Biting Back: A Motorcycle Club, Shifter, Romance (Shifting Steel Book 1)

by Stephanie West

  “Now what should I do?” Iris wondered.

  Cain wasn’t going to be happy especially after Swain came to and told him what she’d done. Would it matter she’d saved his life?

  Ugh. If she was ever going to get away from the Reapers now was her chance. Except they knew where she lived and of course Hank knew too. Where would she even go?

  As if the thought of Hank conjured the man, Iris looked up at the nurses station to see Hank talking to one of the nurses. He was dressed in his uniform looking very business like.

  “Shit!” Iris cursed as she shrunk behind the curtain.

  She had to get out of here. If Hank found her it would be worse than before, of that she was certain. No one would stop him from taking her, assuming it was official business.

  He looked away as one of the nurses tapped in the computer, probably looking for her admission record. Thankfully it was a nurse that didn’t know her, and Dr. Weston had patched her up without bothering to do any paperwork. It was probably a courtesy since she volunteered here and they could always do it later before she left.

  Iris took the opportunity to hustle out of the room keeping low and hugging the wall. She spied the nurses break/locker room and ducked in. Iris breathed a sigh of relief but it was short lived as the door started to open. She rushed into one of the showers and pulled the curtain closed.

  How long could she hide out in here? She listened as one then another person started to get their stuff. It was shift change. Someone was going to notice her in there eventually.

  Iris pulled off her shoes and socks and set them on the bench before stripping and starting up the shower. It would seem less odd than her standing in the stall doing nothing. The voices continued ignorant of her presence.

  When things got quiet again Iris poked her head out. Seeing nothing she quickly grabbed a pair of scrubs and changed into them before heading back into the locker area.

  Iris glanced out of the break room, seeing nothing she ventured into the hall and headed towards the exit. But as she approached the glass doors she saw Hank standing watching the exit. He was waiting for her to leave. She couldn’t make it out to the truck without him noticing her.

  Iris headed down the hall instead of entering the lobby blending in with several other staff. She found herself going towards the hospice wing and stopped herself. What if someone told him that’s where she usually volunteered, he might have one of his coworkers waiting there. Iris didn’t know what to do.

  As one of the orderlies exited a supply closet she ducked in muttering something about needing a blanket as he passed her.

  Iris realized as she hid in the closet that there was no one in the hospital who could protect her from Hank. The only man in the building that might be able to help her was in surgery.

  She should’ve figured out a way to contact Cain once she’d arrived here. If she’d just listened to that inner voice that told her to try to trust him she might not be running for her life. Why was she always so stubborn. She couldn’t even listen to her own self. It bit her in the ass every single time.

  Iris banged her head back against the wall then winced.

  Cain

  Cain paused as he approached the hospital doors. Through the large window he could see the fucking cop, Hank, watching everyone as they exited the ER.

  “Well Shit.” He walked away from the entrance noting Swain’s truck just as Trip approached him. “That fucking cop is watching the entrance.”

  “You think he knows this is Swain’s truck?”

  “I don’t think so.” Cain replied.

  It didn’t look like Hank was positioned to keep an eye on it. They hopped in and pulled the spare key out from under the floor mat and drove around to the next entrance.

  As they went in, Cain noticed another officer. Hank had his buddies watching all the exits.

  “Damn.” Trip groused. “You think they’re looking for us or just Iris?”

  “We’ll soon find out.” Cain replied as he opened the hospital door.

  It’s not like they could hide behind the people going in. They dwarfed half of them by at least six inches. Yet still they attempted to blend in heading straight for the gift shop to avoid the LEO. They then went out the other side of the shop and wandered towards the ER wing.

  On the way there they picked up the scent of their brother, Swain. It was faint but still strong enough to lead them to him. When they entered a room they were shocked to see their friend groggily muttering in a hospital bed.

  “Shit what happened to him.” Trip asked.

  “I have no fucking clue.” Cain said as he looked at the bandage on Swain’s shoulder.

