Unconstrained

Somehow, I managed to get to my feet and swish my mouth out at the sink. When I turned around, I realized Snake wasn’t as unaffected as I’d thought. He’d lost some of his color, and sweat was running down his face despite how cool it was. “What are you going to do if the wound gets infected?”

“After all that alcohol you poured on it, what’s the chance of that?”

“This isn’t exactly a sterile environment.” I probably had been a bit excessive, but it wasn’t like I’d enjoyed hurting him; I just wanted him to be safe.

His smile looked like it took effort. “I’m not saying it was too much. Thank you for helping me.”

“I hope it wasn’t. I really didn’t—”

“You did everything just right.”

His voice was soft, and he sounded sincere. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

He nodded and rose. “I should get going.”

“What?”

“Beau’s not here, and those asshole bikers know where I am. I need to keep moving and find somewhere else to lay low for a few days.”

“You can’t ride like that.” I gestured to his arm.

“I’ll make do.”

“You’ve lost a lot of blood. You could get dizzy and fall right off your bike.”

“I appreciate your concern, sweetheart, but I’m all fixed up now, and—”

No way was I letting him leave like this. “You said they wouldn’t come after you again tonight.”

“That’s my best guess.”

“Then stay here and let me get you something to eat. You need rest and food before you try to ride off somewhere.”

“If Beau’s not here…”

“He’s not going to mind if we sleep in the garage. I used to do it sometimes before I got my own place.”

Snake frowned. “Why did you need to do that?”

I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter now.”

“Things like that always matter.”

I shrugged. “There should be some blankets and stuff in the office building.”

“Is Beau coming back tonight?”

“No, he won’t be back for a few days.”

“Then why don’t we use his apartment?”

“How do you know where he lives if you don’t even have his phone number?”

“I told you, we’re friends.”

I wasn’t buying it. “And he’s been communicating with you since he got out?”

“I did my research before coming here, okay?”

I couldn’t really blame him for that. Unless… How did I know anything he said was the truth? What if he and Beau were enemies, what if the men after him were… No, Snake had been planning to leave, and even injured as he was, he could have easily overpowered me if he wanted to cause trouble. That didn’t mean I was going to let him break into Beau’s apartment.

“We can’t go up there. I’ll find enough stuff to make you a decent bed down here.”

“You said he won’t be back.”

Did he have to be so fucking difficult? “That’s not the point. He’s got security cameras.”

“If he were here, he’d let me in.”

“How do I know that?”

“Don’t you trust me?” His smile did things to me that I shouldn’t be able to feel after what I’d just been through.

“No.”

“That’s wise, but I won’t harm anything of Beau’s.”

“He’s just my employer, and he’s got a boyfriend, and if you aren’t afraid of Beau, you damn well ought to be afraid of his man.”

Snake grinned. “I don’t scare easily.”

I blew out a breath. If I went along with this, I was an accomplice. Beau had given me a job, and…

“Call him and ask.”

“Oh… I…” Why the hell hadn’t I thought of that? I pulled my phone from the pocket of my coveralls, glad to see it hadn’t been damaged when Snake had pushed me to the ground to protect me.

I thought Beau wasn’t going to answer, but he finally did. “What’s wrong?”

I’d promised not to bother him unless there was an emergency. “Nothing’s exactly wrong.”

“What does that mean?” Beau didn’t sound pleased, not that I’d expected him to.

“A friend of yours stopped by.”

“Who?”

“Snake.”

“Oh, yeah, I heard he got released a few days ago, but I didn’t expect him to look me up.”

“He needs some help.”

“Shit. What’s he gotten himself into this time?”

Snake was motioning for me to hand the phone over. Since it was clear Beau knew him, I figured it would be a lot easier for Snake to explain things himself.

I held out the phone, and Snake took it from me. “Hey, Beau, how’ve you been? Yeah, it’s those assholes from Lightning MC.”

I listened closely as they talked, but I couldn’t hear Beau’s side of the conversation.

Snake spoke again. “Yeah, I should know better… Look, I didn’t mean to lead them to your place.”

I still couldn’t make out Beau’s words, but I could tell he was yelling. I wondered if I’d have to find another place for Snake to stay tonight. If Beau wasn’t going to help him, I should just send him on his way, but… he’d protected me, and he was hurt.