Page 28 of Property of Yak

“My brother will grab her and get her out of here. Did you drive?” he asks.

“No. She did.”

“There’s that at least.” He starts to pace again. “You found me. So now what?”

My mouth opens then closes. I hadn’t thought this far. I don’t really know what I planned to say to him. All I know is that I wanted to see him again. To see if the feeling in my stomach was from the adrenaline from before or if it would still be there after it was gone.

I guess this was a bad choice to find out. Tonight is no less like that night that we met. Well, except he didn’t kill anyone.

“I don’t know,” I admit.

He shakes his head. “You painted a big red target on your back. I didn’t give you my number or name because I didn’t want you to find me. My life isn’t safe for a girl like you. You saw that man out there? I want to think most of my brothers would take no for an answer, but you happened to run into the one that I know for a fact wouldn’t. He would have taken you right there in front of everyone without a care in the world for your pretty tears. Now he thinks you’re mine, which only makes you a sweeter prize.”

“Why would you be part of something like this? Why even associate with people like that?” I ask, my cheeks heating at the embarrassment I feel.

He’s chastising me like a child, and I don’t like it.

“We all have our reasons. Not all of us are like him, but he’s still part of the club, like it or not. We aren’t the clubs that ride on the weekends because we enjoy the ride but otherwise don’t associate. We are a one-percenter club. That means we do bad shit. We run drugs, weapons, and counterfeit product. We don’t care what the law thinks. Anarchy is in our name because we are the law. We are the judge and the executioner. You saw that yourself. We don’t adhere to what society thinks is the norm.”

I feel a chill down my spine at his words. If he is really so bad, then why did he save me?

“Why save me? Why tell me all of this? I could go rat you out. I saw you murder someone for goodness’ sake,” I say, my voice raised a bit.

“I’m telling you because you inserted yourself into my world. You are now part of this, like it or not. You think I can drop you at home and that he won’t come after you? He doesn’t like me, and he certainly doesn’t like being told no. He will now pursue you like a game. As for saving you…” He trails off. “I don’t know. I didn’t like the fear on your face.”

“So why claim me if it put such a target on me?”

He gives me a sad smile. “It was either claim you as mine or let him rape you. I chose the lesser of two evils. Enough questions. I need to think, and I can’t do it here. I’ll take you home.”

Without another word, he pulls me from the door before opening it and dragging me back down the hall.

I look at the scene around me as we walk through and wonder.

What did I get myself into?

Yak

The drive to her place is quiet. I borrow Yooper’s truck again to take her home so at least she is comfortable. Now that I have her to take care of, I really need to consider getting a cage of my own.

She doesn’t know it, but I claimed her for everyone to see. In the eyes of the club, she is now mine. I wasn’t kidding about Aragon. He will try to come after her again. I took his toy while he was playing with it. He won’t let that go easily, but I gave her the only protection I could. He can’t publicly come after her. He will need to be sneakier.

Which means I need to be on the top of my game if I want to keep her safe.

“We need to park down the street and walk,” I tell her as we near her house.

“Why?”

“In case anyone is watching. It’s safer this way,” I grunt.

“Mrs. Shelling across the street doesn’t have a car. She barely moves these days. You can park there. I’ll let her know a friend is using her driveway,” her soft voice says almost in a whisper.

It’s not perfect, but it’s better than being on the street.

Pulling into the house she indicates, I turn to her. “Wait for me to come around.”

I don’t let her respond. I get out and survey the area. It looks safe enough. No cop cars. No traitor brothers spying.

Making my way around the truck, I open the door and help her out. Then I quickly usher us across the street. Once inside, I look around the place once more. It’s small, but not too small. Two bedrooms and one bathroom. A nice starter home.