Page 25 of Wild Card (Men of Action #4)

A siren comes closer and Rylee pales when Ace and Major stroll in the door, pissed and in full uniform.

“You got this?” Talon doesn’t wait for an answer, stalking through the salon and up a set of stairs.

He punches in a code and carries me into a studio apartment, setting me on the sofa.

His eyes roam over me while his hand feels along my scalp and neck.

I flinch when he scales over a tender bump.

The revulsion in his gaze doesn’t waver and he yanks out his phone and presses a button.

“It’s Talon, meet us at Willow’s. She’s been assaulted by your sister.”

He clicks off and hauls me closer. His anger radiates and hands shake as he rubs my back.

“I’m okay. She caught me off-guard, and I tripped over my own feet.”

“The cunt touched you. She doesn’t get that right.”

I’m momentarily taken aback at his words, then sink into him, kneading my hands into his shoulders.

We stay like this until the door opens and Rowan hurries to our side, ramming Talon away.

“Should we call an ambulance?”

Shayla, Ford, and Major follow in and the horror washes over me.

I made another scene, my secrets were revealed, and Talon was subjected to the indignity of my family drama.

It’s not a dumpster fire.

It’s a dumpster firestorm.

Tears flow out and I cup my face, sobbing. “I’m sooooooooo sorry. This is not my life!”

I’m back in Talon’s arms and moving again. This time, my butt hits a solid surface and a cold cloth runs over my neck.

His lips sweep over and over my temple as I cry like a crazy person.

“I didn’t know she was here. I’d never bring chaos to Rowan’s doorstep. It was my attempt to make things right and it’s blown to hell.”

He grumbles but doesn’t stop kissing me.

Slowly, my cries die out and I cling to him.

“Swear to God, if you apologize again, I’m going to the station and booking your sister myself.”

“Booking?”

“Arrested her for assault, disturbing the public, and whatever else will stick.”

“You arrested her?”

“Ace and Major got the honors.”

“She aired all our dirty laundry in front of a group of strangers.”

“Don’t know the ladies in the chairs, but the rest are us.”

I peer around the cute bathroom. “Where are we?”

“Rowan rents the studio above the salon to Shayla.”

It all comes back and questions ping around in my head.

“Talon, how are you here?”

He kisses my cheek. “I’m giving you a few minutes. Meet me out there.”

I force myself to let him go and hop off the vanity. My reflection is nothing short of terrifying. I need my purse.

As if on cue, the door opens and Rowan scoots in with my bag.

“Don’t talk,” she instructs. “I had to fight Talon to get in here and he made me promise not to upset you.

“I—”

“Shhh, he’s outside the door.”

She soothes a cool wipe across my face, then plunders in my purse, bringing out powder and mascara. Expertly, she applies the little make-up.

“We are all good,” she announces with an encouraging grin. “Beautiful as ever.”

There’s not a chance in hell this is true, but I squeeze her hand in gratitude.

“Willow, we don’t know each other, but you should prepare. When we walk out of this room, it’s not pretty.”

“What do you mean?”

“How much do you care about Talon?”

It’s a personal question I expected, but the timing is odd. “I care about him a great deal. Pretty much crazy about him.”

Her eyes shine bright, and she nods. “Then be honest, speak your mind, but always trust him.”

Without allowing me further questions, she opens the door and gently urges me out.

Oh boy, it’s all I can do not to creep back into the safety of hiding in the bathroom. Ace has joined the others, and all turn to me and Rowan.

The mood is thick with wrath and testosterone. All of them wear the same expressions. Hard, cold eyes, jaw’s locked, faces set in a vicious glower.

Tension spans from Talon with each breath he takes. I rush to him, powering through the pain in my head.

“I’m okay.”

“That bitch will pay.”

“She’s not worth it.”

An angry growl rumbles from low in his chest. “She hurt you.”

“She took me off-guard and I tripped.”

“Because she is fucking crazy!” he roars.

Rowan closes in on Ford, curling into him. It’s a small gesture but one that obviously eases him. I try the same, lifting on my toes to kiss the underside of Talon’s jaw.

His arm hooks around my waist and he tucks me close, inhaling deep into my hair.

“Second time in a week I’ve found you lying on the floor.”

The raw, harsh emotion in his voice has my throat clogging again. “Always rescuing me.”

He squeezes harder.

“Honey, how are you here? Why aren’t you working?”

“Got off half an hour ago. Was about to run when we got the call you were here.”

“Who called?”

“That would be me.” Shayla raises her hand. “You sat in your car for a while so I alerted Ford. He pulled the video footage and relayed to Rowan.”

“Guess I know how you got my number,” I mutter, hiding my face in his shirt.

“Yes, I wanted to approach you, but with what happened…” She leaves the sentence open.

“I was on the phone.” I peek up to see if he believes my excuse. Relief sets in when there’s a slight glimmer of amusement on his features. “Bex was chatty.” It’s a bold lie, knowing my conversation with her was less than five minutes.

“For the record, I was set to let you and Rowan talk it out until we got the alarm something was wrong. Then Rowan messaged that a lady was harassing you.”

I take a deep breath and face the room. “In my past life, that insane being was my sister.”

“We got that,” Rowan says sympathetically.

“She’s never allowed to set foot in Rendezvous again,” Shayla announces.

“We actually owe you an apology,” Rowan offers. “You were assaulted under my roof.”

“If I wasn’t here, none of that would have happened.”

“Add gratitude to that apology. I’m severely allergic to demented, pretentious bitches. Who knows what would have happened if you didn’t decide to come in? My boyfriend hates the idea of bailing me out of jail.”

I flash Shayla a genuine smile. “Glad I could be of service.”

Talon fishes something out of his pocket and sends it sailing into Major’s hands. “Let’s get you home.” He bends as if to pick me up, but I retreat.

“I can walk.”

“You can walk after we’ve had your head examined.” He whisks me off my feet and through the room.

“See you this weekend, Willow!” Rowan calls after me, waving happily like a kid in an amusement park

Not like a woman who recently witnessed a family smack down.

Talon stops by my passenger side. “Unlock the door, beautiful.”

“Aren’t I driving?”

“Not until we know you’re okay.”

“What about your truck?”

“Drove the bike today. Major’s getting it home.”

That explains the object flying through the air. I hand over my fob and don’t argue when he clicks me into my seat.

While he walks around the car, I take the seconds to soak him in.

Yep, totally drool-worthy.