Page 108 of Being Us (Next Generation 4)

I shrugged. “Is he?”

“He’s as good as can be expected. But I’m sure you’ll figure out a way to make him feel better.” He stuck out his hand. “Bryson Rain but you can call me Bear.”

“Are you a biker?” I asked him, returning the handshake.

“No.” He winked, keeping hold of my hand. “I work with bikers from time to time, but I have never been, nor will I ever be, a biker.”

“How come?” He was a big guy. Seemed like he would fit the role perfectly.

“Not my thing.” Bear released my hand. “You ever need extra protection, you call me.” He reached into the inside of his leather jacket and pulled out a small business card. Handing it to me, he gave me another wink and started walking back to the club. He joined Kid and a few other guys. I noticed then that he stepped up close to Kid, their hands brushing against each other.

Bear looked my way, giving me another wink.

Kid followed his line of sight, a slow grin spreading on his face.

I swallowed hard. I wasn’t sure what was going on there. Not like it was any of my business, but I was curious just the same.

Finally looking down at the card in my hand, I turned it over. It held a picture of a bear’s head on one side and that was it. The other side was blank. How the heck would I be able to call him if I didn’t have his number? I shook my head, stuffing the business card in my back pocket.

“Bee?”

I spun on my heel, finding Uncle Greyson and Dad coming toward me. “I thought you guys left.”

“We were going to and then we saw Tanner head back into the club,” Dad explained. “Wanted to make sure that you were okay first.”

“How did you know that I was here?” A cold draft suddenly wafted around me, sending a shiver down my spine.

A look passed between them before they glanced back at me.

“I headed to the clubhouse just as Tommy’s boys showed up,” Dad told me.

Uncle Greyson crossed his arms under his chest. “I knew we had good security now, but I had forgotten for a moment just how good it was.”

“You know Lucas would never let you have any different,” Dad reminded him.

Uncle Greyson chuckled.

“Who’s Lucas?” I asked, never hearing that name before.

“A friend.” And that was all that Uncle Greyson said about it.

“What was done with Frankie?” I asked, knowing it would be a sensitive subject but needing to find out more just the same.

Frankie had grabbed me from my bedroom. It was like a scene right out of a horror movie. I went to bed to read for a bit and he came out of the closet like a monster. Everything had happened so damn fast. I never even had a chance to scream when he tackled me and covered my mouth with a cloth soaked in chloroform.

“Unfortunately, I trusted him when I shouldn’t have.” Uncle Greyson sighed. “But he’s been taken care of and that’s all you need to know.”

My stomach twisted.

Uncle Greyson rubbed the back of his neck, leaning his head from side to side. “I need a drink, my wife, and a damn vacation.”

“I hear you, brother.” Dad pulled me into a hug. “You good?”

“Yeah, Daddy. I am.” But I wasn’t.

“You sure?” he murmured, squeezing me.

“Yup.” Another lie.

---