Page 33 of Property of Stone
He pursed his lips and shut down his expression again before answering, “A few.”
A few.“I’m assuming that list is a lot shorter than the one with the laws you ignore.” She didn’t even wait for him to respond before posing another question she neglected to ask, “What do you do for a living? I’m sure chasing sunsets on a motorcycle doesn’t pay well.”
“Got a few businesses.”
Her eyebrows rose at that deflection. “The club or you?”
“Iamthe fuckin’ club,” he said with intensity while slapping his chest. “My brothers are the club.Weare the fuckin’ club.”
“So, what businesses do the club own?” She had a feeling he wouldn’t be forthcoming with his answer or, on the slim chance he was, she wouldn’t like what he said.
“Got a garage and some tow trucks. We sell some parts. Also do some personal protection. A few collections here and there.”
The blood drained from her face. “Protection and collections?” It sounded like the Mafia. Or a…gang.
She narrowed her eyes on him.
“Protection’s exactly why you’re fuckin’ standin’ here.” He jabbed his finger toward the wood floor. “Offered it to you at no damn cost.”
Taryn could argue the fact it wouldn’t cost her. This decision could end up costing her a lot. Why was he getting so bent out of shape, anyway? “And the collection part?”
“People pay us to collect bad fuckin’ debts, that’s all.”
She doubted that was all. “I think it’s time for us to go.”
“Gotta show you your room first.”
“I don’t think I’m going to need it. While I appreciate the generous offer, I’ll have to pass. I’ll take my chances once Vic is released.”
His expression turned even harder and scarier. “The fuck you will. Fucker coulda killed you if I hadn’t stepped in.”
When she shook her head and turned to leave, he grabbed her arm and stopped her, then swung her around toface him. They now stood close enough she could see the dark gold flecks in his deep brown eyes.
“Don’t care if your baby bird don’t got a mother to raise him? You want that motherfucker raisin’ him instead?”
“My mother would?—”
“And how’s she gonna protect your boy? She a good shot? Former fuckin’ military? A pig? A damn black belt? What?”
A pig? She could figure that one out without Google.
Her mother was none of those things. She was a sixty-two-year-old grandmother.
Taryn closed her eyes and pulled in a deep, calming breath. Okay, he was right. As unstable as Vic was now, he could do something serious to her or even kidnap Wren. She also didn’t want to put her mother at risk.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
It was clear that the man before her would not be afraid to do what needed to be done to protect them. He had stepped in that day without anyone asking. He went to prison for over a year for helping her.
Even after all of that, to this day, he was still willing to help.
She owed him.
She reminded herself that living here would only be temporary. Until she could find a better way to protect herself and her son. Until she could figure out a way to disappear by moving somewhere Vic would never find them.
Once Wren was eighteen, Taryn would let him decide whether he wanted a relationship with his biological father or not. Until then, it was up to her to protect him, too.
That was why she needed to take his offer. It might be the lesser of two evils.
