Page 7 of Forged in the Fire
My brother’s agitation amplified as what appeared to be a freshly painted sign came into view.
Torque & Talon Autobody Shop
He slowed and took the left turn into the lot, easing his car through a big iron gate that sat wide open. The entire place was surrounded by these massive walls that made it feel like we were entering some kind of fortress.
There were a few automobiles sprinkled about the edges of the lot, and an enormous metal building sat in front of us. It had a lobby door on the right and four bays to work on cars on the left.
But it was the men leaning against the wall that sent my stomach toppling to my feet.
Two giants slung casually against the wall like they were simply waiting on their prey to slink right on by so they could reach out and nab it.
Both wearing coveralls that were unzipped and rolled down to the waist. White tees that had seen far better days underneath.
The thin fabric stretched over their muscled frames, and tattoos covered every inch of exposed flesh.
There was just something about the look that sent my attention racing.
Calculating as Dereck came to a stop in front of them.
Motorcycles.
There was a row of them on the left side of the building.
All glinting metal and dark leather and bad intentions.
It didn’t take a whole lot to add it up.
Rage boiled to the surface.
I whirled toward Dereck, and I let the disgust pour from my mouth. “Bikers? Are you freaking kidding me, Dereck? Great. Just freaking great. I don’t know what the hell you’ve gotten yourself into, but this is?—”
“They’re good guys, Brinley,” Dereck gritted, cutting me off, his knuckles white as he clamped down on the steering wheel.
“Oh, I’m sure they’re law-abiding, upstanding citizens.”
Panicked terror flickered inside me. Rather than succumb to it, I let the anger flood it. Gasoline tossed on a live wire.
“If you think for one second I’m gonna allow myself to get passed around like some kind of meat, then you have anotherthing coming. Because I can assure you that’s not going to happen.”
“I already told you, no one will touch you here.” It was close to a growl.
“You’re damn right they won’t.”
Incited by the fury, I tossed open the door and jumped out.
I ran smack into a wall of heat, basically giving myself whiplash as I slammed into the intensity.
A stark intensity slammed into me and kicked my heart into overdrive.
The offender?
The guy on the left who had pushed from the wall.
He had thattypeof energy.
Casually cool but far too keen.
Laid-back but oozing a ferocity that warned you’d do well not to mess with him.
