Chapter 17
My anger is like a storm cloud, dark and brooding. He lied to me. All of them did.
I hate lies.
I fucking hate them and they know it.
Why?
What are they hiding? Rock claims he did it to protect me but from what? Why is he not trusting me?
I’m venting over the punching bag into the Clubhouse gym. I can see Rock brothers peer at me, but I don’t care whether I vent in here or with Rock.
“Hey Princess, take it easy.” Royal’s amused voice skirts me out of my thoughts. “Now I get why your punch hit hard.”
“Wanna try another one?”
He raises his hands up and moves backward, stopping to act like an idiot. I may seem fragile, but I can knock him out in no time. Taking the boxes gloves off, I throw them in the basket from where I took them. Sweat is running down my spine and I head upstairs for a shower.
Once dressed in Rock’s shirt, his scent relaxes me making me feel better. His love has woven itself into the fabric of my being, and the mere thought of fighting with him feels like tearing a piece of my soul. I pull on my favorite leather jacket, its familiar weight grounding me in the midst of my inner turmoil.
The clubhouse feels both comforting and stifling today, the walls seemingly closing in on me. I need some air, some space to clear my head. I shouldn’t go alone but I don’t want anyone to spill the beans to Rock. Not this time.
The roar of my bike is a welcome distraction as I cruise down the open road, the wind whipping through my hair. Totally Ink is my destination. Mac, with his talented hands and artistic mind, is the one I seek. I need a tattoo, a permanent reminder of my love for Rock. It”s my way of leaving my mark, of solidifying our connection.
The tattoo parlor”s harsh ambiance greets me as I step inside, the distinct scent of ink and antiseptic filling my senses. Mac looks up from his workbench, his eyes lighting up as he sees me.
“Princess!” He gets on his feet while looking behind me. “You’re not alone, are you?”
“Let’s say I may be but please I needed to see you without Rock to know it.”
“What can I do for you today?” he asks with a grin, wiping his hands on a rag.
“I need something special, Mac,” I reply, a hint of determination in my voice. “Something for Rock.” I start to explain to him what I want and how I imagine it but also that needs to be done in one sitting otherwise he’ll notice I’m not at the hood.
Mac nods, understanding passing between us. He sketches a design that resonates with my heart—an R and Z entwined with a motorcycle chain. A symbol of love and loyalty, something that makes him understand I love Rock’s side and the sweet Zane one too. Mac adds his own touch with a panther with a crown because I’m the Panthers’ Princess.
With the tattoo complete, I feel a sense of satisfaction settle within me, a quiet reassurance that my love for Rock is etched permanently on my skin. He’ll go crazy but I want him to.
After visiting mom’s grave I walk back to the bike. Suddenly, the world spins out of control. A scuffle breaks out nearby, and before I can react, strong arms pull me into a van. The metallic taste of fear fills my mouth, my heart hammering in my chest. I struggle, fighting with every ounce of strength I possess. But I”m outnumbered, overwhelmed by the sheer force against me.
“Let me go!” I scream, my voice raw with desperation, as I claw and kick, aiming to break free from the grasp of my captors.
The van speeds away, my mind racing with thoughts of Rock. Panic and fear swirl within me, but so does determination. I can”t let them win.
Summoning every ounce of strength within me, I fight back with a fury, hitting the right spot. Hopefully one is down. Blow after blow, I retaliate, aiming for any weakness, any chance of escape. Adrenaline pumps through my veins, numbing the pain and driving me to fight with all I have.
The struggle feels endless, the battle within me raging on. But the love for Rock, the fire that burns for him, fuels my resilience. I refuse to be broken, refuse to succumb.
As the struggle continues, I find a momentary opening, a glimmer of hope. With a surge of energy, I seize the opportunity, kicking, scratching, and screaming for help. My determination to survive, to return to Rock, empowers me. The van screeches to a halt, and I”m thrown to the floor, breathless and disoriented. But I refuse to surrender. I scramble, searching for an escape route, my heart pounding, my muscles aching.
Through sheer willpower and desperation, I break free, the taste of freedom tantalizingly close when I manage to open the door and jump off. I sprint, my pulse racing in my ears, my lungs burning with exertion. I don”t look back, driven by the need to survive ending right in a group of bikers. Fuck! Where am I?
I gather the guys in the clubhouse’s meeting room, their attention turning toward me as I stand before them, a plan brewing in my mind. “As you know, next year, Princess will go to St. Moritz, and I’ll go with her. Which means Brick and Mac will be in charge for a week,” I announce, my tone resolute.
Denise and Blue exchange knowing glances, a silent acknowledgment passing between them. Brick nods in agreement, sensing the importance of this trip for me. It’s my chance to make unforgettable memories with Ash, to cherish moments that transcend the chaos of our lives.
