“Love you too.”

  After he hung up, I stammered, “Thank you for trusting me.”

  Gruffly, he responded, “I don’t yet. We’ll see if I do once this is all said and done.”

  My heart raced as Blaz pulled into the empty lot and threw the truck in park.

  Headlights flashed as we climbed out. I gripped the bag filled to the brim while my knees shook.

  “Do you have the money?” asked one of the men leaning on the hood of a car.

  “I need to see my daughter.” Blaz puffed out his chest as he stomped over to man.

  “How do we know you’re not packing?” the guy asked before spitting at Blaz’s feet.

  We both lifted up our cuts and turned slowly to show him we were unarmed.

  “Get the girl,” the man called to his partner, who was sitting in the back seat.

  With a bag over her head and her wrists bound, the man yanked Harlow out, shoving her in front of him with a gun to her head.

  “Give us the money and we will let her go.”

  Blaz threw his hands in the air as I dropped the bag at my feet.

  “It’s all there. Just let me get her.” I started to walk over to her as I heard the hammer pull back on the gun. Sprinting forward, I ripped her out of the douchebag’s hands before the gun could go off.

  Blaz drew his concealed gun from his boot, training it on the man in front of him. “You said no weapons, but you put a gun to my daughter’s head. Big mistake, my friend.”

  I shoved Harlow behind me after taking the bag off of her head. Tackling the second man to the ground, I smacked his hand on the pavement until the weapon broke free from his grasp. Two other sets of headlights turned on as men filed out of them.

  “You really think you’re getting out of here alive?” the first asshole scoffed.

  I punched the guy I had pinned under me over and over just waiting for Blaz to make his move. Then started laughing as Blaz finally whistled.

  Within seconds, roaring bikes ambushed the lot. We had them outnumbered three to one easily.

  “I think you underestimated your opponents,” Blaz snarled before putting a bullet between the idiot’s eyes.

  I ducked behind the car with Harlow in my arms as a war erupted around us. With her curled in my arms, I protected her as the jerk lay moaning by our side, spitting up blood like the pathetic moron he was.

  “Did they hurt you?” I asked as Harlow shook in my arms.

  She didn’t reply.

  “Baby, you have to answer me.”

  Her eyes just locked with mine as tears cascaded down her puffy face.

  I started to examine her in the dim lighting of the parking lot. There was blood pouring from her nose, her lip was busted, her face was swollen on both sides, and bruises were already forming down her arms. I pulled off my jacket, wrapping it around her as I untied her wrists.

  “I am so sorry,” I cooed in her ear, rocking her back and forth.

  “Just promise me they are all going to be dead before we leave here.”

  Grabbing the gun, I shot the guy I had just beaten in the temple.

  “Not one of them is making it out of this alive,” I promised.

  “Good.”

  Chapter 8

  Harlow

  Everything hurt as my eyes fluttered open in my room at the cabin. I tried to focus as Collin and my father leapt to their feet from the edge of the bed.

  “How long have I been out?” I tried to sit up but my body wouldn’t let me.

  “Not too long, sweetheart. Only a few hours.” My dad gripped my hand as he leaned down to kiss my cheek.

  “I’m so sorry, Daddy. I tried to fight them off.”

  He brushed my hair away from my face. “It’s all right, baby. None of our guys were hurt.”

  “Thank God.” I sighed, closing my eyes again.

  “We’re getting a doc out here to come check you out. She should be here any minute.” My father’s voice was soft and calm.

  “Where’s Mom?”

  “At the house. I didn’t want her to see you like this.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You know, Collin was the one who saved the day.”

  I forced my eyes to open again to look at my knight in shining armor. “I told you he was a good one,” I whispered.

  “You were right—you usually are. Get some rest, sweetie.”

  I faded back into nothingness until I heard the door open and a woman’s voice speak.

  “Harlow? I’m Kae. I need to check out your wounds.” Her tone was sweet as she walked into the room. “Can you guys give me a minute alone with her?”

  “Sure,” I heard my father reply.

  “Can Collin stay?” I didn’t want to be alone, but I knew what I had to say to the doctor was too much for my father to hear.

  “Of course I can, babe.” Collin’s husky voice was music to my ears.

  When the door shut, I started bawling.

  “What is it, Low?” Collin asked. I could feel his weight sink the side of the bed down.

  I shook my head. I couldn’t get the words out.

  Collin gripped my hand before speaking to Kae in a hushed voice. “I think you need to do a rape kit.”

  Tears ran down my face as I nodded. “I don’t know how many,” I wept. “They kept me blindfolded the entire time.”

  “I can do that.” Kae started to dig in her bag.

  “Can this all just be a bad dream?” I begged as I intertwined my fingers with Collin’s.

  Collin kissed my cheek. “Of course it can. It’s over now and you’ll be back on your feet in no time, baby. No one ever has to know.”

  “Promise?”

  “I promise.”

  “Don’t leave me,” I pleaded.

