Page 42 of DOG Part 2
He stepped closer, stopping only about a yard away while behind him his cronies stepped off their bikes and surveyed the area around them.
“How can I help you, Mr. Angelo?”
“You’re in danger,” Mr. President continued. “You need to come with us.”
“No thanks,” I replied simply, turning my chin up to look him straight in the eyes. A few strands of my hair had gotten stuck to my wet cheek, and I did my best to look noble as I tucked the blonde strand back into place.
“This is serious. I can’t leave here without you.”
“And I just told you I’m not going. It sounds like we have a problem, Mr. Angelo.”
He looked back at his crew for a moment then turned to me again. “Why are you fighting this… why so resistant?”
I laughed but there was anger rising in my chest. “Why am I soresistant?” I hissed. “Oh, I don’t know, maybe because my father is the reason my mother is dead. How about that? You and your reckless motorcycle club are to blame, and while I’m at it, all you people have ever done is bring hell and hardship to my mother’s life... and now mine. How’s that for a reason?”
He looked at me for a moment, the silence stretching between us as his hazel eyes stared me down, trying to read me. I stood stoically, not willing to give in, not in the slightest. I think I threw him off with that reply. He had nothing to say, and knowing I’d one upped him felt good in a really sadistic way. I was hurting, so I figured, why not lash out and make a few people miserable while I was at it.
Silently, he reached a hand into one side of his cut. I heard a zipper slide along, and then he pulled out a small object. As he opened his hand to display what he was holding my entire body jerked.
“That’s my dad’s. My mom and I picked that out for him. I didn’t know…” The words came out croaked, in a voice that was strange and shaky.
“Your old man wanted me to show this to you. You need to trust me. We need to leave now.”
“God, he held on to it for all this time?” I was still mesmerized by the pendant.
“Get inside and pack some things.” This time there was an edge to his tone that startled me.
“No,” I rebuffed.
Confusion flashed across his face. “This is crazy.”
“Look. I’m not crazy, okay. I won’t be any safer with you people. You guys attract trouble.”
“What you said right there is…look it’s fucked up okay? You have no idea what’s coming your way. No one else can protect you.”
“I’ll take my chances,” I snapped. “I already spoke to my father this morning, and last night, and yesterday. There’s nothing that you can do or show me that will make a difference. I’m. Not. Going. Get it? I can manage fine on my own.”
“He gave me this to show you because you’re in danger, Kim. This isn’t a joke.”
“Says you.”
Running a frustrated and pissed off hand through his buzz cut, he spat out, “Your dad’s been shot.”
I bit my tongue. Shit. That shut me up real fast, until I asked, “Is he…” I couldn’t even say the words. My throat seized up just thinking about it.
“Your old man is alive. He’s hurt bad, but he’ll live.”
Now I was out of snappy things to say. If they got to my father, getting to me was going to be a breeze. Crap. The sexy, mean-looking guy standing in front of me was right. I could barely get my apartment door open or function. How was I supposed to defend myself from a gang of gun-toting Rugged Angels rivals?
Fuck.
Admitting I was wrong was damned hard.
“Fine,” I grumbled.
He gave a satisfied nod. “Good. You have ten minutes to pack a bag or two before we get going.” He looked back at his men again, then back up the street. “It’s not safe here. This place is too wide open.”
I turned my back to him, finally picking the key that opened the front door. Before I stepped inside he put his arm up in front of me so I couldn’t go in.