“Why isn’t she wearing her vest? Have you chickened out?”
“Fuck off,” I scoff as I set them free. “Brick with me.”
He cocks a brow but follows me. “Where to?”
“I want to get Ash a gift, something special.” I find myself smiling like a stupid. Brick accompanies me; his silent support is comforting in times like these but at the same time is weird.
“I’m going to guess you want to propose.”
“Am I that obvious?”
“Bro, it’s painted all over your face.” He chuckles. “Can I just say I’ve never seen you so happy?”
I know. I have that feeling too. What I had with Caroline was nothing compared to my relationship with Ash. “It’s weird to move on but she makes me happy.”
“And you piss her off.” He laughs out loud. “I like her. Denise said she punched Royal because he was trying to take her to the hood rather than the clinic.”
I can’t help but laugh. “She’s reckless and I’m not sure that’s a good thing.”
“It depends, being Harrison’s daughter I think he made sure to teach her some self-defense.”
“She knows it and also knows how to handle a gun.” I grin seeing his surprised face. “I wanted to prove her being alone may be dangerous and Blue helped me, but she managed to surprise both of us.”
“Princess is doing you good, Prez.”
Yeah, in more than one way.
We browse through the stores, seeking something that captures the essence of my love for her. Eventually, we find something unique, symbolizing my fiery love that merges with Ash’s strength.
The day takes a dark turn when I receive an urgent call, a knot forming in my gut. Rushing to the clubhouse, I find Harrison there, a pensive look etched on his face.
“What happened?”
“Ashley…” Harrison’s choked voice makes my heart stop.
“Where is she?” I shout. Blood is racing in my veins. When I left, she was heading to the gym in our Clubhouse.
“They took her.” I have no idea who said it but my vision blurs and I grip on my desk. Fuck, it can’t be happen again. Not to her.
“Prez?” Denise”s voice shakes me.
“When?”
“Between 3 and 5 pm.” Mac’s voice is a mere whisper.
“Are you fucking kidding me? It’s 6 pm and no one knows anything?”
Harrison shows me the pen drive. “This was delivered to me ten minutes ago.” When he called me.
I give it to Mac who starts to scan it. “She left Totally Ink around five p.m.”
“What? Who was with her?”
“She was alone,” Mac confesses.
I pin him to the wall. “And you let her go away alone? You haven’t called back-up?”
He struggles to break free. “I did call them, but she took off right away.”
“Who the fuck were supposed organize the shifts and who’s at the gate? Why did they let her out alone?”
“Calm down, Prez…” Royal dares to pull my arm.
My fist meets his face within a second, making him land flat on the floor. “Calm down?” I grab his collar. “How the fuck you dare…”
“Rock!” Mac’s voice snaps me from my fury.
“I’m sorry, Prez.” Royal mumbles.
I yank him back. “I’ll deal with you later.”
Mac connects the pen drive to our monitors. My blood runs cold as I watch, horror gripping me as the scene unfolds before my eyes. The fuckers recorded everything. Ash, beaten and tormented, but fiercely fighting back against her captors. It’s like a nightmare brought to life, a vision that sends a surge of rage coursing through me. Brick steps up, his calm demeanor a contrast to my boiling anger. He takes control of the video, analyzing every frame, every detail. Blue and Harrison gather information, piecing together any clue that could lead us to her captors.
I go wild, my thoughts consumed by one singular focus—finding and saving Ash. It can’t happen again. I march to the cage, fury burning within me, a storm of emotions ready to unleash. Bursting into the room, I find a couple of guns pointing at me but they step back.
“Where the fuck is she?” I punch Drew right away.
The laughter that erupts from him makes me cringe and I keep using it as a speedball venting all my frustration over him.
“Rock!” Blue snaps at me. “Give him time to answer.”
“Time?” I blurt out. “Time she doesn’t have.” I put my boot on his throat, taking my Glock out, aiming at his head. “You’ve played all wrong kiddo, where the fuck is she?”
I can read the terror in his eyes, and panic of having seconds of life takes over when I take off the secure. “Harlock Avenue.”
“The new construction?”
He coughs and catches his breath. “They want to tear it down since they don’t want to sell it to The Vipers.”
“You’re not that stupid after all.” I back off and move outside.
The Black Panthers stand armed and ready, a sense of urgency gripping us all. We ride out, a unified force determined to bring Ash home, to rid the world of the filth that dared lay a hand on her.
The roar of our bikes echoes through the night as we tear through the streets, the adrenaline and urgency pushing us forward. There’s no turning back; we’re on a mission to save our own.