The first guy smiles a thin, mean smile. “Oh, we’re done talking. Your papa needs a more severe message. He pulls something out of his pocket and begins to screw it onto the front of his gun, and I realize with horror that it’s a silencer.
“No, wait… please!” I gasp.
“Hey, don’t do her face,” the third guy mutters while fishing a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket. “She’s too hot to fuck that up.”
“You wanna do it, you dumb—”
The motel room door smashes right off its hinges as it flies open, and suddenly, Rowan is everywhere at the same time. He barks out a yell and grabs the guy with the cigarettes. The man screams as Rowan slams him into the wall, crumbling the drywall before he drops to a heap. The guy with the gun is next, and he screams just as loud as the first when Rowan punches him square in the nose. The gun doesn’t even hit the floor before Rowan’s caught it and aimed it at the last thug. There’s murder and rage on his face, and the guy sees it plainly.
“Whoa, hang on, pal! Hang on!”
“You’re going to walk out of here,” Rowan growls savagely. “You’re going to get in your car and get the fuck out of Silvervale. And if you ever come back, they’ll never find your remains. Understand me?”
The man nods eagerly, but the first guy on the floor laughs. He spits blood as he climbs to his feet and glares at Rowan. “You have no idea who the fuck we’re with, do you, buddy?”
Rowan shrugs. “Nope. Don’t give a shit either. The lady wasn’t looking for company though, so I think it’s time for you to walk away before I make sure those knees don’t ever walk again.”
The guy glares at him. “You’re making the mistake of your life here, pal. You’re fucking with the wrong guys.”
“Yeah, I get that sometimes,” Rowan mutters. He cocks the hammer back on the gun, and the two other thugs glance nervously at each other.
“Alright, we’re gone,” the first man grunts. “But next time I see you, I’m gonna stick that gun up your ass and—” He yells as Rowan slams the gun across his chin, splitting his lip and knocking him to the ground.
“Big mistake, pal!” the guy groans as his buddies help him up. They stumble to the door. “Big mistake!” They run out, and we hear a car engine starting before it screeches out of the parking lot.
Rowan turns to me as I slide out of the bed, tightening the towel around myself. “What the fuck was that?” he growls.
“I… I don’t know,” I whisper. “They just… my dad.”
It feels like I’m talking through a blanket, and like I’m outside of my own body. I’m dimly aware that this is probably shock, and I’m shivering when Rowan wraps his arms around me and pulls me against his chest.
“Let’s go.”
I frown. “Where?”
“To my place. C’mon.”
I shake my head and pull away from him. “No, that’s… that’s not necessary.”
“Yeah, it damn well is,” he growls. “You’re sure as hell not staying here after that shit.”
“It’s fine, I’ll just find somewhere else to stay.”
“Annabelle,” Rowan grunts quietly. “You’re coming with me. End of discussion.”
I nod, still numb and in shock. “Okay.”
“Get some clothes on and take what you need.”
I nod again as I stumble to the bathroom and close the door. My pulse is humming through me as I put my clothes back on, and when I step out, Rowan’s already got the rest of my stuff in my bags.
“Those guy were mob, weren’t they?”
“I don’t know.”
“Annabelle.”
I shrug as I look up into his eyes. “Maybe. I don’t know,” I lie.
“There’s no mob in fucking Silvervale.” His gaze darkens as he peers into my eyes. “This have something to do with your father?”
I look down as I nod my head slowly.
“Shit,” he shakes his head. “Alright, give me your phone.”
“What?”
“Your phone,” he growls.
“No.”
“Now, sweetheart. Those guys knew exactly where to find you.”
I scowl at him. “Fine, whatever. There’s barely any service in this fucking town anyways.”
“You got enough service for an Uber?”
I look at him in surprise. “You know Uber?”
Rowan rolls his eyes. “This isn’t fucking Mars, you know. Yes, I know what Uber is. There’s two guys in the next town over who’ll pick up for the app.” He snatches the phone from my hand. “Password?”
I frown. “Nine-nine-nine-nine.”
He glances at me. “Seriously?”
“Yes, seriously.”
Rowan unlocks my phone.
“No poking around.”
He chuckles. “Got some pictures you don’t want me seeing?”
“No,” I mutter, blushing because it’s true. I mean come on; what girl hasn’t taken nude pictures of herself on her phone before?
Rowan grins. “Sweetheart, if I wanted to see you naked, I could have just ripped that towel off before.”
I tremble at his words. But it’s not out of fear. It’s that the idea of him just ripping my covering away and seeing what he wants is terribly, horribly, exciting. My thighs tremble and I shift on my feet as he brings up the Uber app.
“So where are we going?”
“L.A.”
I arch my brows. “Um, what?”
“Well, you’re gonna pay Sam to drive your phone to L.A., at least. He’s a friend. I’ll have him book you a hotel room and drop the phone off there. But you’re staying right here, with me.”
“Why exactly is my phone going to Los Angeles without me?”
“Because the hitmen who just broke down your door knew you were here. Did you post on social media or anything about where you were?”
“As if I’d want anyone to know I was in this crummy little town?”
He rolls his eyes. “Glad to see your brush with death hasn’t knocked that brat attitude out of your system. I’m guessing your phone is being traced. That’s why it’s going to L.A. Now come on. We’ll meet Sam at the shop and then go to my house.”
He’s halfway out the door holding my bags when I clear my throat.
“And if I refuse?”
Rowan glances at me over his shoulder. “If you refuse, then I’m going to toss you over my shoulder and bring you there kicking and screaming if I have to.”
His words and his gruff tone bring the same naughty excited feeling I felt earlier, and I take a shaky breath as it spreads through me.
“Fine,” I mutter. “Whatever. Let’s go.”
6
Rowan
It’s only seven by the time we’re heading out to my place just outside of town, so the sun is still low in the sky. It’s time’s like this that really make me remember why it is I moved out here after the service. I grew up all over the place since my old man was a Navy officer. But the one brief stint we had outside Tucson left a pretty big impression on me. When it’s close to twilight like this, and the desert turns purple and orange, it’s like being in a dream. Having the tempting little knockout sitting next to me in the front of the pickup truck doesn’t hurt much either.