Page 28 of Thor
He plucked them out of mid-air.“Thanks.I’ll try not to be too late.”
“If you are, try to be quiet.”I tipped my chin back and gave him a haughty look.“I need my beauty sleep.”
“Babe.”He grabbed me for another steamy kiss.His eyes twinkled as he lifted his head and swept me with a heated gaze.“If you get any more beautiful, I’m going to have to keep you hidden away so you don’t break any more hearts.”
“More?”
“Yeah.It’s too late for me.”
I laughed, rolling my eyes.Palms on his chest, I pushed him away from me.“Go.I need to get dressed and get down to the store.The electrician is coming in today to get things ready for the new cooler, and the sign guy needs to take some measurements.”
He headed back to the bedroom.“Not so fast.I need to get dressed.”
I wanted to say no he didn’t, but then neither of us would get any work done today.
* * *
Thor
I shrugged into my cut and grabbed my helmet off the table by the door.Turning to give Janet one last kiss, I headed out to my bike.I’d be happy when she moved to the new place.The rent on her current apartment might be good, and it was close to the hospital where she’d worked up until now, but the neighborhood was a fucking nightmare.Drug deals went down right out in the open, and the cops avoided the area if they could.
I wasn’t worried about me, or about leaving my bike in the parking lot.Only a lunatic with a death wish would bother to tangle with a biker when there was so much easier game in sight.Janet often worked late shifts though, and I worried about some druggie looking for an easy score.
Once she was settled into her new digs, I planned to take her out to the shooting range at the club and teach her how to use a gun.All the old ladies knew the basics and could defend themselves if they had to.Hell, Beast’s twin daughters were probably better marksmen than half the guys out hunting in the fall.I’d feel better knowing Janet could protect herself when I wasn’t around.
I slung a leg over my bike and settled into the seat.My ride of choice was a Harley Softail Fat Boy I’d found in a scrapyard and restored as a teenager.I was an orphan.No known relatives, but my adoptive dad had been a weekend biker, and he taught me everything he knew about restoring the bike to its original glory.Heavier than the Softail deluxe, the Fat Boy gave a smooth ride and handled well at high speeds.Mine was the 1992 model, a couple of years after they first came out.I’d tinkered with it over the years until it was fucking perfect.
The engine purred to life, and I glanced up at Janet’s window one last time before kicking the machine into gear.
* * *
When Ace said he needed to talk to me, I’d assumed he meant just the two of us, but when I entered the office, Rattler, Beast, and Shadow were all there.I pivoted slowly to look at each of my brothers.I had a bad feeling about this.“This is starting to look like an ambush.”
“Not exactly.Have a seat.”Ace gestured at the one empty chair in the room.
“What’s up?”I took the seat, perching on the edge.
“Shadow?”Ace looked over at our IT wizard, and I could see the tension in every line of his body.
What the hell?
Shadow cleared his throat, nervously.“I was cruising the web, looking for anything that might show you were in danger.I found a mention of Janet on one of those high society pages.”
“MyJanet?”He had to be kidding.I loved the woman to death, but she was as down to earth as they came.
He met my gaze straight on.“Yeah.Your Janet.Dug a little deeper.What do you know about her family?”
“Not much, but I have a feeling you’re about to enlighten me.”I narrowed my eyes.“Just so you understand, be real careful here.I love that woman.Nothing you think you know is going to change how I feel about her.”
The tension in the room ramped up.
Rattler spoke up.“Easy there.Hear him out.”
“Janet told you she’d bailed on her parents, right?”Shadow played with the tablet in his hands.
“Yeah.”I nodded.
“Did she tell you why?”
