Chapter 19
Limit’s head was in his hands when Ox entered the infirmary.
Green and Emily were pacing around the room while Laura worked steadily on Scarlett. She’d assured them that it was just a flesh wound, that Scott had missed anything vital and that her recovery would be smooth sailing.
That didn’t fucking help.
Limit was ready to shed his own skin he was so worried, but he knew that her father was probably even more worried. He opened his mouth at least ten times every few seconds to apologize, to tell Ox he was sorry, that he should have been there…
But, the words never came out.
In fact, the only sound in the entire room was Emily crying.
She was still gripping Scarlett’s bloody hand, and her eyes were swollen from her tears, but Limit couldn’t bring himself to say a damn word.
Green cleared his throat and held up his phone.
“Fury and Rayna want to know if they should come back?”
Ox slowly shook his head.
“No. Tell them to have fun.”
Green didn’t look like he agreed, and his green eyes slanted towards Scarlett before he reluctantly nodded. Ox was so wound up one of his knees was rocking at almost a hundred miles per hour, but Limit didn’t comment on that either.
He really had only one thing on his mind, and that was the man waiting for him in the garage.
Torch was right; ever since the women had shown up in their lives, everything had been turned upside down. Rayna had certainly turned their VP ass over head. Prettyboy was wrapped around Esme’s finger and for the longest while, Limit hadn’t thought that a bad thing.
Now?
Now, he knew that he was losing his shit, over Ox’s daughter no less.
He’d realized it when he saw them dancing together earlier, her and Ox. She looked so fucking beautiful and happy wrapped in Ox’s arms.
Truthfully, she’d looked like she belonged, and Limit knew better than that.
Deep down, he knew that loving Scarlett Hunter would be his downfall.
If he let her in, all the way in, she would completely undo him.
Scarlett had a goodness about her that radiated from within, a goodness Limit admitted that he didn’t have anymore. He couldn’t hold onto that after everything he’d been through. But, after watching Scarlett squirm in her own blood, he wasn’t so sure he wouldn’t eventually steal that wholesomeness from her, too.
“We should give her some space to rest,” Laura said softly.
Ox nodded, but he looked to Limit before he wrapped one palm around Limit’s shoulder.
“Stay with her. I’m going to visit the man in the garage and then I’ll decide his fate.”
Limit almost thanked him for taking that burden from his shoulders, but at the end of the day, he knew that he’d be called to end his life sooner or later.
Sooner versus later, more than likely.
As everyone exited the room, including Green, Limit rose to his full height and scooted his chair closer to Scarlett’s bedside. The steady beep-beep of her heart rate grounded him in a way that he couldn’t explain, but after seeing the pussy in the garage bent over her like he was man enough to actually kill her…
He wanted to rage.
Limit could kill someone without blinking.
He knew how to turn his remorse off.
He knew how to handle his business- the man in the garage?
He’d been green around the gills, which told Limit that he wasn’t as badass as he apparently thought he was.
Emily explained to all of them that Scott and his father were both attorneys and that she figured Scott thought he would be able to get away with hurting Scarlett.
Hell, Scott had basically admitted that much as he cried and pleaded for them to have mercy on him.
Mercy?
A grown man begging for mercy after he’d just tried to fillet the daughter of Limit’s president.
A grown man crying in the garage because he knew that he’d caused his own untimely death.
For, Scott Worthington’s death was inevitable.
There was no way Ox would let him walk away.
Fuck that, there was no way Limit could let him walk away.
Even if Scarlett woke up and told him she was done with him and this life, even if she never blinked those gorgeous hazel eyes in his direction ever again, Limit would take care of Scott Worthington for her. He would end Scott's miserable life for ever laying a hand on Scarlett, even if she could never be ‘his’ woman.
As he lifted her hand into his, he ran his thumbs across the backs of her knuckles. Her hand was soft and warm and her arm was bandaged from wrist to elbow.
The white gauze was stark against her skin, and it only served to remind Limit of how close he’d come to losing her.
Which meant that he had to push her away.
He could stand to watch her walk away, but a woman like Scarlett wouldn’t survive this life.
Not as an old lady.
Being the president’s daughter was one thing, she had an entire club to back her up.
Being his old lady would put an even bigger target on her back- you would think that it would be the opposite, but as the club enforcer, Limit made a lot of enemies. A lot of men feared him, hated him, and he didn’t want that blackness to taint her.
As he smoothed her hair out of her face, she made a soft cooing sound and turned her face towards him. Her lips looked so soft and kissable that he couldn’t resist one small peck.
