Dagger (Iron Reapers MC #4)

Chapter 1

ONE

CHLOE EVERETT

Three years ago

“Chlo-Chlo, it’s Friday night. You know what that meeeaaans,” Sabrina sings, her voice lilting with excitement as she leans against my locker.

I shake my head, already laughing. “Party time?”

“Party time!” she echoes with a grin. “Come out with us. It’ll be fun.”

I sigh, shaking my head again. “You know I can’t. My mom doesn’t let me go out.”

Sabrina pulls a face. “Ugh, boring. Your mom won’t even be home. Just come. I’ll pick you up and have you back before she even knows you’re gone.”

The worst part is that she’s right—and we both know it. Sabrina is my best friend, the only one I’ve trusted enough to bring to my house, to meet my mom. She’s practically family. But still, I hesitate.

“I don’t think so,” I say finally.

Sabrina groans, slinging an arm around my shoulder. “Alright, buddy. Let me know if you change your mind. This party is going to be epic !” She pulls me into a quick side hug and plants a playful kiss on my cheek before bouncing off to her next class.

I watch her go, wishing—not for the first time—that I could be a normal teenager. Wishing I could worry about things like friends, boys, and college applications instead of bills and whether my mom will be okay.

It’s always been just the two of us. My dad died when I was so young, I barely even remember him. And now, it feels like I’ve taken on the role of the adult in our house, not her.

When I get home that afternoon, I retreat to my room with a book, trying to ignore the gnawing feeling in my gut. That’s when my phone buzzes.

Sabrina: Come out with us tonight

Sabrina: It will be soooo much fun!

Sabrina: PPPPLLLLEEEEAAAASSSSEEEE

I laugh out loud. The girl is relentless.

Chloe: Have fun tonight!

Sabrina: DON’T BE BORING

Sabrina: You don’t want to miss this one...

Her last message lingers in my head longer than it should. I’ve never been to a high school party before. Never had the chance. And it’s not like Mom would notice anyway. She’ll go out drinking like she does every Friday and Saturday, then stumble in and pass out on the couch. She’ll have no idea if I leave.

“Hey, Chlo. Leftovers for dinner tonight,” Mom calls as she passes my room, heading down the hall to hers.

I roll my eyes, biting back the irritation bubbling up inside me. Leftovers for the second night in a row. Spaghetti, because I made it two nights ago while she was at work. And I hate spaghetti.

To hell with it. I’m not eating spaghetti tonight. It’s Friday night, and if she can go out and do whatever she wants, then so can I. I pull out my phone, my fingers hesitating for just a second before I tap on Sabrina’s name. I take a deep breath and type:

Chloe: Pick me up tonight?

Her response comes almost immediately.

Sabrina: WHAT?! My bestie is coming to a party with me?

Sabrina: Are you serious right now?

I laugh softly and reply:

Chloe: Yes, LOL. What time will you be here?

Sabrina: Nine o’clock.

Chloe: What should I wear?

Sabrina: NVM. I’m coming over at 8 so we can get ready together.

Chloe: Thank you!

Sabrina: Girl, you don’t even understand how excited I am right now!

Chloe: Same, honestly.

When my mom leaves for the night, she barely even glances at me, tossing a quick, “Leftovers are in the fridge. I’ll be back later,” as she grabs her purse and heads for the door.

I don’t say anything, just watch as the door clicks shut. Sabrina, sitting cross-legged on my bed, gives me a knowing look and smiles. “You ready for this?”

I let out a shaky laugh. “I guess so.”

“Come on, let’s get ready.” She jumps off the bed, pulling a few outfits out of her bag.

She lays them out on my bed—a couple of skirts, some crop tops, and a few sparkly accessories. I pick out a short black skirt and a long-sleeve halter top that feels... risky. It shows way more cleavage than I’m used to, but Sabrina gives me an approving nod.

“That’s perfect,” she says, holding up a necklace to go with it. “Now we just need to do something about this hair and makeup.”

I let her take over, sitting in front of my mirror as she curls my hair into loose waves and dusts some kind of magic onto my face. The girl works fast, chatting the whole time about how much fun we’re going to have and all the boys who should be there.

