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“I kneouldn’t get that far,” Rose rasped back

“How’d you know that?”

“Because I knew you were co up with tears

“Jesus Christ, baby,” I said, letting out the breath it felt like I’d been holding since the minute I heard Copper’s voice in the woods “You scared the shit outta me”

Rose was in s wrapped around my waist like a vice and she pressed her face into

The other women left the room quietly as I stood there with Rose in my arms

“I let hi,” Rose whispered, her body shaking with a silent sob “I couldn’t let him do it anymore”

“Fuck,” Iso I could drop my ass to the bed

“What’s going to happen now?” she asked, burrowing her aret as close as she could

“Gonna sit doith the boys e get home”

“What about Copper?”

“He took off before we got back”

“He’s still here?”

“He won’t be showin’ his fucked up face around here this weekend,” I assured her, rubbing her back “By now, every man in the club knows to keep an eye out”

“I bracedin the back of ht if he punched ”

I closed ainst the picture that painted Fuck me

“Next tier from my voice, “you talk him down”

“I thought you said he’d stay away from me” Her voice wobbled

“He will,” I promised “But if another man, any man, is hasslin’ you, you try to calm him down You keep your smart mouth shut”

“I can’t proainst my shoulder

“You have to,” I replied, using her hair to tug her head back so I could look her in the eye “This ain’t about wohts, or me thinkin’ that a woman can’t do whatever she wants This is fuckin’ survival, baby You gotta promise me that you’ll do what I’m askin’”