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Both bears track the movement of my hand and I can see their interest in me intensify. Can they actually smell the money?
“What if it’s her that I want to feel pain, not him. Is that doable?” Both men's eyebrows lift to their hairline as they give me a second look. They weren’t expecting that.
“If you’ve got the funds, we’ve got no moral objection to making the lady suffer, too, if that’s what you’re wondering. In fact, I might enjoy that even more.”
When the second bear’s beady eyes linger on my bag a second too long, I try not to panic. They could attack me, take the money, and ditch me here. There isn’t anyone around to stop them; I might be a good fighter, but I’m no match for two big grizzlies if they really mean business.
I remind myself Billy is Marcus’s brother. He won’t hurt me. Would he? He did stay behind to work for his father; he’s hardly squeaky clean.
“How about we go for a drink and have a chat? Doesn’t look like you’ve anywhere else to be right now.”
Glancing up and down the road, Billy leans forward on the handlebars and gives me a charming smile, making it seem like it’s my choice even though we both know it isn’t. This guy is dangerous, although a younger me might have taken him as fun.
“I don’t even know your name.” Letting a flirty edge sneak into my voice, I tip up my chin to show some spirit. Billy smiles and the other man just shakes his head in disbelief, as though women in precarious situations taking a shine to the young Lennox is a common occurrence.
“And that’s the way we’ll keep it for now, while our discussions are still hypothetical. You can scream it to the rafters later, if you like.”
Making a show of hesitating one last time, I nod, walking to the back of Billy’s bike and taking the helmet he hands me. As I clip it on, he pats the seat behind him.
“Hop on, princess. You’re in for one hell of a ride.”
Swinging one leg over and shifting position so I can wrap my arms around his thick torso, I almost laugh. It’s definitely going to be that. The other bike pulls off first, roaring down the road at a reckless speed. Billy pats my hand where it rests on his chest, and he rumbles low and comforting.
“Easy, I’ve got you.”
31
BELLE
Leon Lennox reminds me of the ageing apex predator on a nature programme. A huge, battled-hardened lion who has led his pride for years and has the scars to prove it.
Dressed head-to-toe in black, with heavy biker boots and a worn leather jacket, he looks every inch a scary badass. There’s a gleam in his eye that makes me feel exposed, and I fight the panic crawling up my spine that comes from being in his presence.
This isn’t a man I’d like to meet on my own in a dark alley.
I didn’t expect to meet him so soon, and I’m rattled by the sight of him in the corner of the dive bar we’ve just entered. At the end of an all-but-deserted main street, only the bar and a grocery store survive in what looks to have been a once-thriving town.
Perched on a bar stool, a generous glass of whiskey in hand, Leon’s eyes are on me from the second we walk through the door until the moment Billy disappears from my side, leaving me to my fate.
“This her, Billy?”
Leon’s question, and the tone in which he asks, is meant to be intimidating. It works, and I don’t bother trying to hide it. It would be weird if I wasn’t affected by him.
Billy has gone behind the bar, grabbing a few bottles of beer and handing them out to everyone but me. “This is the one,” he confirms. “Found her spitting fire on the road where Marcus dumped her.” Billy doesn’t even look at me, busying himself behind the counter.
Leon watches him closely, then his eyes slide to the bear who found me. “What did you see, Chris?”
Chris nods in confirmation. “Just like he said. Marcus couldn’t get out of there fast enough. Looked like a pussy in his sheriff’s uniform, too.”
That gets a big laugh from the rest of the bar, but Leon doesn’t even smile, just takes it all in.
Pouting, I feign irritation that these men are talking about me like I’m not here, though it’s nothing less than I’d expect from a crew like this. Leon turns his focus to where I stand in the middle of the grey concrete floor.
“Causing headaches for my boy, are you little one?” Leon tips back his glass and sets it down, empty, on the table. A sneer remains on his lips with the mere thought of Marcus.
“There wouldn’t have been any problem if he had let me talk to my mate. Ex mate. Whatever.” Grumbling, I fold my arms over my chest and toe the floor.
Leon waves at Billy for another drink. “If he’s stupid enough to reject someone who looks like you, I’m not sure why you’re so worked up about losing him.”
