.
    “Son of a bitch,” the guy with the cut lip grunted.
    But suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, more bikers appeared, piling on top of Nick until they held him so tightly he couldn’t move.
    “No!” I yelled, twisting and turning in my captor’s arms.  
    I used my feet too, kicking out, desperately trying to break free.
    “Ow,” the voice behind me said. It sounded vaguely familiar. “Cut it out, Ella. That hurts.”  
    I jerked my head around to see Chad, and my eyes went as round as saucers.
    Why was Chad in on this? I thought he was Nick’s friend.
    He looked back at me sympathetically, but he didn’t let go.
    “Chad,” I said in a shocked voice. “Why are you doing this?”
    Chad had the decency to look a little ashamed. “I’m just following orders.”
    Chad refused to meet my eye. I could tell it was Chad because his face was a little chubbier than his brother’s, and his hair was a little