Page 103 of Shadow's Surrender
“Yeah. So, thanks again. You can go now—we got things under control.” Shadow saw the way Jim was checking out the brothers and staring at the rockers on the back of their cuts.
“Let’s go, Lynn.” Jim turned to him. “I hope you feel better soon.”
“Thanks, man.” Shadow watched as Jim talked into Lynn’s ear as they walked back to their minivan. Several times, she looked over her shoulders with widened eyes, then went back to listening to her husband.
“We’ll talk about what happened when we get to the club. There’s no way those fuckers are getting away with what they did to you,” Hubcap said, his hands clenching into fists.
“There are security cameras in front of all these buildings. Maybe you can get the footage,” Scarlett said.
Hubcap whipped his head around to gape at Scarlett as if realizing for the first time a woman was in their midst. Surprise etched across his face, and he glanced over at Shadow, giving him awhat-the-helllook.
“This is my woman,” Shadow said as he hooked his good arm around her shoulder and pulled her to his side.
“Oh,” Hubcap answered, his gaze still fixed on her.
“If the cameras are live or close circuit, Hawk can get into them.” Shadow kissed the side of his woman’s head. “Thanks, babe, for that information.”
“You ready to go?” Smokey asked.
“Yeah.” He looked down and caught her gaze. “You don’t need to come, baby.”
“I want to.” Her eyes shimmered and she blinked rapidly.
Warmth spread through him, and at that moment, he never thought he could love a woman as completely as he did Scarlett.
“Then come on.” He brushed his lips across hers and led her to the truck.
The truck rolled down the old highway, and every bump it hit felt like a fireball exploded inside him. The bleeding had stopped on his palms and on portions of his left arm, which was a good sign, because it meant the cuts weren’t too deep. Chances were that he’d suffered second-degree road rash since there was debris embedded in his skin.
“When we get to the clubhouse, you need to stay in the main room at one of the tables. I’ll tell the others that you’re with me, so they won’t be messing with you. We got some guys from another chapter there, but I’ll have one of the prospects watch over you.”
“You’re sort of scaring me,” she said.
“The outlaw world is different. It’s a male-oriented world, and the women who hang at the club during non-family times are viewed as fair game.” He sucked in a breath.
“Now you’re freaking me out. Can’t I be with you?”
“Doc’s gonna have to clean me up. I got some gravel and shit lodged into some of my wounds. It’s not gonna be pretty.”
Scarlett bumped lightly against him. “Are you afraid I’ll tease you about whining?” She joked.
He laughed. “There’s no fuckin’ way you or anyone else is gonna hear me whine. If that ever happens, just shoot me.”
“Ditto,” Smokey said, catching Shadow’s eyes in the rearview mirror.
She let out a small giggle that sounded like windchimes blowing in a light breeze. “You’re such a macho man.”
He pivoted to her and dipped his head. “And you love it, baby.” Shadow captured her lips.
For the rest of the drive Scarlett sat close to him, her head on his shoulder, as he stared out the window at the blurred shapes that raced by them.
Once I’m patched up, those fuckers better watch out. I think I’ll pay Charlie Bowen a visit to see what he knows about tonight. My gut’s telling me he does.
He leaned his head back against the seat and closed his eyes, letting the hum of the motor lull him to sleep.