  “I’m never leaving your side again.”

  Collin

  I sat by Harlow’s side while the doctor completed her exam and did her best to stitch up Harlow’s lip. As she drifted off to sleep again, I followed the doctor out into the living room where all the guys were waiting to get an answer.

  “She’s pretty banged up. I’ll leave some pain meds for her along with antibiotics. She’s a strong woman. I haven’t seen a beating like that in a very long time.” Kae left two prescription bottles on the coffee table.

  “But she’s going to be all right?” Blaz choked out, wiping his eyes.

  Kae put her hand on his shoulder. “Plenty of bed rest and these meds will have her good as new in about a week or so. She’ll need to take it easy and shouldn’t drive while she’s taking these, but all in all, your little girl is going to be just fine.”

  “Thank you, doctor.” Blaz handed her a stack of cash.

  Turning to me, Kae cocked her head to the side. “See me out?”

  “Sure.” I followed the doc to her car.

  “I didn’t find any fluids, so the guys must have used protection. That’s a very good thing. But, needless to say, that girl is going to need a lot of support to get over this. Are you prepared for that?”

  I let out a weighted sigh. “I’ll do anything for that woman.”

  She offered a kind smile. “Good.” Handing me her card, she added, “Call me with any questions. I’ll come back if need be.”

  “Thank you.”

  I shut her car door behind her and waved as she pulled out onto the dirt road.

  “Everything all right?” Blaz called down from the front porch.

  “She just wanted to make sure Harlow had her card if she needs it,” I answered, making my way up the front steps.

  “Thank you, son.” He pulled me into a hug.

  “Don’t mention it. You know, sir, I love your daughter.”

  “You definitely proved that to me over the last twenty-four hours.”

  I made my way back into the house, grabbing a bag of frozen peas out of the freezer.

  “Babe?” I put my hand on Harlow’s arm as her eyes fought to open. “Let’s get some of that swelling to go down.”

  She winced from the cold wrapped in a towel.

  “Thank you,” she muttered.

  Without giving it too much thought, I dug my cell out of my pocket and dialed my mom’s number.

  “Honey! I’ve been worried,” she answered on the first ring.

  “How do you feel about Christmas at the cabin?”

  Harlow’s eyes got wide as a crooked grin filled her bruised face.

  “You’re not going to come home, are you?” Nothing got past my mom. She was too good and knew me too well.

  “I kind of like it up here, and I think I’m in love.”

  “Finally!” my mother exclaimed. “Harlow is perfect for you.”

  I smiled down at Low as I laughed. “How’d you know it was her?”

  “Son, you’ve been pining for that girl since you were eleven, and yes to Christmas at the cabin. I’ll call Abby and get it all worked out.”

  “Thanks, Mom.”

  “I love you, honey, and next time you’re in a firefight, put some damn Kevlar on, for fuck’s sake.”

  “Ryder needs to learn when to keep his damn mouth shut.”

  “You know I have a way of getting the scoop out of him faster than that boy knows what hit him.”

  “Love you, Ma. Talk soon.”

  Harlow slid closer to me. “I think I love you too, Collin.”

  I tucked her into my side, wrapping my body around hers. “I don’t have to think about it. I’ve loved you since I was a kid.”

  “Good, because I have too.”

  Chapter 9

  Christmas, a few weeks later

  Harlow

  It was a damn Christmas miracle to have my entire family along with Collin’s all under one roof. Little Abel bounced around the tree with my three nieces as they rooted around to see what Santa had brought them.

  “Oh boy, a Hot Wheels set!” Abel hugged the giant box under the tree.

  Ryder scooped his son up in his arms. “Want to open this sucker up?”

  Abel squirmed out of his father’s grasp, ripping at the box.

  “Hold on, kiddo. Let me help you.”

  My wounds had pretty much healed and the pain was finally gone. The headaches were still a pain in the ass, but it was nothing compared to what it had been. Collin was the best nurse a girl could have asked for, never leaving my side once during the entire month.

  Sitting down on the couch next to him, I curled up in a blanket. “This is perfect.”

  “You’re perfect.” He winked at me, handing over a small wrapped box. “I had to enlist Raine’s help to get this since I’ve been a little busy over the last few weeks. I hope you like it.”

  I pulled at the gold and black paper to reveal a velvet jewelry box. Tears welled up in my eyes as I glanced up at Collin. “Babe, you shouldn’t have.”

  “Open it before you start thanking me.”

  Inside was a silver necklace with a solitary diamond stone glistening beautifully.

  I gasped. “It’s stunning.”

  “Here.” Collin took it out of the box and helped me put it on.

  Crickett beamed from the far side of the room. “It’s gorgeous, sweetheart.”

  Throwing my arms around Collin’s neck, I couldn’t hold back my tears. “I love it.”

  Collin and I sat back while everyone exchanged gifts: socks, ties, flannel shirts, boots, leather, coffee—the works.

