BLAZE (2 page)

“As long as it’s from a distance.”

“You and me both, brother. You and me both.”

Blaze straightened and looked out into the night again. “I think I’m going to get out of here for a while. I have a nice, soft bed at home I haven’t seen in a few days.

Living at the clubhouse isn’t as fun as it was when I was younger.”

Flash laughed. “All right, old man. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Blaze gave him a one finger salute and then clomped down the steps to his bike.

He was a little relieved to have someone on his side, someone else that saw Celia for the traitorous bitch she was. Now he just had to hope they could do something about her before it was too late.

Luna Sylvestro tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear as she locked up the small, public library. They’d been closed for hours, but she’d been so caught up in their latest collection that she’d lost track of time. A shiver ran down her spine as she stared out into the inky darkness, the humid air licking at the back of her neck. She clutched her purse strap tighter, gripped her keys in her hand, and started across the parking lot toward the lone car. Her beat up Toyota mocked her in the black of night, the distance seeming twice as far as it had in the daylight. Sweat trickled from her hairline down the side of her face and she hastily wiped it away.

She’d always felt safe in the tiny Texas town of Willow Lake, but not anymore.

Not since the phone calls started. At first, she’d thought it was a prank call, some teen calling and hanging up just to annoy her. Maybe one of the troublemakers that came in after school each week. Then the heavy breathing had started, and later, the whispered word ‘bitch’. As the calls grew darker and heavier, she’d begun to fear for her life. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that her brother had found her. She couldn’t think of anyone else who would intend her harm. It wasn’t like she garnered a lot of hate over book fines or not getting enough copies of the latest popular book.

Luna had escaped the Desert Dogs M.C. when she was sixteen years old, the

night she’d heard her brother’s plans for her. She’d huddled in the dark of the porch, terrified of being discovered, as he’d talked to the V.P. about selling her to Black Dagger M.C. President in exchange for enough heroin and cocaine to put them in business for months. Luna wasn’t stupid. She’d seen the Black Daggers President and knew what kind of hell she’d be living if she fell into his hands. It sickened her that she was betrayed by her own brother, but Ricardo had always hated her, even as a small child.

The night he’d sneaked into her room and cut off all her hair when she was four, she’d realized there was something cold and dark living inside her big brother, and she’d known even at that tender age to keep away from him.

It had taken more courage than she’d thought she possessed to get away that

night. With two changes of clothes stuffed in a backpack, along with a burner phone, she’d slipped out her window while her brother was entertaining the Black Daggers in their living room. It had been risky, but she’d had no choice. At the front of the house, she’d frozen. A large shadow had loomed on the porch and she’d known it was one of
them
, but the man didn’t stop her. He’d blown out a stream of smoke, chuckled, and in a deep, raspy voice said, “Run, little girl, while you have the chance.”

Luna had run as fast as her legs would carry her, and gone as far as she could on her own. At a truck stop on the edge of town, she’d managed to hitch a ride with an older truck driver, who’d said she reminded him of his granddaughter. He’d taken her from Phoenix into south Texas and she’d walked the rest of the way into Willow Lake.

It hadn’t been easy, trying to survive on the streets, but she’d caught a lucky break. The diner had been hiring. Miss Judith had seen the troubled look in Luna’s eyes and taken her under her wing, giving her a cot in the back office to sleep on and paying her cash under the table.

It had taken a lot of hard work to earn her G.E.D., and even more work plus a lot of student loans to get her degree, but she didn’t regret a moment of it. Miss Judith had given her a chance at a life she could have never experienced if she’d stayed with her brother. But if Ricardo had found her, she was in a lot of trouble. She’d made a fool of him by sneaking away like that, and she’d been gone these last eight years, vanished without a trace, or so she’d hoped. But if he was here, if he was stalking her, it was only a matter of time before he caught her and made her pay.

