Crash shook his head. “Then last night, we took the boys down to Lucky’s. Anyway, the place got a little rowdy. A fight broke out in the parking lot as we were leaving. I was getting her out of there. The cops had arrived, but there was one guy they were having trouble with, so they ended up hitting him with a Taser. Shannon completely lost it.”
“How?” Cole asked with a frown.
“Froze up, started shaking like an alcoholic on a two-day dry spell. I’m telling you, she was having a full-blown panic attack. Took me a good twenty minutes just to get her calmed down enough to be able to get on the back of the bike and ride home.” Crash shook his head. “ I don’t know if it’s fear of this ex-boyfriend of hers that gets her so frightened, but, brother, I got to tell you, it tears my heart out to see her like that.”
“Jesus Christ,” Cole murmured, remembering the story Shannon had told him that day he’d had a drink with her at Marty’s years ago. He’d asked her how she’d gotten taken, how she’d ended up three years earlier in the back of that panel van they’d found her in, handcuffed and gagged, and about to be sold into white slavery, before he, Crash and four other brothers had saved her and the other five girls in that van.
He still remembered what she’d replied. How she’d confessed that day at the bar of how afraid she was, still to that day, of walking across a parking lot.
He could only imagine that a white panel van pulling up next to her was a major trigger for a panic attack. And the asshole who’d taken her had used a stun-gun on her, pulling her into the back of a panel van he’d parked next to her car.
Christ, it was her worst nightmare all over again. Cole looked over at Crash. “You need to talk to her.”
Crash pulled the little red stir-stick that he’d been chewing on out of his mouth. “Yeah? What do I need to talk to her about?”
“Ask her about…” he looked away. “About the day she was taken.”
“There something you need to share?”
“She needs to be the one to tell you. It’s her story.”
“And after she tells me this story, what then?”
“Then you’ll know.”
“Know what, Cole?”
Cole looked Crash in the eye. “You’ll understand what you’re dealing with.”
“Christ, you’re a cryptic son-of-a-bitch.” Crash downed his coffee and moved off to the table where Mack sat with Jake and Shane.
Cole watched his retreating back, knowing if anyone could help this girl through the shit she was dealing with, it was Crash. Cole shook his head. Damn, he hated when Angel was right.
*****
Nicklaus Ralston sat in downtown San Francisco traffic in the back of a limousine, double-parked on Market Street. A moment later a well-dressed gentleman climbed inside. The man looked from Nicklaus to the other gentleman in the car who sat across from them.
“Good of you to join me, Collins,” Nicklaus said with a smile.
“You didn’t give me much choice,” the banker stated, his eyes narrowing.
Nicklaus’s smile widened. “I didn’t, did I?”
Collins swallowed. “Your threats were-”
Nicklaus cut him off with a wounded look. “I made no threats, Collins. I merely stated a series of events that would possibly take place if I didn’t receive your…cooperation.”
Collins snorted. “A serious of events? Is that what you call it? Threatening to pull your accounts. Threatening to use your influence to slander my name…”
“Now, now, Collins. Don’t be so melodramatic. We’ve reached an agreement.” Nicklaus nodded toward the file that Collins held. “If you manage to appease me with the information I requested, they’ll be no need for such…unpleasantness.”
“I’ve known Shannon Taylor since she was a child. Her family has done business with this bank for years. Breaking this confidence isn’t easy for me.” Collins glared at him.
Nicklaus smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I understand completely. Would it assure you if I told you I only have Miss Taylor’s best interests at heart? I intend to marry the young lady. I’m worried she’s being led astray by someone who does not have her best interests at heart, but rather is concerned only with her fortune. Surely, you can understand my worry. She’s been reported missing. Her own family is worried sick about her. Well, sir?” he cocked a brow, waiting.
Collins hesitated, but reluctantly handed over the file.
Nicklaus opened the folder, examining the file. His eyes flared before he glanced up at Collins. “That will be all, sir. Thank you for your cooperation.”
