3
S lowly coming around, it takes me a minute to realize that I’m in the back of a truck bouncing along the road. Blinking my eyes, my head spins as I try to focus, try to figure out what is going on. My mind is a hazy mess as I piece together my last movements, wondering how the hell I ended up in a truck. Little by little, my memories return, and I jerk upright, groaning when my stomach twists violently.
There is a man driving the truck, and I can’t see a great deal of his face, but I can see the bold leather jacket he’s wearing that tells me he’s a member of the club. That god damned asshole. He drugged me. Shame and anger mix in my chest, and my cheeks heat at the memory of his lips on mine. Here I was enjoying myself, when all along he was just figuring out how he could get rid of me.
“What the hell is going on?” I try to bark, but it comes out as a croaky moan.
Curling my fingers around the chair, I try to stop myself from falling back down. The man driving glances at me in the rearview mirror, and I’m taken back by his unique eyes. He has one stark blue eye and one that is more a hazel color. It is absolutely breathtaking, and something I have never seen on a person before. I’m so taken aback, I forget what I was going to say.
“I’m gettin’ you out of town, considerin’ you didn’t take the warning given to you.”
His voice is scratchy and incredibly hot, and I can’t help but shift down the chair a little so I can get a look at his face. He’s gorgeous, and I’m beginning to wonder where these bikers come from. Maybe I’m hallucinating, it would make more sense. This man has messy dark blond hair, a ring in his lower lip and tattoos snaking up his neck. He’s dangerous to look at, but in the most attractive way.
“First of all,” I answer him, my voice a little less croaky. “I don’t take orders from some biker that I don’t even know, and second of all, I will just make my way back to town because I’m not giving up on my plan, which is to find answers.”
“He’s tryin’ to help you. If you valued your life, you’d take that help.”
“I haven’t done anything to warrant me being scared for my life,” I mutter. “Now pull this truck over, because I’m getting out.”
“No, you ain’t.”
The audacity.
“What’s your name?” I snap.
“Steel.”
I grunt. “Steel, seriously? There is no way that’s your real name. What is your real name?”
“Talon.”
A man of many words. “Okay, Talon Steel, I’m going to be nice about this, but I won’t be for long. I am going to get out of this truck.”
He is unbothered by my threat. “Try it.”
I grit my teeth, glancing out the window at the road whizzing beside me. There is no way I’m going to be able to get out of this truck when it is moving at this speed.
“It doesn’t matter how far you drive me, I will come back,” I yell, frustrated. “Now pull over.”
“No.”
I throw my hands up. “Fucking bikers. Tell your boss that he will regret this.”
“ President , and he won’t regret shit.”
“Fuck you, Talon.”
“Steel.”
“Whatever!”
The truck goes silent, and I sit back in the chair, arms crossed over my chest. It takes me a moment to come up with a plan, but I quickly do. There are a few items in the back of this truck, such as a toolbox, some towing rope, and a few old shirts. My eyes zone in on the towing rope, and I feel bad about what I’m going to do, but I have no choice. I’m not letting Rook, Wolfe, whatever the hell his name is, drive me out of town.
Reaching down very quietly, I pull the rope into my hand. I form a loop and then, without warning, I move. I fling the rope over the back seat and around Talon’s neck, then I pull back with all my might. The truck swerves as he slams on his brakes, and I brace for impact, but he manages to stop it without crashing. Then, he fights.
Oh, does he fight.
His fingers curl around the rope, trying to pull it off his neck, but I’m not giving up without a fight. I lean back harder, putting my foot into the back of the chair so I can get more leverage, and then I hang on for dear life as he curses and fights. Minutes pass, and he even tries to reach over to the passenger side of the truck but is unable to because the rope is so tight.
Then, just like that, he slumps forward.
I release the rope immediately, praying I haven’t killed him.
Quickly, I climb into the passenger side and reach over, feeling for a pulse. He’s still alive, and I take him in as he slumps in the chair. The man really is something else. I feel horrible that it had to come to this, but I really had no other choice. Reaching over him, I open the door, unbuckle his seatbelt, and then shove him out. He falls onto the road, and I bite my lip, a terrible guilt swarming in my chest.
