Free Noose (Road Kill MC #1) by Marata Eros Page A

you.”
    I whip my head in her direction. “Like me? Fuck!” I pound the steering wheel, and she flinches. “I think we've goddamned established the like part, Rose.”
    Her face dips, and I swear, this girl makes me feel like a dick without even trying. Unless I am one.
    That bit of self-realization bites.
    I ease into a parking slot, jamming the gearshift to park, and slide to face her.
    She looks so small and vulnerable sitting there.
    “I can't let you leave this truck without knowing what cocksucker tried to choke you.”
    Her eyes tighten, and her lips flatten. “Why? So you can go all gangsta on him and kill him?”
    What the fuck? I lean forward and growl the truth. “Maybe.” Images of killing knots shuffle through my mind like a deck of cards.
    She leans back against the door. “I don't want any more killing, Noose.”
    “Killing needs to be done sometimes. All the beautiful people want to believe that they're safe, but they're not. Nobody's safe, Rose.”
    A tear rolls out of her eye, she brushes it away, and another takes its place.
    My status in dickdom is now secure. “Fuck,” I mutter, tapping my fingers along the wheel.
    “She was only nineteen,” Rose says, stuttering through her tears, and I sharpen right up. Her angry eyes glare up at mine. But she's talking, and I keep my fat mouth shut for once.
    “She met some biker guy.” Her eyes accuse me. I finish the sentence for her, like you.
    I let that go too, but patience isn't my best trait. I can feel it thinning like skin over a drum.
    “He was dangerous. Had money. Showered Anna with the forbidden fruit type of stuff. She was in love.”
    I can tell by her tone of voice she thinks Anna didn't know about love yet.
    “Then he started getting mean. Violent.”
    This is where she really piques my interest.
    “One day, Anna never came home, and she wouldn't have left Charlie for anything. Even though by this time, she was smoking out with weed, lying to our parents—anything to be with Drake.”
    She says his name like a curse word.
    Rose bites her bottom lip, and an image of her mouth on my dick floats through my mind. I kill it ruthlessly. What kind of dick lets thoughts of sex run through his mind when a chick's in shambles?
    Uh-huh. I get back on point. “You think Drake killed Anna?” I know he did. I know more about him now than I want to.
    Her eyes land on mine, dark and fathomless. Eyes like Rose's could bring a man to his knees.
    Maybe they have.
    “I know he did.”
    I don't let her off the hook. “Did Drake do this?” I sweep my palm in the direction of the bruise necklace around her throat.
    She tries to look away.
    I move across the seat, cradling her face between my hands, forcing her to look in my eyes. “Tell me,” I command.
    Rose jerks her head in a nod, her chest heaving as she begins to sob.
    I pull her against me. Her fright beats like a rabbit in a cage against me.
    That fucker Diablo will not have her.
    No one will.
    But me.
     
    *
    Rose
     
    I can't believe I told him.
    Noose turns off the engine of the truck and slides out. He strides toward the door and opens my side.
    He holds out his hand, and I slip mine inside.
    The shower I took at the hospital didn't cut it, I need a hot bath. I need my own house—and some space.
    Charlie.
    Noose hauls me into his arms, and I slide down the front of him, burying my nose in him as I go.
    I could drown in his scent. I tip my head back, staring into his light eyes. “The police let you go.”
    He smirks. “I'm here, aren't I?”
    I laugh. “Yeah.” I shake my head. “I'm not so smart right now, Noose. My nephew's at my parents’, and the hearing is Tuesday. I'm scared and tired.”
    “He y… ” He brings my hand to his mouth and kisses each knuckle. “You've got protection now.”
    I pull my hand away. “I like you.”
    I back up.
    “No, you don't,” Noose says, stalking toward me. He stops. “You think after all the shit that's come down, I'd hurt you?”
    I