The banker exited the limo with all haste.
Nicklaus handed the file to the other man in the limousine, his private investigator. “Find out everything you can on a Mr. Cole Austin.”
The private investigator took the file and flipped it open, studying the document inside. His gaze lifted to Nicklaus. “Of course. I’ll get right on it.”
Nicklaus’s head jerked to the door, his anger rolling off him. “Piss off.”
“Yes, sir.” The detective exited the limousine.
Nicklaus waved the driver on. His eyes stared unseeing out the window as the city streamed past, and he silently fumed. Was there another man in Shannon’s life?
Who the bloody hell was Cole Austin?
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Shannon was just heating the garlic bread, when Crash, Jake and Shane trooped in. She pulled the oven mitts off and lifted her wine glass to her lips as she turned to look at them. God bless Angel for including the bottle of wine with her bag of dinner ingredients. Beer was okay, but she’d missed her wine. It was something Crash didn’t have in his loft. She had a feeling he wasn’t really a wine connoisseur.
“Damn, something sure smells good,” Shane commented, sniffing the aromas coming from the oven.
Crash approached her. She couldn’t help but let her eyes sweep the length of his tall, muscular body. His broad shoulders never failed to kick-start her pulse. He stopped in front of her. “You cook, babe?”
She nodded, a small smile on her face. He tried to reach around her to pull the oven door open and see inside, but she took a quick side-step blocking him. “It’s not ready yet.”
His arm dropped, and a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. His eyes dropped to the wine glass in her hand, and he frowned. “Did you go out?”
She shook her head. “Nope.”
“Where’d the wine come from?”
“Angel brought it over.”
“Angel, huh?” He lifted his chin as if he’d figured it all out. “She cooked.”
“No, I cooked.”
“Is that her stuffed shells I smell?” Now he really wanted in that oven.
She pushed him back. “Quit. You’ll eat when it’s ready.”
“When’s that gonna be?” He acted like a kid wanting his ice cream. She smiled.
“Go wash up. It’ll be ready in a minute.”
Taking the wine glass from her hand, he took a sip. It surprised her when he didn’t grimace or make a face. He just licked his lips and handed the glass back to her. A grin pulled at the corner of his mouth, almost as if he could read her mind and knew she’d expected him to be unable to appreciate a fine bottle of wine. Instead he asked, “I got time for a quick shower?”
“I suppose. A quick one.” She lifted her brows.
“Yes, ma’am.” He headed off, but stopped two steps into the living area. She watched as his eyes took in the place as he noticed for the first time since walking in that she’d cleaned up. He turned back to her, and his brow lifted. “Babe? You do this?”
She nodded.
He walked back to her, slid his hand to the back of her neck and pulled her to him. A second later, she felt his lips press against her forehead in a quick kiss. Pulling back he looked in her eyes. “Thank you.”
She stood there in a daze as he turned and walked away.
“Mind if I wash up in the kitchen sink?” Jake asked, breaking th
e spell she’d fallen under.
She whirled, her cheeks flaming. “Of course not. Go right ahead.”
He stepped forward. Squirting a bit of dish-soap into his palm, he began lathering his hands and forearms up to his elbows. Shane nudged him to the side and did the same. Jake finished up rinsing off the soap and stood there with his arms up like a surgeon ready to operate.
Shannon grinned and tossed him a dishtowel.
He caught it and laughed. “Thanks.” When he was done, he tossed it in Shane’s face.
“Hey, asshole.”
“Watch your mouth,” Jake snapped.
“It’s all right. It’s nothing I haven’t heard in spades around these guys,” Shannon insisted.
“That may be, but that doesn’t make it right, and he knows better,” Jake nodded toward Shane.
Shannon laughed. “Would you boys like a glass of wine with your dinner?”
Shane nodded. “That’d be real nice, ma’am.”
“Can we help you?” Jake asked.
