Sophie Oak - Two to Love

Jen was on her feet helping Callie up when Callie screamed. Another big biker came from behind Zane, brandishing a pool cue. There was a loud crack as it came down across Zane’s back with brutal force.

“The Barbarians say hello, pig!”

Zane hit his knees.

“Callie, no!” Jen screamed as Callie pulled away, one thought and one thought only in her head. Don’t let them hit him again.

Callie threw herself across Zane’s back. She heard the man shout and the pool cue hit, but on the floor next to her.

“Get out of the way, you stupid bitch!” Len screamed.

She slumped across Zane, feeling his muscles moving as he threw her off with a roar that filled the room.

Zane was yelling, but she wasn’t sure at whom. Callie forced herself to sit up before she got crushed under boots and heels. She was surrounded, and Zane’s hands finally pulled her up and into the cradle of his chest. His palm covered her head, forcing her down against him. She struggled to see.

“She doesn’t have anything to do with this,” Zane said.

Len was grinning now, showing off a plethora of teeth in severe need of dental attention. Callie’s arms wound around Zane’s waist. He was the only thing that seemed real now.

“I think the girl has a lot to do with this, pig. You see, there’s a bounty out on your head, Hollister.” Len pulled out a wicked-looking knife and held it up for inspection. When Callie tried to move her head to see, Zane pulled her back. He encircled her as Len continued to talk. “Ellis might be in jail, but he’s still got power. He wants you bad. He’s willing to pay.”

“Let the girl go and you can do what you want with me.”

“No.” Callie struggled against him. He held her fast. “No.” She wasn’t about to let that happen. She wasn’t going to stand by while they hurt him.

“See, I think that you’ll fight like hell if the girl isn’t involved.” Len sounded like the leader of this little group.

Callie could hear the thundering of Zane’s heart. It matched her own. She was utterly terrified. She felt Zane huff. She tilted her chin up and could see the blank look on his face. He looked like he couldn’t care less, but she could feel him. She could feel his heart racing, the fine tremble in his hands as he clutched her like he was afraid she would die if he let her go.

His voice was a chilly grumble. “I don’t guess you would believe me if I told you I haven’t seen her in years, and she doesn’t mean anything to me?”

Callie shook her head against his chest, and he gave her a little tap. He wasn’t very good with the lying part. Even she had to acknowledge the man felt something for her.

“Nope. Not for a minute. Get her.” Len’s order boomed through the room, and Callie felt Zane’s arms go so tight around her she was sure she would pass out from lack of oxygen. There was a press of bodies around them. And they needed to spend some serious time on hygiene.

“You can let her go, or I can shoot her here.”

Zane leaned over and pressed his mouth against her ear. “I’m so sorry, babe. Nate will come. I know he will. You just stay alive long enough for him to save you. He’ll take care of you.” He kissed her forehead, and she was pulled away from him.

She hadn’t seen him in years and should have hated him for leaving her, but Callie wept as they were separated. She cried and fought the men who held her. Vaguely she could see some big brute had his hands on Jen, but her vision was swamped with the sight of Zane being forced to his knees. His face remained gorgeous and cold, the line of his scar seemed redder and more intense.

Len stood over him, regarding him with utter disdain. “Ellis is offering a lot of money for you, boy. Ten thousand dollars and all I gotta do is cut the Barbarian tat off your chest and hand it to him like a scalp. Fitting, huh? You got that tat to prove you were a Barbarian for life. When I’m done, that’s all that’s gonna be left of you.” Len made a short, sharp movement with his knife and four men surrounded Zane. “Get him on the table. If he struggles, slit her throat.”

Zane offered no resistance as they lifted him, straining despite the fact that there were four of them. “The sheriff of this town is in love with her, too. You kill her, and he won’t ever stop hunting you down. You remember Nate Rush? He goes by Sheriff Wright now.”

Len’s face fell momentarily. “Fuck. Rush is here, too?”

“He’s the sheriff!” Jen was struggling in a big, tattooed guy’s arms. Of course, that could describe most of the people here. Callie felt tears start down her cheeks as they shoved Zane face first onto the green felt of the pool table.

