Page 74 of Crow

The attention remains fixed on that spot, a whole lot of burly, tattooed, biker aggression. The club isn’t full of a bunch of violent, women abusing, foul criminals, but that’s the impression that most people have of bikers, and I have to say, most of us look the part. That image serves us well, even if most people in Hart know that the club’s history has been about protecting our hometown, not fucking around with guns, women, and endless violence.

I might not be bent on doing harm, but I am going to stand next to my woman.

Our woman. I’m right here with you.

For the first time ever that I can remember, Raven isn’t trying to leap out of my skin at the first sign of violence. He’s not banging around in my skull, screaming for a fight.

“Dad,” Tarynn breathes, visibly upset. Her eyes sweep across the bar and land on Patti standing like a mother hen ready to grab for her shotgun and come out, Wild West style.

I don’t think Patti has a shotgun stashed under there or anywhere else, but she certainly has that look to her that warns others not to fuck with hers. She looked at me the night that Tarynn dragged me into the back kitchen after she keyed my face seven ways to Sunday.

Fuck, that was hot.

Tarynn swallows thickly, eyeing me nervously. I give her the same subtle shake of my head that I gave the guys a minute ago, letting her know that I’m not going to do anything stupid.

A hard glint in her eyes stops me where I am, fifteen feet away. She needs a minute. I don’t like it, but I’m going to give it to her. I respect her enough to let her fight her own battleswhen doing so is important to her. She’s equipped with far more tools that what I have. I’m built for blood and fighting, but I remember what she said to me just yesterday.

“Just because enforcing is your job doesn’t mean that that’s all you are. You’re not a goon. You have so much more to offer. You’re smart, artistic, compassionate, beautiful, and kind.

“Dad,” she whispers again, angling in to shield their words from most of the bar. Family drama isn’t something she wants aired out where everyone can witness it. “What are you doing here? I’m working.”

“That’s right,” the fucker claps back with a greasy smile. “You’re a working girl now.”

Tarynn’s face goes red, and I swear I want to throw her dad straight through the closest window. A working girl? What the fuck?

“I tried to come talk to you a few days ago, but you- you weren’t ready.”

It burned me up like no one’s business when Tarynn tearfully told me all about how her parents refused to answer the door, how she’d ended up at the church instead, making what peace she could with her family’s cold response.

“I have a new phone now. I’ll give you the number and we can have lunch or something,” Tarynn suggests bravely, shrugging off her dad’s leering expression. It almost looks like he’s drunk, but that would be impossible. I doubt this guy’s tasted so much as a drop of wine unless it’s for church purposes.

“You’re coming home with me, right now. You’ve been playing at your little rebellion long enough. It’s embarrassing.You’re an embarrassment, mingling with a bunch of dirty, disgusting criminals and these loose women. You’re encouraging the sin of drunkenness.” His eyes sweep over her, taking in her tight tank top, her breasts pushed up to swell over the top, and her tight skirt. “This is exactly what I knew would happen. They’d lead you astray with their vile, wicked influence. You’ve defiled the temple that is your body for long enough. You’ve been baptized, Tarynn. I want you to think long and hard on what that means. It means that you promised to live a godly life.” His lips pull back in a sneer. “Yet all I see is a wanton woman wallowing in the pleasures of the flesh.”

Okay, this has gone on long enough. He’s just being plain fucking weird.

At Raven’s urging, I stalk across the bar, closing the distance to Tarynn’s side in a few strides. I cross my arms, menacing as all shit, but her dad doesn’t flinch away. He’s come to claim back his daughter for righteousness, and apparently nothing is going to get in his way.

Just like she said, he wants this fight, and he wants it public. I’m not going to give that to him. “Sir, I’m going to ask you once, kindly, not to speak to my wife that way.”

“Your wife?” This guy has no control over his features. He’s drenched in a pallid gray that gives over to angry scarlet splotches. He rakes his eyes in a slightly crazed way over me, then flicks them back to his daughter, narrowing them darkly.

How could he not have known? We haven’t made a secret of it, and I was so sure that word would get back to him. But then, it’s not like Tarynn has bumped into any of her parents’ friends, and the few she had from high school have moved on. Her med school friends were just people who had a commoninterest, and usually that was studying. I guess there was really no way that word would have reached her dad. Yet. Given time, I’m sure it would have.

Her father’s jaw locks so tight that I’m surprised it opens again without the aid of a crowbar. “This is it? You’re a criminal now? You know what I’ve told you about picking a god fearing husband.” He does his best stabby finger impression at me again. “You can’t pull someone like that up. They’ll only drag you down. It’s impossible.”

Tarynn wrings her hands, then clasps them tightly to keep from doing it again. I want to slip an arm around her, but I don’t know if she wants that.

My instincts are strong, and my eyes rake the place, taking in every single tense man, every astounded woman, although a few of them look like they’re gearing up for a fight too.

Tyrant has edged over to Raiden. Not good. Our Prez and VP are only going to take some much of this shit talk. They might have cool heads, but I still keep them in my line of sight.

Tarynn leans in slightly, like if she’s closer to her dad, the words might actually sink in. “You taught me to look for the goodness in people and to extend love where possible. Crow is my person.”

She hesitates, eyes flicking to me, but doesn’t complicate things. I can pretty much hear her apology to Raven.You’re both my people.

“Your person?” Spittle sprays from her dad’s lips. “Your drug dealing, thug, sinner of a husband? He’s lost, daughter. Hewon’t find his way and soon you’ll join him down that dark path. If you insist on living this life of sin, then you’re dead to me.”

I can barely to watch Tarynn’s face crush in on itself. I can’t describe the feeling that takes over me. It’s half crazed, adrenaline and panic mixed with fear and violence.

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