Then he closes the door, leaving me even more confused. Slice gets into the passenger seat after me and Talon drives. The car ride is tense, the air thick between the two men, obviously anticipating facing the Wind Dragons face-to-face. Did they think this was going to run smoothly? Or were they worried that something might happen?
“Where are we going?” I ask nosily, breaking the strained silence and looking between the two men.
“A secure location,” Talon replies, his fingers squeezing the steering wheel. “Don’t worry, you’ll be safe with your brother before you know it.”
“How does everyone know so much about me?” I ask him, frowning. It is a little weird. There are many people connected to the club, but it seems like they had homed in on me. Was I an easy target? I didn’t like the sound of that.
“You work at one of the most popular bars in town, and the club keeps an eye on you everywhere you go. Everyone knows who you are,” Slice says in a dry tone. “Don’t know why you were stupid enough to be walking around alone. I’d kick your ass if you were my sister.”
“Well, luckily I’m not,” I snap. “I’m not a club member, I live my own life. I work at the bar; I go to school. I’m a fucking scientist. I didn’t think anyone would do anything to me because my only crime is being related to Rake!”
The men go quiet at my outburst, and Talon uncomfortably clears his throat. “You should listen to your brother. Other men might not be as nice as I am.”
My eyes narrow. “What I should do is move back to the other side of the country and live a peaceful life away from overbearing assholes.”
Slice chuckles, a really annoying sound. “Sweetheart, we both have chapters over there. You can’t get away no matter what. If you think your brother didn’t keep tabs on you while you were living away, you’re one stupid scientist.”
I blink. It never even occurred to me that Rake would have an eye on me while I was living on the other side of the country, but it does sound like something he would do.
I rub my forehead. “I’ll move somewhere far away. Scotland maybe? How about Ireland? I heard Galway is a beautiful place to visit this time of the year.”
“Shut it,” Slice demands as we drive into a warehouse.
“Is this the place?” I ask, sticking my face against the window. It is a large, dark, empty space in the middle of nowhere. Perfect for such dealings as this.
“Quiet, Anna,” Talon says, looking around the warehouse. I follow his lead and do the same. Where are the men? Goose bumps appear on my arms as I wait for something to happen.
Then, one by one from the darkness, they appear.
First I see Arrow, then Rake. Tracker and Sin step out from the shadows.
They look pissed.
And I mean pissed.
Deadly.
My gaze lingers on Arrow, whose posture is rigid, his fists clenched at his sides.
Suddenly I can’t help but feel sorry for Talon. Why did they come with only two people? If it was me I’d make sure I had a man for each man I was up against, but what did I know?
The Wind Dragon men step toward the car, like a unit, united by their fury. What was I supposed to do? Did they want me to get out of the car? Talon and Slice both get out at the same time, and Slice opens my door and drags me out, nowhere near as gentle as Talon had been. I give him a dirty look that he doesn’t see because he’s staring over my head. Then I’m spun around and my eyes instantly connect with Arrow’s. His gaze scans me from head to toe, maybe looking for any injuries? His mouth is tight, and his eyes are narrowed but alert. He looks imposing, and ready to do murder. Something I probably shouldn’t joke about, seeing as it’s something he’s extremely capable of.
“Where are my men?” Talon asks, gritting his teeth. “You said they would be here.”
I look around and feel like something is going on.
Because the two men they were supposed to deliver aren’t here.
ARE you okay?” my brother asks, taking a step toward me. “Anna, answer me!”
He sounds panicked, so I quickly reply. “I’m fine, I wasn’t hurt.”
“You will pay for touching her,” Arrow grits out, and I raise my eyebrow. How nice of him to care. I cringe. Okay, that was catty of me. There are bigger things to worry about right now than my unrequited love and the fact that Arrow fucked Jill instead of me.
Talon’s grip on my upper arm tightens, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Talon, you’re hurting me,” I say softly, and he instantly lets go of my arm.
“Where are they?” Slice demands, looking like he wants to hit something. “Or don’t the Wind Dragons keep their word?”
“In the van,” Sin replies, nodding toward the black van parked in the corner. “Let Anna walk to us, then you can go and get them. We kept our word, and we always do. This way everyone walks out of here unharmed.”
They wanted to control the situation. They did keep their word, but they also wanted assurances that I was going to be leaving with them today. It was a smart plan.
“Are they hurt?” Talon asks, staring toward the van.
Sin grins, all teeth. I never realized just how scary the man could be until this very moment. “They might be a little banged up, but they’ll live.”
Talon pushes gently on my back, silently telling me that I’m free to go. I step one small step forward, then another.
“Anna,” Rake says softly, making me look up at him.
I run to him, closing the space between us, and wrap my arms around him, finally feeling completely safe.
“Jesus, you scared me half to death. I’m so fuckin’ sorry, Anna,” Rake whispers in my ear. I squeeze my eyes shut and just hold on to him. Talon and Slice get their men and put them in their car.
“Be careful who you trust, Anna,” Talon calls out, sending me an apologetic look before he gets in and drives away. Be careful who I trust? What the hell is he talking about? I am going to let future me worry about it because right now I am where I want to be, in my brother’s arms, safe and untouchable once more.
“Come on. Let’s get you home, little warrior princess,” my brother says, leading me to the van. Arrow walks up to me, blocking my way. He has a cut lip, looks like he took a punch to the face. He reaches his arm out but then retracts it at the last moment. He curses and then takes another step to me, so close we’re almost touching. I can feel the heat from his body, smell his delicious scent. I stand still, not saying anything or moving.
Just watching.
“What the fuck were you thinking?” he whispers angrily. His hands have come up to cup my cheeks, almost as if he hasn’t noticed.
My body shivers at his touch.
“Fucking hell, Anna!”
The emotion in his eyes kills me. The raw pain etched in them looks so wrong on his usually stoic expression.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper. This was all my fault, I never should have left.
“Let her be,” Rake demands, pulling me away from Arrow and lifting me into the back of the van. Tracker comes and sits next to me, and lets me put my head on his shoulder.
The ride home is silent, strained and tense. I can tell everyone is spitting mad at me, but they’re also relieved that I’m safe. I wonder which emotion will win out in the end. Considering their alpha-male tendencies, I am going to place my vote on anger.
I soon find out I am right.
Once we were safely inside the clubhouse, and the relief of my being safe wore off, the yelling began. It was no more than I deserved, but that didn’t mean I enjoyed it. I did, however, have to listen to them tell me exactly what I put them through, and how worried they were about me. I was so sorry, so damn sorry, and I told them as much. I know it didn’t make up for anything, but I wanted them to know that I had learned my lesson. This wasn’t a game. I always said I wasn’t a kid when Rake treated me like one, but today I’d acted like one.
I felt like utter shit.
“Why the hell would you just walk out when we told you that it wasn’t safe?” Rake asks, pacing up and down. “I think I lost ten years of my life! Christ, Anna! If something had happened to you . . .”