Authors: Lana Grayson
Knight (124 page)
The vineyard was lovely in October.
It was one of those phrases I never thought I’d say, but, Christ, did it make me feel classy.
The rolling hills were covered in a decadent green, and the air hung heavy with a natural sweetness. The rows and rows of vine-spiraled arbors bore grapes bursting for harvest. The sun paused overhead, bathing the vineyard and winery in golden light. Even it seemed to still, lazily trekking across the sky toward the evergreen crested mountains far beyond the vineyard with its little dirt roads, beautiful restaurant, and outdoor stone mosaicked patio.
Not that I didn’t miss Pittsburgh, but the local news called for snow.
And bloodshed.
Sacrilege was lost in a night. Kingdom the next. The Feds dispatched from the ‘Burgh to Erie, and, under Red’s orders, I was to stay on the other side of the country in hiding.
Or doing wine tastings.
Or sampling decadent dinners and desserts paired with the perfect wine.
Or spending my nights tangled in hotel sheets, sweaty and sating Brew’s every whim while he rewarded me with my own pleasure.
I sipped my wine. Red just meant for me to run, but it was my turn to determine my definition of
safe
. And I chose to feel safe in the most beautiful place in the world with a handsome and dangerous man leading me through its secrets. I’d be a perfect tourist and love every moment of it.
The motorcycle roared from a mile away. A few birds scattered along the rural, country road as the Harley bumbled and purred to the vineyard. The driver hopped off—his leathers and jacket far too aggressive for such a beautiful location.
He came for war, but I only meant to share a bottle of perfectly seasoned wine, a vintage from five years ago that aged into a subtle fragrance. It wasn’t hard whiskey and gin, but a girl could get used to the finer things in life.
The blonde-haired, blue-eyed bandit stole to my table, glancing over the empty patio and emptier winery.
“You must be Luke.” I offered him my best smile. It came easier than I expected. His patches read
President
and
1%
, but his regal confidence and story-book blue eyes were much more prince charming than kingdom usurper.
“Yeah.”
“I’m Martini.”
His gaze surveyed the table, the grapes overhead in the trellis, and the creaking wooden winery, but his attention never left me. I gestured for him to take a seat. I offered him a tip of the wine bottle. He didn’t refuse.
“Thank you.” He swirled the liquid too violently. “What is it?”
“Pinot Noir.”
“Never heard of it.”
“It’s my new favorite.”
He took a sip, but I didn’t picture him a wine drinker. The label on his cut said
Knight
. He was probably more a tavern guy. Frothy glass of beer and a girl on his lap. He gave me a full minute of peace. Then the sword came down.
“Why am I here?”
“I have something that might be useful to you.”
“I don’t even know you.”
My words charmed the frown from his expression, but it didn’t buy me his trust. “We have mutual friends.”
“I have to confess, honey. Your information is bad. I’m out of friends.”
“Then we have mutual interests.”
“Yeah.” He nodded. “I’ve heard that before.”
He matched my amusement with a bright, handsome grin with a perfectly positioned dimple and mystical charm. I had no idea how this man ended up ruling a splintered motorcycle club, or how he expected to defend himself from the rampaging warlord stalking Anathema’s territory. But Brew once trusted him, and he had once earned that trust.
“Lovely as it is to meet you, Martini,” he said. “You didn’t organize this meeting. Who did?”
“I have something for you.” I pulled the USB drive from my pocket and slid the item across the table. “I think you’ll need this.”
He stared at the offering, like he read the stolen information on it—the names and faces, dates and locations, weakness and vulnerabilities of Kingdom’s collected surveillance on Temple. The data on the USB resulted in the deaths of too many good guys and more than enough evil men. I was supposed to be traded for it. Captured and caged away until the streets ran with blood.
I shivered. Knight saw. I got the feeling he saw a lot of things.
“You won’t tell me what’s on it?” he said.
“And spoil the fun?”
He flipped the USB along his knuckles—and old trick I watched Red do to improve his dexterity when he was still in med school.
“Why should I trust you?”
“It seems like you could use a friend.”
“That’s true.” He threw back his wine, but his eyes saw through me. “Answer me something.”
“Go for it.”
“Are you in trouble?”
“Why?”
“You’re not from around here. You’re calling me on a private number very few people have and inviting me upstate to sample wine, without telling me anything about you or why you’ve chosen me for your...” He tucked the USB in his pocket. “
Gift
. I’ll tell you this much. I’m done tossing women in the middle of my wars. Period. If you need help, I’ll get you out of here. No questions asked.”
“Are you sure you drove in on a Harley and not a white steed?”
“Answer the question.”
“I’m safer and happier now than I’ve been in a very, very long time.”
“Right.” He nodded. “Are we done?”
“Yep.”
“Nice to meet you, Martini.” He stood, but looked into my eyes, tapping a finger along the chair. “Sorry to hear about Sacrilege MC.”
I tensed. Luke said nothing else and returned to his bike, driving off into the dirt road that separated the rest of the world from the slice of heaven we toured.
Brew took Knight’s abandoned chair, brushing my hand as he reached for my wine.
“You okay?”
The drink buzzed my thoughts, though I hadn’t had more than a glass. “He knew who I was.”
“He did?”
“God. What if he thinks you’re alive?”
Brew quieted, but he shook his head. “Temple worked off my father’s assumptions. They didn’t know for sure.”
“But Blade invited him to the party at Sorceress.”
“It doesn’t benefit my father to let the world in on the secret, especially if he knew I was coming for him. Raises too many questions. It’d put Anathema into the spotlight and ruin The Coup’s deal with Temple.” He shook his head. “No. To the rest of the world? I’m as cold and stiff as my old man. Knight’s got no idea, and it’ll burn him till we meet in Hell.”
I flinched. Brew apologized, but the image stayed with me. Too many miles and too many close calls. His dark eyes narrowed.
“Got a room a few miles from here. Bed and breakfast.”
I laughed. “Oh, they’ll love the leather.”
“You do.”
“On you.” I sipped my wine and shrugged. “And off of you too.”
Brew saw through the act. “You’re worried.”
“Aren’t you?”
He gestured over the vineyard. “I promised you a trip here. Didn’t break that. I promised I keep us safe. Haven’t broken that yet.”
“I know.”
“Do you still trust me, darling?”
I didn’t hesitate. His strength washed over me, and I cherished his every promise.
“Absolutely.”
He hooked his foot under my chair, drawing me close and capturing my lips in a kiss.
“Then this isn’t an exile anymore,” he whispered. “This is just where we need to be.”
The End
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Table of Contents
Sneak Peek-Saint, An Anathema Novella