Uh-oh.
How could I be so damned dense to miss it? The Grizzlies had terrorized towns in the Flathead area for at least a generation.
The reeking alcohol rolling off him suddenly smelled like trouble. So did the greasy bandage tied tight across his head.
He pushed past me and grabbed for the back door. I caught up, gently tugging on his sleeve. He swore when the lock caught.
“Open this fucking thing. Right now!”
“You can't go in there! If you have a message, I'll pass it along. Manager's instructions. I'm sorry, we've all got our rules and it's what I've been told to –“
He spun, a nasty twitch in his lips pulling at his unkempt beard. His fist was like taking a brick to the face. Everything turned to giant red stars, exploding in a fiery ring around my socket, anchoring around my poor eyeball. I fell.
It took me several seconds to realize he'd punched me in the face. Then several more to look up, crying at the pain.
The same fist hovered in mid-air. I rolled into a ball, afraid he was about to beat me to death. He stuck out his finger instead.
“Pass this along: if we don't get our fucking money, the deal's off. You can tell that asshole Maverick and his whore that they've got twenty-four hours to cough up what's owed, or else our whole charter's gonna pay them a visit.”
I tried to remember the threat, but the stars blossoming in my skull wouldn't let me. They swelled bigger, brighter, ten times more painful.
The roar of his bike was the last thing I heard before I blacked out.
I woke up chilled to the bone. Must've been out well past break time.
The sharp fire in my head was gone, replaced with a steady throb. I threw my hands against the wall and used it to help myself up, wincing when I touched my eye. New pain howled fiercely through the tender flesh around my socket, so sharp I thought I'd faint again.
“Shit...need help,” I muttered to myself.
My brain was barely functioning. My legs switched onto auto-pilot and carried me inside, fumbling for the key card to the back entrance in my pocket. Never knew how I got it in and opened the door half-blind and consumed with agony, but I did.
June flipped out when she saw me. It was the first time I'd truly seen her surprised. Ironic, because that night was the last time I saw her.
I mumbled something about a stranger hitting me in the face, and she helped me over to a vending machine. For the next half hour I had a cold can of root bear on my face and Sandy at my side. Some other badass showed up and June had to step away, leaving me with the other girl to make sure I didn't have a seizure or something.
My boss and the beast in leather approached a little later. Jesus, I was scared, begging him for protection. I couldn't go home tonight. Not after this.
He granted my request to spend the night at the clubhouse. I had to wait it out until I could go home in the evening, just like normal. Mom wouldn't even notice if I was gone longer than usual, though I wasn't sure how I'd hide the bad eye.
Ice cold metal nipped at the pain in my skull. It wasn't a proper ice pack, but it did its job. Numb twilight buzzed around my brain when I felt a heavy hand on my shoulder.
I flew out of my chair and would've hit the floor if Sandy wasn't standing by to catch me.
“Jesus, Mister! Can't you see she's a little jumpy? A hello would be nice!” Sandy sounded pissed, ready to lay into him. But her words melted when she raised her head and took a good look at the man.
“Maverick sent me. See this patch?” He tapped the VP tag on one breast.
I felt Sandy nod.
“Means I'm here to help your friend stay safe from the assholes she really needs to worry about. Same patch that writes your check too,” he growled. “Let me see it...”
A powerful hand tugged at my arm, quick but gentle. I struggled to my feet, opening my eyes for the first time in awhile.
I couldn't make out much more than a tall silhouette with broad shoulders, medium length hair, and some serious stubble on his face. He took both my hands, steadying my feet, drawing me into him.
“Fucking shit, my bro never said it was this bad.” He shook his head with a snort. “Those fucking bears are gonna pay big time. Can you walk, baby?”
I groaned incoherently. Thought I could, anyway. Maybe I just wanted to be away from bikers so badly right now I convinced myself of the impossible.
“That's okay,” he said, softening his voice. “Slow and easy. Come to papa. I'll get you home safe and put some real ice on that shit.”
His powerful arms went to the small of my back, and then the whole world turned upside down. My stomach lurched at first, adjusting to the movement. I realized I was floating.
He was carrying me outside, careful to avoid jostling me too much. I let my head slump to his leather clad shoulder, wondering what I'd gotten myself into.