Sal (The Ride Series) by Megan O'Brien Read Free Book Online

the tender feel of my swollen flesh. I’d have a black eye for sure, not something I’d had for a long time. And my hands and knees were badly scraped from the scuffle. My throat hurt from being pressed so tightly, but that was the beauty of the pain pills. Once I took one I was able to quickly drift into a fog and fall asleep.
    I heard a distant pounding and ringing, but it sounded like part of the dream I’d been having. At some point I’d taken another pill or two; I’d lost track. My whole body throbbed and I had no interest in pulling myself out of the pain pill induced sleep. Then I heard a large crash, but it was all part of the fog.
    “Fuck, baby,” I heard a pained, familiar voice bite out as my body was carefully lifted from the couch. Sal’s voice being so close to my ear made it feel more like a dream. “Baby, wake up,” he was more insistent now, clearly worried.
    “Hmm?” I murmured drowsily.
    “What the fuck?” I heard another voice bark from farther away. Mack? I couldn’t quite place it.
    They exchanged words I didn’t understand, and then freezing cold water was suddenly cascading over me.
    I garbled and gasped in the tub where I found myself. “What are you doing?” I wheezed in complete shock at the cold.
    “Sorry, sweetness, had to wake you up. You were out cold,” Sal explained as he hovered over me, his brows pinched with concern.
    “Am I dreaming?” I asked seriously. Sal being here was confusing.
    He looked more concerned for a moment before he shook his head. “No, baby, you’re not dreaming.”
    “Why are you here? How did you get in?” I asked, shoving my wet hair away from my face. I looked down to find he’d stripped me down to my bra and underwear as I shivered violently.
    “I’ll make the water warmer now that you’re awake,” he assured me, moving to adjust the nozzle.
    I tried to cover myself up, feeling completely vulnerable half-naked in my own bathroom. “No, just g-g-go. I’m f-fine,” I protested, my teeth chattering.
    “What do you want me to do, man?” I heard Mack’s voice rumble from the other room.
    “Get Cole over here, now,” he bellowed from over his shoulder. “I don’t think she needs to go to the hospital but hang tight,” he barked, clearly agitated.
    “N-no!” I cried desperately, feeling utterly helpless and exposed. “Just go!” I exclaimed, extremely distressed.
    He regarded me cautiously for a moment, unsure of what to do with me. “Do you want Mack instead?” he asked and it wasn’t a threat. He clearly wanted me to calm down and to feel comfortable.
    I groaned. “I don’t want anyone. I want to be alone. I’m not dying. I’m fine. Just go,” I pleaded again.
    “Not gonna happen,” he shook his head, leaning in closer still. He took my face in his hands and looked down at me with large, worried eyes. “I know I don’t deserve this, but I need to take care of you right now. Please let me do that,” he requested softly. Sal had never asked me for anything. He was the bossiest guy I’d ever known. When something mattered to him, he usually just pushed his way in. And I’d never seen his face look the way it did now. He looked…haunted.
    I didn’t know what the hell he was doing here or why he wanted so badly to take care of me, but he was the only one I would be comfortable with in this situation. Despite all of my turbulent emotions surrounding Sal, he made me feel safe and protected.
    “Fine,” I sighed while looking off to the side. “But, please put some clothes on me,” I huffed. “And turn this fucking water off,” I added tersely.
    His handsome face lightened some at the clear proof I wasn’t dying if I could dish out some attitude.
    “Yes, ma’am” he replied, his lips quirking into a small smile.
    I stood up in the bath carefully, and Sal put a solid hand on my arm to steady me. He wrapped a towel around me and I stepped out on to the bath mat.
    “I’ll go get you something to wear,” he