Page 9 of Bear Hunt

“Shhh, Baby Girl. It’s okay. I’ve got you.”

I realize light tears have begun to fall down my cheeks as his image becomes clear in front of me again. From out of nowhere, this big guy with a kind attitude is holding a white tissue in front of my face. With patience in spades, he just waits for me to take it, never showing annoyance or anger that I'm not moving.

Tentatively, I grab the tissue and close my eyes, taking a deep breath before drying my cheeks. I don’t know why I took his offering, I shouldn’t have, but it felt so natural I didn’t even think about what I was doing.

The blue truck that got me this far is now attached to chains, the front wheels lifted, and it is moved into position. Kincaid and another man wearing a jacket with the same symbol as the others are operating the tow truck like the pros I presume they are. Maybe the logo is for their garage?

“You ready to go, brother? Bash and Kincaid have got this. We can follow behind so you don’t gotta come back to the compound solo.” Tattooed guy reaches over his shoulder and out comes Ninja from his hood, pattering down his arm and onto his motorcycle. Does he ride with the rat there?

“Just gotta persuade her that riding with me is preferable to riding with you, Psycho.” Bear laughs and it’s a sound I could come to adore, if that were even a possibility. But it’s not.

Is Tattooed Guy’s name Psycho or was Bear calling him a psycho?

For how overwhelmed I currently am, I’m doing good, but the act will break soon enough and I’m twenty-five minutes away from the safety Mom promised I’d find.

“Is it… safe?” I understand that my options here are limited, but I definitely don’t want to be on the back of a motorcycle with someone being called a psycho, and there’s clearly no room in the tow truck cab. They just kind of did everything without actually asking and now if I don’t accept this help, without my truck I will probably end up lost or dead by the side of the road. My determination can only get me so far, and I’m aware of that.

“You’ll be with me. Of course it is.” He winks, passing me the helmet. I like that he isn’t trying to put it on for me. “Now, where am I taking you?”

I sigh heavily, resigned to the fact that this is what I need to do. Giving in here has nothing to do with the strange feelings this man evokes in me… nothing at all.

“3020 Remington Road, Rockford Beach.”

Chapter Five

Bear

My good mood dissipates in an instant.

“Repeat that address.” I’m aware that my tone is no longer gentle teddy bear and teetering on this side of grizzly, but I haven’t heard those words in years and the last time someone said them, my entire life was upended and destroyed. So yeah… I’m gonna need her to repeat it.

“Um…” Her eyes glaze over and the perfect bow of her pink lips move like they’re on autopilot, over and over again with no sound.

“Hey, I need you to please repeat that address.” Lowering my voice, I speak in a more soothing, less lethal tone, because I know people like this beauty in front of me. In fact, I grew up with them in my house being taken care of by my mother for years until…

“3020 Remington Road, Rockford Beach. 3020 Remington Road, Rockford Beach. 3020 Remington Road, Rockford Beach.” Three times, she repeats the address like she’s beenmemorizing it her entire life. Hell, maybe she has, the fuck do I know?

Except, I do, don’t I? I know what she’s doing as she mentally retreats from the present and hangs on to the only lifeline she has left. The way her mind and body go into survival mode all the while trying to pretend she’s—as she keeps saying—fine. All the signs are there but I can’t be the bull to her china, I need to be careful. Mamma always said:“Remember, son, trauma is as unique as the people surviving it. Don’t judge and don’t assume you know anything.”

“Okay, Baby Girl. We’re all good, yeah?” I don’t touch her, don’t even try, just hold my hands up in surrender while she slowly comes back to the present. “Wanna put that on and I’ll take you to that address? Is that okay?” Blinking, she’s back again with clear eyes and lips pressed into a straight line.

When she turns so she’s parallel with the bike, I realize her skin tone is not just white, it’s almost translucent, like she’s never exposed it to the sun before. Thankfully, she has her green sweatshirt on and those leggings will protect her from the sun, but the chill we’re feeling now will turn to ice picks once we’re riding the bike. My only hope is that the sheer size of me will protect her enough that she won’t turn into a popsicle.

Although, I wouldn’t mind licking her up and down and tasting every crook and curve of her.

Okay, none of that. Not here, not now.

“Hey, Mac, you mind if we borrow your leathers?” Not even a half a second after I call out to Mac, Psycho is in my face, growling.

“Dude, I love you and shit, but no. No fucking way my wife is riding without protection.” Just as he’s going all over-protective for a woman who can clearly take care of herself, I see our tow truck inch closer and a prospect cut hanging out the driver’s side.

“Take mine and bring it back after you drop her off.” I grin at Kinkaid and remember why I think she’s the fucking best one of us all.

“Thanks, Prospect, you just earned some serious brownie points.” Psycho snatches the cut and hands it to me with a feral grin making his tattoos move like an omen. “There you go, brother. Never problems, only solutions.”

Kinkaid chuckles as they drive away and I’ve got the uncontrollable urge to punch my best friend for being an asshole.

With a grin, I rear back and connect my fist to the ball of his shoulder. “Thanks,brother. Always the helpful one.”

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