Page 3 of Slash
Her hackles rose at the command in his voice. “Excuse me?” She wasn’t used to men telling her what to do, especially strangers.
His head turned slowly, eyes locking with hers. “Listen,” he said, voice low. “You’re in danger. The men threatening your sister and my club are violent men without morals. If you are indanger, your little girl is in danger. And they won’t care that she is a child. So right now, what you feel about me doesn’t matter. What matters is getting you both out of this house alive.”
The retort on her tongue died. Because beneath the harshness, she knew he was right.
“Fine,” she whispered.
Slash’s gaze lingered on her for one long moment. “Hurry up.” He paused for a second and looking at Kayleigh, he said, “please.”
Kayleigh, bless her, changed the subject. “Do you have a motorcycle out there?”
Slash’s mouth curved. Not quite a smile, he didn’t seem like a man who smiled often. But a twitch. “I own two, actually. But you’ll ride safe in my truck tonight. But, I’ll show you the motorcycles when we get back home. Maybe, your mom will let you ride around the compound at some point.”
Kayleigh’s eyes widened like he’d just promised her a pony.
Nicole’s throat tightened. Damn him.
Damn him for being harsh and bossy and terrifying one second, and… gentle the next.
“I’ll grab the rest of the stuff,” she muttered, fleeing back into the bedroom before Slash could see her cheeks flush. As she hurried down the hallway, Kayleigh’s words stopped her in her tracks.
“Are there really bad guys who want to get us?”
Before she could turn around, she heard his voice, quiet, protective, absolute.
“Don’t worry, princess. Nobody’s touching you or your mama while I’m around.”
She moved as fast as she could, looking around her room and making sure she had everything she needed. Seeing her e-book reader sitting on the nightstand, she unplugged it and threw the cord and reader into her bag.
"Ready," she said, coming back into the hallway.
Slash bent down to Kayleigh's level, his massive frame somehow less intimidating when he made himself small. "Do you want to see my friend’s motorcycle, little one? It's going to be loud."
Kayleigh's eyes went wide with excitement rather than fear. "Really?"
"Really," Slash confirmed. "But then you need to get into my truck and get all buckled in. Can you do that?"
"I promise!" Kayleigh bounced on her toes. "This is the best adventure ever!"
Nicole wished she shared her daughter's enthusiasm. As they walked toward the vehicles, every shadow seemed to hide a threat. Every sound made her jump. She kept expecting her ex to appear, to try to stop them from leaving.
But the parking lot remained empty except for Slash and Blade, who stepped forward as they approached.
"Ma'am," Blade nodded to Nicole, his voice clipped and professional. "We'll get you to Grand Ridge safe and sound."
"Thank you," Nicole managed, though the words felt inadequate.
Slash was already working on securing Kayleigh's car seat into his truck. When had he learned to install car seats? The sight of this scarred, dangerous man carefully checking the straps and buckles made something flutter in Nicole's chest. Blade picked up Kayleigh and put her on the motorcycle, Nicole realized how gentle the large man was being.
"Okay, Kayleigh," Slash said, lifting her daughter like she weighed nothing off the bike and set her into her carseat. "Ready to go?"
As he buckled her into the car seat, Nicole watched her little girl transform from sleepy child to excited adventurer. Kayleighchattered happily about motorcycles and adventures, completely trusting this stranger with her life.
Maybe Nicole could learn to do the same.
"Don't look so worried," Slash said quietly, appearing beside her. "Your sister wouldn't have sent us if she didn't think we could protect you."
"It's not that," Nicole said, then paused. Maybe it was, partially. "I just... I've been taking care of us alone for so long. It's hard to let someone else..."
