by JL Madore
When he buckled . . . I bolted.
Someone caught a handful of my hair and whiplashed me back. White spots exploded behind my eyes as a fist connected with my face. The smack of knuckles on skin echoed and my cheek caught fire.
"Fucking bitch!" Tall guy palmed himself with the heel of his hand while his buddy used his grip in my hair to force me into the shadows. My skull screamed. I flailed behind my head, but couldn't get free from his grasp. "Gimme a minute and then we'll teach this one some manners."
Bile stung the back of my throat as I got shoved down the alley and against the crumbling brick of the next building. Gorilla fingers worked at my button fly as a solid knee forced my thighs open. Another slam and my head cracked against the wall at my back. My head throbbed. My senses sloshed. I twisted and gouged, but couldn't get his hands out of my jeans.
"Damn it, grab her arms!"
I screamed behind the gag, my voice useless. Tall guy's meaty hands pinned both my wrists against brick. My shoulders burned like they might pop out of joint.
Thud. Third guy sprawled past and face planted on the damp pavement. Huh?
"She needs to work on manners?" The deep husky tone of hunk-in-vest growled beside me. "Three against one seems downright rude."
My head spun as both my captors disappeared and my body was released. The instant loss of force knocked me off balance. Strong arms caught me before I hit the ground and eased me to sit with my back against the brick wall. My eyes welled, blurring the image of Bruin—I think that's what the bartender called him—coming to my rescue. Gentle fingers made quick work of the knot of my gag and it fell away.
"Don't move, 'kay? Let us handle this." When I nodded, he wheeled around and planted himself in front of me. "How about we even things up a bit, Kobi?"
The black-haired, GQ friend smiled and I swear his eyes flashed red in the darkness. A trick of the moonlight, maybe. The two moved in graceful tandem. They'd obviously done this before and probably enjoyed it when a fight dropped at their feet.
Bruin loomed large as he tipped his neck from side to side and rolled thickly muscled shoulders. "Care to dance, gentlemen? Or do you only fight women?"
Five men scrambled into a flurry of fists. The thud and slap of flesh on flesh ricocheted from all sides. My teeth started chattering. I pulled my knees up and dropped my head across my arms. I didn't want to be here. I wanted to run, but my body wasn't listening to me at the moment. Someone knelt in front of me and I jumped.
Bruin held his palms up and froze. "You okay?"
No. After a moment, I managed to nod. "Fine. Shaky, but fine. Are they tied up?"
"Nah," he glanced over his shoulder. "They're taking a little nap. They won't wake up until it's time for their meet-and-greet with the boys in blue."
"Speaking of," Kobi said, a few feet away. I lifted my gaze and watched his cigarette glow to life. "I'll get security and call D. Be right back."
After Kobi disappeared into the club, Bruin held my gaze. "Let's get you off the wet ground, shall we?"
He scooped under my knees and eased me against his chest like a weightless child. Though my muscles protested the movement, I draped one arm over his broad, thick shoulder. He set me on a brick retaining wall that bordered the loading dock. With a scowl, he brushed the hair from my face and ran a gentle thumb over the flaming patch of skin on my cheek. "That's going to leave a mark."
Lucky me. "Why do guys do that? Hit a woman square in the face. Do they teach that move in bastard school?"
"Couldn't tell you. I didn't attend that class."
I shuddered as an icy shiver worked down my spine. He shifted closer, letting his body heat seep under my skin.
"Your eyes are really beautiful." I winced as the words rolled off my tongue and wished I could rewind my mouth. Oh. My. God. My cheeks flushed hot. They were beautiful—a vibrant turquoise blue, almost electric. Magnetic. But really, your eyes are really beautiful?
His laugh was soft and enchanting. "Thank you. How about you take a few deep breaths. I think you're a little shocky. In. Out. In. Out."
His Goth friend returned with the bouncer who'd been rocking the mic and headset at the front door when I arrived. The white 'Security' stretched across his broad-as-a-football-field chest sent a pretty clear message to anyone thinking of stirring up trouble. He glanced down at the three piles of biker-contusion on the asphalt and chuckled. "It's always fun when you boys are in town. Go inside. When Delgato gets here I'll set him up in my office for question period."
