Page 11 of Flash (Iron Thunder MC 2)
“Drink this; you need it,” he said, handing one over to me. He followed me with his eyes, waiting till I’d fully emptied the bottle down my throat. Then he followed suit. I could feel the liquid traveling down my gullet, settling in the pit of my stomach warmly. He was right; I did need this. I felt a light buzz in the back of my head and despite the fact that Billy was probably still lying in the parking lot of the bar, it didn’t seem so scary anymore.
Flash took a drink from his bottle too.
“I didn’t mean all of it. Like a shot. But good job.” The corners of his handsome lips curled in a grin.
I sighed, running my fingers through my long open hair. It was a little messy and all over the place since the bike ride, but it was the least of my concerns. I could sense Flash’s eyes on me again so I looked up at him.
“Why have you brought me here?” I asked.
“Because you seem like you need to spend the night somewhere safe, somewhere where that dickhead can’t find you. Who is he?” Flash spoke.
I stared at him, trying not to give away exactly how nervous I was. How I could feel my own hands quivering in my lap.
“Jealous ex?” Flash continued. I blinked at him. Was it really that obvious? Of course, it was!
I nodded slowly and he took two large sips of his whisky, then threw the bottle into a bin nearby and crouched down in front of me.
I still had to tilt my face up to look at him because he was so much bigger. I had a thought—a memory of what it felt like to be carried by him, thrown over his shoulder.
“He can’t get to you here tonight, alright? You’re safe here,” he said.
I nodded. I knew he was right. I knew Flash would keep me safe.
“Is he the reason why you said you’re skipping town?” he asked.
I nodded again. I couldn’t bring myself to actually say the words.
“What about your family? Friends? Do they know you’re leaving?”
I gulped, realizing Flash had it all wrong.
“I’m not from here. I’ve only been in this town for about two weeks. I’m kinda…just passing through.”
His brows furrowed as he stared at me. His eyes were deep, brown and intense. He had the kind of stare that meant something. Like his brain was always whizzing and churning.
“So where are you from? What are you doing here?”
I took in a deep breath and stood up, unsure if I was prepared to answer those questions. They were too suffocating. I hadn’t explained my situation out loud to anyone.
“Maybe I should go back…I erm…I need to get to my car.”
Flash straightened up and came toward me.
“Okay, so you don’t want to talk. That’s okay. You don’t need to leave over it.” He held my gaze firmly and I believed him. I believed that he wouldn’t force me to answer his questions.
“How about another drink?” he suggested.
“What about my car?”
“What about it?”
“What if he…he might…”
“Damage your car?” Flash asked.
I licked my lips nervously, watching as he went over to the mini-bar again.
“Wouldn’t you rather be safe here tonight? Out of his reach? Than go looking for your car that may or may not be damaged by him?”
He had a point.
This was the first time in the past year—since I’d left my hometown and gone on the run—that I had someone’s company. Someone who I was inclined to trust. Could I really trust this man? I knew nothing about him. What if he was just as dangerous as Billy?
But as much as I tried to convince myself that Flash was not to be trusted, I did. Maybe it was because we’d kissed. Because I’d been in his arms and felt safe there. Even though I knew nothing about this man, I knew that he was able to make me feel something I hadn’t felt in a long time.
Flash was opening two more bottles of JD. I stared at him while he worked them and then brought them over.
“What are you doing in this town?” I asked him and he smiled.
“I guess that’s a fair question.”
I held the bottle to my lips and drank half of the whisky. I waited for him to do the same and then when he was done, he sat down on the edge of the bed.
“I belong to a Motorcycle Club. The Iron Thunders MC. We’re on a Club Ride. I’m the road captain and this town is our first stop.”
I stared at him in confusion as he spoke. A lot of what he was saying made no sense to me. Even though I knew about bikers and biker clubs, I didn’t actually know anything in detail. But I felt stupid asking him to explain. Flash was looking at me, probably assessing my reaction.
