Really? Did his mother not teach him any manners? “What?” she asked curtly.
“I can’t wait to get to know you better. I like beautiful women to warm my bed at night.”
Eww. “I don’t think Elias would appreciate another man moving in on his territory.”
Linebacker slapped the center of his buddy’s chest with the back of his hand. “Knock it off. There’s time for that later.”
There would never be a time for that. Iona’s stomach lurched. Not happening. No one could touch her without her permission. Not anymore.
Linebacker yanked Shorty back and motioned for them to drive on.
“Are you okay?” Elias asked.
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“You know why. I know the exchange bothered you. Will you be able to throw it off?”
“I don’t have a choice, do I?”
“There’s always a choice. We can make something up about my problem being solved and dump the mission back in the FBI’s lap.”
She shook her head. “We’re here. Let’s do this and go home.”
“I like that plan.”
But would it be enough? They needed to finish this mission and get Elias home to rest and heal.
Iona followed her teammates deeper into Blackthorn territory and, minutes later, parked beside their friends’ bikes. The parking area surrounded a two-story building. To Iona, the building looked as if it used to be a roadhouse. From the shape the outside was in, Blackthorn must have picked it up for a song.
Elias snorted. “Typical clubhouse.”
“Decorated in just this side of a garbage dump?”
He laughed. “Oh, yeah. Thanks for the laugh. I needed it.”
“Glad to help.” Iona opened the door and exited the truck as MC members poured from the building. Most were curious. A few were hostile. All suspected the newcomers. “Trouble in paradise?” Iona murmured as she and Elias joined their teammates.
“Not yet.”
Seth studied the gathering crowd for a moment. “We’re looking for Dutch King.”
A six-foot-five bruiser separated himself from the group. “That would be me. What’s your business?”
Definitely not the trusting sort. Iona’s teammates used hand signals to tell her they were ready to act. All she had to do was give the word. The best thing they could do at the moment was to remain ready but wait for things to develop. This may not turn into a brawl. She hoped it didn’t. Elias wasn’t ready totake on anyone, much less the muscled and large members of Blackthorn.
“Zeke sent us.” Seth motioned to Elias. “One of our own is a target for the local cops. Took a cop’s bullet in the shoulder. He needs a place to lie low and heal.”
“That sounds like one or two people asking for sanctuary. Didn’t know I would host ten people. How do you explain that?”
Seth shrugged. “He needs backup. We’re the backup.”
Dutch stared for a moment. “Is he royalty or something?”
“He’s a teammate. We’ve worked together for years. He needs us, and we’re there. No questions asked.”
“Teammate?”
“Military.”
