visibly pulled herself together and psyched herself up before taking a few tentative steps in the direction of the stairs.
Top also straightened and muttered, “What in the hell?” Both of us watched in surprise as the leggy redhead practically marched across the parking lot toward us.
She stopped directly in front of my bike, anxiety radiating off every line of her lean body. She was incredibly pale, and I could tell she was shaking under the bulky weight of the hoodie. However, I was begrudgingly impressed with her moxie to face off against us when she was obviously terrified.
She didn’t say anything for a long moment, eventually squeaking out, “Can you please leave?”
Not one to take to being told what to do in any circumstance, which was probably why he’d been dishonorably discharged right after I was, Top growled, “It’s a free country, lady. We’ll go when we’re ready to go.”
The pretty doctor practically jumped out of her skin. She lifted a trembling hand to her throat and tilted her head downward so I knew she was looking at the ground instead of either of us.
“I know that Kody is worried about me and I appreciate her concern, but I’ve asked her, and now I’m telling you, I’ll be fine. I don’t need anyone looking out for me. It’s better if everyone just lets me handle Ashby on my own. I don’t want anyone else to get hurt because of me.” She took off her sunglasses and I could see she was fighting back tears in those bright green eyes. She pointed the glasses in my direction and muttered, “You barely survived your last run-in with a lunatic. Why would you risk another one?”
I was confused as hell as to what she was saying. But it was obvious she believed the reason I’d been hanging around her place was because of Kody.
“I have no idea who or what an Ashby is, or why you need to handle her. I also wouldn’t be hanging out in this heat as a favor to Kody, or anyone for that matter. I’m not that nice of a guy.” I smirked at her and leaned forward on the bike. “Whatever I risk or don’t risk is up to me, no one else. If I get hurt, that’s on me, not you.” I couldn’t help but find myself becoming more and more curious about this complicated and confusing woman. The way she spoke to me was an odd mix of overly confident and completely clueless. She looked familiar, but the way she approached me was completely foreign. She was afraid. But not of me, which was entirely foolish on her part.
She shook her head and almost seemed to shrink in on herself. “I don’t know why you’ve been lurking around lately, but I’m sincerely asking you to stop. It’s drawing unnecessary attention and it might be keeping away the person I’m trying to lure out into the open.” She dropped her gaze and her hands curled into tight fists. “I want my life back. I won’t accomplish that goal if Ashby doesn’t come out of hiding.”
“Ashby the one gunning for you? Is she the one you’re worried will hurt someone else because of you?” The typically straightforward way Top blurted out the question made the woman flinch.
Presley took a minute to answer, clearly trying to pick her words with care. “Everyone assumes she went on the run since her plan fell apart, but I was best friends with her for most of my life. I know this isn’t the end of things. She failed in framing me for murder, and she threatened to kill me and everyone I care about. Until I draw her out into the open, everything in my life is in limbo. I need you to back off so she will show herself. I left protective custody for the exact same reason.”
I stared at the woman and tapped my fingers on the gas tank of the bike. “You want us gone?”
She nodded vigorously. “I do. I would be very grateful if you left and didn’t return.”
Not an uncommon reaction to having a bunch of bikers loitering around, in all honesty. My expression shifted into a full-blown smile when I realized I could leverage her request into clearing myself and the club from owing her any further.
“I do owe you a solid. It can be anything, no questions asked, and no limitations. Are you telling me you want to use your one and only favor