His Loyal Rebel - Debra Kayn Page 0,19

jumped the rest of the way, landing on her feet. She needed to warn him. Hurrying out the open door, she found Whip standing in the clearing in front of the cabin, looking toward the trail.

She rushed to his side. "Is it—?"

"It's Priest." He glanced at her. "My president. He's bringing my bike to me."

She rocked back, relief swarming her. "Does that mean we can leave?"

He ignored her as three bikers rolled around the corner slowly and came to a stop in front of them. As soon as they turned off the motorcycles, Whip said, "Everything clear?"

"It took over sixty of our riders to push the police back, allowing us to get here without anyone trailing us." The lead biker got off the Harley. "Pressure is high, brother."

The man looked at Twyla. His gaze narrowed, making her feel like an intruder. She wasn't mixed up with Big like they accused her of being. Big was in her past. She wanted nothing to do with him as much as they wanted him gone.

"Where does Big live?" asked the man.

She opened her mouth to answer, and Whip said, "Don't involve her, Prez."

So, that was Priest. The man Whip spoke of with respect.

She understood the workings of a motorcycle club. Everyone listened to the president. Then, there were officers. The rest of the members fell in line.

In Cusclan MC, Big was one of those at everyone's beck and call.

The man kept looking at her. "You tried to kill him. If she can aim a gun at him, she can open her mouth and tell me his address."

She pressed her lips together. If she had wanted Big dead, she would've shot him in his cold, angry heart and not at the ground by his feet.

"Where does he live?' repeated Priest.

"Jesus Christ." Whip walked away, shaking his head.

She chewed on her lip. The conversation upset Whip.

Who was he protecting? Weren't they staying at the cabin because Big was trying to get Whip arrested, and he was afraid Big would come after her if he wasn't around?

"Twyla," said Priest.

She startled, snapping her gaze to the president of Tarkio. "He, um, lives in Stevensville."

"Address?"

"Slocum Creek Rd." She swallowed. "Twelve. The house number, I mean."

Whip rounded on Priest, ignoring Twyla. "How many people witnessed her taking a couple potshots at him? Carl from the parts store was standing right by Rick and me that night. There could've been ten other people on that block who stuck their heads out of the buildings lining the road. If Big ends up dead in his own fucking house, the first person they're going to question is her."

Twyla shivered. "Wait a minute. You're going to kill him?"

None of the men answered her. She looked to Whip. There had to be some other way to deal with Big. If Whip worried about her, she would need to convince him that she could take care of herself.

She stepped toward him and grabbed his arm. "Can I talk to you? Privately?"

He stepped away from the group of bikers. She stuck close to him, not wanting the others to hear.

"You need to go back to your club. I'll go back to work and never see you again. This has gone too far. Big isn't going to hurt me. And if he tries to contact me, I'll call the police." She lowered her voice. "I'll be fine."

"You're no match against him if he comes after you."

Her throat closed, touched by his offer to protect her. She never asked him to look out for her, but here he was, offering to take care of her, despite the risk to his freedom. In that second, she softened toward him.

He might not be attracted to her after their one little tryst, but he'd make a good friend.

She hadn't had many people in her life that she trusted. Most were fair-weather friends, and while she enjoyed hanging out with them, she wouldn't trust them with her life.

"Besides going to work, I'd be at the house. I can lock the doors and make sure he can't catch me outside or alone." She squared her shoulders. "Despite what you think, I can take care of myself, Whip."

They should've had that conversation before leaving her house. She was caught up in her lust for him and then her anger. She should've made it clear that she wasn't prone to run off her emotions all the time.

Of course, that's all he'd seen of her. First her temper with Big and then practically begging him to