Page 4 of Knuckles (Dragon Riders MC 4)
“I’ve been looking for you for a while. Dug myself into debt hiring an investigator. He said you parked yourself at this address a little while back and hadn’t moved since. So, I came to check it out for myself.”
He blinked. “You hired a P.I. to find me? Why?”
“Maybe I’ve missed my older brother. What’s wrong with that?”
He narrowed his eyes. “That’s not why you’re here.”
“What are you, some sort of mind-reader?”
“Something like that.”
His eyes slid down my body again, though I got the sneaking suspicion he wasn’t checking me out. Which came with a twinge of disappointment, I had to admit.
“Simone,” Justin said again.
I grinned. “Always did like that hard twinge in your voice.”
He closed the distance between us quickly. “Tell me why you’re here.”
His body heat seized my gut. The smell of his cologne gave me pause. I closed my eyes and swallowed hard, trying to push away the scent of oak and fresh waters that clung to his skin. Justin had always been my protector. My safe place to fall when we were growing up. He had always been there to listen with an unbiased ear before giving such plainly clear advice it was almost comical sometimes.
I needed his help now.
But that required me to suck down my pride.
“Simone!” he exclaimed.
I jumped. “I need your help, I’m sorry!”
My eyes fell to my feet before a finger crooked beneath my chin. And when our skin connected, a shiver worked its way up my spine. He slowly lifted my head until our eyes met, and instead of being met with anger like I had seen in my foster parent’s eyes my entire life, I was met with kindness.
And worry.
“Never look down. It’s beneath you,” he said.
I nodded. “Okay.”
His finger fell away from my chin. “What’s happened?”
“Have I caught you at a bad time? It looks like you’re going somewhere.”
“It’s not anything that can’t wait for a few minutes. What do you need help with?”
I snickered. “I was actually hoping I could schmooze you over a lunch or something first.”
He shook his head. “Can’t do that.”
I nodded. “Right, right.”
“So?”
I sighed. “It’s going to take a bit more time than just a few minutes to get out what I need to get out.”
Then finally, the shadow of a grin pierced his cheeks. “Still thinking things are more complicated than they really are?”
I swallowed down the bile working its way up my throat. “Yeah, well. Let’s just say I’ve really done it this time.”
His face hardened. “Someone has you scared.”
“A lot of things have me scared right now.”
“Like?”
I shook my head. “People. Places. My future.”
He paused. “Right, right.”
I sighed. “Look, I’ll just catch you another time. You go do your thing or whatever and I can give you—”
“I won’t be back for a few days,” he interrupted.
“Oh.”
He thumbed over his shoulder. “Got a ride I need to do for my crew.”
I furrowed my brow. “Your crew?”
“Yeah. Got wrapped up into some nonsense there for a while, but I ended up in the right place. I ride with The Dragon Riders now. Have been for a couple of years or so now.”
“Wait, The Dragon Riders? The motorcycle gang or whatever?”
“That’s them, yep.”
I snickered. “I’ve heard of their crusade around town.”
“Really now?”
“Yeah. People talk, Justin. Always have. And there have been a lot of good things said about you and your crew down over the years. How you guys help. How you guys heal. How you guys really take care of this place.”
“We do what we can.”
An idea hit me. “How much do you guys charge?”
He blinked. “For what?”
“To help people. Do you guys take on clients?”
“Not unless it’s an emergency.”
“And unless they pay.”
“That, too.”
“How much?”
He cocked his head. “You don’t need to pay me for my help, Simone.”
I giggled bitterly. “It’s cute that you think only you can solve this issue.”
His eyes darkened. “I don’t like the language you’re using.”
“Unfortunately, that kind of language has become common in my life. I’ve taken some wrong turns, and I do need help.”
He looked back at his bike. “I can’t say we’re taking on any clients right now. Not with everything we’re currently wrapped up in.”
“Sounds like I’m not the only one in trouble.”
He turned back around to face me. “Are you still stationed in town?”
“I’m actually a couple of hours away. I don’t live far from the community college I went to.”
“Good for you. What is your degree in?”
I rolled my eyes. “Medical transcription. Ask me how well I’m doing.”
“Not well, I take it.”
I shrugged. “Apparently, work is harder to come by than I figured it would be.”
“Does your struggle have anything to do with money problems?”
“No.”
He nodded slowly. “Are you lying to me?”
“Would you be asking if you already knew I was?”
He finally produced a grin. “As quick as ever.”
I reached out, running my fingers down the worn leather of his jacket. “And as handsome as ever.”
