Page 32 of Property of Tacoma

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say he must be

hurting a lot more than he’s letting on. I don’t have to know Bane to know he’s the kind of man who doesn’t like to show weakness.

He’s a biker. They’re all the same.

I’m a man. I’m strong. I can take on the world alone. Blah, blah, blah.

“She saved my ass.” Bane grins at me.

I can feel my eyes threatening to pop out of my head.

He must have taken a hard hit to the head. There’s no way he admittedout loudthat I saved his bacon. I mean, that doesn’t happen.

“I shit you not, Jude. She was like a goddamn ninja.” Bane leans heavily against his brother’s side.

Jude?

I turn my attention to Tacoma and really take him in now that I know his name. His long legs and sturdy thighs make a striking impression. His shoulders are broad, and his arms are strong and muscular. His dark, thick hair is just shy of being shaggy, adding to his rugged charm. But what truly captivates me are his eyes—deep and luminous, a mesmerizing shade of blue that resembles cobalt. He’s genuinely handsome.

Jude.

I like it. It suits him somehow—strong and a little old-fashioned.

“Thought I saw something and poked my head around the building,” Bane continues, grimacing as he touches his split lip. “Three Sinners were back here. It’s like they were waiting—like they knew we’d be here.” He shakes his head, like he’s trying to make sense of it all. “They got the drop on me.”

Tacoma pulls the gun holster under his arm and scans the mouth of the walkway.

“She pulled her gun, and for a second there, I thought Hammer was going to 86 her ass.” Bane frowns before his expression morphs into a smile. “Then she charged his ass and skidded across the ground like she’s Laura Croft or something. She was all ‘Yippee Ki Yay, Motherfucker.’”

I snort. He’s being ridiculous now.

Tacoma frowns. “You always put yourself in danger like that?”

My hackles go up instantly. Here we go with the misogynist bullshit. I get this shit enough at home. I’m not about to put up with it from strangers.

Hell-to-the-no!

Narrowing my eyes, I hiss, “Just because I have a pussy doesn’t mean I am one! I grew up in this life, too, ya know. I know firsthand it’s kill or be killed. I’m not about to sit around and wait for the men to show up when I can save my damn self.”

Tacoma’s eyes narrow. “That attitude’s going to get your ass paddled.”

“I’d like to see you try!” I fire back, eyes narrowing to slits. The au-fucking-dacity of this jerk. I saved his brother’s ass. He could at least say thanks.

Bane’s eyes dart back and forth. “She wasn’t the one in danger, brother. She shot Hammer and scared the other two off.”

“She is standing right here,” I interject, folding my arms across my tits. “Stop talking about me like I’m not here.”

“I owe you, Doll,” Bane says, clutching his ribs with one hand and extending the other to me.

I eye his hand for a beat before finally taking it.

His grip is surprisingly gentle. “No. You don’t. We’re even now.”

The corner of Bane’s mouth curls up, despite his busted lip. “Deal.”

My stomach chooses that moment to growl loudly, reminding me why we came here in the first place. I really am hungry.

Both men grin, but the amusement is short-lived.