Page 41 of Piper's Pyro

The door to the office flung open, and Spectre appeared. “Just got off the phone with Bone.”

“I know. Let’s go.” Hustler jumped to his feet. “Sorry guys, family emergency. I’ll call you next week.” He made a beeline for the door.

“No problem. Hope everything is okay,” Singe replied.

“It’s not,” Spectre said on his way out of the room.

“What’s wrong?” I stood like a magnetic force pulled me toward the doorway. It was crazy how I felt as if their business was mine and needed to know what had them practically running out of the building.

“It’s our sister.” Hustler combed his fingers through his hair.

“Piper?” Now my strange reaction made sense.

“Yeah. Some insane shit is going on at the hospital she works at. I need to get my ass down there to help my brothers.”

“I’m coming with you.” I couldn’t believe what I’d just said.

Judging by the confusion on Hustler’s face, he didn’t understand it either. “No. You’ll just be in the way.”

“I don’t need your permission. I’m going.” Something compelled me to go to the hospital to ensure Piper was okay. It was like I couldn’t leave Fargo until I saw she was in one piece.

“Dude, what’s going on?” Flint asked. “Our flight leaves in an hour and a half.”

“I’ll take a later flight.”

“Why do you want to come with me?” Hustler narrowed his eyes.

“What the fuck is taking you so long? We got to go, bro!” Spectre yelled.

“Pyro is asking to come with us.”

“That junkie isn’t getting anywhere near our family, let alone Piper.” Spectre pointed at me with a lethal stare.

“As I told Hustler. I don’t need your permission.” What had this woman done to me? I should walk away. Get on the plane and never look back. But I couldn’t.

“What do you mean, junkie?” Hustler flicked his gaze from me to Spectre.

“Pyro is a drug addict. Caught him snorting blow last night. I beat him up,” Spectre told him proudly. “See my work on his pretty face?”

“All right, man. I can’t let you come.” Hustler left the room, and I followed.

“She’s my woman.” What the fuck had I just said? I’d clearly lost my mind.

“Excuse me?” Everyone said in unison.

“Isn’t that how it works in your biker club? If I claim Piper, she’s mine, and no one has the right or authority to get between my woman and me.” I puffed my chest out, prepared to fight these two to the death.

Hustler snorted. “I don’t have time for this. And you’re not a biker so you can’t claim Piper.” He stalked down the hallway.

“Don’t follow us,” Spectre growled.

“Russell, what the fuck is going on with you?” Singe blocked my view of the assholes keeping me from Piper. “Are you using again? You’re acting all crazy and shit.”

“I’m clean.” I went around him and followed the Knight brothers.

“They said don’t follow.”

“I don’t care.” I trotted to catch up to them and caught the elevator before it closed.

---