Rough & Raw (Notorious Devils Book 2) Read Free Page B

handle and pull it toward me. This is it. I am leaving my husband. It hasn’t felt real. Packing our luggage, the bus trip, or walking through those gates didn’t feel real.
    Now, as I step inside of the dimly lit bar, it hits me. This is all real.
    There is no going back. Scotty would kill me without hesitating if I did.
    Now, maybe I can live instead of just survive .
    “Brentlee,” a gruff voice booms from a seat at a table.
    The room is eerily empty, except for him . His hair is pulled up into a man-bun and his face is covered in thick scruff. Not a long grizzly beard, but there’s definitely a generous layer of hair hiding his face.
    “Fury,” I say as I walk toward him on shaky legs.
    “Sit down,” he grunts.
    I pull Stella with me. Once I’m seated, I put her into my lap. I don’t want her on the floor of this place. I can’t even imagine the things that have landed there .
    Well… that’s not true. I could imagine the disgusting things that have landed and happened on the floor of the Notorious Devil’s clubhouse, and I definitely don’t want my sweet baby to ever touch it.
    “I left him. Kentlee said if I ever needed to leave him, you could help me,” I ramble, unable to look anywhere but his throat.
    “Calm down, babe,” he murmurs. My eyes move to his. He is serious, but his eyes are soft and focused on Stella.
    “Why now?” he asks. I swallow loudly.
    “He hurt Stella,” I whisper. I then watch as his jaw hardens and his teeth grind.
    “Then you have my protection, and the club’s,” he states.
    “I have nothing, Fury. We have nothing but a small suitcase each. I have no skills.” My voice trembles as tears fall from my eyes.
    “We’ll set you up and get you work, Brentlee. Not gonna let my woman’s sister and my niece suffer another fuckin’ minute,” he growls.
    I blink the tears that have begun to form away and stare at him in awe.
    “I’ll do whatever I need to do, Fury; whatever you want from me, you have it,” I say, meaning every single word.
    “You’d dance?” he asks, tipping his lips. I know what he’s referring to. He’s referring to the strip club they own. The Devils Club.
    “You protect Stella and me from him, and I’ll be your fucking star,” I confirm.
    “Might hold you to that, babe. It’d get you guys a nice bank account balance, but it’s not anything we need to worry about now. I’ll call Kent to come and get you. You two can stay with us until we sort out a place for you,” he murmurs, taking his phone out of his pocket.
    I place my hand on his and he freezes, his eyes crashing with mine.
    “Thank you, Fury. I didn’t stand up for Kent when I should have, and here you both are helping me. I don’t deserve it, but thank you. I don’t want to put you guys in danger. I don’t want to stay with you. I can imagine it will be one of the first places he goes.”
    “Only other option is staying with a brother or staying here. I can’t have Stella stay here, babe; so with a brother is the only way. Can’t imagine you’d feel comfortable staying with a stranger, though,” he says.
    I don’t want to stay with a stranger either, but I can’t stay with him and Kentlee. I can’t put Bear or their toddler daughter, in danger.
    “They can stay with me,” a deep voice says from the shadows.
    I turn to look at the voice. My mouth automatically drops open and I stare in shock at the man who stands before me. A man I never thought I would lay eyes on ever again.
    It isn’t possible.
    It can’t be.
    Bates Lukin .
    “Bates,” I whisper harshly, my eyes locked onto his.
    He looks so different. If I saw him walking down the street, I wouldn’t recognize him. Perhaps I have done so, walked right past him and not realized it. His voice is the same—harsher, but familiar.
    Gone are his boyish features. He has a dark beard now that covers his cheeks and chin. His hair is short and clean cut, but messy on top. He’s massive , at least double the size