  Had Iris shot him? She didn’t seem the type, and yet the woman was scared and had been seen holding a gun on him so anything was possible.

  “You stay with him and try to figure out what the hell happened. I’m going to go hunt that woman down.” Cain instructed.

  “Get up you lazy bastard. You’re not dead yet.” Cain heard Trip tell Swain as he left the room.

  Could he find the little female with all these people milling about, catch the scent of her like he had Swain? Of course his brother’s blood had scented the air making it easier. His sense of smell was good but it wasn’t as good as Wolf’s. Maybe he should call his friend in to help him.

  Cain dismissed the idea. Wolf would just make some snide pussy remark. He needed to buck up. He was a pretty damn good hunter, plus he was pretty sure he’d recognize Iris��� scent anywhere.

  He had to get to Iris first. He was spitting mad but still the thought of the frustrating female being back in the clutches of that awful cop made him see red. Why the hell had she been so foolish as to run? Now she was at risk.

  Cain stopped in his tracks as he turned the corner. His nostrils flared at the distinctive tantalizing scent.

  Prey located.

  Iris

  Iris huddled behind the shelving rack. She’d have to leave the closet soon. There were only so many times she could act like she was fetching something before someone got suspicious.

  The door opened again and Iris started grabbing a blanket off the shelf then stopped. Whoever had entered the closet just stood there.

  Iris slowly turned around dreading who she���d find.

  Cain stood staring at her, his face deadly serious. She didn’t know if she was relieved or not to see him. He looked her up and down noting her change of clothes and just shook his head.

  “You planning on hiding in here forever?” He said gruffly.

  Iris swallowed and shook her head no. How had he found her? Maybe it was that animal nature she sensed in him.

  “We need to leave but can’t go out the regular exits. Hank’s out there waiting.” Cain practically growled.

  “I know.” Iris admitted.

  Why else did Cain think she was hiding in the closet? Of course he likely assumed she was hiding from him too. She probably should. But she’d already decided as she’d waited in hiding that Cain was the lesser of two evils by far. She’d even prayed he’d come to her rescue. At the time, as she’d prayed, she thought it was foolish and yet here he was.

  Then again noting his expression she might have been wrong to pray for her dark angel. He looked pissed, no he looked enraged. It practically rolled off him.

  “We might be able to go out one of the staff entrances but we don’t have a badge to access those halls.” Iris suggested quietly trying to ignore his frightening mood.

  “Lead the way.” Cain took hold of her arm and exited the supply closet. He held her firm but didn’t squeeze too tight.

  “That way but…” Iris directed and was about to mention again they didn’t have access but Cain suddenly stumbled into one of the nurses.

  “Oh I’m so sorry sweetheart.” Cain said with that sexy smile of his as he steadied the poor woman.

  She smiled back at him instantly taken in by Cain’s allure. Iris frowned at how he flirted shamelessly with the woman at a
time like this. They continued towards the secured staff hall. Cain stopped and swiped a card over the access panel and the door clicked open. Iris looked up at him in surprise. He’d taken the nurses access badge. He shrugged before ushering her through the open door and handing her the card.

  “Here take this till we get out. It’ll look better if you have it dressed like that.” He pointed to the scrubs she’d borrowed.

  They made it to the exit and Cain looked outside glancing both ways.

  “All clear.” He said and led her quickly through the parking lot. Iris didn’t know why she was surprised to find Swain’s truck parked in a different spot. Of course Cain had found it.

  They got in and Cain started the engine heading out of the lot. Iris sighed in relief as they pulled out onto the open road, until she noticed Cain’s serious expression staring in the rear-view mirror.

  “Fuck get down.” Cain growled at her.

  Iris glanced in the side mirror and saw the squad car following them several cars back.

  “Shit!”

  Cain sped up and quickly got onto the highway heading the opposite direction they needed to go. The way he weaved between the other cars had her holding her breath. Hank must be in the car behind them, otherwise the cop might have put on his lights and siren.

