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

“I’m not scared. I’m terrified. There’s a difference.”
    He chuckled. “Think you’re cutting off Jace’s blood supply, Allie.”
    She shifted. Her gaze shot to her hand on Jace’s forearm. She flushed, looked up to meet his gaze, and mumbled, “Sorry.”
    For some reason, he grinned, revealing a heart-stopping smile. She released him, then quickly looked away. Before she knew it, they deplaned and hailed a cab. Tyler opened the door for her, and she climbed in. Jace entered through the other side. Tyler slid in behind her, and she scooted farther, making room until she felt Jace’s arm against her, the natural heat of his body mingling with hers, tempting her to seek more of that warmth and curl herself against him.
    Tyler instructed the driver to drive to the police station. Twenty minutes later, they arrived. Jace opened his door, stood, and held out his hand to help her out. The action was mystifying, so gentlemanly and unlike any man she’d ever dated.
    His gaze locked on hers, she placed her hand in his, tough, calloused, and masculine. His fingers tightened around her hand, and heat shot up her arm. He pulled her up and out of the cab easily. She forgot where she was, what she meant to do as his gaze bored into her. No other man had this effect on her. He was the first. She sure as hell hoped he wouldn’t be the last. Even now, after his kind gesture, he didn’t seem fond of her. The corded muscles in his shoulders were tense, his mouth tight.
    “Allie.”
    She jumped at the sound of her name, turned, and found Tyler staring at her. It hit her then, where she was and why. Striding past him, she went into the police station. Her brother hot on her heels while Jace retrieved their bags from the trunk of the cab. She went to the reception area and asked to speak to Detective Mason. A moment later, a lean man in his early thirties wearing a pair of khaki Dockers, shirt, and tie greeted her.
    He held out his hand. “Ms. Holden, I’m Detective Mason.”
    She took it and shook it firmly. “I wish I could say it’s a pleasure, but this is a bit of an inconvenience.”
    The door opened, then closed behind her.
    Detective Mason’s eyes drifted to it, his posture tensing. “Can I help you?”
    She turned and spotted Jace, blocking most of the doorway and holding two duffel bags. “You help me by helping her.” He sat a chair away from Tyler, dropping the bags at his feet.
    “A friend?”
    She faced Detective Mason. “My brother, Tyler, and his friend, Jace.”
    He nodded. “I’d like to talk to you in private, Ms. Holden, if you don’t mind.”
    He led the way into a small room, and she took a seat. He sat across a wood table in front of her.
    “As you can see, I’m not missing. I’m here, but I only plan on staying a night. My brother didn’t kidnap me. His friend didn’t kidnap me either. I left because I wanted to. Are we done?”
    His gaze intensified, piercing her, but then he smirked. “In a rush?”
    “Yes, I want to go home.”
    He straightened and leaned closer. “I can argue your home is New York. You’ve lived here your entire life.”
    “My home is wherever I want it to be, Detective. Right now, it’s not here.”
    “Can you explain why a woman would leave her home, her job, her life from one night to the next without planning ahead?”
    She could. She just didn’t want to.
    “You’re running from something, Ms. Holden.”
    Allie lifted her chin defiantly. “I’m running from a life of lies, Detective Mason, and it’s none of your business.” She stood and turned on her heel.
    “Where’d he hit you, Ms. Holden?”
    She froze, her heart pounding so loudly she thought it’d beat out of her chest. She wanted to run, but knew it’d do no good. He was a cop, after all, and a good one. He’d read her from one look. Maybe even before that.
    She swallowed, faced him, and sat.
    His expression softened. “You can press charges.”
    No, she couldn’t. It wouldn’t make