Page 21 of Her Feral Biker
Soft tendrils of smoke filtered across my vision well before I made it across town to Annalise. The moment my vision started to obscure, I took the corners harder, needing to get to her faster. I left rubber on the asphalt as I pulled up across the road, her name tearing from my throat as I climbed from my bike, yanking my helmet off.
My feet traveled the distance across the road and into her shop as I checked either side of her business, but I couldn’t see my girl in her leather skirt or my jacket anywhere.
“ANNALISE,” I roared busting through the shop door that was, for the first time since I’d visited her, fucking well locked.
In the middle of the damn day. That told its own story and exactly where I’d find her.
Fuck Prinze Kola, and fuck his father’s truce. When I found him, I’d rip him apart.
Smoke poured across the ceiling, heat emanating from every surface, though the majority seemed to come from the kitchen.
“Annalise?” I shouted again, pushing clothing racks aside. “Girl, tell me you’re in here.” I coughed up a lung, lifting my shirt to cover my face. “Annalise!”
A soft cry answered me from the rear of the store. I pushed the counter aside, hoping I’d find her cowering behind it, but she wasn’t there.
“Where the hell are you, princess?” I called, my voice muffled from the material, strained as I choked on the smoke. Fuck, was there usually this much damn smoke? It billowed thickly from the kitchen. Shoving my head down, one hand over my eyes, I waded through the stuff, waving a hand in front of me and hit?—
Something warm. Not on fire, but a body.
“Princess, is that you?” I rasped, choking.
“Lake.” She tumbled toward me, thumping onto my body.
I caught her trussed form, swearing as my unshielded eyes watered. Hands grabbed at both of us and I let someone take her and haul my ass out of the building. Not that I’d have been able to find the exit from the small kitchen, let alone the shop at that point. My eyes didn’t work at all. I’d be breathing smoke like a fucking dragon for the next decade at this rate.
Warmth hit me at chest level, and the squishy package in my arms coughed.
“Princess?” I choked as someone shoved a water bottle into my hand. A paramedic fussed at both of us, and I let them. “Christ, tell me you’re alright.”
“I’m alright," she whispered, pressing to my chest and making the whole process that much harder for the poor paramedic intent on doing his job.
Hetskedat her, but she ignored him, clawing at me.
I rubbed my fingers over my jacket that she still wore. “Gonna take a lot to get the scent of smoke outta this,” I managed when I could breathe again.
She didn’t say anything, snuggling into my chest.
Savage Kings milled around us, deep frowns etched into faces. The Pres walked over to me, a phone in his hand as I stared at the half a shop that used to be Annalise’s business. Fuck, everything she had was poured into that. Kola stole more from her than he knew. Not that he’d give a shit. People like him never did.
“Talk. Make it quick and be harsh,” the Pres muttered, offering me his phone. “You choose the outcome."
I frowned, taking the phone from his as I balanced Annalise in my arms. She looked like she’d gone to sleep, though I checked she still breathed against my chest.
“Yeah?” Maybe not my most professional greeting. Fuck it, I was trying to actually breathe at this point.
“Mister Titan.” The don’s voice filled my ear. My teeth clenched hard enough to grind. I didn’t say anything, and after a moment he filled the silence that hung between us while the Pres watched on. “I believe my son has deprived your…wife of her place of business. I am not in the habit of apologizing twice, and he will be handled for his misdeeds. She is safe, I understand?”
My teeth creaked. “She is alive," I allowed.
“Good, then.”
I growled.
“Her bank account has been filled with triple the value of both land and building. Her father was nice enough to give me the details. No one will bother you or her again, Mister Titan.”
The line went dead.
I blinked and handed the phone back to the Pres.
