Chapter 4
Annie slipped off the Harley like she was made of smoke and headed across the street, scanning the area as fast as she could get away from him. Hunter stayed at the gas station, watching her from the side of the lot.
She never looked back.
He latched the extra helmet onto his motorcycle. The moment she was out of sight, he got on the Harley and rolled away from the gas station.
He wasn't going to leave her at the edge of town until he knew where she planned to go. Last night, she ran away from someone following her. Where was that person now? Was she going back to the person who tried to run her over?
What little she told him didn't jive with how he found her. She told half-truths and refused to tell him the reason why she was running.
He'd hoped that she'd talk to Vein or someone at the clubhouse, but she was scared. Once he got her to the bedroom, exhaustion took over. She never even woke up when he laid her down and covered her up. Dead on her feet, she'd fallen asleep sitting on the edge of the bed.
The streets were quiet in the early morning. Those who worked were done with their commute. School was in session. He kept his speed low, tires gliding over the pavement. He followed her movement. She darted between parked cars and hedges, cutting across a corner lot to the residential area.
He eased back on the throttle. It was a middle-class neighborhood full of single-story homes. Most of them were freshly painted and landscaped, but some were neglected. Neighborhoods like this one can be found throughout Vancouver, surrounded by newer suburbs with stricter regulations.
Annie stopped in front of a ranch-style house with an attached garage. There was no car, no motorcycle, no garbage can in the driveway. There was no sign that anyone was home.
Hunter pulled next to the curb and cut the engine. He watched from behind a parked pickup.
Annie locked her gaze on the house. Her body was no longer tired but tense. She fisted her hands at her side. That was his first sign that everything wasn't right. She argued hard about leaving last night. Why was she upset now that she'd gone where she wanted to go?
Hunter followed her gaze to the house. He didn't like the look of the place.
The curtains were closed on all the windows. He couldn't tell what was behind them. No light. No movement. But something about it felt wrong.
She watched and waited. For what?
Hunter put the bike in neutral and rolled forward until the truck in front of him stopped him from getting closer. It was enough to see her face. She spotted him and immediately started waving him off, frantic gestures slicing through the air.
The hell if he was going to leave until he knew she was home and okay.
She pointed hard toward the street, mouthing something he couldn't catch. Her lips moved too fast, her hands too wild.
Hunter raised a hand, palm out, pumping the air for her to calm.
Then he motioned for her to come to him. She shook her head, glancing at the house and backing away. He looked at the front door. There was nobody there. What was she scared of?
He pointed behind him, making it clear he wanted to talk to her. If she didn't want him here, then she could talk to him around the corner of the block.
She hesitated, then nodded once and walked backward until she hit the sidewalk. Then, she jogged past him.
Hunter circled the block and parked at the far end. He waited, eyes scanning the street.
Annie appeared thirty seconds later, rushing toward him. Her mouth was working fast, words spilling out too quickly for him to catch.
Hunter held up both hands to slow her down.
She kept going, frustration etched into every line of her face. Her hands moved with her words, sharp and angry. She hit her open hand against her palm, emphasizing her words. But, he couldn't hear her. Couldn't read her lips.
Hunter stepped closer, eyes locked on her mouth, trying to catch a word or two.
She was mad. Furious.
But underneath the emotion, there were tears in her eyes. Her chest rose and fell. She couldn't stand still. Was she having a panic attack?
Eventually, she stopped, breathing heavily.
Hunter reached out and gently touched her wrist, where the number still glistened in black ink.
Shaking her head, she said, "I don't have a phone."
He frowned. Everyone had a cell phone.
"You're scared." He gritted his teeth, wishing he could hear the tone and volume of his voice. "Is that your house?"
She caught her bottom lip between her teeth. He couldn't understand her refusal to talk. Hadn't he shown her that he was willing to help her?
She stepped away, hugging herself. Hunter stayed beside his Harley. Something was going on.
He spit on the ground. If one of his MC brothers was here, he'd have one of them deal with her. He was no good at this shit. Talking. Listening. Neither came easily for him.
Annie stopped fifteen feet away, her back to him. She stood there for a long time, unmoving, as if she was arguing with herself whether she would trust him or not. He couldn't force her to accept his help, but she had to see that it would be safer if she let him handle her problem.
Then she turned.
Slow steps brought her back to him, her gaze flicking up to his face. She looked like she hadn't slept in days.
"I need inside that house," she said, her voice low and her lips shaped carefully so he could understand her. "It's locked."
Hunter's brow furrowed. He pointed to the house, then to her, then raised his hands in a questioning gesture. Whose house was it?
"Never mind." She looked away. "It's best if you leave."
Not happening. He needed to know what kind of danger she was in.
Her lips pressed together. "You don't understand. If you help me, you could get in trouble. You could get hurt."
Hunter slid the edge of his leather aside and lifted his shirt high enough to show the pistol tucked against his stomach.
Annie's breath caught. Her eyes widened, and for a second, she looked like she might bolt.
But then she stepped forward and grabbed his arm.
Her fingers were cold.
"My sister is in that house," she whispered. "He's... locked inside. I... to get her out."
Hunter's jaw tightened. He'd caught enough to understand that she was trying to get to her sister.
"Someone is in the house with her?" He stared at her lips.
She looked back toward the house, then to him again. "He might be there, or he could be at work, but he'll come back. He always does." Her brows pinched. "If he's there or finds me, it'll be very, very bad."
Hunter's stomach turned to stone. He'd caught every word.
Lifting her chin with two fingers, he eyed her throat. He'd noticed the bruises yesterday. Someone had put their hands on her.
He pointed to himself. "I'll go inside."
"Me, too." Annie stared at him, eyes glistening. "We could get hurt."
He tilted his head and pointed to her neck. "Did he do that?"
She hesitated. Then, she nodded.
That was all it took. Hunter's blood ran hot. He clenched his fists. No one hurt a woman. Not on his watch.
He looked at the house, then back at her. "I'll go in."
"You can't go alone." She paused. "My sister...."
He placed his finger on her lips. She was going too fast. Fuck. He hated not being able to hear her.
Easing back, he nodded to her to speak again.
"My sister will be scared of you," she said.
He'd broken into houses before. Getting inside wouldn't be a problem. But he wasn't going to bring Annie with him if someone was waiting inside to hurt her.
"Tell me where she's at in the house." He pulled her over to his motorcycle. "Slowly."
For the next five minutes, she mapped the house for him. He understood that it would be easier to gain entry to the house if he could reach the backyard.