Read Online It Was Always You by Aliyah Burke - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Aliyah Burke
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applied and two cops began to lift him. Over the people he sought out Zoë. She stood surrounded by her brothers and his. He captured her gaze, hating the stark fear present there. Zoë was strong. Unflappable. This side of her…he despised not being to comfort and protect her.
Her eldest brother, Eric, was arguing with a uniform. The fact five other men who would protect without fail were around her was the only reason he was allowing them to take him to the back of a car. He shared a look with his brothers, both of whom nodded. Then he was being driven away, the men he’d whipped being attended by EMTs.
He gave brisk answers, working on merely not losing his temper and ending up with a charge that would stick. While waiting to be booked he sat by a desk, secured to it.
The sheriff, Todd Gavin, a man he’d known as a boy, straddled a chair facing him.
“Hell of a homecoming you’re giving me, Zane. Didn’t even stop by for a visit before you’re here to be processed.”
“Gavin.”
He stroked his moustache—now white with age. “You’re lucky you didn’t kill any of them. As it is, you beat them damn near to it.” Todd’s blue eyes were still sharp.
He didn’t flinch. “They’re lucky. They were attacking Zoë with every intent of raping her.” New rage built inside him.
“The two who can talk claim that’s not how it went down.”
“And?”
Todd sighed. “I’m looking for your side.”
“I just gave it to you.” Zane shifted, aware of the officers near. He’d already figured out how he could escape if he truly wanted out. “Did you see what they did to her? The cuts? Bruises? Torn clothing?” His voice was low and dangerous as renewed fury pushed along his veins with each pump of his heart.
“You nearly killed three men and the other two aren’t much farther off.”
Zane held his stare. “They were attacking her. My woman. I will defend any woman in that situation but none more so than when she’s mine and possibly pregnant with my child.”
His voice remained low and icy. Chilling the room into silence. To the left he saw her with her brothers, a shocked expression on their faces and disbelief on hers. He met their gazes without flinching. It was the truth.
***
Her brothers wouldn’t stop yelling. She remained numb as they escorted her, along with Cade and Nate, to the ER. Her body hurt from the attack and all she wanted was Zane. He’d shocked her by saving her as well as what he did to all the men who’d attacked her.
Let’s not forget his announcement. He felt it necessary to say what he did in front of the whole police station. She licked her lips, trying not to wince at the sting from the cut there.
She lay on the bed as a nurse directed, allowing them to finish the prodding. Matt approached her and took her hand. “Mom and Dad are on their way.” Her expression must have given away her feelings on the matter. “You knew there wasn’t any way to keep this from happening. They were going to be called, if someone else hadn’t alerted them we would have as soon as we heard.”
“Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
“I’ll be right outside.” Matt kissed her then backed out.
She tried to make sense of what happened but stopped when the tremors began. Her parents had been on a vacation and she couldn’t explain the guilt gnawing at her gut that they had to come home. Cora hastened in shortly after the exam was over. Her space was full of her family and the Kendrick men. Cora never hit on Cade, just spoke with him like he was any other person visiting someone in the hospital.
“I want to leave,” she whispered, her throat still sore from being hit there.
The men talked over her.
A sharp whistle pierced the air. “Oy!” Cora’s voice rose above them. Five men stared in amazement at her. “She’s talking. Listen up.” Cade crossed his arms, glaring at her. “Can it. You can try to impress and intimidate later. She wants to
Her eldest brother, Eric, was arguing with a uniform. The fact five other men who would protect without fail were around her was the only reason he was allowing them to take him to the back of a car. He shared a look with his brothers, both of whom nodded. Then he was being driven away, the men he’d whipped being attended by EMTs.
He gave brisk answers, working on merely not losing his temper and ending up with a charge that would stick. While waiting to be booked he sat by a desk, secured to it.
The sheriff, Todd Gavin, a man he’d known as a boy, straddled a chair facing him.
“Hell of a homecoming you’re giving me, Zane. Didn’t even stop by for a visit before you’re here to be processed.”
“Gavin.”
He stroked his moustache—now white with age. “You’re lucky you didn’t kill any of them. As it is, you beat them damn near to it.” Todd’s blue eyes were still sharp.
He didn’t flinch. “They’re lucky. They were attacking Zoë with every intent of raping her.” New rage built inside him.
“The two who can talk claim that’s not how it went down.”
“And?”
Todd sighed. “I’m looking for your side.”
“I just gave it to you.” Zane shifted, aware of the officers near. He’d already figured out how he could escape if he truly wanted out. “Did you see what they did to her? The cuts? Bruises? Torn clothing?” His voice was low and dangerous as renewed fury pushed along his veins with each pump of his heart.
“You nearly killed three men and the other two aren’t much farther off.”
Zane held his stare. “They were attacking her. My woman. I will defend any woman in that situation but none more so than when she’s mine and possibly pregnant with my child.”
His voice remained low and icy. Chilling the room into silence. To the left he saw her with her brothers, a shocked expression on their faces and disbelief on hers. He met their gazes without flinching. It was the truth.
***
Her brothers wouldn’t stop yelling. She remained numb as they escorted her, along with Cade and Nate, to the ER. Her body hurt from the attack and all she wanted was Zane. He’d shocked her by saving her as well as what he did to all the men who’d attacked her.
Let’s not forget his announcement. He felt it necessary to say what he did in front of the whole police station. She licked her lips, trying not to wince at the sting from the cut there.
She lay on the bed as a nurse directed, allowing them to finish the prodding. Matt approached her and took her hand. “Mom and Dad are on their way.” Her expression must have given away her feelings on the matter. “You knew there wasn’t any way to keep this from happening. They were going to be called, if someone else hadn’t alerted them we would have as soon as we heard.”
“Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
“I’ll be right outside.” Matt kissed her then backed out.
She tried to make sense of what happened but stopped when the tremors began. Her parents had been on a vacation and she couldn’t explain the guilt gnawing at her gut that they had to come home. Cora hastened in shortly after the exam was over. Her space was full of her family and the Kendrick men. Cora never hit on Cade, just spoke with him like he was any other person visiting someone in the hospital.
“I want to leave,” she whispered, her throat still sore from being hit there.
The men talked over her.
A sharp whistle pierced the air. “Oy!” Cora’s voice rose above them. Five men stared in amazement at her. “She’s talking. Listen up.” Cade crossed his arms, glaring at her. “Can it. You can try to impress and intimidate later. She wants to
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