Chapter Eight #2
His mood changed in an instant, going from playfully sinister to full-blown evil. The grip on her wrist tightened until his fingers dug into the delicate bones, making her whimper.
“I wouldn’t be so fucking cocky if I were you, princess. Your club’s been on top for too long in this town.”
As she opened her mouth to blast him once again, the low purr of an engine, a car this time, not another motorcycle, had him releasing her with a harsh shove.
She stumbled back, barely managing to keep herself from hitting the ground.
Two blinks later, he was speeding away, leaving her trembling on the side of the road with a jackhammering heart.
“Shit. Shit. Shit.” She dug her phone out as a cherry red sedan, whose driver had no clue he’d just saved her ass, whizzed by.
Two seconds later, her mom was answering on the first ring with a light laugh. “Told you that you wouldn’t want to walk all the way to town.”
“M-mom,” she said, furious with the tremor in her voice.
All teasing disappeared. “What’s wrong?”
“I need you to come get me,” she said, before rattling off her location as she tried to control her breathing. “Some asshole in a cut I didn’t recognize just stopped me on the side of the road and threatened the club.”
“What?” Shell practically screamed into the phone. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you? Are you safe?”
“Yes. Yes, I’m fine. Just a little shaken.”
“Okay, I’m already in the car on my way to you.”
“Um, you should probably call Dad.” Even though her surroundings were now quiet but for the chirping of birds and buzzing of cicadas, she glanced over her shoulder every few seconds.
She could call her father herself, but wasn’t in the headspace to deal with the level of freak out he’d have.
At least her mom could talk him down before Beth had to deal with him.
“I will after I get to you. I want to stay on the line with you until I get there.”
“T-thanks.” She’d be forever grateful for a mom who knew and understood her so well. She knew how scared this made her daughter, and how Beth was too stubborn to admit it aloud. What could she say? Growing up around the club made her obstinate as hell.
She fidgeted and paced for the five minutes it took her mother to reach her. As soon as Shell’s headlights rounded the corner, Beth took off in a run toward the car.
“Thank you,” she said, breathless as she slipped into the passenger seat. Shell had pulled over and was already dialing Copper.
As soon as she shut the door, Beth hit the lock button.
“Copper, Beth, and I need to meet you at the clubhouse. She was walking into town and was stopped and threatened by a guy in a cut she didn’t recognize. I’m assuming it’s one of those bikers you guys have been tracking the past few weeks.”
Shell paused for one second before saying the entire thing all over again.
After a slow inhale, she nodded. “Yes. Yes, Copper, she’s safe and not hurt, just freaked out.
We’ll be at the clubhouse soon. I love you.
” She nodded a few more times before saying goodbye, then turned to Beth. “Dad said you did well.”
“Thanks.” Despite the relative safety of the car, all she wanted was to be in the clubhouse, surrounded by people who had her back at all costs.
Shell reached across the console and took Beth’s hand. They stayed quiet for the rest of the ride. Beth was lost in thought, wondering what came next and how she’d managed to stay away so long when all she wanted at the first sign of trouble was to be as close to her club family as possible.
“Honey.”
Beth blinked.
“We’re here.”
“Shit. Sorry… totally zoned out there for a minute. Thanks for rushing right to me.”
Shell snorted. “What else would I have done? Come on. Your dad should be here any second.”
As she climbed out of the car, a motorcycle sped into the parking lot way faster than a safe speed. They skidded to a hard stop, sending a cloud of gravel and dust into the air.
Saint.
He ripped his helmet off and seared her with an assessing stare so intense she felt like heat against her bare skin.
She shivered. Saint looked furious in the same way she’d seen right before he beat her ex-boyfriend to a bloody pulp. Before she had a chance to react outwardly, two more motorcycles pulled up beside Saint, parking with much less ferocity than he did.
Copper was off his bike in a flash, storming toward her. Were he any other six-foot-five tattooed man with such a scary expression, she’d have backed up, but for all his gruff demeanor, he’d never once frightened her.
He grabbed her and crushed her to him in a suffocating hug. “You okay?”
She nodded against his chest. “Yeah, Dad, I’m good.”
“Okay,” he said as he released her. “Let’s get inside.
” As he turned, he kept his heavy arm around her shoulders and tugged Shell to him with his other hand.
After kissing his ol’ lady and whispering how much he loved her, he signaled to a prospect to tail her as she left.
One of Beth’s younger siblings had to be picked up from volleyball practice soon, so Shell couldn’t stick around, but there was no way Copper would let her drive around unchaperoned right now.
