Crash watched her body language, listened to the tone of her voice. On this, now, she was telling the truth. At least the fear he sensed in her was real. Very real. She’d actually started to tremble. Oh, it wasn’t that noticeable, but he’d picked up on it. He knew Cole probably had as well.
“And what could the police really do for me, anyway? File a report? Even a restraining order-”
Crash cut her off, interjecting, “A restraining order wouldn’t do shit. If he wants at her, police aren’t going to stop him.” His words were for Cole, but he held Shannon’s eyes as he said them.
Cole’s eyes cut to Crash, and then returned to Shannon. “What about hiring a personal bodyguard? Your father’s loaded.”
“My father likes him. He wants us together. He thinks it’s a perfect match. I can’t figure out why. He somehow wormed his way into my father’s graces.” She shook her head. “Anyway, my father thinks I’m overreacting.”
“Are you?” Cole snapped.
She shook her head. “No, Cole. I swear. Please help me. I don’t know who else to turn to.”
Crash studied her. The fear was there again, but it was mixed with a hint of desperation now. And she’d have to be desperate and out of options, if she thought an MC was her only option, but Crash had a feeling that may be the only honest thing she’d said.
Cole looked up at Crash as if he could read his mind. Then he looked back at Shannon. “Give us a minute, darlin’,” he said, and not waiting for a reply, he slid from the booth. With a jerk of his chin, he motioned for Crash to follow him.
They went out the front door, and Cole lit up a cigarette. Blowing out the smoke, he turned to Crash. “I’m not getting the whole truth. She’s hiding something. I can feel it.”
“She’s a woman. Chicks are experts at keeping shit from men. I think it’s in their DNA. Must be something attached to that second X chromosome. The lie-to-your-man G-nome.”
Cole rolled his eyes. “Can you be serious?”
“I’m always serious. I’m serious as a heart attack. What are you talking about?”
“Right.”
“Look, yeah, she’s hiding something. They all are. And you won’t have a clue what it is until it bites you in the ass. Get used to it.”
Cole shook his head. “I don’t have to get used to it.”
“You gonna stand there and pretend Angel didn’t keep shit from you?” They both knew the truth on that one.
Cole took a hit off his cigarette, squinting down the street. “Well, I can’t bring this shit to the club. We’re not in the goddamn protection business. And I sure as hell am not bringing her home.”
Crash let out a laugh. “Christ. Angel would adopt her in ten seconds flat.”
“Exactly. So what the fuck am I gonna do with her?” He shook his head. “I dump her in a hotel, she’s gonna be as unprotected as she is now.”
Crash studied Cole, looked back toward the bar and then down the street and said casually, “I guess I could take her.”
“You?” Cole snorted, disbelievingly.
Crash’s eyes returned to him. “Yeah, me. You got another solution?”
“You sure? She’s a spoiled princess, and we’ve both seen her bitchy side before. She gave you a taste of it not five minutes ago.”
“Maybe I can do something about that. Give her a taste of life on the other side of the wrought-iron fence she’s been living behind.”
Cole’s eyebrows rose. “She’d be a handful. Sure you want to sign up for that?”
“Have you looked at her?”
Cole grinned. “Point taken.”
“Besides, I could use somebody to do my laundry and clean up around the place.”
“You’re delusional if you think you’re gonna turn that spoiled princess into your personal maid.”