She smiled. “Nice to meet you, Oz Zhang.” She reached out her hand. “I’m Ronnie Garrison.”
That strange thrill went through him again as he held her hand. The sun had returned. “Ronnie, a pleasure.”
“It’s actually Ronela, but no one calls me that. God, why did I say that? Don’t mind me.” She pulled her hand from his and tapped her temple. “I think I’m concussed.” She pushed herself away from the table and ambled towards the back door.
Oz followed behind her. “Where are you going?” Every time she stumbled, his hands flew out.
“The alley. Did you see where they took her?” Ronnie leaned against the backdoor frame, taking deep breaths.
Who was she taking about? Oz stepped into the dimly lit alleyway. “Who?”
“My sister.” Ronnie looked at the dark puddles of blood on the concrete. She nearly fell over when she kneeled to pick up something in the blood along the curb.
All he wanted to do was help her, but he was relegated to the sidelines. He couldn’t push her or try to take over either. Slowly she would learn to trust him, but until then he would be there for her.
Oz reached out to help her up. Ronnie eyed him dubiously before taking his hand. “Thank you.”
“What did you find?”
Ronnie flicked blood away as she wiped the item. A sparkle of yellow flickered in the light. A gold bracelet with small charms dangled from her fingers. Her eyes filled with tears as she held the jewelry to her heart and looked down the empty alley.
“It’s Golden’s.” Her lips tightened as she wiped away tears with the back of one hand.
“The waitress from tonight?”
She nodded. “I’m supposed to protect her, you know. She’s my baby sister.”
Oz didn’t have a blood sister, but the women in the club were his family. He would kill any mofo who dared lay a hand on any of them.
Ronnie continued as if he wasn’t even there. “I tried to fight them off. They were just so damned strong. Shit! I lost my baby sister.” Her fingers tightened around the chain. “I need to go after them.” She moved around him.
“Wait.” His heart wrenched at the pain in her eyes. “Your sister.”
“Golden.”
“Golden,” his voice softened. “Did she have her phone on her?”
“Are you kidding? She takes it with her into the shower. Why?”
“It might help us find her.”
“No. Why are you trying to help me? As a matter a fact, why have you been helping me all night?”
The head tilt and brow lift were so damned cute, he didn’t answer. He could only stare. What was he going to say? Something about her called to him. That if she hurt, he felt it. If she needed protection, he would be her shield? She was a strong and independent woman. This wasn’t going to be easy.
“Well.”
“You don’t look like you’re in any condition to fight those guys again.” He waved at her bloody state.
She looked down at herself and her bloody hands and quirked her lips like she agreed but didn’t want to.
“Golden is in serious trouble. I don’t think the police can help her.”
“No, no police.” Ronnie shook her head and waved off the mention of the cops.
That was interesting. Normally, women were all for calling the police. His brothers could help, but she didn’t seem too keen on accepting anyone’s help at the moment.
Ronnie patted her pocket and pulled out her phone. “Shit!”
She ran her finger over a dark, cracked screen. A smile blossomed on her face when it lit up despite the damage. After swiping and pressing a few things, she held the phone to her ear. Pacing, she couldn’t keep still as she waited. “Straight to voicemail. What now?”
Oz pulled out his phone and tapped the screen. “What’s Golden’s number?” He typed as she gave him the digits.
“Router…”
“I am Oz. The great and terrible.”
“You done?” It was always a pain to talk to Router. The girl was smart, like genius smart, but damn, she was a pain with her quotes.
“Wizard, what the hell? I didn’t think you had this number. Hell, I didn’t think you knew how to use the phone.”
Router had a way of getting on his nerves like a little sister, and he found himself doing things he hadn’t done since he was a kid. Like rolling his eyes. “I got everybody’s number. Now, listen. I need for you to track the number I just texted you.”
“Got it. What’s this all about?”
Oz wasn’t about to get into this situation with her. He could hear Router tapping on her keyboard furiously. “How long is this…?”
“Done.” She’d answer before he’d finished his question.
He could hear the joy in her voice when she cut him off. Whatever, as long as he got Golden’s location.
The tapping sped up. “Oh, shit.”
“What?”
“Whose number is this?” Tap, tap, tap. “They’re traveling on back roads going toward Corsicana. You need me to send back-up? That damned tiger’s around here somewhere…”
It would be nice to have a fighter at his back, but the prospect would never get to him in time. “No, I just need…” His phone beeped.
“I just sent you the GPS coords. I take it this is about a woman since you won’t answer my question. Whatevs. Open the app and follow the red dot.”
He followed her instructions. “Got it.”
“Alright. I sent the info to Kitty. No need to thank me. Bye.” Click.
“Can your friend help?”
Oz concentrated on the moving red dot, then touched the screen, moving it along the faint white line along the map.
“Oz.”
A soft hand touched his. It’d been a long time since someone touched him freely. Maybe it was just her, but it felt damned good. He looked into her chocolate brown eyes and was nearly lost... again.
He cleared his throat before he spoke and it still came out rougher than he’d intended. “Excuse me.”
She tapped the phone. “Did your friend find her?”
“Yes. Well, she found the phone. It’s still moving. I don’t…”
She lifted her hand, cutting off his words.
