Page 10 of Twister’s Salvation (Saint’s Outlaws MC: Madison, WI #1)

Tempi

The sun was finally out, melting away what little chill had clung to the early hours of the morning. I stepped out the back door of the Badger Den with two hefty trash bags in hand, and the scent of fried food and beer clung to me like a second skin. The dumpster sat under the faded sign that used to say “Deliveries Only,”

though no one paid attention to it anymore.

I hoisted the bags into the dumpster and gave it a hard slam shut, then brushed my hands off on the thighs of my jeans.

“You own this place, and you still have to throw the garbage out?”

I jumped, spinning around so fast my heart slammed into my ribs.

Twister.

He leaned casually against the alley wall, with his arms folded across his chest like he’d been lounging there for hours, not like he’d just startled me into almost flinging myself into the dumpster.

“You always scare girls by the dumpster?”

I shot back with one hand on my hip as I tried to calm the adrenaline spiking through me.

He chuckled. The low sound curled down my spine.

“I was walking by and saw you hefting those bags in. Thought I’d stop by and see how you were doing.”

My eyes traveled over Twister’s face and body. Hot didn’t even begin to cover it. He was wearing that same white shirt from the other night. The soft fabric stretched across his chest and biceps, while his leather cut hung over it like it belonged there more than skin. Faded jeans, perfectly broken in, and black motorcycle boots that looked like they’d stomped through every fight he’d ever won. Add in that short dark hair, square jaw, and those gray-blue eyes that looked like storm clouds waiting to roll in, and yeah, Twister was a whole damn problem.

“Just tossing the trash out,”

I said and gestured at the now-closed dumpster.

“You’re the third guy who’s just stopped by to see how I was doing in the past two days.”

I stepped toward him, watching the corners of his lips twitch.

“Are you going to warn me to stay away from someone now?”

He raised an eyebrow.

“No clue what you’re talking about, doll. You got someone bothering you?”

I squinted up at him.

“They weren’t bothering me exactly...”

Twister tilted his head.

“It was just Frank and Nick wanting to know if I knew anything about...”

I winced. Crap. I really needed to think before I opened my mouth.

“Anything about what?”

he asked, the warmth in his voice cooled just a notch.

“Nothing. It’s nothing,”

I said quickly, already backpedaling.

“If it’s nothing, then why not just tell me, doll?”

I crossed my arms.

“It isn’t anything you need to worry about, Twister. I should really get back inside in case anyone came in. Britta won’t be here for a couple of hours,”

I said and tried to wave it off.

But I could feel it shift between us. His expression hardened, his stance a little more rigid.

“What did they ask you if you knew about?”

he said, voice low and firm.

I sighed. This was exactly what I’d hoped to avoid.

“They just wondered if I had heard anything about you and the club,”

I admitted.

“They were just being curious, I think.”

His brow furrowed.

“Curious about me and my club? They can easily come to the clubhouse and introduce themselves. Why ask you about us?”

I didn’t have an answer to that. I thought it was weird too.

“That all they say about me?” he asked.

I wrinkled my nose.

“I mean... they just said to be careful about who I let into the bar, and that we should all look out for each other.”

Twister chuckled, but it was dry. Flat.

“Beware the outsiders new to town.”

I shrugged and mentally tried to give them the benefit of the doubt.

“Maybe they were just trying to look out for me.”

His lips thinned.

“They always looking out for you?”

That stopped me. Not really. Frank and Nick were friendly enough, but I couldn’t remember the last time they came into the bar just to check in. Maybe the occasional beer, but they weren’t exactly protective big brothers.

“I mean, not really, but it wasn’t completely out of the ordinary for them to... be interested.”

Twister scoffed.

“Where can I find Frank and Nick?”

Uh-oh.

“No, no,”

I said quickly and stepped in his path.

“Don’t be upset about this, Twister. I’m sure it was just them trying to protect me and make sure I’m okay.”

His eyes pinned me.

“Where can I find them?”

I groaned.

“F & N Bikes. Keep heading down the street and you’ll find it.”

I knew there was no point in trying to argue with him.

“But don’t do anything… mean.”

He grunted and stepped back. His eyes narrowed slightly.

“Later, doll.”

He turned on his heel and started walking away. His boots thudded against the pavement with purpose. Only, he didn’t head toward F & N Bikes.

“Wrong way!”

I called after him.

Twister lifted a hand and called back over his shoulder.

“Nah, it’s not, doll. Need to head back to the clubhouse first.”

And then he disappeared around the corner.

Oh boy.

I might’ve just unleashed a pissed-off biker on Frank and Nick.