Running Wild (Hell Ryders MC Book 1) by J.L. Sheppard Read Free Book Online Page A

anger get the better of her again, she stomped her foot. “I know I lost it. I would’ve told him.”
    His gaze went to her foot, then back to her eyes. The sides of his mouth twitched, fighting a smile. “It’s not about you losin’ it. It’s about you going to New York where your dickhead of a dad and ex-fiancé can fuck with you.”
    Her heart stopped beating. For a moment, she relived the moment, watched it unfold again and again. Then her heart started pounding again, so loud she swore he could hear it. He didn’t move away from her; he stayed close and kept his eyes on her.
    She’d been a bitch for no reason. That didn’t sit well with her. She released a breath. In doing so, her shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry. I think I misunderstood.”
    “You gonna let me in on what you misunderstood, Allie?”
    He said her name again, and he said it so softly like he cared. She loved it, loved how he said it and how it made her feel.
    She didn’t want to admit it because she felt like an idiot, but she did anyway. “I thought you told him about my temper tantrum.”
    “Your what?”
    The words were harsh and loud causing her to jump away. “My temper tantrum.”
    He lifted a brow and nodded, what she understood to mean a silent command she continue.
    “I was upset, and I let it show.”
    He shook his head once. “Not gettin’ you.”
    “Women aren’t supposed to show when they’re emotional. They’re—”
    “Who the fuck said that?” he shouted so loud she jumped again.
    She hesitated. The real question? Who hadn’t said it? Everyone had: her father, her mother, Wyatt. The list went on.
    His eyes widened and flared. He clenched his jaw so hard she thought he’d crack his teeth. “Right, your dickhead of a father and that shit of a fiancé you had.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “You feel it. You show it. Get me?”
    She nodded.
    In the distance, a bike roared. He moved away from her but never lost hold of her eyes.

Chapter Seven
    Her brother wouldn’t take no for an answer, so Allie was on a flight to New York with him and Jace. It meant the flutter in her stomach had been on overdrive for the last several hours.
    She hadn’t wanted to interrupt Tyler’s life more than she already had, but deep down, she was glad he’d insisted. She needed him. Had he believed her, she would’ve come up with a plan to avoid the unavoidable—seeing her father, seeing Wyatt, but she didn’t have much hope any plan would work. Men like her father and Wyatt didn’t take no for an answer. Lucky for her, neither did her brother. The difference? Tyler had her best interests at heart. He let her choose, and his instincts were dead-on. When he sensed she needed him, nothing stopped him from being there.
    She fiddled with her music player attempting to soothe her nerves, but it didn’t help. Tyler glanced at her every so often. His eyes would soften, and he’d smile. Jace noticed, too. His gaze snapped to her hands and hardened, and then he’d spare a glance at her face. Not even then would he hide the hardness in his expression. He let her get her fill until she looked away.
    She had no idea why her brother wanted Jace with them considering her father wouldn’t come near with Tyler around, considering one look from Tyler and Wyatt would run for the hills. Her brother was that scary when angry. Still, Tyler told her Jace would go with them.
    After she explained what happened, he’d been so angry she hadn’t wanted to upset him more, and she hadn’t even asked why. Why Jace agreed to come when it became more and more apparent with each of his glances, every one more menacing than the last, he didn’t like her and he didn’t want to be there, she had no clue. Because of her nerves, she didn’t put much thought into it either.
    The plane landed with a small thud. Instinctually, she reached for the arm rests, gripping them for dear life.
    “Still scared of flying?” Ty teased.
    She laughed softly.