Read Outlaw for Free Online Page B

came apart from around Cole’s waist.
    Cole reached back, and helped her off the bike, then
stepped off, himself.
    The cop worked on the other cuff, and soon had them
off her. He looked at her bruised and cut wrists. “Jesus Christ, Cole. How long
has she been in these things?”
    “Couple days.”
    The officer looked at him, stunned. “Are you
insane?”
    Cole turned to Angel, and said, “I’ll be right back,
darlin’.” Then he led the cop a few yards away, out of her earshot, and began
explaining. “I didn’t put the cuffs on her. I was visiting another club. Saw
her up there. Got her away from the guy that had her.”
    “This is kidnapping, Cole. She was obviously held
against her will. I gotta take her in. Get her home.”
    “No.”
    “No?” He raised his eyebrows in disbelief.
    “I’ll get her home. And I’ll handle the retaliation
for what this guy did.”
    “So, I’m supposed to just walk away? Leave her
here?”
    Cole nodded. “Yeah.”
    “Look, I turn my head on a lot of shit, but this-”
    “Will be taken care of,” Cole finished the sentence
for him.
    “Not without me talking to her first.”
    Cole stared at him. “You’re only gonna make the
situation worse.”
    The officer folded his arms. “Take it or leave it.”
    Cole blew out a breath, and shook his head. His eyes
slid to Angel. Time to find out which way she was gonna roll. “Okay. Fine.”
    They walked back over to her.
    “Angel, this is Sheriff Starks. He wants to ask you
a few questions,” Cole explained.
    She saw the look Cole was giving her, and knew she
better not say the wrong thing. She nodded. “Okay.” Then she tipped her head to
Sheriff Starks. “Officer.”
    “Ma’am.” He tipped his head in return. “You want to
tell me what happened?”
    Angel’s eyes darted to Cole.
    Starks didn’t miss the exchange.
    “I, uh, I met this guy. Turns out he was kind of an
asshole. Cole, he, uh, persuaded him that our relationship was over. Got me
away from him. I owe him for that.”
    Starks looked from her to Cole. He asked her,
“That’s it? That’s all you’re gonna tell me?”
    She shrugged, “That’s all there was to it. Thanks
for getting the cuffs off me. It’s kind of embarrassing. The asshole lost the
keys. I guess that was a stupid idea. You know how these sex games are.
Sometimes you don’t think it through.”
    Cole fought back a laugh, and Starks glared at him.
    “Everything’s fine now. Really,” she insisted.
    “You’re sure you don’t want me to see you get home?”
    Cole stepped in. “I’ll get her home.” He held up his
hand, as if taking a pledge. “Boy Scouts honor.”
    Starks scoffed. “You were never a Boy Scout.”
    Cole smiled.
    “I’ll be fine,” Angel assured him.
    Starks threw his hands up, turning to walk away. But
before he did, he leaned in close to Cole’s ear, and Angel heard him whisper,
“I hope to God one day you come across a woman that ain’t gonna cover for your
ass.” Then he glared Cole in the eyes, turned, and walked away.
    Cole watched him get in his cruiser and pull out,
and then he turned to Angel, his eyes studying her face. “You did real good,
babe.”
    Angel was watching Starks drive away. “He looks kind
of like a weasel, doesn’t he?”
    Cole tried to hide his grin. “Yeah, but he’s our
weasel, so it’s all good, darlin’.”
    The corner of her mouth pulled up in the barest of
smiles.
    “Sex games, huh? Sounds like fun,” he teased, with a
wink.
    She raised her eyebrows, giving him a look.
    “I’m kidding,” he smiled. “Come on.” He put his arm
around her neck, and led her across the lot toward the entrance to the
building. Some of the guys called to him. He raised his arm in greeting, but
kept on walking. He held the door for Angel, and followed her inside.
    She looked around as Cole took her hand, and pulled
her along. She trailed behind him. The place had obviously once housed some
type of manufacturing operation, but all the