Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
“ T hat’s a unique name,” Piper said as they walked. “What does it mean?”
Talon frowned, shooting her a sideways glance, his brow furrowed. “I thought you said no more questions?”
Piper shrugged. She had a habit of ignoring her own rules. “I did, didn’t I?” She sighed, then smiled sheepishly. “My Pops used to say curiosity is my kryptonite. He was a Superman fanatic. I guess he was right.”
Talon couldn’t help but study her as they walked. She was different. He couldn’t quite put his finger on why. She was short. Her hair was piled on her head in a messy bun. She wore a t-shirt that was three sizes too big for her and cut-off jeans that reached her knees. Freckles scattered across her nose, and she looked exactly like what someone named Piper should look like—cute, carefree, and probably a bit of trouble.
“So, what do you do when you are not saving people who almost run over talking cats? " She asked, her green eyes sparkling with curiosity.
“There wasn’t a talking cat,” Talon growled. His mood darkened at the thought of Bruce, Wicked’s pain in the ass Familiar. He swore silently that he was going to wring that cat’s neck for causing this situation. He scowled at himself for even responding.
Usually, people stayed clear of him thanks to the permanent scowl he wore like armor, which was how he liked it. He didn’t do people well, and it was best to scare them off before they could piss him off. Relief flooded through him as he spotted the small town on the outskirts of the woods.
“Can I use your name in my book?” Piper asked, suddenly switching subjects as if they hadn’t just been talking about a cat who talked and curious kryptonite.
“What?” He glanced again at her and noticed that her light green eyes had flecks of gold framed by the longest black lashes he’d ever seen.
“Now look who’s asking questions.” She grinned, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. “I asked if I could use your name in my book.”
Talon, who rarely spoke to anyone unless absolutely necessary, struggled to keep up with her constant stream of conversation. “What book?”
“Whoa. Two questions!” Her eyes rounded in mock shock before she broke into another smile. “At this rate, we might have an actual conversation. Just kidding. I’m writing a paranormal book. Actually, I haven’t started it yet, but I plan to soon. That’s what I was doing in the woods. Rumor has it those woods are full of Witches, Shifters, Vampires, and Goblins.”
Talon stopped and looked down at her. “Who told you that?” His voice was harsher than he intended, but her words were too close to the truth. A truth that needed to stay hidden.
“I’ve lived here my whole life.” Piper wasn’t smiling anymore, but she was observing him closely as if she was sizing him up. “I’ve heard the stories since I was a little girl. And witnessing a talking cat, I know there is something real behind those stories.”
“That’s all they are,” Talon said, shifting the bike. “Stories. And there was no talking cat.”
“Just because you deny it a million times doesn’t make it untrue. I heard what I heard, Talon.” She replied with a shrug. “And I know there is more to those woods than meets the eye.”
How she said his name did something to him, stirring something profound inside that he quickly shoved aside. “The only things in those woods are rattlesnakes, coyotes, and cliffs you don’t know are there until you’re falling off the edge. Stay out of those woods, Piper.”
She huffed and gestured toward the small town they were approaching. “I own half of those woods, practically live in the woods, so a little hard to do.” She slowed her pace as they neared a dirt road to the left. Two men worked on a car while an elderly man shuffled down the sidewalk as the sun disappeared. “Listen, I’ll take my bike from here. My house is down that dirt road.”
Talon noticed she kept glancing at the two men. Something in her demeanor changed—a hint of caution replaced her usual carefree attitude. Slowly, he set down the bike, his gaze following hers to the men. He didn’t like the feeling in the air, but it wasn’t his business. Piper wasn’t his business. She was just a woman who asked too many questions.
“Thank you, Talon.” She smiled up at him. “It was very nice to meet you.”
He gave her a curt nod, thinking he would remain silent, but his mouth had other plans. “Stay out of the woods, Piper.” His gaze was intense as he stared down at her. “And be careful of strangers. You are lucky it was me that found you today.”
Piper looked up at him, surprised. “You’re a good man, Talon.”
If she only knew, he thought to himself, but this time he remained silent.
“My pops used to say, “ Piper, I don’t think you’ve ever met a stranger.” She said in a gravely voice, a faraway look in her eyes before she laughed and shook her head. “Again, I think he was right. I love meeting new people. It keeps life interesting. See ya, Talon.”
She turned, pushing her broken-wheeled bike beside her. It wasn’t until her back was turned that a smile tipped his lips. His eyes lowered down her body, and he had to admit she was a shapely little thing. He glanced toward the men who didn’t seem to be paying attention to Piper, so he turned, ready to get back to tear Bruce a new ass for putting him in a bad position.
“What the hell happened to you, Piper?” A male voice slowed Talon’s steps. “And who’s that guy? Another sucker you’re trying to con into your bed.”
“Shit!” Talon cursed as he turned around. His eyes found Piper, who was trying to pass, but one of the assholes was blocking her path while the other one leaned against the car with a smirk on his face.
“Get out of the way, Chuck,” Piper said, her voice irritated as she tried to maneuver the bike around the asshole, but the broken wheel was hard to control.
“Seriously, who is that guy,” Chuck said, pointing toward Talon. “I ain’t ever seen him around here before. You bringing strangers into town now because every man in this town knows you’re crazy and won’t touch you with a ten-foot pole?”
When Piper didn’t respond, the guy yanked the bike out of her hands and shoved it down the embankment next to the dirt road Piper was trying to go down.
In ten long strides, Talon was there grabbing the guy, picking him up, and throwing him in the direction of the bike.
“Pick the fucking bike up,” Talon ordered, then heard a noise behind him. He turned, ready for the sucker punch he knew was coming. Talon was quicker and knocked the guy out with one punch directly to his face. He hit the ground hard. Turning his attention back to the other asshole who was staring up at him wide-eyed, he growled. “I don’t like repeating myself, so instead of repeating, I will beat the shit out of you.”
The guy named Chuck looked at his friend, then grabbed the bike and headed up the embankment. Talon grabbed the bike with one hand, then the guy’s shirt with the other, and pulled him close, their faces inches apart.
“If I hear that you have bothered or talked to Piper like that again, I will hunt you down,” Talon growled, his eyes narrowing. “Got me?”
Chuck nodded and then took off, leaving his friend behind as he hurried down the street. He glanced at Piper, who was staring at him with wide eyes. He knew the questions were about to start, so he answered the first one that he figured was coming.
“I don’t like bullies.” He grumbled, then began to walk down the dirt road. “Come on. It’s getting dark. I’m sure your family is worried about you.”
“I don’t have any family,” Piper replied, still looking up at him. “Just me.”
After hearing that, he knew he wouldn’t let her walk the rest of the way home alone. It was already dark, and he didn’t know these two assholes and wanted her safe before he walked away. When had he turned into a nice guy? It was a mystery to him, but here he was, and he wasn’t sure if he liked it.