It would take too much time for her to repeat everything two or three times until he understood what she was saying.It would be easier if she could tell Vein why she was running away from the person in the car.He was used to the Royalla members' mannerisms and speech habits.It would be faster for Vein to tell him what was going on.
The woman's mouth closed, and she stepped back.He shook his head, signaling her to stay.
Annie moved to the other side of him, far away from Vein.Not knowing what to do, he lifted his chin and motioned for his MC brother to leave.It was clear she wasn't comfortable around Vein, whose whole face was covered in tattoos, most of them done by Hunter, and numerous piercings all over him.
"You handling her?"asked Vein.
He nodded and waited until Vein left them alone.Maybe she'd talk to someone in the clubhouse who didn't scare her.
He pointed toward the clubhouse door.There were others nearby, so he could find someone she was comfortable talking to.
She hesitated, then followed him.Her steps quickened to keep up with his longer strides.Inside, the air smelled of leather, smoke, and spilled whiskey.The main room was empty, but Kodiak was probably in the office.The president tended to stay around until close to midnight, then he retired to the room he shared with his ol' lady, Roma.
Annie grabbed the sleeve of his leather jacket.He stopped and motioned toward the couch.If she wanted to talk to him, he'd need her to stay close.
She sat, clutching her arms around her middle.
For a long moment, he stood beside the couch.He wanted to give her time to collect herself, but she kept shaking.Her chin trembled, and her teeth snapped together to hold herself together.
He sat beside her, recognizing trouble when he saw it.She was in danger, and as much as he wanted to stay out of her business, he wasn't going to send a young woman—and she was young— off into the night without seeing how he could help her.
Her lips moved again."Thank you."
Hunter inclined his head, the closest he came to saying you're welcome.
She looked down at her hands, twisting them together, before meeting his gaze."I must leave.I must go back."
He slowly, deliberately, shook his head.
"Oh, God."Her breath hitched."You don't understand."
Hunter rubbed his whiskered jaw.His gaze lowered to the base of her neck, where bruises were visible.She raised her hand to cover her injuries.It looked as though someone had tried to choke her.
"You'll stay."He gritted his teeth."Safe here."
He hated to talk because he couldn't hear his own voice.The vibration in his throat when he attempted to speak was now foreign to him.There were times when he wondered if he was only moaning, not saying the words he remembered from his childhood.Though others had no problems understanding him when he spoke, he'd learned to talk softer, going by the expressions on other people's faces.
Her shoulders hunched, eyes darting around the empty room.Hunter leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest.He wasn't letting her walk out that door until he knew what kind of trouble she was trying to outrun.
Annie's dark blue eyes flashed in frustration."You...here."
He cocked his brow, having not caught every word, and cupped his hand, motioning with his fingers for her to give it to him again.
"You can't keep me here," she said.
She wasn't in the right frame of mind.It only took one look at him to prove he wouldn't let anyone tell him what he could and couldn't do.
She let out a shaky breath, pressing her palms to her face.For a moment, he thought she might break, spill whatever truth she was holding back.But when she lowered her hands, her expression was steel.
Hunter respected that.Even if it pissed him off.
He pushed to his feet, grabbed a blanket from the back of the couch, and dropped it on her lap.Then he pointed down the hallway to the rooms.
Her lips parted."You're not letting me go?"
He shook his head.
"You want me to stay?"
