That knowing look, filled with pity now, fills his eyes as he takes in everything I’ve said.
“I’m in security. Like I said, Rose. But me and a few other brothers, the Men of Valor MC. We offer a different kind of security when the need arises.”
I feel my eyes grow wide in a question, still red and running with tears.
“So… you’ll help me?” I ask, already knowing he will. They will. Whoever they are.
I’ve been back in Valor for almost a year since college, but to be honest I’ve rarely left the house.
I have no idea what’s become of the town. Not even thinking it was bad until I saw how dad changed so quickly.
“I’ll do whatever it takes, Rose,” he tells me. “But we’ll need to know more. It’ll take some time,” he adds.
I didn’t expect a solution to my problem overnight, and with the darkness, I hadn’t given any thought to where I’d even stay.
“I… I can’t pay,” I tell him, embarrassed. Not even able to afford a room for the night anywhere. And going home is out of the question now that I’ve involved the likes of Thorn and his friends.
“You won’t have to pay a dime,” Thorn assures me, and glancing at the mantle clock he silently indicates it’s not too late but none too early either.
“You hungry?” he asks, my belly making its own noise in answer.
“Me too,” he replies with a grin.
“We’ll eat and then we can talk some more if you’d like? You can stay here too,” he says firmly, his eyes flashing like a man who’s in charge as well as has a charge about him.
I nod without question, willing to do anything now.
Knowing I’m definitely in the right place at the right time.
And with the right man.
Chapter Four
Thorn
How’d it happen?
I don’t really know, except for maybe it was meant to be before anything else actually did happen with her dad?
I promise to make us something to eat.
And then?
Well.
Everything, like nature, intended. Just takes its course I guess.
I get up and she does too. We move towards the kitchen at my say so, my hand out to let my lady go first.
And before I know it, I’m catching her as she trips on the huge bathrobe of mine she has on, she’s in my arms in a second.
Safe and sound like a dove in a glove.
An angel in my arms.
I bend my body to stop hers from hitting anything and feel her go weak. That tremble running through her again before I feel one of my own inside my chest.
Our faces move closer.
Her surprised look falling once my eyes meet hers.
I haven’t kissed anyone in years.
Decades.
But her sweet ruby red lips are pouting to meet mine before I can even think.
My face moving over hers with a groan I can’t hold back any longer.
Until…
The phone rings.
The one line in the world I know I have to answer.
The call from a brother. An MC Brother. The Men of Valor.
It’s my club’s VP JP ‘Doc’ Stone, I just know it is.
The appointment I forgot to keep. He’s checking in like I should’ve, maybe hours ago.
I set Rose right, motioning with my hand for her to stay quiet. Like some guilty schoolboy as I answer the phone.
“Uh…Hullo,” I stammer, for probably the first time in my life. Maybe the second since meeting Rose.
“Thorn? We got word you missed an appointment,” The voice on the other end of the line drawls, and I recognize it instantly as Cason’s voice. President of the club instead.
“I have,” I admit, followed with my reason once I know who I’m talking to.
“And I got a bigger problem, Cason. One bigger for all of Valor if we don’t fix it.”
“I’m listening,” his voice echoes my own thoughts on the other end of the line.
“A new informant. An insider on the take from the cops in this town we’re trying to clean up,” I continue, making a point I know I have no evidence for other than Rose’s word so far.
“Uh huh,” Cason notes aloud.
Silence.
“So you just go silent and then we know all this? After you ditch on an appointment with an arranged contact?” he asks with a grinding edge to his voice I don’t like.
I’ve taken orders, done my fill.
Done more than buck against the many who’d try to make me less of a man.
But club business is different.
Brothers are brothers.
“I only just learned this, Cason. And a fresh new thread about a local government tax man new on the take with the local cops,” I offer truthfully.
“That so?” he says thoughtfully, running his thumb over his chin.
His stubble sounding like the teeth on a comb over the phone.
“But?” he adds, reading me more than ever.
“But… I just need more time,” I tell him.
Truthful again.
“Alright, but we need in on whatever’s going down by tomorrow, Thorn. Town this size, risk management. You know the drill,” he concludes.