Page 26 of Hell on Wheels

Chapter 8

Ididn’t hesitate tomove the second that Flint left my side. The auto repair shop smelled like motor oil and old grease as I wrinkled my nose and led Kane toward the back. We skirted around the vehicles in the bays and further from the opening, looking for anywhere to hide. The office sat on my right side, but it wasn’t wise to lock myself in there with nowhere to escape. I decided to duck behind a van in the back corner and hope that no one bothered to search inside the shop.

Staying low, I held onto Kane’s leash. My breath sawed in and out of my lungs as I tried not to panic.

My fingers dug into the pocket of my jean jacket, and I pulled my switchblade free, holding the weapon firmly in my palm. Gunfire was still popping off outside, and I trembled, switching the blade to the hand holding the leash.

My free one slid through the fur of Kane’s neck and head, lightly massaging behind his ears. He didn’t utter a sound but seemed to enjoy the action until we both heard a metallic clatter along the floor a short distance from our location.

A rumble began low in his chest as his snout opened, a growl erupting when footsteps approached. Scared but determined, I dragged Kane by the leash and slowly moved in the opposite direction, palming the knife and flipping it open. Maybe whoever was in here didn’t hear us.

Should have known I wasn’t that lucky.

We rounded the front of the van and abruptly stopped when Angel stood in our way, blocking the path. His gun pointed at my heart. Kane lowered closer to the ground, his growl threatening as he snarled in a warning.

“Don’t you think you’ve made me wait long enough, Lark?”

I didn’t answer, slowly retreating as I backed up until I bumped into an immovable wall of muscle. Surprised, I spun, trying not to freak out when I saw Angel’s bodyguard. The last time we met, I knocked him over the head with an expensive vase and tugged his body into a closet, locking him inside. He seemed to recall the event as he grinned with cruel promise.

“You remember Miguel?”

Swallowing hard, I nodded.

“He gets the first night with you once we return.”

No fucking way!

Kane began to fight the leash, and I had to hold tight, nearly dropping my knife. His growls grew louder, and I knew it was only a matter of time before someone found us. This place was crawling with bikers. I just needed to buy a little time.

Carefully unclipping the leash as Angel narrowed his eyes, I hoped Kane would understand the command I was about to issue. If not, we might be in a lot more trouble than we anticipated. Still, I’d rather risk injury than certain death.

“Kane, attack!” I shouted, dropping the leash as he lunged forward and knocked Angel to the ground. I heard a crunch and Angel’s scream, satisfied Kane had this under control as I spun around. Not hesitating, I jabbed upward as the blade sank into Miguel’s stomach. Blood coated my hand, and I blinked, both horrified and stunned that I had the courage to fight a man twice my size. Worse, I was willing to possibly kill him.

Miguel cursed as his hands wrapped around my throat. He began to squeeze as he stumbled, and we both crashed to the concrete floor. A punch landed on the right side of my head. Another cracked my head against the ground as his fist grazed my jaw. Dazed, I vaguely realized he straddled my waist.

“I’ll kill you,puta!”

Brass knuckles slipped onto his left hand as he raised his fist and brought it back, fully intent on punching me in the face as hard as he could. A black blur latched onto his hand, and I blinked, staring at Kane as he chomped down and dragged Miguel away. Screams filled the sudden silence and then choked off as Kane latched onto his neck and snapped it, snarling as he glanced behind me.

I tried to sit up but wobbled, falling over as everything around me blurred. Dizzy, I winced as I heard Flint’s voice.

“Stay down, Lark!”

Panic clawed at my throat as I thought of Molly. “Don’t kill him!”

“Lark!”

“I need him alive,” I explained, scooting across the floor toward Angel’s mangled body. His chest rose and fell as he breathed, still alive but passed out, probably from the pain and blood loss.

Kane had ripped into his arm and shoulder, immobilizing him. I didn’t see his gun. Looking around, I found it kicked across the garage by the bay doors.

My head pounded as Flint rushed forward, falling to his knees at my side. “Little dove, you’re hurt.”

“I’m not the only one.”

Flint tried to hide the pain evident in his vivid blue eyes. His shirt was soaked with blood, and he teetered, almost falling over as I helped him lower to the ground. His sunglasses were missing, and he blinked like the light bothered him. I covered his eyes and started yelling for help. Shouts from outside the auto shop echoed around us as I leaned down and pressed my lips to Flint’s.

“Baby. You okay?”

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