Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE

brIDGER

The sudden noise of shattering glass jerks me out of the intoxicating spell I’m under from kissing Jennie. Fuck me, the timing of this asshole couldn’t be worse.

I step back from my woman, reaching for my gun. Swinging around, I spot a dark figure fleeing toward the woods. I don’t think. I react, firing off a few rounds but missing.

“Hide,” I tell Jennie.

“Don’t leave me alone,” her voice comes out small and weak.

“Do you know how to fire a gun?” I grab my second weapon I keep strapped to my right calve.

She nods. “Slick taught me.”

“That’s good. Take this and lock yourself in the bathroom.”

“Let’s just go. We have my car or your Harley,” she pleads.

Another shot rings out.

“Get down.” I yank her off the counter, shielding her body with mine as I fire back out the back door.

The front door to the cabin is kicked open by a second intruder. What the fuck? There’s two of them?

I curse under my breath as the second intruder launches himself into the cabin. My eyes dart between the two threats on both sides of our position. The one at the back door and one at the front. I don’t have many options. I tighten my grip on Jennie’s hand, squeezing in reassurance. I’m going to get us out of this, safely. The sound of glass crunching gives away the position of the newcomer. I fire off a shot and he staggers backwards. I don’t think I hit him.

“Go,” I growl to Jennie, shoving her towards the stairs that lead to the loft bedroom and bathroom. “Now.”

Jennie stumbles forward as I watch her back, but she quickly regains her balance to race up the steps two at a time. I watch her go, making sure she reaches the top while keeping my focus on the assholes who ruined our evening.

The one I may have clipped with a shot lunges for me, and I meet him head-on, ready to end this. He grapples with me, going for my gun, but is unsuccessful. A brutal punch ricochets off my jaw and pain flares through my face. Infuriated, I slam my knee into his groin, feeling satisfaction as he lets out a grunt of pain and doubles over. I grab him by the back of the head and slam my knee into his chin, knocking him out cold.

The second intruder jumps onto my back and catches me off guard with a punch to my temple. I drop to my knees and flip them over my head, training my gun on them when they land.

“Don’t fucking move.” With both of these sorry fucks subdued, I order Jennie to call 911.

While we wait for backup, Jennie uses the flashlight on her phone to expose the attackers. No surprise the one who came through the front turns out to be her ex, while the second is a shock to Jennie when she pulls the mask off her assistant.

“I can’t believe this. Why Sandra? Why would you want to hurt me? You or Stan? What did I ever do to you? Either of you?”

Sirens sound in the distance and Stan comes to, only for me to knock his ass out again.

“Stop hitting him,” Sandra cries. “You ruined everything, Jennie. He was going to get a movie deal, and he promised me I’d get a role. You think I enjoy being in your shadow? Doing your grunt work while you get famous. You never appreciated Stan, and you needed to pay.” The crazy bitch rants and raves as tears stream down her face.

“You’re sick. Stan never had a real movie deal. It was an email phishing scam. You should recall more than anyone that I receive them in the junk folder of my website email all the time. He lied to you and to his readers.”

Jennie shakes her head as the police arrive on the scene and take over. I drive us to the police station to give our statements, and the asshats who attacked us are taken to the local hospital to be checked over before being hauled off to jail.

“I can’t believe they were working together to harass me and to attempt to kill me.”

“I know it’s a lot to process,” I tell her as I unlock the door to my cabin. No sense in letting the rental go to waste. “Want me to go next door and grab your wine?”

“Yes, but I could also use a bath.”

“Leave it to me. I’ll ask what we can recover.” I know they took her laptop as evidence, but her other belongings should be clear.

“I don’t know how to thank you for everything.”

“Agree to finish the week out here with me.”

“One week with a biker?”

“Yeah, babe.” I grin and go in for a kiss.