“I ain’t afraid of no hick sheriff. I don’t believe Rush would sink that low. That man is addicted to adrenaline. Crazy motherfucker, that one. No way he’s wasting away in some sleepy mountain town. Try again, Hollister.” Len’s dark eyes gleamed in the smoky light as he pulled Zane’s head up by the hair. “Don’t you know ain’t no one gonna stick by you? You look in the mirror, you freak? Even if that pretty little thing could look past your ugly mug, what do you think she’s gonna do once she finds out the things you’ve done? She know how many men you killed? She know how much meth you moved?”

Callie saw the light die in Zane’s eyes and realized her belief in nonviolence had reached its end. If she ever had the chance, she would kill that biker, and she wouldn’t hesitate. Len raised the knife over his head. There was a loud bang, and Callie waited for Zane’s head to slump forward, her heart breaking, but it was Len who screamed and dropped the knife.

“I would step away from him if I were you.” Nate’s voice rang out. He held a pistol in his hand. He stood in front of the bar with Logan behind him and Stefan to his side. But there was no question who was in charge of this little operation. Nathan Wright stood tall and lean, and Callie felt safe even as some jerk held her.

Len no longer had the knife but refused to back down. Suddenly there were a whole bunch of pistols in people’s hands. Callie felt the press of cold metal against her skull.

“You okay, Callie?” Nate didn’t look at her. His eyes were kept on Len.

“I’m fine. I probably won’t become a regular at this establishment.”

“You might never see the light of day again, baby.” His mouth was a flat line.

Callie could see Stefan standing beside him, his hands around a shotgun, his eyes moving between Jennifer and herself. His jaw was tight, and she knew she and Jen were in for a stern talking-to. Callie was damn glad she was just Stef’s almost-sister and not one of his subs.

“We seem to be at an impasse, Sheriff.” Len cradled his hand against his chest. Unfortunately, he had several people watching his back. “Here’s the deal. I’m gonna take Hollister and the girl, and we’re gonna leave. I’ll even give you the tall brunette. I promise to leave the girl alive somewhere down the road.”

“No fucking deal.”

Len sighed. “Sheriff, I don’t think you understand. You’re outnumbered and outgunned. You got a civilian and a deputy who looks like he should be somewhere having his mama change his diapers.”

Nate never wavered. “Be that as it may, I’m not an idiot. I recognize you. You run with the Horde. You won’t let her live. Give me the girl, and you can take Hollister.”

“Nate!” Callie couldn’t believe he would even offer the deal.

“You go, Callie!” Zane had his head turned. He barked the order at her. At least there was some fire in his eyes. At least he looked ready to fight again.

“I’m not going anywhere without you.”

“Callie!” Jen was yelling now, and Stefan looked ready to shoot.

Nate held the pistol plainly aimed at Len’s head. “You got one shot at this. You run now and I’ll probably be so concerned about getting my woman and my friend back that I’ll let you go. If you walk out of here with Zane, I’ll hunt you down. You even think about walking out of here with her and you’ll wish you’d never been born. You think I can’t do that?”

“Fuck,” Len cursed. He looked between the sheriff and Zane and finally shook his head. “Scatter!”

All hell broke loose. Callie was shoved to the floor, and it wasn’t a second before a huge body covered her. Zane. She went limp under him, grateful to be so close to him. She heard banging and yelling as the bar emptied. There was the loud roar of bikes being revved and then blessed quiet.

She felt Zane sigh heavily, and then she could breathe again.

Nate heard the last chopper fade off and finally allowed himself to relax long enough to get really mad. “What the fuck did the two of you think you were doing?”

He wasn’t the only one. Stefan was yelling, too, his normally pristine manner shoved to the side in favor of one pissed off alpha male. It was good to know he wouldn’t be alone in handing out the ass kickings this evening.

“Jennifer, I asked you a question, and I expect an answer,” Stef said.

Nate recognized the brunette from Stella’s Diner where she was a waitress. The slender woman’s hands were trembling, but she stood up to Stef. “We were getting a drink, that’s all,” Jen replied.

“Really, is that all?” Stef didn’t sound like he believed her. Nate wasn’t sure he did, either.

Nate was ready to get his two cents in. He saw Logan slump into one of the chairs and breathe deeply. He seemed prepared to stay out of this particular fight. Smart boy. While Stef yelled at Jennifer from afar, Nate had no intention of letting Callie Sheppard off so easily. “You just wanted to get a drink, did you, baby?”