“You can get the dishes out of that cabinet there and set them out on the bar. We’ll eat there, since Crash doesn’t have a dining room table.” She turned and put on the oven mitts and pulled the glass baking dish out of the oven. Then she pulled the hot garlic bread out.
“That smells wonderful, ma’am,” Shane complimented her. “What can I help you with?”
“I tossed a salad. It’s in the fridge. Could you get that, and I think there are a couple of bottles of salad dressing in the door.”
“Sure thing.” Shane turned and pulled the wooden salad bowl out of the fridge along with a couple of bottles of dressing.
They spread the items out on the island, while Shannon got out three more wine glasses and some silverware. By the time Crash emerged from the shower, the bar was set, and she was busy dishing out their helpings.
Crash walked over and came up behind Shannon as she used a spatula to put a couple of shells on Shane’s plate.
“Thank you, ma’am,” Shane said.
“Enough with the ma’am stuff. You’re making me feel old.” She smiled at him and picked up another plate to dish Crash up a helping. Shane moved to the other side of the bar and sat next to Jake, who was pouring himself a glass of wine.
Crash’s hands settled on her hips, and he leaned over her shoulder looking at the food. “Looks good. Truthfully, did Angel bring this over?”
Shannon looked up at him, achingly aware of the warmth of his hands on her hips, and the heat of his chest pressed to her back. “She gave me the recipe, but I did all the work.” Their eyes caught as she turned to look up at him, and the empty plate in her hand trembled. She scooped up a couple of shells and put them on his plate. Handing it to him, she said, “There’s bread and salad.”
He took the plate out of her hand and snatched a piece of bread out of the basket she’d put it in. “This is real nice, Shannon. I’m starved. Thanks for doing this.”
She melted under his comment, her smile brilliant. “You’re welcome,” she whispered.
“Come. Eat.”
She made herself a plate and moved to sit next to him. He shoveled in a bite, chewing. She waited on pins and needles for his reaction, scared to death she’d messed it up somehow. When she couldn’t stand it any longer, she asked, “How is it?”
He looked over at her and smiled. “It’s good, babe. You did good.”
She let out a breath and reached for her wine glass.
“You may not be totally useless after all. Maybe there’s hope for you yet, Princess.” Before she could get angry, he winked and gave her a dazzling smile.
That evening Jake and Shane took their packs and headed out after thanking her for an amazing home-cooked meal. Crash explained to her that Wolf had found them a place to stay. While Shannon would miss their banter, she was glad it would just be her and Crash in the loft. It was a little too small for her and all that testosterone in a one-bedroom, one-bathroom loft.
After they left, Shannon was cleaning up the dishes when Crash walked up to her. He took the dinner plate out of her hand and set it on the counter, then he took her by the hand and pulled her out of the kitchen.
“Crash, what are you doing? The dishes-”
“They can wait. We need to talk.”
Oh-oh, she thought, that didn’t sound good. He led her out onto the roof. When they got to the top, he didn’t release her hand, but led her over to the wall that surrounded the edge. He leaned a hip against it and pulled her hand, tugging her close. Shannon looked up into his face. He looked serious. He was starting to make her nervous. “What is it?”
“The other night at the bar,” he began, and she immediately started to pull back, knowing he was going to talk about her panic attack, but his grip on her hand tightened. “Don’t pull away.”
She swallowed. “Please don’t.”
“Shannon, you need to talk about it.” His tone was gentle, but still determined.
“No, I don’t.”
“Yeah, you do. I need you to. I need to understand what it is that’s upsetting you.”
“I’m fine.”
“Sugar, you’re a mess,” he murmured softly.
She threw up the only defense she had. Her anger. “Who are you to tell me that? Who are you to tell me anything?”
“Shannon-” His voice was calm, soothing. “At first I thought this was about this boyfriend you’re hiding from, but it’s not, is it?” When she didn’t respond he continued, his voice soft, tender almost. “Shannon, I remember that day, years ago. I haven’t forgotten. The first time I laid eyes on you, you were handcuffed in the back of a panel van. Is that what the other day was about…the van? Is that why it upset you so?”
