In Bed With The Outlaw Read Online Free

a stripper. Is that what you see?”
    “Fuck, no, calm down. Anybody could be a stripper if they’ve got a nice body. How do I know what you do? I just met you. I’d like to know you better, but you’re opposed to that idea.”
    Red took a step closer. In slow motion, I watched his hands reach from his waist to take mine. Sirens wailing, I took a step back. Did he think it would be that easy?
    “That stunt I pulled back there could cost me.”
    “Why is that my problem?”
    He leaned back and scratched his chin. He chuckled with fire returning to his eyes.
    “Because if I didn’t save your ass, you just might be Lee’s pickings right now. Do you know who we are? Did you see our colors? We’re The Blessed Bastards.”
    I rolled my eyes. “I saw.”
    “The Blessed Bastards take whatever they want. If Lee wanted you bad enough, he’d take you. What I did back there was unusual. It was kind of...breaking the law...you could say. I think it helped that King likes you, but still, if Lee finds out I’m full of shit, there could be consequences.”
    After being in the hands of a controlling, abusive husband, his speech sounded like a huge warning sign. Now I was his property, because he saved me? How was that any better? For all I knew, he was a hundred times worse than Lee.
    Flinging my hands at him, I actually made him back off. “So what? You saved me, and now you want to what, kidnap me? How is that really saving me if you’re not going to give me a choice?”
    “That’s not what I’m saying at all. All I’m saying is I don’t know if you understood the full extent of trouble you were in, and I don’t know if you understood the kind of stunt I pulled to get you back here safely. I just want you to understand. Jesus. You’re exhausting.”
    He wiped his hand through his hair with a grunt. I could tell I was getting on his nerves. Damn, I couldn’t blow this. I needed to turn this around.
    “I understand. Thanks for your help,” I said meekly.
    “Yeah, no problem,” he said as he hopped onto his bike. I kind of wished I could go for another ride, but he seemed exhausted.
    “Maybe I’ll see you around? It was fun riding with you.”
    “Next time you see me, you tell me who gave you those bruises, and maybe we can go for another ride. Until then, take care of yourself, Ash.”
    “Thanks, Red,” I said.  I stood back to avoid the dust that would surely kick up. He peeled out and headed back to catch up with the others. I got on my toes and waved.
    When I turned around, my boss, Francis, an older, super active Italian man, hung over the walkway. He glared at me.
    “What are you doing? You’re late.” He tilted his ear toward the bike gunning down the road. “Are you okay, Ash?”
    “Yeah, I’m fine,” I said, sounding cheery, despite there being a lump in my throat and a tightening in my stomach once I realized I was at work. I watched the speck of black disappear into the desert, my last chance to get away from this. It really put into perspective how different our worlds were once I needed to go back inside and get to work.
    “I’m coming in. Sorry I’m late.”
    “No problem. You sure everything is fine?”
    “Fine. Only car troubles,” I said, walking in through the door he held open and tying an apron around my waist. Time to get my head into the zone. Maybe getting Red and the others off my mind would be good for me. Being on my feet and lost in the waitressing work could stop me from dwelling on anything for too long.
    Francis kept glaring at me. He knew something was up.
    “My car broke down. The Blessed Bastards were kind enough to give me a ride back.”
    “Those boys are quite the gentlemen. I’d give them something, a free meal, but they refuse every time I try.” Francis shrugged.
    I gave him a fake smile, no doubt revealing my nervousness, then headed to the kitchen.
    Things were more complicated than someone giving you a good tip or a ride back to work and they were the