"Thanks, man." Bruin helped me from the ledge and walked me inside. When I wobbled in the back hall, he put one hand on my hip and pulled me against him. "We're not dancing here, pretty lady. Give me your weight until your legs steady. Trust me, I can handle it."
I was sure he could.
CHAPTER TWO
I must've looked bad—like train-wreck bad—because when we emerged into the main area of the club my girls swarmed. Bruises would be unavoidable, but not yet noticeable. My cheek, however, had a flaming pulse of its own and felt like it had throbbed to ten times its usual size. After recapping the heroin alley highlight reel, and the fact that I'd pissed someone off, I convinced my friends that I was in good hands and none the worse for wear.
"Take a week or two off, Mika." Paige put up her hand and halted my protest. "If this is fallout from your exposé on the Nimithic Group, keep your head down and visit your granddad for a while. There will be plenty of bad guys for you to persecute when the dust settles."
I smiled, but then winced when my cheek stung. "I might take you up on that."
"I'm not offering. I'm telling."
The thought of spending a week on the reserve sounded beyond perfect. It had been ages since Grandfather and I had taken time to commune with nature together. "Fine, bossy lady. I'll swing by the office and grab some files tomorrow and then take a little vacation."
"Good." Paige hugged me and when she pulled back, she glanced toward the bar where Bruin stood chatting with the bartender. "If you get the chance . . . a little crotch mingling with that one would be a great way to burn off some stress and pass time."
"Classy."
She shrugged. "I'm a poet."
"We better watch out, or Hallmark will be scooping you away from us." I looked back to the bar and Bruin turned, cocked a brow and lifted his glass to his lips.
Someone tapped my shoulder and I gasped.
"Shit, sorry." The security guy frowned. "The cops are almost done outside. Are you ready to talk to them?"
Why was my heart racing? I'd given dozens of statements for work . . . but never as the victim of violence. I didn't want to think about. . .
My hands started to shake again.
Bruin strode over and I fumbled for his glass. "You won't like this. Let me get you—"
I arched my brow and he returned the look. Had I ever seen anything cuter? I focused on stilling my hand between us. "Afraid of a little DNA transfer?"
"Not at all." With a shrug, he let his tumbler loose.
I took a deep gulp of the clear liquid and immediately regretted it. Lighter fluid . . . eating down the length of my esophagus . . . Holy hell. How could anyone find paint thinner refreshing? Proud that I neither choked nor sputtered, I held out his glass and blinked back tears.
He fought a smile and thankfully took the glass before I dropped it. "It's likely stronger than you're accustomed to. They stock it by request for Kobi and me."
I tried unsuccessfully to regain my composure. "What is that?"
His deep throaty laugh made his eyes sparkle. "Everclear. It's vodka, but it's strong."
Strong? "I think it just ate the lining of my stomach."
He caught the attention of a server standing at the bar and she sidled over, beaming. "What can I get you, Bruin?"
He looked down at me seemingly unaware of her affections. I cleared my throat of the last of his killer vodka, but still couldn't find my voice. He chuckled again. "How about a Long Island? Th
at's what you were drinking earlier, right?"
I shook my head but that was a bad idea. "Ginger-ale . . . please."
"Coming up," the server said.
"Uh . . . thanks for the rescue," I mumbled, tilting my head toward the back hall. "I don't want to think about what might have happened if you and your friend hadn't been here."
Bruin cast a gaze to the back hall and his jaw clenched tight. Like the flip of a switch, his easy charm vanished and a menacing shadow darkened his expression. If I met him on a street looking like that, I would change sides or go the other way.
I stepped back and looked again with an observer's eye. His shirt remained crisp white. Not a mark on him. Aggression oozed out of him. Primitive. Predatory. Who was this guy to take on those thugs and remain pristine? How is that possible? Should I feel threatened? Yes. I should. So, why did I find that intriguing and not a giant red flashing warning sign?
When a plain-clothed officer headed our way, I knew I was up. "It was nice almost meeting you. It's Bruin, right?"
