Ryker
“Ouch,” Taz said. “She doesn’t pull her punches, does she?” he asked.
“No,” Ryker said. “She’s a beast, but I’m worried that she’s not enough of one to handle Billows.”
“You’re in trouble, aren’t you?” Taz asked.
“I am, and now, I think that Harlow is in trouble too. I need to fix this, but I can’t leave her. Can you hold down the bar while Harlow and I take a little field trip?” Ryker asked. He didn’t want to have to go to Ace, but he had no choice. If he didn’t get the twenty-five thousand that he owed Billows by Friday, he’d make good on his promise to come after Harlow, and that wasn’t fair to her. She was innocent in all of this. He was the one who took the loan from Billows to keep his bar up and running. If anyone could help him, it would be Ace.
“I can,” Taz agreed. “I’ll ask Trip to give me a hand with the new girl, Lola. By the way, I like her.”
Ryker smiled over at the big guy. He liked anyone who walked into the bar with boobs and a pussy. “I bet you do,” Ryker said. “She’s just your type—female and she’s breathing and everything.”
“Shut up, man,” Taz grumbled. “You marked Harlow as hands-off as soon as you locked eyes with her. Give me something, Ryker.”
“I’m not hiring waitresses for you, Taz. This bar isn’t a dating site. How about you leave the new girl alone and concentrate on the kitchen?”
“No fun at all,” Taz grumbled.
“You sure that you’re good with watching the bar for me tonight? I won’t be back until tomorrow if all goes well,” Ryker admitted.
“Not a problem,” Taz agreed. He tossed the big guy his keys and nodded his thanks. “You’re a lifesaver,” Ryker said. “Now, all I have to do is convince Harlow that it’s safer for her if she comes with me. Piece of cake, right?” he asked.
“Sure, if you say so, boss,” Taz said. He followed Ryker out of his office. “This is going to be fun to watch.” Ryker shot him a look back over his shoulder and Taz had the nerve to laugh.
He walked across the bar to where Harlow was waiting on the corner table. “We need to talk,” Ryker said. Taz was still by his side, and he sighed, turning back to the big guy. “Do you really need to be here for this?” he asked Taz.
“I think so,” Taz said. “I mean, you might need help. I have your back, man,” he said.
“Gee, thanks for that, Taz,” Ryker griped.
“Listen, I don’t have time for either of you right now. I’m busy,” Harlow insisted.
He grabbed her hand into his own. “We need to take a little road trip,” Ryker said.
“Road trip?” she asked. She pulled her hand free from his grasp. “I’m not going anywhere with you.” Ryker pulled his phone out of his pocket, betting on a hunch. If he was right, Billows would have left one or both of his guys behind to keep an eye on them—particularly her. He almost wanted to shout, “Ah-ha,” when he found the video feed with the two assholes sitting in their pick-up truck in the back of the lot.
He held out his phone to show it to her. “You see,” he said, “Billows left his guys here to watch us. I’m betting they're not here to watch just me. You heard what he said—he’ll take you as payment and we can’t let that happen.”
“So, you plan on taking me on a road trip? I’m supposed to just run and hide and what—leave my mom and daughter behind?” she asked.
“Right now, Billows doesn’t know about your mom or your daughter. As soon as you get into your car to go home, they’ll follow you,” he said, pointing to the phone screen. “And then, they’ll know all about your mom and Iris.”
“Shit,” she grumbled under her breath. “I can’t let that happen.”
“I’m going to meet with an old friend, and I think he can help me get the money that I need to pay Billows off. Then, you’ll be free to come and go as you please, honey,” Ryker said.
“What about my shift?” she asked.
“Lola and Taz can handle it. Plus, Taz is going to ask Trip to lend a hand behind the bar. We’ve got this covered. Let’s go fix this mess.” Ryker was hoping that she’d willingly agree, but he didn’t care if she did or not, because there was no way that he’d take no for an answer. There was no way that he’d leave her back at the bar to go talk to Ace, knowing that Billows’ bodyguards were waiting for her out in the parking lot.
“It seems that I have no choice, really. If I tell you no, and go home after my shift, I put my mom and daughter in danger. I can’t let that happen, so I guess my answer is yes—I’ll go on a road trip with you.”
“Thank you, honey,” Ryker said. “Call your mother and give her a heads up when we get on the road.”
“What am I supposed to tell her? You took out a loan from a crooked asshole and now, he wants me as payment,” she sassed.
“That works,” Ryker said with a shrug. “I don’t care what you tell her as long as you tell her to stay in her house and don’t answer the door for anyone.”