“You better be quick about it.” Tracy nodded toward the men behind them.
“Fuck them. She’s freezing and needs to warm up,” the hero beside her said.
Hesitating for a moment, Saige picked up the glass and took a liberal drink. The liquid burned her throat but warmed her soul. Sure, she was shaking like a leaf, but it wasn’t just from the drenching she’d received outside.
“Name’s Capone.” He offered her the hand that had shook fear into another man just moments ago.
She frowned but took it anyway. “Like the gangster?”
He chuckled and scratched his jaw, the sound of the scruff causing her to bend his way. “Something like that.” She’d always been a sucker for stubble.
“So, you’re an outlaw.” She couldn’t resist the tease. Just moments ago, Saige secretly cursed an inebriated guy from coming on to her, but two sips of a brandy and she was flirting with the guy who saved her hide. It didn’t hurt that he was drop dead gorgeous.
He swiveled on the bar stool and nodded toward the rest of the men lounging about the bar. “They are.”
She twisted in her chair, and her eyes darted to the different men seated about the room. They all wore leather vests, the words Eternal Outlaws patched on the back. Had she wandered into a biker bar? Turning her attention to the man next to her, Saige was taken aback by the scar marring his beautiful face on the opposite side.
“But this is the reason for the nickname.” Pointing to his face, he frowned and downed his drink.
“Seriously,” Tracy placed a hand on his forearm and nodded to the door, “you need to take the girl and go before the rest of the gang gets here.”
“Oh no, I’m not going anywhere with some man I don’t know. All I need is to have a cab come pick me up. Can I please use your phone?”
“Look, girly.” The bartender placed a hand on her hip. “I’m trying to help you here. Through no fault of your own, you’ve placed yourself in a dangerous situation. No cab is going to come anywhere near this bar and for good reason. This is Outlaws’ territory. There are only a few prospects here, but any minute now the rest of the gang will be here, and they will make mincemeat out of you. That’s why I called my dumbass brother here to come get you. Luckily, he was just outside checking my car.”
Obviously, it was a bad night for vehicles. “Why do you work here if it’s so dangerous?” Saige didn’t mean to be rude, but exhaustion and fear were making a mess of her brain.
“Because I’m dating one of the members. Cap, here is a member of the rival group, so it’s not safe for him either. The only reason these dickheads didn’t throw a fuss is because they know he’s my brother and that he could kick all their asses with one hand behind his back.”
“Are you sure I can’t use your phone?” She tried one last time as a loud roar sounded outside. “Is that thunder?”
Capone stood up. “No, the rest of the club is here. We really need to go. I couldn’t care less what happens to me, but like Tracy said, we don’t want them to see you.” He pushed their glasses toward his sister. “Please, I’ll take you wherever you want. Just hurry.”
Before she knew it, Tracy and Capone each grabbed an arm and were leading her toward the back exit.
“You can trust Cap. He’s a good kid. Now go.” The woman rushed back into the bar. She had kind eyes, but still. They stood in the back room surrounded by bottles of booze and cleaning supplies. Saige glanced up at the large man that Tracy’d just called a kid. What choice did she have? There was no staying there. Her phone had been left at her apartment, and she had no wheels. Taking a deep breath, her lungs got a whiff of Lysol.
“You can go willingly or I can throw you over my shoulder and carry you out, but I’m not leaving you here alone.” Capone smirked, and she could tell he meant every word.
Saige closed her eyes, saying a silent prayer. Her cause and effect quota was going full steam ahead again. If she hadn’t gone into this bar, she wouldn’t be leaving with a man she didn’t know. He could be a serial killer. A serial killer with a sister who seemed really, really nice.
Loud voices sounded as she heard the tavern fill up with rowdy men. Her eyes popped open, and she stared up at the handsome man with the scar on this face. His eyes darted to the closed door, and his fingers flexed.
Someone shouted his name, and her eyes met his. She no longer needed to think, just act. He grabbed her hand and out the back door they fled. The rain had stopped but the wind whipped as they ran. Following him around a shed, he opened the door to a black pickup truck, and she jumped inside.
Capone joined her and started the engine. The tires threw mud as they sped out of the parking lot and onto the road. She risked a look back at the bar. A flash of light highlighted the rough crew that was now watching them depart. Swallowing, she sunk back in the seat.
“Where’s your car?” He turned up the heat.
“It’s just up over the hill.” With a shaky hand, she pointed the direction. As they drove over the summit, the lights of another vehicle came into view.
“Looks like someone beat us to it.” Capone slowed.
Saige leaned closer to the dash to get a better look. The truck neared her car, and she ducked down. “No, no. Keep going, don’t stop. Please. Don’t stop.”
The man beside her hesitated before hitting the gas. “You’re sure? I thought you wanted to get to your car.”
“I do but not with that guy there.” Her heart sank, and a little sob escaped. With her head near her knees, she tried to keep from throwing up. They drove for a few miles, and it barely registered that he’d placed a comforting hand on her back.
“We’re not being followed. Do you mind telling why we couldn’t stop?”
Slowly she rose and turned to see if it was true. Turning back to face the front, she took a deep breath. “I didn’t want to stop because that man is trying to kill me.”
Chapter Two
Capone
What the fuck had he gotten into? Capone drove his truck into the garage, turned off the engine, and hit the button to close it behind them. The shock of seeing whoever the hell was by her car had caused Saige to clam up. Asking her where she wanted to go next didn’t help either.
“You sure there isn’t someone I can call? Do you want to go to the police?” He’d not noticed it at first, but from the way she favored her wrist and the dark shadow on her face, the only conclusion one could come to was that the poor woman had been the victim of abuse. The fucker by her car? He should have stopped and beat the shit out of him right then and there. Was the bastard her husband? A boyfriend? Relative?
Saige turned his way, her face difficult to read in the dim light of the building. “Where are we?”
“My place.” Capone got out of the truck and came around to open her door. “I promise you’ll be safe here. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s clean, dry, and no one will hurt you. I can even ask Tracy to come over after work if that makes you feel better.”
“It’s not what you think.” Her lower lip quivered.
“Not my place to judge.” Slowly, she got out of the vehicle and noticeably winced when her foot hit the ground. He reached to steady her. “Are you okay? Do you need to see a doctor?”