“What the hell is taking that woman so long?” Checking my watch–it’s been at least 5 minutes since I watched her walk towards the back door. I’m making my way to the back of the garage to check on her when I hear her scream through the door, “Get off me!”

What the fuck? My stomach clenches at the sound of her distress.

I start running towards the back door that leads to the alleyway. That’s when I see Bella struggling with someone that has her pinned on the ground. His hand rears back and he’s about to punch her when I grab the fucker and pull him away from her, then slam him against the wall and watch his body crumple to the ground. Reaching down I grab a handful of his hair, pulling his sorry ass up. I press him against the dumpster only to bury my fist into his face repeatedly until he can no longer stand on his own. My knuckles cut from connecting with his teeth.

Letting him go, I walk over and kneel to help Bella to her feet. “Babe, you okay?” I ask as I’m looking her over. Her shirt is torn and hanging from her shoulder. When I make it to her face, I’m met with an angry looking welt on her cheek, combined with tears running down her face.

I’ll be damned if a man lays a hand on her while I’m breathing. Fueled by rage, I walk over to the little punk that’s trying to get back up and give him a boot to the side of his bleeding head.

“I’m going to assume you’re Mason. The little cocksucker who’s been harassing Bella.”

I stand him up and punch him in the ribs causing him to groan in pain.

“Man, she’s a fuckin’ tease,” he coughs out.

That earns him another fist to the face. Bloods gushes from his nose as he falls to his knees.

“You broke my nose,” he whines.

“I’m going to do more than break your fuckin’ nose.”

Bringing him to his feet, I slam him against the brick wall of the building, this time wrapping my hand firmly around his throat.

“Logan! Watch out!” Bella screams, just as Mason brings his hand up, slicing my arm with a knife.

Grabbing his wrist, I twist his hand back making him drop the weapon, and I tighten my grip on his neck causing his face to go red.

Reaching into my cut, I pull out my gun, pressing the tip of the barrel against his temple. “You’re eat up with stupid, aren’t you motherfucker.”

“Logan, he’s not worth it! Just let him go!” Bella bellows.

I cock my gun, my adrenaline pumping. “This fucker put his hands on you. I’m not letting that go. Get inside, Bella.”

She walks up and touches my arm. “Logan...look at me.”

When I don’t, she tries again. “Logan,” she says calmly. “Please. He’s not worth it.”

How can anyone want to hurt her?

“I can’t let this go, Angel.”

She nods. “I know. Just, don’t kill him. I’m more worried about what will happen to you. What if someone hears a gunshot and calls the police? I don’t want you to get in trouble.”

Shit. After getting mauled by this prick, the only person she’s thinking of is me? Not herself, but me.

I uncock and lower my weapon.

“Bella, go inside and find something to tie him up with.”

She goes to say something, but I cut her off.

“Woman! Get your sweet ass inside, and do what I said.”

Reluctantly, she walks inside, and as soon as she does, I turn back to the son of a bitch I’m still holding against the wall.

“I may not be ending your worthless life, but you’re going to wish I had before the night is through.” I shove him, releasing my grip on his neck.

Grabbing at the side of the brick wall, he gasps for air. “You won’t get away with this,” he spits out.

I let out a laugh. “Is this the part where you tell me your daddy is so and so?”

I give him a few more blows to the ribs, causing him to stumble a few feet before falling to his knees, trying to catch his breath again.

“I think maybe I’ll let some of my brothers have a little fun with you tonight,” I taunt, walking up behind him.

Spittle comes flying from his mouth as he starts to plead. “Please...I swear, I won’t bother Bella again. Please.”

I hate whiners.

Mason watches, as I pull my gun back out.

“Shit, man. You said you weren’t going to kill me,” he cries, putting his hands up.

I look down at him and shrug my shoulders. I proceed to take the butt of the gun, knocking his ass out with a blow to the back of the head. He collapses to the ground as Bella returns holding a couple of rolls of duct tape.

Her eyes scan from my pistol to the ground where Mason is lying.

“Logan?” she questions.

“He’s not dead. Just knocked his ass out.”

I walk over to her, take her face in my hands and rub the pad of my thumb over the raised whelp on her face, before leaning down and lightly brushing my lips on the mark that fucker left on her cheek.

Stepping back, I look at her. “I’m sorry he put his dirty hands on you. It won’t be happening again.”

I take the tape and begin to wrap it around Mason’s wrists and ankles. Once I’ve finished, I pull my phone out to make a call. It only rings once before I hear Gabriel’s voice.

“Yeah?”

“Hey, Brother. Got a loose end that needs to be taken care of over here at the bike shop.”

“I’m across the street. Be there in five,” he declares, hanging up.

I’m leaving his ass out here, so before I head inside I bend down and tape his mouth, just in case he wakes up.

Bella is still standing there, watching.

“Come on, Angel. Let’s get inside.”

I put my hand on the small of her back and lead her towards the break room. “Let’s get you cleaned up. I’ll make us some coffee.”

Just before I walk her to the couch she breaks away from my touch and walks over to the kitchen to grab the first aid kit from under the sink.

Walking back to where I’m standing, she grabs my hand before leading me to the table. The jolt of electricity from the contact is hard for both of us to ignore and she lifts her eyes to mine, letting me know she felt the same thing.

I can feel her pulse racing as my thumb traces across her wrist.

With a shy smile, she clears her throat before speaking. “I’m going to clean that cut you have on your arm before anything else.”

