Chapter Five
June
For a moment, it’s not Theo’s strength holding me down, but shock. Disbelief that what I heard him say is what he actually said.
Become a member of his gang? Absolutely not.
However, he was right that typically part of my process is getting close enough to validate a client’s claims. Though I haven’t been able to do that with him, I also haven’t seen Amber since a glimpse almost two weeks ago when she looked exhausted and broken.
She’d tried talking to Theo, but he had shoved her away so hard that she fell, landing hard on her ass.
He didn’t even check on her. Just stalked off, leaving her to cry by herself.
Then she’d disappeared, and Jennifer remains convinced Theo killed her.
“Why would I do that?” I ask, thoughts struggling to stay focused on my task.
“For the reason I just said. After a month, I’ll let you kill me without a fight.” He pauses and tilts his head, as if considering. “Unless the fight is part of the fun for you.” His dark eyes gleam in the moonlight, and I remember how hard he’d felt when our hips rubbed together.
Heat gathers between my legs and rises in my cheeks.
“If I say no?”
“I don’t think you’re in the position to say no.” He looks pointedly up at where his hand grips my wrists, then down to where his knees are pressed against my sides, keeping me pinned.
“What’s to stop me from killing you as soon as you let me go?”
“The fact that you don’t have any weapons and I do.”
My teeth grind together. I wish I could argue, but I’m not stupid. Without weapons or the element of surprise, I don’t stand a chance against him.
“What about a few days from now? I could agree, then decide to kill you in a week.”
“You could, but that’s not in the spirit of the game.”
“This isn’t a game!”
“You won’t be a full member, of course. Not without a bike of your own,” he continues, unbothered by my words.
“Typically, you’d have already put several hundred miles on the road before becoming a prospect.
Then the club would vote on you joining.
But seeing as I’m the president, I think we can work around that. ”
“Lucky me,” I mumble. I move my fingers, attempting to find leverage against his hand.
“Other than that, you’ll be like any new prospect.”
“A psychopath?”
Theo pushes forward, smoothly ignoring me. “You’ll need to go through an… initiation. It’s customary for our newest members to move into the clubhouse or with a veteran. As you’re so determined to kill me, it makes sense for you to live in my house.”
I start shaking my head before he finishes speaking. “Fuck no. In what world would I move in with you?”
“In a world where we both walk away from this playground alive.”
“I’m not moving in with you! I have a job. I have a life!”
“You can keep taking appointments. And I won’t keep you from Taco Tuesdays with your friends.”
“I’d like to see you try.” I fill my voice with a threat that honestly means nothing right now. If Theo wanted me dead, he could’ve killed me ten times over.
Fuck, he could’ve hurt Sadie, Rose, or Evelyn. How could I have missed this? When did he notice me? Has he had one of his gang members following me? I should’ve fucking noticed. I promised myself years ago to never get careless or complacent. That’s how you die or go to prison.
Which are my options right now. Or, worse, he could go after my friends. That’s the one thing I’ll never allow.
“Other than that, you’re with us. You come to the Iron Cage and hang out with the crew at the clubhouse. You take riding lessons with either me or Luna. You’ll come to church and pitch in with jobs. When we’re on the road, you ride with me.”
“No.”
“You’d rather die than ride on a motorcycle?”
“I’d rather die than join your gang or live with you.”
“And James.”
“Yeah, because that makes it better,” I mutter, sarcastically .
“Are you scared of what’ll happen if we’re under the same roof every night?” He slowly lowers his body, and anticipation makes my muscles coil. “Think you won’t be able to stay out of my bed?”
A laugh rips from my throat even as my skin prickles with heat. And not the I-need-to-feel-a-heart-stop heat that radiates from the flames. “You’re delusional.”
He cocks an eyebrow. “Am I?” With his free hand not wrapped around my wrists, he traces my side, thumb brushing briefly under my breast before moving over my navel.
I try to wiggle away, but he still has me fully pinned.
His fingers hover at the waistband of my pants as he leans down, chest pressing against mine.
“If I go further, I bet I’ll find you soaking wet. ”
“I will cut your fucking hand off,” I threaten, happy to hear my voice isn’t blatantly coated with need. Still, there’s a traitorous pulse of desire growing between my legs that’s made worse by the intoxicating scent of this man, a mix of exhaust fumes, coffee, and natural musk.
“Are you afraid of wanting me?” he taunts.
No. But I am on fire in a new way, and I’m worried he knows exactly how to coax these sweeter flames.
“Agree to my compromise, and I’ll keep my hands to myself.”
“No.”
His hips push against mine, and I hate how good that feels. “Come on, little reaper. Become a Saint.”
“You’re insane.”
“I also have more resources than you. Did you really think I came here tonight, knowing you’re following me, without a fail-safe?”
My brows raise.
“If I don’t go home safely, the cops will receive some interesting information on you.”
“Bullshit.” He doesn’t have anything on me. He can’t. There’s nothing to find.
“Do you really want to call my bluff?”
I want to say yes out of spite, but I haven’t lasted this long by making decisions based on pride. Only being overly cautious keeps me off the police radar.
“It’s just one month,” he adds. “It’s the best deal you’ll get. Hell, you may end up enjoying it.” As if to prove his point, he nudges at the top of my pants, still not slipping underneath but reminding me of our compromising position. “So, what do you say?”
This is ridiculous. Absolute madness.
But I have to face reality. There’s no other way I’m leaving this playground both alive and without the fear that his bluff isn’t just a bluff. He might have something on me. Or he might have one of his biker buddies fabricate evidence against me.
It’s a risk I can’t take.
Teeth practically glued together from hatred, I snarl, “Fine.”
He smiles. “You’re agreeing?”
“Yes. Now get the fuck off me.”
“Are you sure?” his hand raises back to my breasts.
“Get. Off. Now.”
“If you insist.” He stands, and the loss of his weight makes me feel far too light and cold, despite the continuous fire under my skin.
“Take the night, little reaper. Pack a suitcase. I’ll pick you up from your office tomorrow afternoon,” Theo says. I think I hear his footsteps as he walks away, but I have no idea how long it takes after the sound of his motorcycle fades away before I finally stand on shaky legs.
I look around, unsurprised to find he took my syringes and knives, including the one strapped to my calf that I hadn’t pulled free.
He left. I’m alone.
Until tomorrow.
When he expects me to become a Saint of Purgatory.