Chapter 7
CHAPTER 7
T alon watched as Piper walked out of the center, her head held high, and shoulders squared. Damn, he was proud of her for standing up for herself. She didn’t back down, even when the mayor tried to intimidate her. A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he shifted his attention back to the mayor, who was glaring in his direction.
“That’s all for this meeting,” The mayor finally said as he stepped away from the podium.
As the meeting broke up, Talon remained rooted for a moment, his eyes moving toward Chuck, who went in the opposite direction from where he stood. Good choice, he thought. Talon had planned on staying silent, but when the bastard started taking shots at Piper, that plan had gone to hell. He would never stand there and let anyone talk to her like that. His protectiveness over Piper was growing more assertive, and even his wolf had clawed inside him wanting to tear the asshole apart.
Turning, he headed toward the exit. He had to go back and report to Wicked and Thorne, but first, he needed to make sure Piper was okay. She was strong, no doubt about that, but he knew she felt she was fighting this battle alone. She wasn’t. He also didn’t like the thought of her returning to the empty farm tonight, rattled by the confrontation and facing the uncertainty of what was coming next.
Crossing the street, he made his way toward Piper’s, thinking how this situation with the developer was worse than he’d anticipated. Whatever Thorne had heard was clearly true, and it was becoming clear that this so-called “deal” could spell disaster for the town and the paranormal world hidden just beyond the woods. He sent a quick text to Thorne, letting him know a few details and that he would explain more when he arrived later. Thorne’s reply was a single word. ‘ Fuck .’
Making his way down the dirt driveway, Talon frowned; the house was dark. Still, he climbed the steps and knocked on the door. There was no answer. He cocked his head, listening for any sign of life. That’s when he heard her soft voice coming from behind the house. Without hesitation, he jumped off the porch and approached the side of the house.
Talon stopped in his tracks when he saw her. Piper was inside a small enclosure, crouched next to that damn turkey, talking to it as she fed it some food. She was pouring her heart out to Pecker, telling him all about the town meeting, the developer’s plans, and promising—of all things—a turkey that she wouldn’t lose Pop’s place, and he would always have a home.
His chest tightened as he watched her, hearing the raw emotion in her voice. He could tell she was fighting tears as she carried this alone. She had no one, and something inside him cracked at the thought. She shouldn’t have to face this alone. Not with what was possibly coming.
Right then and there, Talon made a silent vow. He wasn’t leaving this town or Assjacket until everything was settled. He knew how things like this could go. Developers didn’t just walk away when they wanted something badly enough. They got pushy, sometimes even dangerous. But no one was going to harm Piper. No one would force her off her land. As he watched her tenderly feeding that ridiculous bird, his resolve hardened. He would protect her, no matter what.
After spending some much-needed time with Pecker, Piper locked him in for the night. He was the only one she had to talk to most days, and he was a good listener and never interrupted. She snorted at the thought, rolling her eyes, and that’s when she spotted Talon standing in the shadows watching her.
Feeling like an idiot for being caught talking to Pecker, she sighed. “Yeah, they are right. I’m the crazy lady at the edge of the woods who talks to turkeys.” She threw that out there. Might as well let him know who he was really dealing with. “It’s all true.”
“Must be nice to be able to talk to something that doesn’t talk back,” Talon said with a half grin, his eyes searching hers.
“Exactly my thought.” She replied, then sighed. “Why were you there tonight, Talon?”
He frowned, shifting slightly before answering. “As I said, Wicked and Thorne are my friends. Thorne had heard some things about a possible developer interested in this area, and when you said that about the meeting, I had a hunch. I was right.”
“Your friend you are staying with is the one that owns Wicked Tattoos?” Piper frowned when he nodded. “Why wasn’t she informed? I don’t believe anything that Mayor Johnson says. Even though she isn’t a resident, her business is at the end of town. She should have been there.”
“I agree, and I’m not sure that Mayor Johnson knows of her husband Thorne, who is a developer in his own right, and well, Thorne isn’t someone you want to mess with.” Talon cocked his eyebrow. “Something about this situation doesn’t sit well with me.”
“Tell me about it.” Piper snorted, rubbing her arms against the coolness of the night. She then looked toward the woods. “I know people think I’m crazy, but there is something magical about those woods. I will never sell, not one single piece of it. I don’t care what they offer me. And it’s all I have left of Pops.”
Something flashed across his eyes but then was gone. “I know. I’ll make sure that no one pushes you out. You have my word.”
The sincerity in his voice sent her heart racing. She gave him a small smile. “Thank you, Talon. I don’t know why, but I believe you.”
“Fair enough,” He bowed his head at her. “And you’re welcome. I need to get going, but I will see you in the morning.”
“Sounds good,” She replied, walking toward the front of the house. She stopped when he stopped to look down at her.
“It’s none of my business what kind of relationship you had with that asshole, but I know his words hurt you,” he said, then reached out, cupping her chin and bringing her attention back to him when she looked away embarrassed. She hated that anyone, especially Talon, heard Chuck calling her crazy and what he said about Pops being embarrassed by her. “I don’t think you are crazy, and having never met your grandfather, I know he would have been very proud of you tonight.”
The tears she had held back all night rushed forth, bursting from her eyes. Sobs shook her body as she stood there in front of a man she hardly knew losing her shit. She was surprised when he pulled her into his arms, holding her tight, and she allowed it—wanted it more than she wanted to breathe. Human contact had been absent from her life since her Pops died, and just a hug, even from a stranger, meant everything to her at that moment.
Finally getting herself under control, she pulled back. “Sorry,” she whispered, wiping her eyes with a sniff. “Pecker usually gets the tears.”
“Well, I’m probably not as good at it as Pecker, but anytime you need a shoulder, I’m here.” He grinned at her and then caught a lone tear that escaped with his thumb.
“Why?” Piper questioned because this man confused her. She had just met him, yet he was becoming her lifeline, and that scared her a little bit.
“Because I like you, Piper.” He smiled down at her and then turned to walk away. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Piper watched him disappear into the shadows, then touched her face where his thumb had gently swiped at her tear. “Yeah, see you tomorrow.” She whispered, trying to slow her heartbeat and telling herself to be cautious. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him. It was herself she didn’t trust. And if she wasn’t careful, she could easily fall for this man, this stranger who appeared from nowhere.