Page 16 of Sully
She shook her head slightly.“Freelancers looking to cash in.Miles has been asking around about me, putting word out he’s looking for me and calling me his daughter, letting everyone know I’m under his protection.”She grimaced like it tasted foul.“These idiots thought they’d get a finder’s fee if they brought me in.Though I’m pretty sure the fun they planned to have first wasn’t part of the deal.”
My hand tightened involuntarily on her waist, and I had to force myself to relax when she winced.“Sorry,” I murmured.
“S’okay,” she said, her eyes growing distant.“Been on the run most of my life.Just didn’t expect…” She trailed off, shaking her head.
“Didn’t expect what?”I pressed gently.
“Didn’t expect to believe in anyone enough to ask them for help,” she admitted, so quietly I almost missed it.
“Darby?”I knew she had to explain now because once she got her feet back under her, she’d be in the wind.“You came here to ask for help?”
“Yeah.It’s how they caught me.I saw you here.Inside the bar.I wanted to come in, but I…” Before she could finish, the rumble of a large engine drew our attention to the front of the bar.
“That’ll be Tiny,” Knight said, moving to peer through the blinds.“Come on.”
I’d only met Tiny a few times since joining Kiss of Death, but the man made an impression.Nearly seven feet tall and built like a brick shithouse, with hands that looked like they could crush a man’s skull, which, rumor had it, he’d done once.Despite his intimidating size, he was one of the calmest, most even-tempered men in the club.Unless someone threatened a woman or child.Then all bets were off.
Knight unlocked the door to let him in.Tiny had to duck to clear the doorframe, his massive form making the bar seem suddenly smaller.His eyes immediately found Darby, narrowing at the sight of her injuries.
“This the girl?”he asked, his deep voice rumbling through the room.
Knight nodded.“Darby, this is Tiny.Our Road Captain and resident gentle giant.”
Tiny’s eyes softened slightly as he approached us, moving with surprising care for a man his size.“Ma’am,” he said, nodding respectfully.“We’ll get you somewhere safe.”
“Thank you,” she replied, some of the tension leaving her shoulders.“I appreciate the help.”
Tiny’s gaze hardened as it landed on Jenkins, who was now sitting up, holding a bar rag to his bleeding nose.“This the one who hurt her?”
“One of ‘em,” Knight confirmed.“Want to have a chat with him back at the compound.Figure Tonio Miles will want to know.”
Tiny made a sound low in his throat that reminded me of an angry bear.If he was startled by the mention of Tonio Miles, he didn’t show it.“Van’s out front.We should move before his friends come looking.”
Knight and I hauled Jenkins to his feet.He swayed drunkenly between us, his face a mess of blood and forming bruises.When his eyes focused on Darby, his split lips curved into a sneer.
“Daddy’s gonna find you eventually, bitch,” he slurred through what had to be at least three broken teeth.“Might as well stop running.‘Sides, I’ve already called for backup.”
Darby straightened, pulling away from the bar and walking toward Jenkins with surprising steadiness given her injuries.She stopped directly in front of him, her eyes cold and hard as she stared up at his battered face.
“Tell me something, Jenkins,” she said, her voice dangerously soft.“Did my father ask you to rape me, or was that your own special touch?”
Jenkins had the audacity to grin, revealing blood-stained teeth.“Man just said he was lookin’ for ya.Didn’t specify to bring you in or what condition you had to be in.”
“That’s what I thought.”Darby leaned forward and spat directly in his face.A mixture of saliva and blood slid down his cheek as he jerked back, eyes widening in shock and rage.
Jenkins wiped it away with his shoulder, his hands still restrained behind his back.“I’ll be seeing you around, bitch,” he growled, straining against our grip.
Darby didn’t flinch.She met his glare with an icy calm that sent a chill down my spine.“The next time you see me will be the last time you see anything.”
The quiet certainty in her voice made even Tiny shift uncomfortably.The threat was a cold promise that hung in the air between them.
“Let’s move,” Knight said, breaking the tension.We half dragged Jenkins toward the door, Tiny leading the way with Darby following close behind me.
Outside, a dark van idled at the curb, its engine a low rumble in the night.Tiny popped the locks with a remote, then slid open the side door, tossing Jenkins inside where two more brothers secured his hands and feet while Jenkins screamed threats until there was a loud thud.Jenkins didn’t say anything else.
Tiny slid the door shut before smacking the door twice.The van pulled off, made a U-turn, then headed back to the clubhouse.
The Bronco Tiny brought was behind where the van had been parked.I helped Darby into the back seat, then slid in beside her.I glanced down and saw she still had her fingers threaded through her brass knuckles and reached for them, slipping them off before she could protest.She didn’t.Knight took the passenger seat up front.“Your bike will be at the compound when we get there,” he told me over his shoulder.“Knuckles is sending Griffin to pick it up.”
