“Me?”
“Oh, I don’t know.” I gaze at his patches. “Iron Norsemen MC?”
He chuckles. “We can argue later, darlin’. Get in the car.”
I look around nervously. It’s me against the world, has been for a long time, so I’ll risk the road if it means getting away from Eagle. I pull his jacket off, fold it in half, and then offer it to him. “Thanks, but no thanks.”
His eyes narrow. “I’m trying to be a gentleman, Serafina.”
“And I’m trying to be a lady, Eagle. Fuck off.” I drop his coat on the road and turn around. Before I can think, he lifts me from behind and throws me over his shoulder. “Put me down!”
A car whizzes by and honks.
In any other state they’d stop to see if I was okay, not in Louisiana—there’s all kinds of crazy-ass people in the country. I kick my feet, but he holds on tighter. Then he bends at the knees and scoops his jacket off the ground.
“You’re a handful, darlin’,” is all he says as he heads for the car.
“I’ll call the cops.”
“Want to use my cell phone?”
He opens the door and drops me sideways on the driver’s seat. I clip him in the chest with my right foot. He growls. I’m wedged between him and the hard center console. It hurts my back. But not more than his angry gaze; those eyes threaten me in every way.
His full lips are mere inches above mine. “Kick me again and I’ll hogtie you. Understand?”
Overpowered, I give up and nod.
“Good,” he says. “Now get your sweet little ass in the passenger seat—or do you need my help?”
Somehow, I manage to roll over the console. I cross my arms over my chest and stare out the windshield.
“Seatbelt,” he commands.
I don’t move.
“All right.” I hear him shuffling around. Next thing I know, he reaches across and connects my belt. His arm grazes my breast. I feel his body tighten on contact. “My God . . .” That’s all he says as he gets comfortable in the driver’s seat.
He does a U-turn and heads back to the house.
“I’m not going inside.”
“You will.”
“I won’t,” I say defiantly. “Why are you doing this?”
“Principles.”
I laugh bitterly. “You hang out with drug dealers and principles are your excuse for kidnapping me and taking me back to a place I was assaulted? That’s priceless.”
“I didn’t kidnap you.” He stares at me. “I’m performing a civic duty.”
The shit keeps getting deeper. “Really?”
“I saved your life,” he offers with a dreamy smile. “Twice.” He pulls into the driveway. “Shall I carry you?”
“Right.”
He gets out, struts around the car, and opens my door. “The best choice is walking on your own.”
