Gretta charges back into the room, a determined look on her face. That or she’s not afraid of being killed. She stomps over to Dom. “Here.” She slams the beer into his hands, the lid already popped so some spills over the side.
I start to refuse. There’s no way alcohol will make my situation better, and if I’m forced to drink it there’s no guarantee I’ll keep it down. Thankfully my decision is cut off by the front door opening.
A random head pops in the doorway. “He’s here,” the newcomer says, drawing out the here so he sounds like the little girl from poltergeists.
That’s never good.
I don’t know how much more trouble I can get into tonight. I’ve already lost my boyfriend and had a midnight meet up with the mobster who took twenty thousand from me but wants twenty-five more. I’ve been adopted by a roaming gang of bikers and taken to their hideout, which I’m pretty sure is a historical home on First Street. There’s not much left that could happen.
“Let’s go have us some fun, boys.” Dom stands, a huge smile on his face.
I’m not naïve enough to believe his smile means anything good for me. The pit of worry, which has grown in my stomach since Katy and Tabitha took up their positions in the church, reaches new heights. All this anxiety is probably taking years off my heart.
“Come on, Anessa,” Dom says as he walks to the front door. “You don’t want to miss this party. It’s all about you.”
“What?” I ask with a question that goes unanswered as I lose sight of Dom when he walks outside.
Gretta hands me the beer. “Here, you’re gonna need this.”
“Thanks?”
She gently pushes me on the shoulder getting me in the right direction.
I stop when I reach the porch and attempt a turn around to head back inside when I spot the five black SUVs now taking up residence in Dom’s front yard. Bennett, in a pair of low riding jeans and one of my favorite black shirts with the Pelican Bay Security logo on the front, stands with his arms crossed and his feet wide apart. He takes a step forward, but stops a few feet from the bottom of Dom’s porch.
He gets another two steps forward before the three other bikers that came inside with Dom charge off the front porch and slam into the group of equally tall men who stationed themselves behind Bennett. There’s pushing and swear words thrown around. Maybe even a punch.
“Oh my God, stop them.” I tug on Dom’s sleeve, but he does nothing but laugh.
In what feels like hours but is probably only seconds Dom’s men step back, and the two groups form an uneasy alliance. With the action over I run off the porch. Jumping off the last two steps, I push past the bikers until I reach Bennett.
He grabs on to my shoulders looking me over. “Did he hurt you?” he asks staring hard at the front porch.
My heart pounds. His sweet scent overwhelms my senses. He’s peace and home. Safe.
“No, he gave me a beer.” I look behind me to where I threw the beer in my mad dash to get to Bennett. “They like my tea.”
“You should take better care of what belongs to you.” Dom addresses his statement to Bennett. “I’m not one to let a girl on the back of my bike, but when she belongs to you I make an exception.”
This time it’s me scowling at the porch. He makes it seem much more scandalous than it was. I open my mouth explain to Bennett but he shakes his head and pinches his fingers together in a don’t-say-a-word motion. This time I listen.
“You got this, Bennett?” Ridge steps out from the pack behind him.
“Yup.” Is all he says before he wraps his arm around my shoulders and with a strong yet delicate hold guides me to his truck.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Bennett turns an unexpected way at the corner leading me to ask, “Where we going?”
“The bakery.” It’s a short gruff answer.
“I left Tabitha and Katy at the church. Are they okay?” I ask.
Bennett huffs. “Ridge has it handled.”
Katy drove us to the church, but I have a feeling Bennett’s definition of handled it doesn’t mean Katy is giving Tabitha a ride home. Not that I expect him to give me the full details. Speaking of things he hasn’t answered. “How did you know where I was?”
He turns a corner. “Don’t worry about it.”