  The truck went faster than she thought the old vehicle could manage. Iris hoped like hell the accident earlier hadn’t compromised it. They took an off ramp and headed down another major road. The cop car swerved and followed them. The rear window exploded and Iris screamed as she was showered with glass.

  “Fuck me!” Cain snarled as he swerved down another street.

  Iris slid across the seat the belt biting into her painfully and the glass cutting her. She didn’t dare cry out or complain for fear of distracting Cain. All it would take was one well placed bullet and he’d be dead.

  “Take my phone and call Eric. Put it on speaker.” Cain demanded.

  “Okay.”

  Iris reached over and grabbed it from his right back pocket. She scrolled through his contacts till she found the number and hit send.

  “What’s up Cain?”

  “Eric I need back up.” The sound of another shot hitting the back of the truck made Iris nearly squeal but she bit her lip to repress it. Cain continued “I’m on One approaching the rail yard. That bastard LEO is behind me. He already shot out Swain’s back window. I got Iris with me.”

  “I’m on it man. I got you on my phone tracker. Hang in there the cavalry’s on its way.”

  Cain was going so fast and swerving Iris wanted to puke. He didn’t take any more turns probably since he wanted the other Reapers to be able to find them. Iris glanced in the side-view mirror, her eye widening.

  “CAIN” Iris pointed as the truck was struck from behind.

  “I know!” Cain had to quickly correct. They narrowly missed going off the road and hitting a building. “Fuck I wish I had my gun!” Cain growled.

  Iris realized she’d forgotten Swain’s gun after they’d wrecked. She leaned down and felt around the floor board. Her chest hurt like a bitch but she ignored it. Her hand felt the cold barrel and she grabbed onto it.

  “Here” Iris held the the butt of the gun out to Cain.

  He glanced at her a bit surprised then grabbed the pistol.

  “Take the wheel but try to keep down.” Cain instructed as he maneuvered them past another vehicle.

  Iris grabbed the wheel. It was beyond hard to keep the truck from swerving into anything and keep her head down at the same time. Thankfully there weren’t that many other cars on this stretch of road since it was getting late. She had to worry more about going off the road. Iris gritted her teeth as she concentrated.

  Cain turned in his seat and aimed behind them. The gun thundered deafeningly as he squeezed off a shot. He must’ve missed.

  “Dammit hold it steady.” Cain roared, the muscle in his jaw flexing as he took aim again.

  An incoming shot hit the windshield and Iris nearly wrecked. A crack spidered across the glass from the small hole. They’d gotten lucky the thing hadn���t shattered.

  “You can do this!” Iris mumbled to herself as she straightened the truck back out.

  Cain aimed again and quickly shot. The loud boom making her ears ring.

  “Hell Yeah!” He shouted as he turned and grabbed the wheel again.

  Iris looked back to see that Hank’s windshield had shattered but was still intact. There was no way he could see through that thing. But that didn’t seem to deter Hank. He kept following them.

  Trip

  Trip exited the tiny bathroom across the hall from Swain’s room. A nurse was checking his brother���s vitals and looked up in surprise. She eyed him, noting his attire and must have realized he was friends with Swain.

  “Oh I didn’t know they let friends and family know he was here yet.” She said as she put her stethoscope back around her neck.

  “What happened?” Trip asked as he looked Swain over. How in the hell had Iris managed to land his brother in this condition.

  “His girlfriend brought him in passed out.” The nurse smiled. “He got lucky. If she hadn’t been able to tell the ER exactly what was wrong he would have bled to death and no one would’ve been the wiser.”

  Trip gave her a confused look. How could Iris have injured Swain in a way no one would have guess at till it was too late?

  “I’m afraid I don’t follow.” Trip said to the plump dark haired woman.

