Page 15 of Rattler
“Roger that.”It was standard procedure in case a mission went south and there wasn’t enough of a body left to identify.
“Two guest rooms are empty.She can take her pick.I think the one at the front end of the hall is bigger.”
“She asked to stay in my room.”
Ace lifted his brows and stared at me.
“Not like that.Said she’d sleep on the floor.She just feels safer with someone close by to protect her.She’s scared shitless that fucker is going to find her.He threatened to kill her if she left him.”
Ace’s expression would put a thunder cloud to shame.“We do not let a woman sleep on the floor like a dog.”
I raised a hand.“Yeah, settle down.I told her she could have the bed, and I’d get one of the prospects to haul a cot up to the room for me to sleep on.”
He looked skeptical.“You okay with that?”
“Hell yeah.I’ve slept on worse.”I didn’t add I doubted I’d be spending too many nights on a cot.“Have you seen how bruised up she is?Of course, she’s terrified and wants to hide behind someone.I almost hope the asshole shows up so I can beat the shit out of him.”
Ace was no fool.Riptide had seen lots of damsels in distress over the years, and we always did whatever we could to help them.But this was different.He knew it and I knew it.
I’d known Lily for less than twenty-four hours, but we’d clicked from the moment she drew that gun on me in the alley.I intended to make her mine, and if anyone fucking tried to hurt her, they’d have to go through me first.And I wasn’t alone.I had the whole of the Riptide MC at my back.
“Sounds like you have it under control for now.They have those Missing Person posters all over the place, so she’d best keep her head down for now.No trips into town until we have things under control.I’ll get Shadow on it and let you know what we find out.She said the ex isn’t mafia or cartel, right?”
I nodded.“He’s some high-rolling finance guy.Friends in high places and all that kind of shit.”
Ace looked thoughtful.“I’ll run his profile past our FBI friends as well.Doesn’t hurt to be sure of what we’re dealing with.”
“Sounds good.We done?”I didn’t want to leave Lily alone for too long.
“Yeah.For now.You can grab a cheek swab kit from Shadow for the DNA sample.”
I nodded, getting to my feet.“Oh, and she brought a cat with her.The ex was going to shoot it, which is what escalated the whole thing.”
“A cat?”
“Kitten, actually.Mom’s got it right now.Cute little thing.”
Ace rolled his eyes.“First a dog, now a cat.Next thing you know, someone’s going to show up with a bunny rabbit.You’d think this was a petting zoo, not a fucking motorcycle club compound.”
I struggled not to grin.Ace tried to be tough, but I’d be willing to bet my favorite ride he’d be in the kitchen to see Scrapper before I got back upstairs.
Chapter Four
Lily
I stepped out of the shower and winced at my reflection in the mirror.Not only was my eye turning a colorful blend of green, yellow, and purple, my ribs looked like I’d rolled in a primary color sampler.I wrapped a towel around me and reached for another to dry my hair.It felt good to be clean.
I’d closed the door to the ensuite completely when I’d headed to the shower, and then promptly opened it again when a panic attack set my heartbeat racing.It felt too cut off in there, as if someone could sneak up on me without me knowing.
Panic attacks.Great.One more thing to contend with, as if the paranoia wasn’t enough.I dug down in the backpack and pulled out the gun.Checking to make sure the safety was still engaged, I tucked it in between the towels.Hopefully, Rattler would be back soon.His solid presence helped quiet my nerves, although if I was honest with myself, the sight of his muscular, tattoo-covered body set my heart racing for a whole different reason.
As if summoned by my thoughts, the door to the room opened and Rattler stepped inside.He paused, and we stared at each other.
“Sorry.I can leave.”He made a move to back out the door.
“Don’t.”
He stilled, his gaze raking over my towel-clad body.“You don’t know what you’re asking.”
