CHAPTER SEVEN
Tina
As soon as we checked out, Talon had me change into the dress. I felt instantly better. I never felt comfortable in jeans but this dress was soft and comfortable and I didn't feel nearly as exposed as I did in my waitressing uniform. I was glad he let me get it. I was a little worried he wouldn't want me to wear something that was obviously a Little dress, especially when it might give the other bikers the wrong impression. But he seemed okay with it. If I didn't know any better, I would say he even enjoyed me wearing it.
As soon as I left the bathroom, Talon was watching me. His gaze heated up when he saw me but his expression was neutral the next second. He handed me his jacket without a word.
I looked at him, in only a t-shirt. "Won't you be cold?" I asked.
"I'll be fine. I promise. I just want you to be warm."
I smiled. "Thank you," I said shyly.
"Don't mention it."
I wrapped up in his jacket, feeling even better and more protected. As we went outside, I stopped suddenly. There were a couple of guys hanging out around Talon's bike. And one of them was the man who had tried to kidnap me outside of work.
I tugged on Talon's hand. "That's him," I whispered, staring at the strange man. "That's the guy who my father owed."
Talon followed my gaze and his mouth twisted into a sneer. "Reaper," he said. "He's one of the highest-ranking people in the Demon biker gang. Go back inside. I'll take care of this. I promise."
"I don't want you to get hurt because of me."
He looked at me. With a scowl on his face, he looked terrifying. Even though I knew he would never hurt me and he wasn't even angry at me, it took all of my willpower not to take a step back. "I won't let you get hurt, baby girl. Now do as your told. Wait inside until this is over."
I swallowed. "Yes, Daddy." I couldn't help it. In this moment, there was nothing else I could possibly call him.
I went inside the store and I watched him approach the group of men. I looked around. No one else was in the store. It was empty aside from a man behind the cash register. He was bored and looking through his phone.
I looked back outside. I could barely hear what they were saying.
"You're more stupid than I thought, Reaper," Talon was saying. "Blowing up a vehicle at Hawk's Landing is asking for trouble."
"Maybe when Hawk was still around," Reaper said. "I'm not afraid of you. You're nothing."
Talon laughed, but it was a cold laugh without humor. "You had better get out of here while I'm still feeling generous."
"No," Reaper said. "I don't think I will." He and his men surrounded Talon. "It's time to teach you a lesson. And then I'm going to take what's mine and I'm going to enjoy breaking her in."
Talon threw the first punch, hitting Reaper in the nose. Reaper's men grabbed a hold of Talon, one for each arm. He managed to get one arm free and punch another in the nose, but then Reaper punched him in the stomach.
The fight continued and Talon managed to hold his own for awhile, but he was up against three men and it wasn’t long before he was on the ground and Reaper was punching him in the face. I felt sick to my stomach. I couldn’t let him get killed over this but that was exactly what Reaper was going to do.
Before I could stop myself, I ran out of the store. “Stop!” I shouted. “Please, stop.”
Reaper paused and grinned at the sight of me. “Well, don’t you look cute. Talon sweet on you or something? Dressing you up like a doll like that?”
“Let him go,” I said. “Please. I’ll go with you. I’ll do whatever you say. But you have to let him go now.”
Reaper pretended to think it over. “I could,” he said. “Or I could just kill him and take you anyway.”
“Then I’ll scream fire,” I said. “And everyone inside that store will hear me and someone will call the cops. You think I won’t? People inside are already noticing the fight. Do you really want to stick around for the cops to come? Or more Hell’s Renegades? They’ll be on their way too, you know they will. If you let him go, I’ll go with you right now.” I was talking fast, trying to say everything I could think of to persuade Reaper to let Talon go.
Talon looked up at me from the ground. His face was bloody, so bloody I couldn’t even tell where it was coming from. “Tina,” he said, coughing. “Don’t. Run. Please.”
I shook my head silently.
Reaper finally nodded. He signaled his men to fall back and he grabbed my arm. I felt bile rise up in my throat as I went with him. But it was worth it if Talon got out of this alive.
I forced myself to take deep breaths as Reaper dragged me to his motorcycle. Talon would get reinforcements and he would come for me. I had to believe that.