I look down at my arm. “I’m okay, babe. I’ve had worse.”

Sitting the kit down on the table she opens it and starts pulling out some of the contents, setting them on the table in front of her.

“I’m sure you have. Please, sit down, Logan. Let me take care of you.”

Fuck me. I feel a tightening in my chest again. I sit down, extending my arm and Bella begins to lightly dab the antiseptic on the cut with some gauze, cleaning it up. The sting causes me to flinch slightly.

Lifting her eyes to me, she whispers, “Sorry,” then lowers her head, blowing air across my skin to soothe the burn. Bella looks at me through her long thick lashes. Fuck, there is nothing I can do to hide the effect she has on me.

“Doesn’t look deep enough for stitches, but I’ll put a few butterfly bandages on to keep the wound closed.”

Not trusting my voice, I nod. She goes about putting the bandage on, then wraps some gauze around my forearm, before applying some tape.

“Thank you, beautiful. I haven’t had someone take care of me like that in a long time.”

I see questions in her eyes, but she doesn’t ask. I love that about her. Bella just does things, wonderful things for people, and doesn’t require anything in return. She listens without judgment, and she doesn’t push for any more than I’m willing to give.

I lead her to the couch, sitting her down. “I’m putting on a pot of coffee. I’m also gonna walk into the storefront and grab a t-shirt off the rack for you. I don’t want you sitting around with that torn shirt you’re wearing.”

Coming back into the break room, I walk over to the sink with a clean washcloth, soaking it under some warm water, before ringing it out and walking back over to Bella.

I kneel, placing the shirt on the couch and pull her towards me, placing myself between her legs.

“Let me clean you up.”

Never breaking eye contact with me, I wait for her to give me the go ahead before placing the warm washcloth to her face to wipe away the dirt and dried tears. The welt is starting to bruise a bit, so I’m careful not to wipe too hard on her cheek. I can feel the tension build at the thought of that prick marking her face this way. Bella senses it and places her hand over mine.

“I’m okay, Logan.”

Looking at her, I’m once again hit with a strong urge to kiss her. I never thought I would need more in my life than the club and my brothers. I’ve never felt so unsatisfied with not having more... until now. Until this beautiful woman in front of me made me crave it-crave her.

Letting my hand fall from her face, I reach over and grab the t-shirt I laid next to her. “Here, put this on while I go grab us both a cup of coffee.”

She looks down at the shirt, then back to me. “Um, I’ll just go to the bathroom and change.”

“I’ll keep my back turned until you’re changed. I promise I won’t peek,” I say smiling at her.

Her face flushes, returning a smile of her own.

I turn and head towards the counter. I reach up and take two mugs out of the cabinet and proceed to pour the coffee, taking my time, until I hear her softly say.

“You can turn around now.”

I turn, with both mugs in my hands, and she is walking to the table. The t-shirt swallows her. An image of her in nothing but my shirt flashes through my mind.

“Thanks for the shirt, Logan.”

She sits down, taking the mug I sat in front of her. I sit down, joining her, and we enjoy the silence for a moment before my cell rings.

Looking at my phone I see it’s Gabriel, swiping the screen I answer. “You find the package out back by the dumpster?”

“Yeah,” he replies.

Bella shifts in her chair, intently watching me.

Not taking my eyes off her, I continue with my phone call. “The fucker jumped Bella tonight. He stays alive, just have some fun with him first. Find out his address, and dump him after you’re done.”

She visibly relaxes in her chair a bit after hearing what I said to Gabriel and finishes her coffee.

Gabriel doesn’t ask any questions. He only lets out a huff, before hanging up.

“Thank you,” Bella whispers, peering at me over the rim of her coffee mug.

Leaning forward, I do what I’ve wanted to do all night. Hell, for days. I grab her face, brushing my lips against hers, then pull away and peer into those beautiful eyes of hers.

“Only this one time. He’s alive because you asked, but I won’t do it again, babe.”

Licking my taste off her lips, she nods her head. “I understand.”

“Good. Now, let’s get you home. I’m driving you in your car. I’ll text Reid to pick me up from there. You’re exhausted and don’t need to be behind the wheel tonight.”

I shoot off a text to Reid with Bella’s address and finish locking up the shop. I lead her to the car, helping her in and buckling her up.

“Logan, I’m a big girl. I can buckle myself in.”

“Shut up woman and let me take care of you.”

I finish latching the buckle before closing the door and walk around, climbing into the driver’s seat. My knees are crammed so far under the steering wheel, it’s painful.

I hear Bella’s soft giggle beside me as I slide the seat back far enough to get my legs comfortable. I love the sound of her giggle. It makes me smile.

About twenty minutes later, we’re pulling up in her driveway. I look over to see she’s sound asleep.

Reid has just pulled in behind us as I’m getting out and making my way to the passenger side to open the door.

“Babe, wake up. You’re home.”

She opens her sleepy eyes and reaches up, touching my face. “Thank you, Logan. For everything.”

I usher her out of the car and close the door, handing her the keys. I bend down and kiss the top of her head.

“Goodnight, Angel.”

“Goodnight, Logan.”

I watch her walk inside, and close the door before climbing into Reid’s truck, where he’s wearing a goofy fuckin’ grin.

Looking at him I say, “What?”

“You didn’t kill someone for that girl tonight,” he states.

“Yeah,” I respond, folding my arms across my chest.

Reid stares back ahead. As he takes off he says, “Good.”