Page 51 of Talon

Loki barks happily, wagging his tail with enthusiasm.

Talon straddles his motorcycle, revving the engine before pulling up behind my car. When he gives me a thumbs up, I start driving. Downtown Bozeman isn’t too far away, so we’ll definitely get there in time.

As we roll through the picturesque town, my thoughts drift back to Talon. I get the sense he’s just as interested in our budding relationship as I am, and yet, he’s holding back. I don’t know why, but I’m curious as hell. He obviously likes kissing me. By now, he must realize I like it, too, or I wouldn’t let him do it. So, why hasn’t he taken things to the next level?

“Why are men so hard to figure out?” I ask Loki. He looks up at me while wagging his tail excitedly in the passenger seat.“I wish my mom were still here, so I could talk to her. Although, she’d probably tell me to run far, far away from anyone associated with a biker gang.”

As we approach Main Street, the hustle and bustle of people enjoying their Saturday morning fills the air. Couples stroll hand in hand, families laugh together, and the sweet smell of pastries from a nearby bakery fills my nostrils. For a moment, I can almost forget that a dangerous stalker has turned my life upside down. I’m excited to be out, but I also need to stay alert.

“Let’s find a parking spot,” I mutter, scanning the crowded street for an empty space. Apparently, everyone decided to come downtown today. There isn’t a single vacancy in sight.

“Guess we’ll have to try the parking garage,” I say to Loki, who barks in agreement.

As I turn into the multi-level structure, I glance back at my rearview mirror again, searching for Talon’s familiar figure. To my surprise, he’s nowhere to be seen. My heart skips a beat, anxiety bubbling up inside me.

“Where did he go?” I ask myself, trying to quell my rising panic.“Maybe he found a spot on Main Street …”

I shake off my unease, focusing on finding a spot for my car instead. After ascending a couple of levels, I finally locate an open space, nestled between two hulking SUVs. I pull in cautiously, taking extra care not to scratch either vehicle.

“Come on, buddy,” I say to Loki, patting his head affectionately.“Let’s go see Sienna.”

As I gather my purse and Loki’s leash, I glance around the garage one more time, hoping to catch a glimpse of Talon’s motorcycle. There’s no sign of him.

The parking garage is eerily quiet, the only sounds echoing around me the distant hum of vehicles. Something doesn’t feel right, but I’m probably just being overly paranoid considering everything that happened last week.

“You’ll be fine. Just stay sharp.” I grip the car key tightly in my hand like a makeshift weapon.

I take a deep breath, trying to shake off the anxiety that has settled in my chest. Talon must be close by. He promised he’d keep an eye on me, and he’s a man of his word.

“Everything’s going to be fine,” I mutter, as if saying it aloud will make it true.

Pushing the door open, I step out of the car. Before I can register what’s happening, a flash of darkness rushes toward me. A huge, male body slams into me, pushing me to the floor while simultaneously slamming the door on Loki, trapping him inside my car.

“Going somewhere?” A sinister voice behind me shatters any illusion of safety. Panic surges through me as I whirl around, my heart pounding in my ears. I crawl backward, trying to escape.

“Who are you?” I demand, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to sound strong.

The man stalking me smirks. As he walks toward me, his cold eyes cut into me like a knife. Before I can react, he lunges forward and grabs my ankle, dragging me toward him. I scream, kicking with all my might in an attempt to break free.

My poor pup barks and frantically scratches at the windows. I wish I’d taught him how to use the handle to get out. I could use his sharp teeth right now.

“Shut the fuck up!” The man releases my leg for a second before pounding on the window. Loki’s incensed, barking like crazy and clawing at the door.

“Leave him alone!” I scream, fury boiling within me and momentarily overpowering my terror.

“Should’ve thought about that before—” The stalker doesn’t get to finish his sentence because I swing my purse at his head with all the strength I can muster. It connects with a satisfying thud, but he recovers quickly, grabbing my arm and twisting it painfully behind my back.

“Feisty, aren’t you? I like that,” he sneers, dragging me toward a black truck parked nearby.

Tears sting my eyes as I struggle against his iron grip, my hope rapidly fading. I don’t think I’m going to escape this time. He’s going to kidnap me, and there’s nothing I can do about it. I’m completely screwed.

“Let her go!” Talon’s roar slices through the air like a gunshot, igniting a spark of hope within me. The stalker’s eyes widen in surprise, but he doesn’t release me.

“Who the hell are you?” the man growls.

“Your worst nightmare,” Talon replies, his voice laced with danger. With lightning speed, he charges toward the man, landing a powerful punch that sends him stumbling back.

“Jessica, run!” Talon shouts, engaging in a fierce fistfight with my attacker.

---