Luna slipped into her car, locked the doors, and drove home with one eye on the rearview mirror at all times. No one followed her, but that didn’t ease her worry in the least. If he knew her number, he knew where she worked, and it was only a matter of time before he discovered where she lived—if he hadn’t already. One thing was very clear to her. She either needed some protection, or she would have to leave town, and she really liked Willow Lake. But where would she find a bodyguard? No, she didn’t need a bodyguard. She needed someone who would kill without question, someone

who wouldn’t hesitate to slit Ricardo’s throat the moment he came after her.

Mercenaries weren’t exactly listed in the Yellow Pages though.

So consumed with her thoughts, it was almost too late when she saw the red

taillight in front of her. She slammed on her brakes, causing th wheels to lock up and the stench of burnt rubber to fill the air. The motorcycle in front of her sped up and then pulled off to the side of the road. She watched, heart in her throat, as the largest man she’d ever seen slid off the bike and approached her. When he drew near enough for to make out more details, the black leather cut draped across his wide shoulders nearly made her panic.

She quickly scanned the patches on the vest.
Sergeant at Arms
,
1%
,
Steel Riders
, and others adorned the leather. A frisson of fear held her locked in place as he approached. It had been a long time since she’d been face to face with a biker, and those were far from happy times for her. Was it a coincidence that she’d nearly run him over, or had Ricardo sent him? She didn’t know who was in bed with the Desert Dogs these days, and she didn’t want to know.

He tapped on the window when he stood by her small car and she hesitantly

rolled it down. She peered up at him as he hunkered beside her, removing the helmet from his head. It was too dark to clearly see his features, but dark eyes under arched eyebrows studied her.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“Me?”

“You’re the one I’m talking to.”

Luna swallowed the knot in her throat. “I-I’m fine. S-sorry for almost running you over. I didn’t see you.”

He leaned closer and inhaled, his nostrils flaring. A low rumbled sounded from the large man and she stifled the gasp that rose to her lips. His eyes flashed in the moonlight, opalescent like an animal’s eyes when it’s caught in the headlights of an oncoming car. She knew those eyes. Had seen them before.

“You’re a shifter,” she said softly.

If he was surprised by her observation, he hid it well.

“If you’re a shifter, then Ricardo didn’t send you.” Relief coursed through her at the revelation. Her brother would never dirty his hands by working with shifters.

Prostitution, drugs, stolen goods…but not shifters. He considered them to be lowest of the low.

“No, Ricardo didn’t send me.” He leaned in and sniffed again. “Why are you

afraid?”

Trust didn’t come easily to Luna and she bit her lip to hold back the words that wanted to spill forth. She’d kept Ricardo a secret since coming to Willow Lake, had never even mentioned having a brother. But for some reason, she wanted to confide in this stranger, this large shifter who watched her with a steady gaze that unnerved her.

Luna didn’t know how long she’d stared back at him, the words held hostage in her throat.

“All right. Let’s try this again. I can scent that you’re afraid. Is this Ricardo person after you? Are you in trouble?” He stared at her so intently that she thought he could see into her very soul.

“Ricardo is my brother, and yes, he’s after me,” she admitted.

“And why would you think he sent me?”

“You’re in a motorcycle gang.”

“So you’re an M.C. bigot?”

She blinked, startled. “No. Ricardo is in the Desert Dogs M.C., but once I knew you were a shifter, I knew he couldn’t have sent you. He despises shifters.”

His lips twitched as if he fought a smile at her words.

“No offense,” she added.

“None taken. You know, we can continue this conversation through a cracked

window, but my knees would thank you if we could take this someplace more

comfortable. How about a cup of coffee at the Pink Lady and you can tell me just what it is you’re running from. You never know, I might be able to help.”

Luna hesitated. The Pink Lady wouldn’t be overly crowded at this time of night, so no one would overhear their conversation. But, it wouldn’t be crowded, which meant if this big biker did mean her harm, there would be no one to save her. Not that she couldn’t take perfectly good care of herself, but…well, she barely weighed one hundred pounds and this big guy had least two or three times that on her. He’d snap her like a twig before she even had a chance to resist.

“My name’s Blaze and I’m part of the Steel Riders M.C. here in town. I promise you’ll be safe with me, Miss….”