Even though she remained asleep, Limit felt like one last kiss was all someone like him deserved.
In fact, the reality of the situation- the fact that she’d slept with him multiple times of her own free will- still blew his mind.
Limit wouldn’t thank the universe for a lot, but he’d still be thanking the Gods above for her long after she left him behind.
Maybe when she got married to someone else and had a few babies.
Maybe when he watched her walk down the aisle, he’d finally be over the loss that she would inevitably leave behind.
“I’m gonna handle this shit outside for you, babygirl. I’m gonna take care of the man who tried to take you from me. I won’t ever let someone hurt you…not even myself,” He whispered huskily.
Scarlett’s grip on him tightened almost imperceptibly before she sighed deeply in her sleep and turned slightly onto her side.
“I know you’ll be hurt. You’re gonna be angry, and you’re gonna hate me, but I think that’s better for you. I know you deserve so much better than me and I can’t fight you off forever. If I keep you, you’ll soften me up, and I can’t allow that.”
He briefly tugged on her blonde tips before he stood again and reached over to turn the lamp on, thinking that she would more than likely be terrified if she awoke in the dark.
He had no idea how much she would actually remember, but that was something he intended to find out later.
Right then and there, he needed to figure out what Ox wanted to do.
✽✽✽
When Limit entered the garage, Ox was standing over Scott with the very same knife he’d stabbed Scarlett with.
By the time Limit was done with him, he’d be able to frame that fucking knife.
He’d brandish it like a badge of honor, carry it on his person so he could remember how he avenged the only woman he’d ever thought about giving all of himself to.
“What are we doin’?,” He asked Ox.
Ox sneered at Scott before he gestured towards him.
“He spilled his guts like the pussy he is. Said he was going to make Scarlett his, and make her leave with him. Said that he even had plans to hurt her further if she didn’t agree to it. You know what we’re doin’,” Ox spat.
His amber eyes were angry and bloodshot, his fists were clenched at his sides. Limit knew he’d do whatever his president allowed, but he was rooting for something traditional.
Pulling teeth, breaking fingers, splitting skin.
“You got it. Why don’t you go on inside and sit with Scarlett?”
Ox stared at him long and hard before he nodded.
“Do your worst, and don’t stop until he ain’t breathin’.”
Ox’s demand didn’t fall on deaf ears.
“You got it, boss.”
Ox only hesitated for a second before he stepped closer to Limit and sighed.
“When this is over, you and I are gonna have a talk.”
Limit dipped his head and headed for his work bench.
“Whatever you say.”
Scott Worthington was squirming in his chair, his pale eyes red and wet. Limit felt no pity for him, not one ounce.
“Boss?”
“Yeah?”
Limit held up a pair of pliers as he turned to face his president.
“What about the kid’s father? Won’t he come lookin’ for him?”
Ox glanced at Scott before he snorted.
“Fucker should have thought about that before he tried to kill my daughter. Don’t worry about that. Right now, I just want you to do your job.”
Limit didn’t argue with Ox.
If his president said he’d take care of it, then Limit knew he would take care of it. It wouldn’t be the first time they created their own outcome for some ritzy fuck who’d taken advantage of them or their club.
As Limit neared his latest victim, he felt the familiar sense of contentment wash over him.
“You hurt my woman.”
The words rolled right off his tongue, so easily, so smoothly.
Scarlett didn’t have to know he loved her.
“She’s my woman!,” Scott argued.
Limit opened and closed the pliers a few times before he pointed them towards Scott.
“See, that’s where you’re wrong. I may not be a gentleman, but I know a thing or two about consent. Scarlett told you no. She left you. That means she wasn’t your woman anymore,” Limit murmured.
His raspy voice had Scott shivering in his chair.
“She-she would have come-she would have come back to me if it weren’t for you!”
Limit was surprised by that, but he didn’t let it show.
“Now, why would you say somethin’ like that?”
Scott scoffed loudly as he shook his head.
“She let you fuck her! I tried for months, and she never even wanted me to touch her! Now she’s here with you lowlifes for less than two weeks and suddenly she’s mooning over you? You’re filth! You’re nothing!,” Scott yelled.
Limit chuckled as he lifted one of Scott’s hands up against his restraints and put the pliers to his index finger.
“I’m nothing, huh? Scarlett doesn’t seem to think so. And by the time I’m done with you? Boy, by the time I’m done with you, you’re gonna think I’m God.”