She felt stricken, terrified on the inside of bringing it out in the open. “You’re so full of questions, aren’t you?” she snapped nastily and watched as Crash let her attitude roll right off him.
“Lucky for you, I have nothing to do tonight but get answers from you.”
She shook her head, pulling free of his hold and backing up. “I don’t need you analyzing me.”
Crash let out a deep breath. “I see what you’re doing, Shannon. You’re putting up walls with the attitude.” He shook his head. “You ever trust me enough to let me in, I swear I’ll never hurt you.”
She stared at him with big, liquid eyes, wanting to believe him, afraid she couldn’t.
“Sweetheart, you need to talk about it. All of it. The van. The Taser. The fear that’s got you freezing up with panic attacks and waking up with nightmares.” He hesitated, and then asked, “It’s Ling, isn’t it?”
When she didn’t reply, because she couldn’t, because her throat had closed up, he kept going, his voice deep, low, soothing.
“Come here, darlin’. Tell me. Say it. Whisper it, if that’s all you’ve got. Just start.” He held his arms out. “I’ll hold you, baby.”
She stared at him, her eyes dropping to the arms he held out to her, and suddenly all she wanted was to have them wrapped around her. She moved to him, one step, another, and then she felt those strong arms close around her, pulling her flush against him, holding her tight.
“Baby,” he whispered in her ear, brushing the hair back. “Tell me about the night he took you.”
She sobbed.
“There’s nothing you can’t say to me. You know that, don’t you?”
She nodded, her head tucked under his chin. “I…I was in college back then.”
He rubbed her back. “You were young.”
“I still should have known. I should have been more careful.”
“What happened?” he whispered against her head.
“I was on campus, leaving the library. It was late. I was walking across the parking lot to my car. The van was there. It was parked next to my car. I…I really didn’t pay any attention to it. I should have.”
“You couldn’t have known.” He continued to stroke her back.
She was pressed up against his
strong chest, her arms wound round his waist. She held tight.
“What happened next?”
“I was digging in my purse for my keys.” She shook her head. “I should have had them out. I should have been paying attention to my surroundings.”
“Don’t blame yourself, Shannon. Maybe there were things you could have done differently, but it wasn’t your fault you were attacked. Don’t put that on yourself.”
She nodded, her head resting against his chest.
He rubbed her back, his other hand cradling her head to him. “Tell me the rest.”
She took a deep, shaky breath. “I didn’t see him. Suddenly he was there, behind me. And then he…he put the stun-gun to me.”
“Christ,” she heard Crash growl, his arms tightening. “I didn’t know, Shannon. God, the other night…”
Now that she’d begun to talk, the story poured out of her. “Sometimes I can still feel that jolt stinging through my body.”
“Sweetheart,” Crash murmured, his hand stroking her back.
“My legs went out from under me. I hit the ground. I…I lost control of my arms and legs. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t talk.” She broke down in sobs. “I knew what was happening to me, but I couldn’t do anything to stop him.” She buried her face in Crash’s chest and felt his arms holding her, his deep voice soothing in her ear.
“Shannon, baby. I’m so sorry.”
“He…he pulled me into the van. The handcuffs, the gag…I couldn’t stop him. Oh, God, I couldn’t stop him. It was like I was paralyzed.”
“Baby, shh. I’m sorry I made you talk about it.”
“No, I need to. You’re right.” She took another breath. “There were three girls already in the van. It took him a couple hours to get the other two. I was so scared, Crash. I was so scared.”
“You feel my arms around you, Shannon? Hmm?”
She nodded.
“I’ve got you. No matter what, I’ve got you. You’re safe. You’ll always be safe here in my arms.”
CRASH: An Evil Dead MC Story (The Outlaw Series) Page 19