Chapter 6
The truck owned by the Royalla Motorcycle Club rolled up in front of the house. Hunter nodded for Annie to open the front door, and he carried Leigh out.
Kodiak opened the passenger door and nodded without any questions.
"They need to go somewhere." He met his president's gaze. "At least for tonight."
Kodiak put his hand on Hunter's shoulder and squeezed, giving him the answer that he needed. He put Leigh in the truck and moved back, letting Annie climb up beside her sister.
Leigh was barely conscious. Her head lolled against Annie's shoulder. He patted Annie's leg and motioned toward Kodiak.
"Kodiak. You're safe with him." He stepped away, shut the door, and jogged to his motorcycle.
He followed them to the clubhouse, scanning every movement. Until he found out what kind of man would beat a woman, he assumed there were more dangers out there looking to hurt the two women.
When they reached the compound, Kodiak backed the truck into the lot and parked near the door. Hunter was already off the bike before Kodiak put the vehicle in park and killed the engine.
He carried Leigh inside with Annie close behind, holding onto the back of his vest.
The clubhouse was dim but already filled with thick smoke, and it wasn't even noon. A few brothers glanced up from the poker game they were playing, but no one questioned why he was taking two women to his room, and one of them was barely conscious.
He set Leigh down gently on the bed, then turned to Annie. She was pale, her hands shaking.
He pointed to the bathroom. "There are towels and soap. Whatever you need for her."
Annie nodded, already moving.
Hunter stepped out of the room, leaving them alone to reunite and calm down from the ordeal.
Kodiak leaned against the wall in the hallway with his arms crossed and his brows lowered.
Hunter had never made it a habit of bringing trouble down on the club.
But he couldn't leave the women there to face whatever danger was happening.
Annie's sister had been severely beaten.
He wouldn't leave her to be a victim of more abuse.
"What the hell is going on?" Kodiak stepped closer. "You bring two strangers into the clubhouse, one of them half-dead, and you don't say a word of warning?"
Hunter pointed at his ear, then shrugged.
Kodiak cursed under his breath. "I know you can't hear, but you sure as hell can talk."
"I was sitting out on Evergreen Highway when I spotted a woman running across the road with a car riding her ass.
" He shrugged. "I picked her up and brought her here for the night.
This morning, I found out her sister is locked in a house.
I got her out." He rubbed his lips together, not knowing how loud he was, but since Kodiak hadn't told him to speak up, he kept going. "Someone is beating them."
"Who?" asked Kodiak.
He shook his head. "I don't know."
Kodiak looked toward the closed door. "You are sure they're not bringing heat down on Royalla?"
Hunter dipped his head, keeping Kodiak's lips in view. "They're hurt and need to recover somewhere safe."
Some people were harder to read. Kodiak tended to mumble, and he kept his beard and mustache long. Through the years, he'd learned his president's habits and expressions.
Kodiak rubbed his face. "This ain't a hotel, brother. We're not set up to play rescue mission."
Hunter's eyes narrowed. "They're not staying long. Just need time."
Kodiak stared at him. "You trust her?"
Hunter nodded. Annie had given him no reason not to trust her. She'd kept the truth from him, probably out of worry for her own safety.
While he didn't know much about what had transpired in that house, he recognized when someone needed help. As soon as Annie's sister felt better, he'd make sure they checked into a hotel and had the means to go somewhere else.
Kodiak sighed. "Ass...walk. Trouble comes..."
Hunter nodded again, not catching the words but seeing the warning on Kodiak's face.
But for tonight, the girls were staying.
And no one was going to touch them while they recovered.