He tipped back the last of his drink and nodded. "And you are?"
I slid my hand into his. "Mika Silverbrook."
With a quick smirk, he accepted my drink from the server and set it in the palm of my hand. The cop joined us and the two men shook hands. "Mika, this is Detective Enrique Delgato, or D for short. And D, this is Mika Silverbrook."
Detective Delgato, a distinguished-looking man—despite his nose being broken once too often and its slight dogleg left—was Hispanic, fit, and wore his hair military short. "Seems you've had quite a night, Miss Silverbrook. If you'll come with me. This won't take long."
Walking Detective Delgato through the club to detail the excitement of the night turned out to be easier than I thought. When we were through, he closed his notebook, gave me his card and helped me gather up my things. "I've got a feeling those men aren't first-timers. Once I get back to the station I'll know better what we're dealing with and what charges we'll be filing."
"Sure, let me know. Can I go now?"
The whole shebang had taken less than two hours. I had been toasted, napped, assaulted, rescued and interrogated and the club still buzzed on. Other than my office crew, no one even seemed aware of what had almost happened out back. When I called it a night, the girls suggested moving the gathering to my place.
No thanks. The thought of being molly-coddled, while worried eyes watched for a meltdown made me itch. It took some arguing, but I was known for being a little stubborn and I wasn't going to budge.
"May I walk you out, Miss Silverbrook?" The detective's warm smile penetrated all the way to his eyes. "I'd feel better if I could at least see you safely to your vehicle."
"It's Mika, and yes, thank you. I'd appreciate that."
He accepted the tangle of gift bag handles and weighted balloon strings from my celebration and waited while I grabbed my purse and said my goodbyes. Placing a hand on the small of my back, he led me toward the door. Detective Delgato had an energy about him. As we walked along the front of the club I looked into the moonlit sky and listened to the Earth Spirits.
Yep. Impression confirmed. True-blue. I smiled and drew a deep breath.
As we rounded the corner of the club for the parking lot, my heart skipped. Bruin, or hunk-in-vest as I liked to think of him, leaned against the side wall, ankles and arms crossed. When our eyes met, he winked.
"You waiting for someone in particular?" I asked.
He pushed off the wall and stalked closer. "Thought I'd ensure you got to your car without incident. There's a dangerous element out tonight. Can't be too careful."
Detective Delgato nodded. "I've been trying to convince her to go home with a friend. She seems to have stirred up a bit of a hail storm at work. It wouldn't be in her best interest to head straight into an empty home."
"I couldn't agree more, D." Bruin stared at me, his intentions obvious.
Awkward.
The detective chuckled and handed Bruin my bags. "Well then, I'll leave you in good hands to discuss your options, Miss Silverbrook. Bruin will see you home safely, whatever you decide. If you have any problems, don't hesitate to contact me, day or night."
"Thank you, Detective."
Bruin inclined his head and stepped next to me.
After a moment, the detective's nondescript burgundy sedan disappeared around the corner and I faced my white knight. "And you waited around out here on the off chance that saving my ass would translate into me falling into your bed?"
He flicked one of my balloons with his finger. His turquoise eyes flashed gold as they caught a beam of headlights and reflected the light. "I won't apologize for knowing what I want."
"And do you always get what you want?"
His arched brow disappeared under shaggy bangs and my pulse quickened. I listened hard to my environment, but couldn't get a read on him. Weird. I'd gotten more than just my physical traits from my Native ancestors. My grandfather's people had gifts . . . I tried again. Nothing. It seemed mine had currently abandoned me. "So, what is it you want tonight?"
He canted his head to the side as if considering. "Some company in my hotel suite, a little room service, maybe a dip in my jetted soaker tub. I've got a beautiful view of the mountains from my terrace. Play your cards right and I might even massage out those muscles that are going to start turning on you in the next few hours."
I closed my eyes. As insistent as I'd been telling Paige and the Detective that I just wanted to go home, I realize now that I didn't. I hated feeling rattled . . . but I was rattled. I shrugged. "How could a girl say no?"