When she’s done, I turn to the mirror and blink, trying to process what I’m seeing. My hair looks amazing, my eyes seem brighter, and the lip gloss she picked makes my lips look fuller. I don’t look like me—but not in a bad way.

“Whoa,” I say softly. “Is that really me?”

Sabrina grins and slings an arm around my shoulder. “Hell yes, it’s you! You look incredible, Chloe. You’re gonna kill it tonight.”

I laugh nervously. “Thanks, Bri. Seriously, thanks for this.”

She nudges me with her shoulder. “What are best friends for? Now come on, we’re gonna have the best night ever.”

I feel like I might actually believe her.

The bass from the music shakes the ground as we step out of the Lyft Sabrina ordered for us. The house is massive, glowing with flashing lights that pulse to the beat spilling out onto the lawn. People are everywhere—on the porch, leaning against cars, in groups on the grass. It’s loud, chaotic, and completely overwhelming.

Sabrina grabs my hand and tugs me forward, her excitement practically buzzing through her. “Come on, Chloe. This is going to be amazing .”

I hesitate for a second, looking at the sea of people, but I follow her up the steps and into the house.

The second we step inside, the noise doubles. The music thunders through the packed living room, where people are dancing and shouting over each other. The air smells like a mix of sweat, perfume, and something sharp that I can’t quite place.

Sabrina moves like she’s done this a million times, weaving through the crowd with ease, smiling and waving at familiar faces. I stick close behind her, trying not to feel completely out of my depth.

As we pass through the room, I notice people turning to look at us—or maybe just at me. Whispers reach my ears over the music.

“Wait, is that Chloe?”

“No way. She looks so different.”

“Didn’t even know she went to parties.”

I feel my cheeks heat up. My instinct is to shrink, to hide behind Sabrina, but she just beams and keeps walking, like this is exactly what she expected.

“Drink?” Sabrina asks suddenly, handing me a red Solo cup she’s grabbed from a table.

“Uh, sure.” I take it and sniff the liquid. It smells like fruit punch, but there’s something else in it, something sharper.

Before I can decide if I’m going to drink it, a tall guy with messy brown hair and a ridiculously charming smile strides over to us. He’s older—not by much, but definitely not a high schooler.

“Ladies,” he says, his voice smooth and confident. His eyes land on me and stay there, making my stomach flip. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Jake.”

“Hey, Jake,” Sabrina says casually, already grinning. “This is my girl Chloe. First party.”

Jake raises an eyebrow, his grin widening. “First party? No way. You’re way too stunning to have been hiding this whole time.”

I let out a nervous laugh, unsure of what to say. “Uh, thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” He steps closer, just enough to make my pulse quicken. “So, what’s the story? Sabrina dragging you out tonight?”

“Kind of,” I admit, glancing at Sabrina, who looks like she’s loving every second of this.

“Well, I’m glad she did.” His voice drops a little, playful but steady.

I take a sip of the drink to cover the awkwardness I feel bubbling up. It’s sweeter than I expected, but there’s a burn that lingers after I swallow.

Jake leans in a little, just enough for me to hear him over the music. “Let me guess. You’re the quiet one. The mysterious type. Bet there’s a wild side you’re hiding.”

Before I can respond, Sabrina snorts and butts in. “Oh, she’s got a wild side. You just haven’t seen it yet.”

Jake laughs, his attention still locked on me. “I’d love to.”

I feel my face heat up again, and I can’t tell if it’s the drink, the music, or the way he’s looking at me. Sabrina grins, nudging me with her elbow. I can’t decide if I want to melt into the floor or let myself enjoy it. But as Jake keeps talking, his voice low and teasing, I can’t help but feel a little bit... noticed. Like I’m actually here. Like I belong.

The rest of the night blurs together in bits and pieces. Sabrina and I keep drinking, the sweet burn of whatever’s in the cup going down easier each time. Jake stays close, laughing with us, pulling us into drinking games with his friends. The music, the laughter, the shouting—it all becomes a haze of motion and noise.

At some point, I stop keeping track of how much I’ve had. Sabrina’s giggling beside me, Jake’s arm is around my shoulders, and someone’s chanting for another round. I try to keep up, but the room spins harder each time I blink. My head feels heavy, my body unsteady.

