Page 11 of Hell on Wheels

“Load up!”

Kane bolted forward and practically dragged Lark across the garage floor as she skidded on the concrete and had to hold on tight to the leash to prevent slamming into my workbench full of tools. I snickered as he halted next to the driver’s side front door.

She tossed a glare in my direction. “You did that on purpose.”

Shrugging, I didn’t bother to deny it. “Kane likes to go out.”

“A little warning next time, okay?”

“You won’t need one.”

I opened the door, and Kane jumped inside the cab. He plopped down on the front seat in his usual spot. Reaching in, I unhooked the leash and tossed it onto the dashboard. “Now you know. Right?”

Lark didn’t reply but huffed under her breath and said a few choice words before she flounced around to the other side of the truck. She was inside with her seatbelt on before I had to say a word. Maybe this little bird was easier to instruct than I had earlier experienced. Kind of hoped she was gonna be a little harder to handle. A man like me enjoyed the challenge.

She sure had an attitude, though. I could see it in the blazing hue of her eyes as they met mine.

Chuckling under my breath, I locked up the house and set the alarm. Twilight had descended on the city long ago, and I quickly attached the trailer to my truck and fired up my bike, loading it onto the bed. Securing it didn’t take more than a few minutes, but I was nervous about getting the fuck out of there before Lark’s ex-boyfriend decided to scope the neighborhood for the two of us. I covered my Harley with a tarp, secured it, and made sure it kept my ride out of view.

Once we were on the road, I had more than a few questions. If she was staying with me, I needed to know why her ex was roughing her up and how the fuck she got involved with a man like him. I couldn’t protect her if I didn’t know the details.

Part of me wondered why a pretty young woman was caught up with a guy like that. Was she a criminal? He said she deserved the beating he wanted to give her. Why?

I couldn’t think of a damn thing she could have done to deserve the way he treated her, which meant she was probably in way over her head. Drugs? Theft?

I couldn’t see it. Not this girl.

Maybe he had something on her or a family member. Blackmail? Did she fuck with his business? Insult him?

I wasn’t letting her out of my sight until I learned the truth.

Chapter 4

Istill hadn’t askedhis name yet.

The dark biker with the broadest shoulders I’d ever seen and a smile that could probably charm the cross from a bible-thumping priest drove like he didn’t have a care in the world. His deep, gravelly voice settled over my chest, sinking inside to vibrate my core, increasing my need for release with every word he spoke.Stupid.He was a stranger. Dangerous. Rough. And yet, he was also a hero. He saved my life.

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