He wrapped a strand of my hair behind my ear, his knuckle brushing the edge of my jaw. Where flesh met flesh, my skin tingled. "Oh, it's happened."
Yeah, right. No hot-blooded female would shut him down. "All right, you lead the way and I'll follow in my truck. What are you driving?" I scanned the parking lot for something that fit. The night crowd had thinned and, based on what was left between the rows, I'd lay money on one of the two cars in the back: the candy apple red, Shelby Mustang or the silver Audi R8 straddling the lines of two spots. Classic muscle or flashy sport?
"Actually, Kobi headed to the hotel with our rental. Mind driving both of us?"
"Um . . ." For one split second panic rose in my chest. I wasn't a prude or anything. I'd had casual encounters before. But heading out with a total stranger after a night like tonight? He wasn't really a total stranger, though. He'd saved me from being raped and abducted and was friendly with the local law enforcement.
That meant he was safe, right?
He crossed his arms and waited for my answer. Safe? No. He was the farthest thing from safe I'd ever come across. But I didn't want to be alone tonight either. Somehow, the idea of sticking close to my buff protector seemed . . . comforting.
Stopping at the front of my truck I scrabbled at the bottom of my purse and pulled out my keys. He whistled through his teeth, his eyes gleaming with the perfect combination of shock and admiration for my black-on-black Humvee. "Your chariot awaits."
CHAPTER THREE
Bruin swung my door open and waited while I eased in and tossed my shit behind the seat. Striding around to the passenger side he had his door open and settled in one graceful motion. Most of my tension melted away once the metallic echo of the doors secured us inside. I ran my fingers down the eagle feather hanging from my rear-view mirror and inhaled the power of my truck.
"Nice ride, mystery lady. What's she got?"
I snorted, turned the key and let the throaty rumble of the engine fill the silence. "She? Please. He is nothing, but raw, unbridled testosterone with cojones the size of Texas. Although, his original 6.5 litre diesel has been slightly neutered to lessen his carbon footprint. Even still, we can go anywhere and crush anything that gets in our way. He's ex-military, armor-plated and don't even get me started on his torque."
Bruin's mouth dropped open and he laughed.
The cloud-laden sky gave up its burden a
s we pulled out, a misty spit gathering on my windshield. At the edge of the road I flipped on my wipers and waited for the swish and hum to clear my view. "So, where are we headed? And don't say some skeezy motel off the beaten path or I'll hit eject and call it a bad night all the way around."
He chuckled. "Do you know the Wedgewood Hotel? I don't consider it skeezy, but I'll leave it to you to decide."
"The Wedgewood?" Man, he was hard to figure out.
"Yeah, Kobi and I stay there when we're in town. You know it?"
Yes. I knew it. I drove past it every day on my way to work, but had never had the guts to go inside. "It's beautiful. Costs a fortune though, doesn't it?"
He shrugged, drumming his fingers on the front dash. "You don't seem to have a problem indulging for something you like."
True. "So how long are you in town?" I dialed up the wipers a notch and slowed to let the car in front of me turn.
Bruin hesitated and ran his fingers along the evening shadow darkening his jaw. "That's up in the air. I'm hiding out for a few days, maybe a week."
"Avoiding something?" The hair on my arms raised as the journalist in me started lining up the possibilities: a wife, the disgruntled husband of an indiscretion, a legal mess, a gang of criminals . . . I eyed his clothes. He sure made a pair of tight jeans look good. Oh shit. "You're not a drug dealer or anything, are you?"
He barked out a laugh, his deep, melodic voice filling the cab of the truck. "No. Nothing as sinister as that. One of my adoptive sisters, Jade, is getting married in a few weeks and our household is a little crazy. My other sister, Lexi, is her maid-of-honor and is planning the big event. She's gone completely off the rails."
"And you're hiding? A big, strong hero cowering from a little 'Say Yes to the Dress?'"
"Hell, yeah. Lexi is the biggest little vortex of chaos you could imagine. The entire household is tripping over itself to avoid her. Forget Bridezilla. Lexi is Bridesmaidzilla . . . then cross that with a spoiled princess and add in a whole lotta drill sergeant . . . and then arm her with knives."