Then… nothing.

When I wake up, my head feels like it’s been slammed by a truck, and my mouth is as dry as sandpaper. The light in the room is dim, seeping through unfamiliar curtains, but it still stabs at my eyes. I shift slightly, and that’s when I realize—I’m completely naked.

Panic grips me like a vice. My heart pounds as I sit up, clutching the sheet to my chest. I glance to my side and freeze. Jake is lying there, bare-chested, his arm stretched across the bed like he’d been reaching for me.

“Oh my God,” I whisper, my voice shaky and barely audible.

I slide out of the bed as quietly as I can, wrapping the sheet tightly around me like a lifeline. My eyes scan the room, darting from one corner to the next, desperate to find my clothes. But they’re nowhere. The floor is littered with random items—a hoodie that isn’t mine, a pair of sneakers, some crumpled papers—but nothing I recognize.

Where are my things? My clothes? My purse? My phone?

I tiptoe across the room, my pulse loud in my ears, and search every possible hiding place. The dresser, the chair, under the bed—it’s all a mess of unfamiliar belongings. I open a drawer, hoping to find something helpful, but it’s empty.

“Where is it?” I whisper to myself, trying to stay calm, but the panic is rising like a wave.

I glance back at Jake. He hasn’t moved, his breathing deep and steady. I bite my lip, clutching the blanket tighter as I try to think. I need my phone. If I can just find my phone, I can call Sabrina or someone to come get me.

But it’s not here. It’s not on the nightstand, not in the pile of clothes on the floor, not anywhere.

Tears prick my eyes, but I force them back. I can’t break down. Not now. I have to figure this out.

Then I spot it—the phone on the nightstand. It’s not mine, but it’s something. A plain black landline phone with the hotel’s logo stamped on it. My stomach twists as I glance around again, fully absorbing my surroundings for the first time. Beige walls. Heavy curtains pulled shut. A mounted TV. A small desk cluttered with papers and an empty water bottle.

The realization hits me like a punch to the gut. I’m in a hotel room. Alone. With Jake.

I grab the phone, sitting back down on the bed with the blanket still wrapped around me. My fingers tremble as I stare at the keypad. Who do I even call?

The first thought is my mom, but I immediately push it away. She’d flip out—not just because of where I am, but because I went out at all. Her anger wouldn’t help right now.

Sabrina. She’d know what to do. She brought me to the party. But then it hits me—I don’t know her number. Or anyone’s number. They’re all saved in my phone, the one that’s missing.

I let out a shaky breath, running a hand through my hair. You’d think I’d have my mom’s number memorized, but I don’t. She changes phones all the time, usually because she doesn’t pay the bill and the service gets cut off. I gave up trying to keep track.

“Shit,” I whisper under my breath.

I glance at the phone again, my fingers hovering over the keypad. The thought of calling 911 crosses my mind, but what would I even say? “Hi, I woke up in a hotel room after blacking out at a party”? I’m not hurt—or at least, I don’t think I am—and I’m not sure this justifies calling the police. Besides, the idea of cops showing up and making everything worse makes my chest tighten.

I take a deep breath, my heart racing. There has to be another way.

I stumble into the bathroom, gripping the blanket tightly around me as I close the door behind me. My hands are shaking, my breath shallow. I need a second—just a second to breathe, to figure out what’s happening.

When I look up at the mirror, I freeze.

I barely recognize myself. My hair is a tangled mess, sticking out in every direction. My makeup is smeared—mascara streaked down my cheeks, lipstick smudged across my mouth like a bad joke. My face is pale, my eyes bloodshot, but that’s not the worst of it.

My neck.

Red marks dot my skin, standing out like bruises. Hickeys.

My stomach churns, and my knees threaten to give out. My mind races, trying to make sense of it. Hickeys? I’ve never even done anything close to this before. I’m... I’m a virgin.

My heart starts pounding again, harder now, a dull roar filling my ears. I try to breathe, try to stay calm, but then I think about it—about how I feel down there.

There’s a discomfort, a rawness, and the realization slams into me like a truck.

I lunge for the sink, gagging. My stomach clenches, and bile rises in my throat. I throw up, gripping the edges of the sink like it’s the only thing keeping me upright.