“Sorry,” I say to the unconscious man, “but I’m not backing down.”
Then, I get into the driver’s seat, turn the truck around, and head back home.
Wolfe Cross doesn’t know the kind of woman he is messing with.
I have spent too long without answers, nobody is getting in my way now.
Not even him.
WHEN I ARRIVE BACK in town, it’s late.
I have no idea how long I was out, but my guess is that it was quite a while because it is now the next night, and I have no recollection of the day before.
Every part of me wants to go to the biker compound and have it out with Wolfe, but I’m still exhausted, and I already know he will make his presence known the second he finds out what I did to Talon. I need to rest, so I make my way back to my hotel, parking the truck a few blocks down and walking the remainder of the way.
By the time I get to my room, my head is spinning, the effects of the drugs still clearly in my system.
Moving to the shower, I strip off my clothes and stand under the hot water until my mind stops spinning. I really need to find more permanent accommodations; I can’t keep paying to stay in this room. Exhaling, I get out and dress in a pair of panties and an oversized tee, then I fall into the bed, closing my eyes and exhaling.
I’m not sure how long I’m asleep for when the sudden pounding at my door wakes me up.
My eyes pop open, and I groan, rolling to my side as the banging sounds continue echoing through my room.
Fantastic.
I already know who is behind that door, even as I get to my feet and walk toward it. The very second it is unlocked it swings open, forcing me to take a step back. Wolfe storms into the room, his fists clenched by his sides, his face a tight mask of anger and rage. His eyes move to mine, and the wild heat behind them is enough for me to recoil. He’s angry, but it is me who should be.
“Do you have any fuckin’ idea who you are messin’ with?”
His voice is like ice.
“Me being here has nothing to do with you, and I’m curious as to why you’re so obsessed with making me leave. What are you hiding, biker?”
He flinches. “This town has never been the fuckin’ same since your father, and now you’re here stirrin’ shit up again, shit that needs to remain buried.”
I can’t help but wonder what it is he is trying to prevent me from finding out.
“I don’t care what the town feels,” I growl, crossing my arms. “I care about getting answers because my entire life has been a damn lie. You can continue to throw me out, but I promise you, I will continue to return.”
He steps toward me, his hand lashing out and curling around my throat as he pushes me back until I’m against the wall. Chest rising and falling heavily, I stare up at him as my ears begin to ring from the pressure around my neck. I refuse to show fear, because I don’t think this man is here to hurt me. He doesn’t scare me, even though he’s trying his best to.
“What are you going to do, biker?” I say, my voice tight. “Kill me?”
“Don’t fuckin’ tempt me.”
“I’m not leaving. I will get my answers, and only then will you see the end of me. Now, let me go before I kick you right in the balls, and believe me, I won’t miss.”
He releases me, but he doesn’t step back. “You have no idea the kind of man I am.”
I push up on my tiptoes, staring right into those perfect eyes. “And you have no idea the kind of woman I am.”
“You’re the daughter of a fuckin’ killer, evil runs through your veins, and you proved that when you tried to kill one of my own.”
I slap him.
It happens even before I can think about it. My arm moves before my brain kicks in, and the echoing sound of skin hitting skin can be heard throughout the small space. My palm stings as I take a step, my back pressing into the wall as his furious eyes come back to mine. He’s panting now, his chest rising and falling so heavily his body is almost trembling.
“Do not ever compare me to that monster again,” I hiss, even though deep inside, I’m terrified of what I just did.
“You ever lay a fuckin’ hand on me again,” he begins, but I cut him off by sliding out and walking to the door, shoving it open.
“Get out.”
He turns, and his eyes pin me. “You don’t want to keep playin’ this game with me, Kitten. I will win.”
With that, he walks out of the room.
I slam the door behind him before turning and pressing my back to it. Settling a hand over my chest, I exhale and close my eyes.
I’m playing with fire, and I’m quite willing to get burned.
I just hope it isn’t enough to take me out completely.