gets through to her.
“Everett John Malachi.”
“He from Las Vegas?” I ask. She nods as I move to my holster, grabbing another clip and shoving it in my back pocket.
“What are you doing?”
“Gonna check the back again. Stay here.”
“Rusty.”
“Don’t move.” I slip out and move to the kitchen. I don’t see anything. I prowl through the house, looking out the windows as I move. I don’t see any movement. It’s not long before I hear the distant roar of five motorcycles at full throttle. They rumble around the curve and over the rise. I see their headlights through the front windows coming up fast on the highway. They make the turn, one of them fishtailing before righting his bike. They roll across the front of the yard and dismount.
I shout from the front door, “Fan out. He was near the garage. No idea where he is now.” I see Jammer and Gypsy take the left while Quick and Bandit head along the driveway. Reno bounds up the stairs.
“You okay?”
“Yeah. Shot off a couple of rounds, and he took off. Guy in a ski mask trying to break in the back door. He cut the power to the house.”
“Fuck. That doesn’t sound like some random break in.”
We move inside. I watch the back, and Reno keeps an eye on the front.
“Babe? Stay put. Put the safety on the gun. Reno’s in the house. Don’t want you shootin’ him by mistake. Okay?”
“Okay.”
Reno moves to the kitchen, keeping an eye on the front but stays close enough to talk softly to me. “You know what you stepped into with this one?”
I shake my head. “Not a clue.”
“Rusty, she was buying a gun. She’s runnin’ scared from something. I think whatever it is, it found her.”
I lock my jaw. Every word he says is true.
“Just know what you’re getting into, bro. You don’t need to end up collateral damage in God knows what fucking shit she’s messed up in.”
“I don’t have a fucking clue what I’m getting into. But I know I’m not walkin’ away.”
“You can’t be with her out here all the time.”
“I know.”
“So what are you gonna do if we don’t catch this guy?”
“Only one place I can protect her then, isn’t there?”
“Fuck, man, have you really thought this through?”
“No. But when has that ever stopped me?”
The guys return.
Quick enters, and shakes his head. “No sign of him. Saw some tracks through the mud leading across the field toward that distant tree line. It’s dark as hell, though. I think he’s long gone.”
I nod. “Thanks. Give me a minute.” They go outside, and I walk into the bedroom. I push the curtains aside to give us more moonlight and sit on the bed.
“Did you find him?” she whispers.
I pull her up from the floor to sit next to me. “No. The boys found some tracks leading off across the field to the trees.”
“Oh.”
“You got anything more you want to tell me?”
“What do you mean?”
“I need to know what I’m dealing with, Hot Rod.”
“I don’t know who that was, Rusty.”
I blow out a frustrated breath. I know she knows more than she’s telling me, and it’s pissing me off. “Okay, that’s the way you want to play this, until we find this guy, you’re coming back to the clubhouse with me. Pack a bag. It might be a few days.” I stand.
She shakes her head, not meeting my eyes. “I can’t do that, Rusty.”
I grab her chin and yank her gaze to mine. “Yeah, you can, and you will. You want me to protect you, I got no problem doing that, but I drag my club into this, we’re doing this my way. You’re moving into the clubhouse until this is over.”
“What?”
I drop my hand. “Did I stutter?”
She surges to her feet. “You don’t run my life.”
“Babe, I do tonight. Now move.”
She turns away. “Maybe I should pack up and leave town. Find someplace else.”
“Your choice, Ashlynn.” I’ve been shot at, and I’ve about had it. I yank her around to face me, my hands on her arms. “That what you want?”
She stares into my eyes, and I’m wondering if what we have is just that easy for her to walk away from. For me, it’s not. Finally, she shakes her head ever so slightly. “No.”
While I’ve got her yielding, I push it a step further. “You’re also gonna be in my bed and willing, understand? If I’m gonna involve my club in this shit for you, then that’s the deal. Take it or