“Oh my God,” I whisper hoarsely, my voice shaking. Tears blur my vision as I spit and rinse my mouth with water. My body feels foreign, like it doesn’t belong to me anymore.

I lean over the sink, gasping for air. Panic claws at my chest, threatening to overwhelm me. I can’t think straight, can’t stop the flood of emotions rushing through me.

I stare at my reflection, trying to hold it together, but the girl looking back at me doesn’t feel like me anymore. What the hell happened last night?

Suddenly, a loud banging on the bathroom door jolts me out of my panicked thoughts. I freeze, my grip tightening on the sink as my heart leaps into my throat.

Before I can even think about responding, the door swings open with a force that makes it hit the wall, and Jake stumbles in, completely naked.

“What the hell—?” I start to say, but the words catch in my throat.

He doesn’t even look at me. “Get out of the way, bitch,” he grumbles, his voice groggy and slurred, like he’s barely awake.

I’m too stunned to move as he shuffles past me, heading straight for the toilet. Without a second thought—or a shred of decency—he lifts the lid and starts peeing, swaying slightly as he does.

My stomach turns, disgust and anger bubbling up inside me. “Are you serious right now?” I snap, my voice sharper than I expect.

Jake doesn’t answer. He just keeps doing his business, like barging in on someone isn’t a big deal.

I stand there, clutching the blanket tighter around me, a mix of humiliation and rage boiling under my skin. My mind is racing, but one thought pushes its way to the front: I need to get out of here. Now.

As soon as he’s done, I plan to grab my things—or whatever I can find—and get as far away from him as possible. Whatever happened last night, I want no part of it anymore.

I walk out of the bathroom, my heart pounding in my chest, and sit on the edge of the bed. The blanket is still wrapped tightly around me, like armor against everything I’m feeling. I can hear Jake moving around in the bathroom—water running briefly, then silence.

When he finally walks out, still naked and completely unbothered, I clear my throat. My voice comes out more confident than I feel. “Where are my things?”

He looks at me, a smirk tugging at his lips, and then he laughs. Not a nervous laugh, not a friendly one—a mocking, dismissive laugh.

I stand up, my grip on the blanket tightening. My glare locks onto him. “Where did you put my things? I need to get home.”

His laugh grows louder, meaner. It’s the kind of laugh that makes my skin crawl.

“What’s so damn funny?” I yell, my voice cracking slightly, but I don’t back down.

Jake leans against the wall, his arms crossed, still smirking. “You,” he says, shaking his head like I’m the punchline to some private joke. “You think you’re in control here, huh? Cute.”

My stomach knots, but I refuse to let him see how scared I am. “I’m not joking, Jake. Where are my clothes? My phone? I need to leave.”

He doesn’t move, doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he stares at me, his smirk slowly fading into something colder. I take a step back, my mind screaming at me to figure out what to do next. This isn’t just uncomfortable—it’s dangerous.

I lunge for the phone on the nightstand, desperate to call for help, but Jake moves faster. He grabs it before I can, yanking it out of the wall with a sharp snap. My breath catches as he hurls it across the room, the phone smashing into the wall and falling to the floor in pieces.

Panic grips me, stronger and colder than anything I’ve ever felt. I take a step back, my heart pounding in my chest as Jake turns to face me.

“You don’t get it, do you?” His voice is low, dangerous, his dark eyes gleaming with something that makes my blood run cold. “Your life is over now.”

I shake my head, my voice trembling. “What are you talking about? I just want to go home—”

He cuts me off with a bitter laugh, stepping closer. I instinctively step back until I feel the edge of the bed against the backs of my legs.

“You don’t get to go home,” he says, his tone cold and final. “You don’t get to see your friends again. You’re leaving with me.”

I shake my head again, harder this time, but he keeps going, his words slicing through me like a knife.

“My boss will decide what you do, who you see, and what your life will be. He’ll tell you how to survive—if you’re lucky. Listen to him, and maybe you’ll make it out of this alive.”

The dark laugh that escapes him sends chills down my spine. His words hang in the air, suffocating and final, and I realize just how much trouble I’m in.

This isn’t a bad night that I’ll laugh about later. This is a nightmare—and I don’t know how I’m going to wake up.