Page 43 of Phantom Riders MC: Hawk

Was she serious? I must have looked surprised at her comment, because everyone knew what renting by the hour meant. Wasn’t that a kind of universal thing? I guess she really did need the money. I laughed in spite of myself. “How much for one night?”

Her sharp blue eyes moved over me, and I got the impression that she could see right through me. I know I looked a wreck. Sweaty and dirty, my hair was everywhere, and my clothes, well, I knew they didn’t fit me. Not when half my ass cheeks were hanging out. “I have money,” I said, thinking that she might be worried that I didn’t. I reached inside my pocket, pulling out the small wad I had left.

“Honey.” She put her shriveled up, crooked hand on my arm where it was wrapped around my bag of meager items. “I wasn’t worried about the money. You look like you’ve been to hell and back.” I remained silent. “You in trouble, girl?”

Oh, God. Not a conversation I wanted to get into right now. But then I realized that I might gain her help if she thought I was. Women were sympathetic to women abused and in trouble, weren’t they? I wasn’t exactly abused, but I would be if Dane or Hawk got their hands on me again.

“Maybe a little,” I finally said. “But not with the law,” I added quickly so that she wouldn’t get the wrong idea.

“Running away from a man?” she asked. I nodded. “Poor dear. At least you’re leaving him. Some women just stay and take it, thinking they don’t have a choice.” The whole time she was talking she was leading me toward the back of the house. “My name is Minnie, what’s yours?”

I opened my mouth. Should I lie? The fake name came out before I could stop it. “Liz.”

“Well, Liz, come with me. I bet you’d love a nice hot shower and some clean clothes, and probably something to eat, too.” She led me into the kitchen and to a door off to the side. I was surprised to see a bedroom when she opened the door. “I know it’s odd having a bedroom off of the kitchen, but my poor old Joe couldn’t manage the stairs at the end of his life so we converted the formal dining room into a bedroom for him.”

It was a nice room, and seemed to have everything for a renter. Half was furnished as the bedroom, the other half as a living area. I smiled at the old TV, wondering if it even worked.

“This works out perfect for renters. You have your own bathroom.” She pointed to a heavily painted door with an old brass doorknob. “And you’re right off the kitchen, so everything is close by.”

“How much?” I asked.

She hesitated. “How much do you have?”

I frowned, but counted the month in my hand anyway, a little embarrassed. “Sixty-one dollars.”

Minnie cocked her head, and I could see she was working it out in her head. She really was a sweet lady, somewhere around seventy, I guessed. Her hair was completely white and done up in an old fashioned bun. But it was the stark clarity of her blue eyes, set deep in a face lined with wrinkles that kept my attention. They were filled with life and kindness, yet I sensed that she could be just as shrewd when she wanted to be.

After a while she smiled. “Ten dollars,” she said, drawing a gasp from me. I opened my mouth to protest and she said, “No, I won’t hear it. It will take you thirty-six dollars to get to the next town by bus, and I’m not going to leave you with nothing.”

I felt my bottom lip tremble. This woman didn’t even know me, but she was willing to help me. She was a saint. I fought back the tears and entered the bedroom, feeling overwhelmed by the whole situation. I set my bag down on the closest piece of furniture and handed her ten dollars. “Thank you so much, Minnie. You’re a life saver.” I expelled a deep sigh. “I think the first thing I’ll do is get a shower.”

“Wait just a minute.” She turned and hurried away, returning with a garment in her hands. “Give me your clothes and I’ll run them through the washer for you.”

I glanced down at the robe in my hands. “But I—” I stopped, taking in the understanding in her eyes. She wanted to do this, and I couldn’t help wondering if she was just a lonely old woman who needed some purpose in her life. Any purpose, even if it was something as mundane as washing a stranger’s clothes. Her smile was contagious, and I found myself returning it. “Thank you.”

She nodded with satisfaction. “Just leave them outside the door.”

I did as she asked, feeling very vulnerable standing naked in someone else’s house. After locking myself in my room, I went and took a long, scolding shower. I hadn’t even thought about shampoo and soap, but there was an assortment to choose from. Lavender had always been my favorite, and before long the bathroom was steamed up with the pleasant scent. Twenty minutes later I was dry and wrapped up in a soft, terry robe, and lying on the bed in exhaustion over everything that had happened.

I closed my eyes. I needed to cut and color my hair. Instead, I let the quiet surrounding me calm my frayed nerves, sooth my weary body and overworked senses, and eventually claim my tired mind.

I don’t know how long I slept. The first time I woke just long enough to eat and drink something, before allowing myself the luxury of sleep again. The next time I opened my eyes it was to the early morning light filtering through the split in the heavy drapes. Did I close them? I didn’t remember. All I knew was that I felt totally rested and full of energy.

My gaze lit on the stack of clothes folded neatly on the foot of the bed. Minnie must have had a key, because I’d locked the door the night before. I left the bed, went to the bathroom and then came back out and went to the mirror over the dresser. I fingered my curls, frowning. I hadn’t cut my hair in a long time, it was way past my shoulders and most of the time it was a wild mess. I’d never colored it either, but I guessed there was a first time for everything. Most redheads didn’t like their hair color, but I loved mine.

Grabbing the bag, I dug out the scissors and hair color. How short did I need to go? Very, I decided. How would I look as a spiked blond? It didn’t matter. It was something I had to do. If I could alter my appearance enough to go unnoticed, I would be able to move around more freely, and without the concern of being captured. Sighing, I picked up the scissors and brought them up.

“Cut one lock of hair and I promise you won’t be able to sit down for a fucking week.”

I screamed and turned around. Hawk was sitting in the chair and I hadn’t even noticed him! He was pissed, his taut jaw twitched, and the coldness in his steely gaze revealed to me how angry he was. I could practically see the waves rolling off him, like the kind that you see on the road when you’re driving on a hot, sunny day. He may as well have been breathing fire, if his fisted hands were any indication of his rage. The thought crossed my mind that maybe he would kill me himself and save Dane the hassle.

He got up and came to me, and all I could do was react. Fear was a strong emotion, but stronger still was the will for self-preservation. The scissors were still clutched in my hand and without thinking I raised my hand and brought it down in a stabbing motion. “No!” I cried out, throwing myself at him. “I’m not going back with you!”

I’m not sure what I thought I was going to do. Hawk was a giant next to me and I couldn’t hope to match his strength, but if I could slow him down enough to get away, I would do it. I ignored his animal like growl of outrage, but I couldn’t ignore the pain of his grip around my wrist when he stopped my downward motion in mid-air. The next thing I knew I was fighting him like a wild animal, backed into a corner. I refused to go down without trying to hurt the man who’d hurt me.

“Let me go, Hawk! How could you? How could you?” I threw all of my weight against him but it was like going up against a stone wall. He easily held my hand with the scissors, shaking my wrist violently until the scissors went flying. “Bastard!” I screamed, leaning forward and biting him on the arm.

“What the fuck—”

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