Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Cassie
Stick a fucking fork in me, and I'll kill you. That's how done I am.
When I started thinking our situationship would blow up, I thought it would be yelling and hashing out our issues. Not him leaving me on the side of the road with my pants down and his cum leaking into my shoes.
On wobbly legs, I drove myself home as carefully as I could since I was crying and not in the best headspace to be operating a motorcycle.
Maddox has been an asshole for many years, but never has he been that fucking cruel. There was one stretch, one looong stretch when we were happy. For a year he took me on dates, asked about my life, doted on me, and made love to me. We were madly in love amidst the unknown of our futures.
Sure, he hid me from the club, but I was fine with it because I wasn't sure if I wanted that life. That ended six years ago. We've been stuck in this toxic cycle I don't think I can deal with anymore.
Going from thinking we're endgame to fucking a few times a year because we just can't stay away from one another is a bad trip I need to end.
We may have professed our love, but when the pressure of really coming into his role as the Shadows’ president came, he pulled away. It hurt, but my love and support for him encouraged me to understand.
Well, I'm done being understanding. His sweet girl is safely tucked away while my badass self comes out to play. I can't keep holding out hope that I'll get a flash of love in his eyes a few times a year. At thirty-two, I'm tired of his bullshit.
So, here I stand at the Shadows’ gate, in a tiny pair of jean shorts, a lacy black crop top and a lightweight leather jacket thrown over it to cover up a bit. I drove my car because I'm not dumb enough to ride without proper gear. My lack of experience scares me enough to keep me safe at least.
Although I don't think this is the best idea. I'm dressed to turn heads, and I want, no, I need Maddox to feel the pressure.
This is the last thing I can do to make it completely obvious that I am not the weak woman he thinks I am. I can handle his world and thrive in his life. But, and this is a big but, I'm done being treated like I don't exist.
So I'm diving tits first into the Shadows MC.
"OPEN UP!" I scream, pounding my fist on the ridiculously tall gate. Honestly, it's double my height. Are they trying to keep giraffes out or something?! Or maybe they have a giraffe? Can giraffes survive in Michigan? Or—
"Step back, lady!" a deep voice bellows, catching me off guard. "Get the hell out of here."
A very wide, very beastly-looking man stops in front of me on the other side of the gate, his arms crossed. He's even taller than Maddox, and the tattoos all the way up his arms and neck are cool as hell.
"Where'd you get those done?" I ask, staring at the intricate lines and subtle shading on his bicep.
The muscle flexes when he jerks. "What? Woman, you need to leave."
"I'm a tattoo artist. I work with Jamie. You must know him because the Shadows send some prospects to us for honest work, like Jake a few years ago. Did he do those?"
I know I'm getting sidetracked, but the design is exquisite. Stepping forward, I narrow my eyes and catch a slight sheen of red in the panther's mouth. "Nice," I murmur, tilting my head.
"I—What?" the man stammers, seemingly flustered and annoyed. "Get off our property before I drag you off. It's not safe here right now."
Right now? What does that mean? Peering up at him, I decide I'll act a bit more aloof to keep him talking. If he finds me too demanding and bitchy, he would probably drag me out of here. "Are you in danger? Is that code for something?"
Sputtering, his beard jiggles. "Look—"
The sound of the gate creaking open shuts him up, and the voice that follows makes him stand at attention. "Get her car in the furthest garage, Tank. I'll handle her."
Shivers tickle down my spine before I even catch a peek of the man with an eerily smooth voice. Then he steps into view, and I'm at a loss. He's not Maddy, the man I love but really should hate at this point, yet he's looking at me like I'm...like I'm his.
"Hi, my name is—"
Before I can finish my sentence, the tall newcomer pounces on me.
His large hand slides across the side of my neck and into my hair while his thumb presses against my lips to shush me.
Dark gray eyes hold me in place as I take in his features.
His slightly tanned face has a smattering of scars, and his black hair grazes his shoulders with a slight curl.
In a low, warning voice tinged with a fondness that confuses me, he whispers, "If you want to be here so bad, Cassie, you won't say a word for the next ten minutes.
Right now, you're just a slut wanting a cut, you understand?
No, no. Put the claws away, Kitty. Now's not the time to fight me.
