Page 8 of Scorpion (Riders of Retribution #4)

Lilah

The phone rings, making me jump and then freeze. It’s another unknown number, just like a majority of the calls I’ve gotten today.

I should just let it ring, let it go straight to voicemail. If it’s the same weird caller I’ve been getting all day, it’s not like it’ll matter. They can be creepy and breathe into my voicemail instead of into my ear.

But, if they’re not, I could get in trouble for sending a potential client straight to voicemail in the middle of the work day.

It’s not unheard of for new customers to call with their number blocked.

The agents do follow-ups based on phone records, so calling with their phone number hidden is a great way to combat that.

Ultimately, my desire to keep my job wins out, and I pick up the phone.

“Thank you for calling Safe Rio Lunas, this is Lilah. How may I help you today?” I say, my voice chipper despite the dread pooling in my stomach.

Instead of a verbal reply, the person on the other end breathes heavily.

It’s just as unsettling this time around as it was the first, despite the fact that I’ve already lost track of how many times this has happened today.

My stomach twists, and just as I’m about to slam the receiver down, the person on the other end hangs up first.

With shaky hands, I set the phone down in the cradle again and glance at the clock on my computer.

It’s nearly five, so with any luck, that’ll be the last weird phone call I have today.

Plus, most of the office is starting to pack up to head home.

If the phone rings again, I’ll just ignore it and make up some excuse about helping out in the office.

It’s hard to tell who was calling, especially because I only have their breathing to go off of, but I just know that it was Dan.

Before today, I’ve never gotten calls like that.

Sure, every once in a while a teenager will call and act like an idiot on my line as some sort of prank call, but no one has ever called just to breathe at me.

I spend the last half hour of my shift staring at the clock and jumping anytime a phone rings in the office. It’s torture, but I manage to get through it. Finally, I’m able to start packing up for the day, and as I’m doing so, Scorpion walks through the doors.

The feeling of relief that floods through my body should be criminal. Or bottled up and sold on the street. I’ve never experienced anything like it.

Without even thinking about it, I’m throwing myself into his arms. He catches me, cradling my head in the palm of his hand while he rubs soothing circles into the small of my back.

I missed him desperately, and I didn’t realize that just his presence would be enough for me to trust that everything’s going to be okay.

“Long day, I take it?” he asks, pressing a kiss to the side of my head before pulling back slightly to let his eyes roam my face.

“The longest,” I admit, reluctantly peeling myself away from him so I can get the rest of my things. “I’m so glad to get out of here.”

“Good,” Scorpion murmurs. As I’m shoving the last of my things into my backpack, he says, “I promised I’d keep you safe, so you’re going to be staying with me while we figure all of this out. That creep knows where you live, and I don’t feel comfortable letting you stay there.”

“Thank you! I was considering staying in a hotel, but I’d obviously rather stay with you,” I admit, slipping into my backpack and grabbing my helmet.

“I’m glad. I just want to keep you safe,” he assures me, resting his arm protectively around my shoulders as he leads me out of the building.

“I’ll take you to your place and come inside with you so we can make sure you’re safe.

We’ll only stay long enough to pack what you need and put that box on the porch, then we’ll head back to my place. ”

“Okay,” I say, unable to put into words how much I appreciate the plan being laid out for me. I love that I don’t have to think, that he’s just ushering me around and doing all of the heavy lifting.

I’m falling for him. Hard.

As I shove my helmet on my head and get on his back behind him, I let myself completely melt into his body.

I don’t know how I got lucky enough to meet Scorpion.

When we came up with that stupid fake dating plan, Throttle could have asked anyone to play the part.

I mean, it’s not like they had to be my dream guy.

But, somehow, that’s exactly who he picked.

I wonder if he knew, if he hand-picked Scorpion for a reason.

As Scorpion takes the familiar streets back to my place, I wonder when I should break the news to my brother that this fake relationship is very likely a real one, that I want to keep Scorpion around long-term.

I know how much he cares about and respects Scorpion, I know he’ll be thrilled.

But Throttle is protective as hell, so I know that if we broke up, it would create a rift in the MC.

I’m so lost in thought that I almost don’t notice that the car behind us has taken every turn that we have.

Though, now that I’m clued in, I pay a little more attention.

When they follow us off the main road, I consider tapping on Scorpion’s arm to let him know that something’s up, but he’s already on the case.

Our route changes, and I no longer recognize where we’re going.

For the next ten minutes, we take turns and go in circles around town. It becomes increasingly obvious that this car is tailing us. Whoever it is isn’t even trying to hide the fact that they’re following us.

Just like the phone calls at work, I know in my heart that the person following us is Dan, even though I can’t tell exactly what kind of car the person is driving.

There’s no one else that it could be. And, even though I’m scared out of my mind, being pressed against Scorpion makes me feel like everything is going to be okay.

I don’t know how it’s going to work out, but it has to.

Scorpion said that it would.

Eventually, Scorpion gives up trying to lose Dan in town and gets on the highway, speeding away from Rio Lunas.

Dan’s car follows us, staying close as we drive further and further away.

I hold on tight, hating that the longer this goes on, the less sure I am that two of us are going to be safe.

We’re on a motorcycle, and Dan’s in a car.

It wouldn’t be hard for him to take both of us out.

Scorpion seems to be prepared for this, though. Every time Dan gets close, he speeds up. Then, he expertly drops his speed so he can turn off a dirt road. His bike seems to fare much better here than Dan’s car.

Eventually, we come to a stop at a house that I would normally assume is abandoned.

Scorpion tucks us away in a spot that Dan’s car won’t be able to reach.

There’s a huge concrete wall between us and the road, and even though I can hear his vehicle on the dirt driveway, I feel safe here with Scorpion.

Scorpion kills the engine, and I clamber off. He shucks his off helmet and pulls a gun from his waistband. Then, he fixes me with a stare that makes me freeze in place.

“Stay here,” he says firmly. Then, he grabs something from the corner – a metal pipe – and thrusts it into my hands. “I’m going to take care of this, but I’ll feel better if you have something to protect yourself with.”

Then, before I can say anything, he takes off.

I stay where I am for a moment, trying to quell the fear that continues to grow.

When I’m able to move, I shuffle to the corner where Scorpion grabbed the pipe and press my back against it.

Then, I take a deep breath and hope with all my heart that Scorpion will be okay.