Page 19 of A Biker for Noelle
The guy doubles over, the air expelling from his lungs in a harsh gasp, and he staggers back, eyes wide with shock. Grabbing him by the collar, Brewer yanks him back and drives a knee into the ribcage. Before he can recover, Brewer throws him against the wall.
My attention never leaves one particular motherfucker. I draw in a breath, absorbing the adrenaline coursing through my veins.
The bastard who has yet to release his hold on Noelle smirks. Noelle tugs to break free, but the fucker tightens his grip. The standoff fills the room with negative energy, and people start filing out. In a flash, the man holding onto Noelle shoves her to the floor and lunges at me, fists raised. I sidestep, dodging his clumsy attack, but he quickly recovers.
“You’re dead,” he snarls, then spits at my face and comes at me again.
My fist connects with his jaw, sending him back into the wall. Grabbing him by the hair, I drag him back to the pool table, then proceed to slam his face into the top rails, hearing his nose crack. Relentless in my assault, I continue ramming his face into the wood until the felt playfield begins to turn red with his blood.Shouts and curses fill the space around me as my brothers brawl with the other men.
“Torin!” Noelle’s voice breaks through my foggy rage. Releasing my hold on the bastard, I let his limp body slump to the floor. Turning, I catch sight of Noelle, her eyes wide with fright from behind the bar, and that feeling—feral and protective—takes over. I move across the bar toward her. “Are you okay, baby?”
Noelle nods slowly. “I—I…” she stammers, and I notice her hands trembling.
“I will never let anyone hurt you,” I promise.
“It happened so fast. I didn’t know what to do. I froze,” she whispers.
“Come here,” I say, my voice steady, and pull her into my chest, her warmth seeping deep beneath my skin, closing around my heart and calming the chaos inside. And at that moment, I know she ismine.
I glance back at the chaos, my brothers herding the five men, shoving them toward the door, two of them carrying their busted and bloodied friend who made the mistake of putting his hands on Noelle. “Show your faces around here again, you’ll be leavin’ in body bags,” I threaten.
They don’t need to be told twice. I see the fear on their faces before they flee out the door into the night. Now, only my men remain as the bar is empty.
I look back at Noelle. “Get your things. We’re leaving.”
Noelle doesn’t budge.
Charlie walks over and leads her away. “Come on, girlfriend.”
I wait for the women to disappear into the breakroom at the back of the bar before facing my brothers. “Shut it down for the night, Brewer. Poet and Wire, make sure those pieces of shit leave town.”
“You got it.” Poet pulls a thick jacket over his shoulders and heads out into the cold with Wire close behind him.
Rooster runs a hand through his hair as he strolls in my direction. “That’s one hell of a way to claim a woman,” he shouts, his words causing Tech and Brewer’s eyes to fall on me.
“Never thought I’d see the day,” Tech piles onto Rooster’s statement.
I don’t deny the truth in their words.
I’m falling hard and fast for Noelle.
Charlie and Noelle reappear, wearing winter gear and bags slung over their shoulders. After a brief whisper session followed by a hug between the two women, Noelle walks toward me, and I tuck her into my side and walk outside. The bar door swings shut behind us with a heavy thud, and the crisp Montana air fills my lungs on our walk across the parking lot to my truck.
I open the truck’s door and help Noelle in. “You good, baby?” I let the words roll off my tongue, hoping she senses the tenderness behind them despite the violence that unfolded moments earlier.
She slides onto the passenger seat. “Yeah. I want to get back to the clubhouse and check on Zack.”
I close the door, walk around the front of the truck, get behind the steering wheel, start the engine, and turn the heat full blast. “We’re not going to the clubhouse.” I shift the truck into gear and roll out of the bar lot. “You and your brother are coming to stay with me. I can’t have you two at the clubhouse long term.”
Her gaze flicks to me. “But Zack,” she exclaims.
“Zack is fine. He’s with my mom at my place.”
“A hotel room will be just fine for me and Zack,” Noelle pleads.
“I told you that I will protect you and your little brother. My place is just as safe, if not more so, than the clubhouse.” I glance over, catching her stunning profile in the glow of the dashboardlights. Noelle is a survivor. One look at her, and you can see the fight she has. I admire that about her. I let silence shroud us momentarily before asking, “Tell me more about Zack’s father.” I’m hoping she will open up to me with it being the two of us.
Her voice quivers as she speaks, “I didn’t want to shoot him, but I had to protect my brother. I walked in on the bastard beating the shit out of him. I wasn’t about to see him get away with it again. How can you do that to your child?” Her voice gets stuck in her throat as emotions bubble to the surface.