Either shut up or I'll make you. Let's go. "
My breath whooshes out of me when he yanks me forward and throws me over his shoulder. "HEY!" A hard slap on my right ass cheek startles me into slapping his in retaliation. "Don't fucking spank me! I need to see Maddox, you big oaf!"
As fast as I was tossed over his shoulder, he's flipping me back onto my feet. My belly swoops not because he steadies me with heavy hands on my hips, but because dizziness swamps me.
"Cassie, I need you to listen to me very carefully," he rumbles, face pinched with a seriousness that scares me enough to shut up. "I'm trying to protect you."
"From what? As far as I'm concerned, you're kidnapping me," I hiss. When I slam my hands down on my hips, I connect with his wrists. I gasp quietly at the heat that flares in his gaze.
His Adam's apple bobs before he shakes himself a bit. "I gave you what you wanted. You want to be here. Right now, you're in danger and need to wait to see Maddox. Let me get you to safety, Pet."
I can't help but glare up at him even if my tummy swoops at the nickname. How am I supposed to believe him? Maybe he's the one I should be running from. "Is that your way of asking? Because it sounded like a demand. I don't even know your name."
"You'll call me Ripper for now. Let's go," he growls, and snatches my wrist in a firm grip. It doesn't hurt, but there's no way I'll be able to break free.
For now? What the hell does that mean? A feminine scream from the big building we're heading toward stops my words from escaping. I go along with Ripper, fear keeping me from drawing attention to myself.
"We'll go through the back," he mutters, nudging a metal door open and ushering me down a dark hallway. "You'll stay in my guest room, and I'll let you out when I can."
Let me out? The sound of glass shattering and loud males shouting keeps me from questioning Ripper once again. My body reacts to the threat, flinching and cowering away from the aggressive sounds nearby.
"Hey," Ripper coos deeply, turning immediately. His warm, rough hands cup my cheeks, and he spins to press me against the wall. "Nobody will hurt you, okay? I need you to do as I say. Can you handle that, Kitty?"
"I don't know," I whisper, completely confused about what I’ve gotten myself into.
Another crash, this one sounding like a chair breaking. More shouting ensues, but Ripper moves his hands from my cheeks and covers my ears like I'm too dainty to handle the obvious fight nearby.
I couldn't have flinched that hard. Why is he treating me like a scared little girl? Do I give off that vibe?
Before I can nudge him away to prove I'm fine and just surprised, his eyes widen a fraction, and his body stiffens. I swear I see an apology in his eyes for just a moment before it's gone in a flash as he slams his lips down on mine.
Muffled grumbling penetrates through his hands over my ears, pulling me from the warm feel of Ripper's mouth. A tiny swipe of his tongue against the seam of my lips makes me gasp.
Sadly, he quickly pulls back and snarls over his shoulder. "She's mine right now, fucker."
Without further comment, he drags me through a doorway and slams it behind us. Panting, completely breathless, and absolutely lost for words, I watch Ripper drag a hand through his hair and start pacing.
"Fuck, okay. Here's what's going to happen," he says, not acknowledging our kiss. "I'm going to tell them you're tied up waiting for me because I need to help Maddox and can't babysit you. I'll lock you in, but you aren't our prisoner."
"The fuck did you just say?!" I whisper-shout, taking a step forward. All the heat from our kiss is cooled off by the fact that he's going to lock me in his fucking room.
"Kitty." He sighs, inching toward the door. Oh no, he doesn't. "Stay," is his final command as I fling myself at him, but I'm too slow. He slams the door closed and flips the lock.
"YOU ASS—" Another scream tears through the walls. Stunned and completely losing my patience, I stare at the lock. "Okay. Okay, think. Think."
There's clearly something going on here. Do I really want to draw attention to myself when there's something bad going down a few rooms away? No. Definitely not.
Turning on my heel, I take in Ripper's guest room for the first time. I’m not sure why I thought it would be gross and dark.
There's no window, but the sheets are wrinkle-free and a dark green.
The walls have a few posters of motorcycles and a floor-length mirror.
Honestly, it's a bit scarce, but at least there are no panties and bras on the ground.
Sighing, I drop to my ass beside the door and question what I really know about Maddy's life. And who the hell is Ripper?