CRASH: An Evil Dead MC Story (The Outlaw Series) by Nicole James Page B

you don’t. You’re a beautiful woman, Shannon.
Drop-dead gorgeous.”
    She
looked up at him, her face softening at his sweet compliment. “Crash.”
    Ah,
Christ. “Fine, whatever. Just don’t leave it all over my bathroom.”
    “Yes,
sir,” she teased with a salute.
    He
grinned. “I like that.”
    “What?”
    “You.
Being all obedient for a change. ‘Yes, sir.’ That’s got a nice ring to it.”
    Her
eyes narrowed. “Don’t get used to it.”
    He
chuckled. “Come on,” he took her by the hand and led her out of the bathroom.
“You’ve got a phone call to make.”
    She
trailed behind him. “I do?”
    He
led her to the kitchen and opened a drawer. It was filled with disposable
phones. He pulled one out and popped a battery into it, activating it. Then he
turned and held it out to her. “Call home. Let them know you’re all right.”
    “What?”
She glanced from him to the phone in his hand. “No.”
    “Yes.
Princess, your car and phone were abandoned at a mall yesterday. Your family is
gonna think the worst. We don’t need the police involved in a missing persons
report and your picture splashed all over the news.”
    “Crash…I
can’t.”
    “Yes.
You can. You have to.”
    She
just stared at the phone.
    “Babe,
seriously? Not even for your mother?” Her eyes looked up and met his. And he
watched them glaze over. And then she took the phone.
    “What
do I say?” she whispered.
    “Just
tell them not to worry. Tell them you’re okay. That you just need some time
away.”
    She
took the phone and made the call.
    When
she was through, Crash took the phone and pulled the battery out, tossing it
into the drawer. Then he grabbed another phone, loaded a battery and typed a
number into it. He handed it to her. “For emergencies. I have to go out for a
while. If you need me, my number’s in there.”
    “You’re
leaving me here alone?” She had a panicked look on her face that pulled at
Crash’s heart.
    “Princess,
you’ll be fine. I wouldn’t leave you, if I didn’t believe that. Nobody gets in
downstairs without the code to that door. It’s made of steel, babe, and there
are no windows on the first floor. Its solid brick all the way around. The only
way up is the elevator, and only you can send it down. The fire escape has a
retractable ladder. And most importantly, he doesn’t have a clue where you
are.”
    “You’re
sure?” she asked in a shaky voice.
    “Babe.”
He took a step toward her and put his hands on her upper arms. “You did good.
Dumping the car. Your phone. Taking a cab from the other side of the mall.
Hell, going to Cole in the first place. You were smart. About all of it.” He
dropped his head, looking into her eyes. “You’re safe here. I promise.”
    She
stared up at him.
    “Shannon,
you can trust me. I swear.”
    She
nodded.
    The
vulnerable look in her eyes as she gave her trust to him, something he could
tell wasn’t easy for her, touched him. It had him wanting to pull her into his
arms, but that would possibly lead to something else, and he didn’t have time
right now. His hands rubbed up and down her upper arms and then dropped away.
“Okay. Good.” Was that disappointment he saw flash for a moment in her eyes?
Shit, he was probably only seeing what he hoped to see. He stepped back and moved
to one of the barstools. Pulling his cut off the back, he slipped it on, then
walked to the elevator. “I’ll arm the alarm from downstairs and send the
elevator back up. When it comes up, you throw this red switch to the left, and
it’s locked in place.” He pointed to something in the elevator.
    She
nodded. “How long will you be?”
    “I
don’t know. Not too long, I hope.” He slammed the gate closed. As the elevator
began descending he smiled and said, “Figure something out for dinner.”

 
    Shannon
watched the elevator descend. She shook her head, rolling her eyes and
grumbled, “He says, from behind the safety of a metal gate.”
    “I
heard that,”