Page 12 of Property of Yak

He nods. “I’m going to get it. Stay here. Don’t look at them. Understand?”

“You won’t leave me?”

I hate how weak I sound.

“Look at me. Stare at me. I won’t disappear.”

I nod as he pulls out a flashlight. I have no idea who carries one, but apparently he does. He looks down the alley. I keep my eyes on him, watching as he finds my purse and then my phone and brings them back to me.

“Here are your things. Did you drive here?”

I shake my head. “I took a rideshare.”

He tsks his tongue. “Those aren’t safe either, Angel. How about I take you home?”

I nod without hesitation. For whatever reason, I feel safe with this man. It could be the way he killed for me without hesitation, but I’m not willing to psychoanalyze it right now.

“Let me get us a ride. It’s too cold to put you on my bike.”

It dawns on me what his vest means. As he pulls his phone out, I stare at the logo on the vest.

Kings of Anarchy.

It’s the same one as the one Liz’s boyfriend wears. Only this man in front of me wears it better. I don’t even know his name.

“It’ll be a minute. Here, cuddle closer. I know I’m covered in blood, but at least you won’t be cold. I wish I hadn’t left my jacket on my bike.”

He says the last part almost to himself. I do as he asks, cuddling in closer to him, stealing his body heat.

When headlights pull down the alley, I tense.

“Shh. It’s okay. He’s here for us.”

He pulls me from the wall and leads me to the truck as a man walks around the front of the truck.

“I hope you know what you’re doing,” he warns the man with me.

“I do. Get my bike back safely,” he growls at the man.

“Only you would ride your bike in this weather. I’ll cover for you. I expect an explanation for all of this when you get back.”

My savior helps me into the truck, shutting the door and locking me in with the heat that’s on full blast.

I stare at the men as they talk for a moment before the new man pulls out a phone. The one I am slowly realizing I might be trauma-bonded to comes and gets in the driver’s seat.

“All right, Angel. Where do you live?”

Yak

Yooper isn’t happy, but as much illegal shit as we do, two murders is nothing. Especially when it was for a good cause.

He is hesitant to trust the pretty blonde in the passenger seat, but I gave her the option to call the cops. I would have gladly taken that collar. Instead, she offered to keep it a secret.

It doesn’t mean she won’t change her mind, but even if she does, I can’t regret what I did.

Those men were going to hurt her. I know we do some shady shit, but I will never stand by and let a woman get hurt in my presence. Not the way they planned to hurt her.

My hands clench on the steering wheel as I make my way toward her house. When her phone pings, I look over at her.