Claimed: Death Dealers MC Book 3 by Alana Sapphire

healed. It’s more of an emotional thing.”
    “I understand. I’m sure he does, too. Take your time. Work on this at your own pace. He’s waited this long, a little more time won’t kill him.”
    “I’m going to see a therapist. Hopefully, she can help me.”
    “That’s a good start. But now, let’s take care of the small things—legs first then your hair. All the color’s gone. Don’t worry, you’ll be your old self in no time.”
    I hope so, not just for my sake but for Gage’s. After everything he’s done, everything he’s planning to do, he deserves it. He said I’m ‘better’, but he deserves the best. And that’s what I want to give him. I’ll get my shit sorted out and be the best damn girlfriend he could ever want.

CHAPTER 9
    ***Gage***
     
    Fuck, I’m tired. All this running around plus no sleep is finally catching up to me. Atlanta was a total bust. The guys we found there didn’t know much. They weren’t even expecting a shipment of Dutch Wife. The guy in charge said the drug was still in its development stage and wasn’t ready for distribution. How did a drug that’s not even on the streets yet end up in Raven’s system? This puts me at a dead end, unless Tek can get into Briggs’ files. He’s been working on that laptop all day and I haven’t heard a peep out of him.
    I drop my duffel in the closet and begin to undress. I better take a shower before I find Raven. Ron said the girls have been helping Chopper and Nita in the kitchen. At least she’s not cooped up in here. That’s a step forward. While looking for something to wear, I notice dresses next to my shirts. I let the material of one slip through my fingers. I like seeing them there. I like having her in my space. Right now, it may not be the way I pictured it would be, but it feels good. It feels right .
    I head into the shower and find her waiting for me in the bedroom when I get out. She’s obviously on edge, pacing and chewing on her thumbnail.
    “You’re back.”
    “Yeah. I was gonna come find you after –”
    “How’d it go? What happened?”
    I walk to the closet, unable to look her in the eyes. “Not much. There was nothing there.”
    “Nothing? What do you mean ‘nothing’?
    Turning to face her, I hang my head in disappointment. “I’m sorry, Raven. It was a dead end.”
    She starts to hyperventilate. Fuck.
    “Dead end? You promised me you’d find him. You promised!”
    I move toward her but she pulls away in anger, staring daggers at me.
    “What have you been doing all this time? This guy could be in Timbuktu by now for all we know. It’s been over a month and all you can tell me is that you hit a dead end?”
    “Lower your voice.”
    “I will not lower my voice!” she screams.
    “You’re pissed, I get it. But so am I, and I’m not shouting at you.”
    “What do you have to be angry about? That you won’t be my first anymore?”
    That stung. I know it’s her anger talking, but it doesn’t hurt any less. “I’m pissed because it’s my fault!” I shout. “I’m the reason this happened to you!”
    “You keep saying that. Why? What did you do? What do you know that I don’t?”
    “I promised you I’d protect you and I didn’t. You got hurt because some motherfucker thought it was the best way to hurt me . You may have been the one attacked, but I have to live with the fact that it happened on my watch and I couldn’t stop it.”
    “Bullshit!”
    “You think this is about sex?” I ask. “I could have had you at the snap of my fingers if I wanted to. How many times did you beg me to fuck you, huh? You were practically throwing your pussy at me.”
    Her expression changes. That’s when I know I’ve fucked up. She narrows her eyes and her body begins to vibrate. Her fingers curl into fists at her sides and she stomps her foot. Without warning, she launches herself at me with a scream.
    “Motherfucker!”
    She lets loose, pummeling my chest with her fists. I try to grab her