“Luna. Luna Sylvestro.”

“Luna,” he said softly, his voice caressing her name like a favored lover. It sent chills down her spine.

“How could you possibly help me?” she asked. “Are you a gun for hire?”

He did smile that time. “I’m no merc, but maybe after you fill me on the

situation, I’ll be able to come up with a solution for you. One that doesn’t have you jumping at shadows.”

“All right,” she agreed. “I’ll follow you to the diner.”

He nodded and rose to his feet, his belt buckle at eye-level when he stood. Good god but he was a large man! She couldn’t imagine what type of shifter he was, but it must be something massive. He moved with easy grace, a predatory grace, as he went back to his bike, swung his leg over, and revved the engine. As he pulled away, she fell in behind him, but kept a safe distance so she wouldn’t have a repeat performance if she wigged out again.

The pink neon lights in the diner window spilled across the parking lot, bathing the asphalt in its bright hue. She pulled into the parking space next to the shifter, and took a deep, steadying breath before getting out and walking into the diner with him.

Standing next to him, she felt like a fairy beside a giant. He was broad and tall, but she didn’t see an ounce of fat on him anywhere. His biceps bulged under his black tee and she wondered if he used that strength to harm or shelter. If he’d wanted to hurt her, on the side of a deserted road would have been the best choice, so she had to trust that he meant her no harm and truly wanted to offer to help, if he could. She still wasn’t sure what he could do for her, or why she was even here with him. She should have thanked him then went on her way. The fewer people involved, the less likely there would be a body count when Ricardo came for her.

They claimed a booth near the window and away from the other patrons of the

diner. Her hands trembled in her lap as she looked around. A firm, rough touch settled under her chin and turned her face toward him. Blaze, he’d said his name was Blaze, had to be his club name.

“I won’t hurt you,” he said. “You have my word that no harm will come to you

as long as I’m with you.”

“Why are you helping me? I’m a complete stranger who nearly ran you over.

You should be angry with me, cussing and spitting mad, not sitting across from me all calm, cool, and collected, asking how you can help.”

His lips kicked up on one corner. “Is that what you want? Me to be angry with

you?”

She shrugged a shoulder.

Blaze turned those intense eyes away from her and motioned for a waitress. He

ordered coffee for each of them and then waited for the woman to leave before he addressed Luna gain.

“I can see where you’d be leery of trusting me, if the person after you is also part of an M.C. But I’m guessing I’m your best shot at getting out of whatever this is in one piece. If you have the Desert Dogs after you, you’re going to need back-up. And looking at you,” his gaze caressed her, “I’m guessing you lean more toward literary circles than the type of people who know how to handle themselves in a fight.”

“You’d be right. I’m the town librarian, but I grew up in that world. I can handle myself if it comes down to it, but I know my brother, and he won’t stop until he gets what he wants. I ran away when I was sixteen and I’ve managed to stay hidden for eight years. About two weeks ago, I started receiving what I thought were prank calls, but they’ve escalated quickly. I just know he’s found me.”

The waitress returned with their coffee then made herself scarce.

Blaze picked up his cup, blew across the hot brew and then took a swallow.

“Why would your brother be after you?”

“He promised me to the President of the Black Daggers. He was negotiating with them the night I ran away.” She poured creamer into her cup, gave it a stir then took a tentative sip.

His eyes gave nothing away as he studied her. Luna felt her heart kick in her

chest as she stared right back. Those dark eyes just pulled her in, lulled her into a sense of safety, but she wasn’t sure she could trust it. She knew bikers and they were a rough and tumble lot, and judging by the 1% patch on his cut, he was an outlaw. This was no weekend warrior who worked in an office Monday through Friday. Blaze was the real deal, and while that should have frightened her, she felt this thrill run through her. It had been a long time since she’d taken a walk on the wild side, but even if she did feel a hint of attraction toward him, she couldn’t act on it. Not now, not while Ricardo breathed down the back of her neck, getting closer than she’d like.

“I’ve heard rumors about the Black Daggers and what happens to women in