Hunter reached out and gently touched her wrist, where the number still glistened in black ink.
Shaking her head, she said, "I don't have a phone."
He frowned.Everyone had a cell phone.
"You're scared."He gritted his teeth, wishing he could hear the tone and volume of his voice."Is that your house?"
She caught her bottom lip between her teeth.He couldn't understand her refusal to talk.Hadn't he shown her that he was willing to help her?
She stepped away, hugging herself.Hunter stayed beside his Harley.Something was going on.
He spit on the ground.If one of his MC brothers was here, he'd have one of them deal with her.He was no good at this shit.Talking.Listening.Neither came easily for him.
Annie stopped fifteen feet away, her back to him.She stood there for a long time, unmoving, as if she was arguing with herself whether she would trust him or not.He couldn't force her to accept his help, but she had to see that it would be safer if she let him handle her problem.
Then she turned.
Slow steps brought her back to him, her gaze flicking up to his face.She looked like she hadn't slept in days.
"I need inside that house," she said, her voice low and her lips shaped carefully so he could understand her."It's locked."
Hunter's brow furrowed.He pointed to the house, then to her, then raised his hands in a questioning gesture.Whose house was it?
"Never mind."She looked away."It's best if you leave."
Not happening.He needed to know what kind of danger she was in.
Her lips pressed together."You don't understand.If you help me, you could get in trouble.You could get hurt."
Hunter slid the edge of his leather aside and lifted his shirt high enough to show the pistol tucked against his stomach.
Annie's breath caught.Her eyes widened, and for a second, she looked like she might bolt.
But then she stepped forward and grabbed his arm.
Her fingers were cold.
"My sister is in that house," she whispered."He's...locked inside.I...to get her out."
Hunter's jaw tightened.He'd caught enough to understand that she was trying to get to her sister.
"Someone is in the house with her?"He stared at her lips.
She looked back toward the house, then to him again."He might be there, or he could be at work, but he'll come back.He always does."Her brows pinched."If he's there or finds me, it'll be very, very bad."
Hunter's stomach turned to stone.He'd caught every word.
Lifting her chin with two fingers, he eyed her throat.He'd noticed the bruises yesterday.Someone had put their hands on her.
He pointed to himself."I'll go inside."
"Me, too."Annie stared at him, eyes glistening."We could get hurt."
He tilted his head and pointed to her neck."Did he do that?"
She hesitated.Then, she nodded.
That was all it took.Hunter's blood ran hot.He clenched his fists.No one hurt a woman.Not on his watch.