  “A piece of shrapnel, probably from this injury,” She pointed to Swain’s right arm. “was damaging a blood vessel. It had worked its way up here then got stuck in the side of the vessel and started to tear through. He would’ve probably died at home if she hadn’t seen some sort of symptoms.” The nurse shook her head in amazement. “I still think she should become a nurse with that keen eye.”

  “Where is she now?” Trip asked.

  “Well I went to tell her we were moving your friend here.”

  “Brother.” Trip amended, knowing if he was considered family he wouldn’t get kicked out.

  “She must’ve gone to the cafeteria or something. I’ll let her know as soon as I see her.” The woman smiled as she started to leave.

  “How long before he gets to leave?” Trip asked.

  “I couldn’t say, but probably not more than a day.”

  Trip smiled, his kind healed quick, it would take less than half that time. Trip then frowned. Things were starting to make more sense, not much, but a bit more. Somehow Iris had known Swain was in a bad way. Did he get sick at the clubhouse? If so why had she held a gun on Swain? Maybe his brother had been stubborn and refused to listen to reason. That sounded like Swain. Did this have something to do with the strange ability Cain had hinted Iris possessed? Trip had more questions than answers.

  He pulled out his phone and tried to call Cain but it went straight to voicemail.

  “Shit”

  He had to let Cain know what was up before he lit into Iris. He knew his brother was livid.

  Cain

  Even though Cain was pissed at Iris for running from him he was beyond impressed with how she was handling herself. She hadn’t broken down and curled into a ball on the seat. Instead she held the wheel steadier than he expected as he shot at the cop car.

  He looked back down at her as he took the wheel. Her eyes were wide but determined. He could smell her fear but her adrenalin overpowered it. Cain couldn’t help the swell of pride that filled him.

  He had no clue what he was going to do with her when all this was over. It was a damn shame she’d broken his trust, because a woman like her was hard, no impossible, to come by.

  “Dammit” Cain muttered as he saw the fucking cop was undeterred by the shattered windshield.

  He was having a hard time keeping his beast at bay. The adrenalin and need for added agility was forcing it to the surface. Cain curled his fists around the wheel to hide his claws. He gritted his jaw, his long cani
nes biting into his gums.

  Cain heard the roar of motorcycles and it was like music to his ears. His fellow Reapers converged flanking the truck. Several shots rang out, fired by his brother at the cop. Hank threw on the brakes and swerved making a quick U-turn.

  “The bastard���s running. Fucking coward.” Cain snarled in disgust.

  It would���ve been nice to finish this bullshit here and now.

  Eric gestured at him indicating if they should follow the LEO.

  Cain shook his head ���No.”

  The bastard didn’t call back-up while he chased just the two of them, but no doubt Hank would seeing as he was now outnumbered. It was best to let him go for the moment.

  Cain noticed Iris slump in her seat as they headed back towards the clubhouse. She looked a bit pale, probably from all the adrenalin leaving her. Cain scented her blood and saw the new cuts and scratches from the glass. The smell wasn’t intense, she would be fine till they got back, but it killed him nevertheless. Iris didn���t need anymore scrapes and bruises.

  “Cain?” Iris said nervously.

  “We’ll talk at the clubhouse.” Cain shut her down.

  He didn’t want to hear it, he needed a few minutes to get his head together. She was the reason they were in this mess. She shouldn’t have tried to run away. He’d warned her about Hank. He’d told her he couldn’t cut her loose because of the risk she posed to his brothers.

  “Why the fuck did she have to go and do this shit?”

  Cain didn’t relish what was he going to do with her now. He didn’t want to hold her prisoner. She’d already suffered that shit. What choice did she leave him. He couldn’t trust her.

  Cain ran his hand through his hair in frustration as he looked at the small stubborn woman. Iris was turned towards the window. He could see she bit her lip but it still trembled as she looked out at all the scenery they passed. She may not like what he had in store for her, but at least he wouldn’t torture her or try to kill her like the fucking cop did. Then again if he were held captive it would be a slow death. He’d much prefer a bullet to his head.