  While Collin smiled next to me, his eyes glistening, I nudged him. “Glad to see all that bah humbug is out of your system.”

  “I had help from a pretty sexy elf who brought the cheer back into the holidays for me,” he responded.

  “How’d you lose it in the first place?” I naïvely questioned.

  “This time of year has been hard with Dad gone.” It was as honest as he could be, as raw and real as it got.

  “Well, don’t think of him as gone. I see a lot of Abel in this room. Think about it—without him, none of us would be here now.”

  Collin hugged me to his side. “Yeah, you’re right.”

  “Merry Christmas, handsome.”

  “Merry Christmas, Low.”

  Collin

  “Well, I have to say, I’m damn proud of you.” Ryder joined me out on the porch where I had retreated for a quick drink alone.

  “Why’s that?”

  “Manning up like you did. Saving her. Deciding to stay in Sweetwater.” Ryder shot me a knowing glance.

  “I never said I was staying up here,” I responded.

  Ryder looked into the window where Harlow and Raine were sitting with Abel under the tree playing with his new toys. “You’re not going to leave her. I already talked to Blaz. We already put the transfer.”

  “She’s worth it, right?” I asked, peeling the label of my beer at the corner.

  Ryder took in a deep breath. “If you’re asking you already know the answer. You know, your dad hated that Raine and I got together. It took a lot of proving myself to him to make him believe that I wasn’t going to just use her and leave.”

  My sister and Ryder had to hide their relationship from my old man for a while. I remembered to nights that he would sneak into her room for months on end.

  “But in the end it all worked out.”

  Ryder smiled. “It did and I think you’re on the right path with Blaz. Keep your nose clean and prove to her and her dad every day that she is as important to you as she really is. Outlaws don’t get chances like this often, Collin. You need to cease this opportunity and not look back for a second.”

  “Yeah, you’re right.”

  Epilogue

  Christmas, one year later

  Collin

  It had been a long year. Moving up to Sweetwater hadn’t been the easiest of transitions, but Harlow was worth it. I missed my old club and family, but Sweetwater was slowly growing into a home for me. I had moved into the cabin and had taken over security at the warehouse for Blaz. Life had settled into a pretty nice rhythm.

  “Babe? You ready?” Harlow called into the bedroom where I was getting dressed.

  “Can you come in here?” I called out into the hallway.

  “Everything all right?” she asked as she rushed in.

  With a deep breath, I slid down onto one knee. Pulling two small boxes out of my pocket, I held them up to her. Harlow’s hands flew over her mouth.

  “What did you do?”

  “Pick one. I mean, they’re both for you, but pick which one you want to open first.”

  Grabbing the blue one out of my hand, she quickly opened it, revealing a single key.

  Her lips cracked into a smile. “What in the world?”

  “That is a key to our new home.” It had taken a lot of saving and a little help from my mom, but I finally had bought my first house.

  “Collin! Holy shit.”

  “Don’t freak just yet—there’s still another box to open.”

  A matching ring to her necklace was gripped in her shaking hand.

  “Harlow, I’ve had that ring for a year. I didn’t want to wait, but I also didn’t want to rush things. Our relationship started so quickly, I needed to make sure I didn’t push you into anything.”

  “Yes!” she yelled.

  “Not even going to let me ask, are you?” I teased.

  “You don’t have to. I would have said yes a year ago or any day since, but thank you for waiting.”

  I slid the thin band onto her finger with trembling hands.

  “Honestly, I was scared if I had asked before, your dad would have actually killed me.”

  “Smart, because you probably would have been right.”

  “I love you with all of my heart, Low. That is one thing I can promise you. Until my dying day, I will completely and truly be in love with you.”

  “Collin, I have loved you for as long as I can remember, and that will never change. I cannot wait to be your wife.”

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  Want more of the Unacceptables?

  Unacceptable is the first book in Kristen Hope Mazzola’s Best Selling Noir & Vigilante Justice Romance series, the Unacceptables MC Standalone Series. Don’t miss out on the other heart revving stories in this series!

  Unacceptable

  It’s finally my time.

  Time to escape from my mother, her crazy antics and questionable morals. I'm getting the heck out of Dodge, leaving the trailer park, to make something of myself. Everything was fine until I walked into The Unacceptables' bar and met Abel Hellock. With his gorgeous muscles, tattoos, motorcycle and perfect smile, my knees quaked. My life was about to be sucked back into the seedy underbelly I fought so desperately to climb out of.

  Everything was fine until I met my step-brother for the first time.

  Unspeakable

  It's finally my time...

  Everyone has their damn breaking point, why did the president of my MC's daughter have to be mine? She was everything I wanted, and nothing I could have. Being a prospect was hard enough. Living with my father that I had only known for a few years wasn't making life any easier. And there I was, ready to jeopardize it all for love. I went to Vilas to figure out where I came from, little did I know that I wasn't just going to be passing through. This life was pumping through my veins my whole life, I just didn't know it until I walked into the Unacceptable's bar for the first time.