Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 79263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
2
SANDRA
Their eyes are on my back as I lead them into the intake room before the kennel. Any one of them could easily overpower me, let alone all three, but their attention doesn’t feel like a threat, just curiosity, with a good dash of male interest. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t flattering.
They’re an interesting trio. Two must be part Grizzly, massive with dark hair and muscles for days. The third has sandy hair and ocean blue eyes. He has a smaller build, but that’s only compared to his overcompensating friends. More of a quarterback than a linebacker, he’s still over a head taller than I am and could probably sweep me off my feet without breaking a sweat. All of them are dressed in the usual combination of black leather boots, worn jeans, and MC vests. One of the big guys is carrying their stray, and he has his MC jacket on. The way he’s cradling her close to his chest is freaking adorable.
“You the only one here?” one of them asks.
I glance over my shoulder. “Not anymore.”
That earns me a few chuckles, and damn if it isn’t an attractive sound. Technically I wasn’t alone until they showed up. Carl, one of our volunteers, was supposed to be working up front when I heard the bell. The next thing I knew, the side door slammed and he was gone without so much as a goodbye. The rush confused me until I saw who was standing outside. Chivalry is officially dead.
The big guy who isn’t carrying the stray cocks his head with an assessing look. He has a thick beard, a shock of black hair wrestled back into a short ponytail, and deep, mossy eyes. “You’re pretty ballsy for being alone in here with three strangers.”
Strangers ‘like us’ comes across loud and clear.
I shrug. “Hey, I told you my name, it’s not my fault you haven’t returned the favor.”
The one with the dog gives me a crooked grin. His hair is shaved close at the sides and left a little longer in a thick slash down the center of his head. His eyes are so dark they seem black, and his nose looks like it’s been broken a few times and pushed back into place in the dark. Knowing men, and especially bikers, that’s probably about what happened. Most eye-catching is the crisp black tattoo that looks like some sort of engine part stretching around and down his neck into his shirt collar.
“Name’s Piston. That’s Beast.” Piston gestures to his fellow giant.
“Ma’am.” Beast says with a politeness that seems totally out of place on a guy with a riot of tattoos covering arms that look like they’re about to burst out of his t-shirt Hulk style. He looks like he’d be happy to rip someone’s head off, then apologize for the mess.
Piston nods to the blond. “And that’s Zero.”
Zero grins. “There, we’re not strangers anymore. Danger’s over.” Behind his smile is a panther-like deadliness that I can't quite put my finger on, but instinctively know is there. I’m pretty sure if he wants to eat me, I’d welcome him back for seconds.
“Whew, I was worried there for a sec.” I flick on the light. The intake room is equipped to handle exams and minor injuries that don’t require a full trip to the vet. I pat the metal table. “You said you found her?”
“Yeah, outside Hal’s in the parking lot.” One of Piston’s big hands is cradling her head, rubbing a thumb behind her ear.
“Okay. Put her here and I’ll take a look. Was there a collar or anything with her name on it?”
“Nah, but I’ve been calling her Junkyard.” He puts her down gently, careful of a swollen, bloody, front paw.
“Junkyard? What were my new best friends thinking? You’re too pretty for that, aren’t you baby?” I look into her golden brown eyes and then up at Piston. “How about Princess?”
“Fuck no,” he says with a snort.
I’m not an idiot, and I’m definitely not naive. The Screaming Eagles are basically a law unto themselves in this city, and their ruthless reputation is well earned, but they aren’t sadistic boogeymen either. Don’t mess with them, they won’t mess with you. When I was younger, guys like these were exactly my kind of trouble and I was more than happy to seek it out. Drove my big sister Natalie crazy.
Figures that she’d be the one to end up hitched to three of them.
Beast, Piston and Zero don’t seem to know about my connection to the club, though, so it must be chance that brought them to my door. It’s on the tip of my tongue to say something about Natalie and her old men, but then I don’t. Keeping it to myself seems wiser, at least if I don’t want to get another speech from her about looking for trouble.