Page 20 of Praying for Thunder

Embarrassed, her head wobbled. “Y-Yes.”

Still pacing, he threw his hands in the air. “No wonder you don’t tell us shit.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll leave in the morning. You guys will be safe.”

He ran rigid hands through his light brown hair. “Think, Stew. Think!” He stopped dead in his tracks. “What club was your lover tonight from?”

“W-Why?”

He raced back to the couch and sat, facing her, and grabbed one of her hands. “Because the best way to survive a bad club hunting you down is to have a stronger one having your back.”

“No way in Hell is that happening.”

“I’m right. Plain and simple.”

“No,” she growled.

“What club you runnin’ from?”

She only said, “The less you know,” then she flattened her lips, refusing to say more.

“Fine,” he rumbled out frustration, but respected her effort to keep him safe as possible. “How many chapters does the club you’re running from have?”

As her head tilted in suspicion, she slowly pulled her hand from his. “How do you know about clubs?”

He let her go. “Nope. I’m no biker, but I’ve been around a long time.” He shook her hand he was still holding. “Now, answer my question. How many chapters?”

She thought for a minute. “Only one.” To clarify, she shook her head in warning. “But they are as deadly as a hundred chapters. They kill as easily as you and I sit here breathing.”

Slowly, he dipped his chin. “Not one part of me doubts you or what you know of them. Now, who does tonight’s biker belong to?”

She thought back to the cut hanging on the wall. It read, “Royal Bastards.”

He made another O shape with his mouth, then he smirked. “Atta, girl!”

She huffed. “What does that mean?”

He leaned back into the couch, sighing relief. “They got chapters all over America. Good men, but they don’t tolerate assholes who hurt women or children.” His head rested against the wall. “You hit the motherload. Thank God.” Pressing a palm to his heart, he asked, “So, did he get your number?”

Anita glanced away. “Not exactly.”

“Ouch. Did you get his, by chance?” When he heard a mumble, he teased, “What was that?”

She coughed. “I, uh, kinda, umm, insulted him and ran, leaving him half-naked.”

“Nooooo!” Laughing, he grabbed fistfuls of hair and pulled, his eyebrows lifting by force. “Fucking women! Why must you all be so difficult?”

Ani and I giggled at his stretched face, which was somehow smiling, making him look like a deranged clown.

Anita replied, “We think men love a challenge?” Her smile faded as she drifted into thoughts. “It doesn’t matter. I’m not going to use some guy to fight my battles.”

Stew sat up straight, as serious as could be. “Oh, yes, you are. How long can you keep running?”

Her shoulders caved around me. “I don’t know. As long as it takes, I guess.”

“That is a shitty answer and you know it. Let some good bikers battle the bad.”

“I don’t know who is good! Don’t you see that?”