Page 22 of Dusty and Dented
Chapter Sixteen
Dagger clenched onefist on the steering wheel and imagined it was Shadow’s neck.Just imagining how terrified his Sparky must have been when she’d been picked up and hauled off sent rage through him.
“It didn’t occur to you to scream, to call out so I would know something was wrong?”It took everything in him to keep his voice calm, to keep her from knowing how angry he was.Because he wasn’t angry at her and he didn’t want her to see what his anger could do as he would never turn it on her.
“It did but when he picked me up, he put his shoulder in my belly and knocked the air out of me.I could barely breathe much less scream.”She turned away and stared out the window beside her.Her breath seemed to catch in her throat and he suspected tears were flowing again.
Dagger’s heart ached.At least it wasn’t the body-wracking sobs she’d been unable to contain earlier.Desperate to make sure she knew he was there for her, that he would do everything he could to protect her, he moved his hand from where he’d left it, hoping she would put hers back in it again, and covered her knee.He squeezed gently, then relaxed his grip, but left his hand where it was.
After a moment, she covered his hand with hers again.
“Thank you for coming after me.”Her voice was soft, almost as if she was afraid to say the words or afraid no one would go after her.That she would have been stuck with the Crows, and whatever they had planned for her.
“I’ll always come for you.”He turned his hand over and wove his fingers with hers.They both rode in companionable silence for a while, each lost in their own thoughts.He needed to tell here that he knew one of the men, that they had a personal beef, not just a club one.Had she been taken because Shadow recognized his bike outside her place?How had they known where to find her?They shouldn’t have been anywhere near Craven’s Creek, much less in her trailer park to just stumble across it.
No.
This had been planned, but how much and why?Had they been tracking him and just took advantage when she’d answered the door?Or had they been after her all along?
There were too many questions, all of them flying around in his head like the keys in that movie he’d watched with her.
Dagger snorted and shook his head at the thought.
“What?”She turned and looked at him, a crease between her brows.
“I was thinking.Wondering why Shadow took you, how they found you—was it you specifically or were you just easy leverage, that and so much more.”
“Shadow?You know them?”Her eyes went wide.
“I’ll get to that in a minute.Back to what I was saying.I was thinking about the questions I don’t have answers to and how they seemed to be flying around in my head like the keys in that scene near the end of the movie, the one where they had to fly and catch one?”He glanced over to find the ghost of a smile curving her lips.
“I know the scene you’re talking about.”
“Anyway, I couldn’t help but think about how one afternoon and you and your movies are already getting under my skin.”
“Should I apologize?”She tilted her head to one side, her eyes never leaving him as she watched his reaction.
“Not at all.I was just thinking I kind of liked it.I was wondering what happens in the next movie.How about we get you packed up and to the club house then you and I can curl up on the bed in my room and watch it?”
“Are you sure?I mean it’s a kid’s movie, not exactly what all the big, bad bikers want to get caught watching.”The smile that had been barely a ghost before was now a full grown grin.
“I’m sure.But if you get too cheeky about it, I won’t tell you about the fully stocked kitchen, including cookies, chocolate, and ice cream.”He glanced over at her to see her reaction.
Andy’s eyes narrowed as she watched him for a moment before speaking.
“What kind of ice cream?”
Ah ha ...seemed like he’d just found her weakness.He glanced at her from the corner of his eye.
“I’m not sure off-hand, but I have a little pull—I can make sure we stock whatever flavor you like.”He didn’t bother to hide the satisfied smile that curved his lips.If she wanted to play a little, he could play.He would just be careful of her mood, because after what she’d been through, and not just today, he wouldn’t blame her if her moods were a little out of whack.
“What about my other favorites?”