The prospect jogged over from where he’d been standing. “On it, Prez,” he called as he mounted his bike.
After hugging and thanking her mother again, Beth allowed Copper to lead her into the clubhouse.
Five minutes later, she found herself seated at a table with her father, Rocket, and Maverick, who’d placed an eleven a.m. glass of whiskey in front of her.
Saint was the only one who’d separated himself from the group.
He sat at the bar, facing her table, one hand wrapped around a glass he hadn’t touched.
His stare burned with barely leashed rage.
Never once did he look away.
She swore he didn’t even blink.
A muscle in his jaw ticked with each breath.
Every so often, she snuck a glance his way to find him in the same position, burning her with an intensity she’d never experienced.
It was unnerving.
It was also hot. The man oozed sexiness from his pores, and with it channeled in her direction, she had a hard time keeping her cool. Though her father’s presence sure killed any chance of returning the stare.
“You sure you’re okay?” Copper asked for the fiftieth time.
“Yes. I was shaken at first, but I’m good now. Just pissed off by the situation.”
“What did you say when he asked you to say hello to Copper and tell him we didn’t want them as an enemy?”
Beth took a large sip of the whiskey. It was good quality, but still burned on the way down.
She loved that fiery sensation, the way it woke her up from the inside.
Loved the respect in the guys’ eyes when she downed it with ease.
Jason had hated it when she drank whiskey.
Claimed she was trying to compete with the boys.
It was never a competition. She could drink his friends under the table. God, she really was a biker princess.
“I told him he could fuck right off. That I wouldn’t tell anyone shit on his behalf.”
Mav slapped a hand on the table. “That’s our girl.”
Copper whacked him on the back of his head as he said, “Christ, Beth.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “If you’re ever in a situation like that, you don’t fucking antagonize the asshole. Who knows what he would have done if a car hadn’t driven by?”
A week ago, she’d tried that. She’d been docile, she’d done what she was told, she’d tried her hardest not to antagonize, and what happened? She still ended up slammed against a wall with a man choking her.
Fuck being docile.
“I’m done taking shit like that from men.”
The mood changed so fast that her stomach flipped. Shit. She’d said too much. He’d know. Her father would know something had happened with a man.
Guess she was lucky he had more pressing issues to deal with.
Risking a quick peek at Saint, Beth found him practically vibrating with restrained fury.
He held a glass with white knuckles. Hopefully, the cup wouldn’t shatter in his hand.
All of a sudden, the overwhelming urge to go to him and rub her finger over his ticking jaw washed over her.
Of course, she’d resist. Her father would go berserk, and Saint himself would probably reject the touch, but the impulse remained.
“Saint,” Copper barked, jerking them both from their secret stare-off.
“Yeah, Prez.”
“Can you take Beth home for me? Maybe stick around until Shell or I get back.”
Her stomach fluttered—another ride on the back of Saint’s bike.
“You okay with that, Beth?”
“Um, yeah. Of course, but I don’t need a babysitter.”
Copper just shot her a look that asked if she was crazy.
“All right. All right.” She raised her hands in surrender. “I had to try. Should we go now?” she asked, turning toward Saint.
He nodded once.
Okay, guess we’re not chatting today.
His stoic attitude did nothing to stem the buzz of excitement now coursing through her veins. She rose and rounded the table, hugging her father from behind. “Love you, Dad.”
He turned his head to kiss her cheek, and she almost giggled as she used to as a child when he’d tickle her face with his beard.
“Love you too, kiddo.” He pointed to Saint. “Keep her safe. You’re carrying precious cargo.”
“Understood.”
She said goodbye, exchanging hugs with the others before heading toward the exit.
Saint met her there and held the door open.
As she walked through, he placed his hand on her lower back, guiding her outside without a word.
It remained there warm and strong until they reached his bike.
He didn’t speak but radiated tension, and by the time they reached his motorcycle, Beth couldn’t take it anymore.
She turned and stopped him with her hands on his upper stomach. “Are you okay?”
He wouldn’t meet her eyes. “Get on the bike, Beth.”
“Saint.” Frowning, she increased the pressure on his stomach. “Saint.”
Finally, he sighed. “I can’t right now, Beth. Please… get on the bike.”
As much as it sounded like a frustrated dismissal, it didn’t feel that way. It felt deeper, like he was struggling with something he couldn’t voice. Like he really needed her to get on the motorcycle. So instead of pushing back as her instincts told her to, she nodded.
And she climbed on the bike.