4
T urning the television on, I move into the small kitchenette to make a coffee. I very much plan on going to see Harry again today, to find out if he is able to open my mother’s case once more. I need to find out what happened, and I want answers for her. I haven’t got a great deal of memories including my mother, but she is my mother all the same, and she deserves justice.
“A twenty-three year old woman has gone missing overnight under suspicious circumstances. Police are asking anyone who might have seen anything to report it immediately. Nia Harris was last seen walking home from her friend’s house at approximately five thirty on Sunday afternoon. She hasn’t been seen since.”
I spin around when I hear the news reporter speaking on the television. I stare at the picture of a pretty strawberry blond woman on the screen, a dazzling smile on her face, and my heart skips a beat. I can’t help but feel a sense of deja vu staring at the screen, after spending so many years watching as the Shadow Butcher tormented the town, when all along, he was right in the house with me.
I flick the television off, shaking my head.
It’s probably nothing.
Gathering my things, I leave the hotel and begin the walk to the police station. It’s only when I’m getting closer to the busier part of town that I notice people staring and whispering. It’s not unusual, everyone in this place has made it known that they don’t like me being here, but today it seems a little extra.
Putting my head down, I focus on getting to where I’m going.
“What did you do to Nia? Where is she?”
The words have my head jerking up, and I pause, turning toward the voice. A man around thirty stands out front of a café with his wife by his side. She is somewhat tucked behind him as he speaks, almost like she’s scared. The man is staring at me with disgust, like I am the scum of the earth.
“Excuse me?”
I generally try not to speak to these people, but his comment got the better of me.
“There hasn’t been one problem in this town since the day you and your father were removed. Now, you return to town and a girl goes missing under the same circumstances as the crimes your father committed. I don’t think that’s a coincidence.”
My blood runs cold.
They think I am responsible for Nia going missing, purely because I am the child of a killer?
I knew people would stoop low, I just never thought it would come to this.
“I have never, nor would I ever, hurt anyone.”
The man shakes his head. “Evil runs in your blood. You lived with that man while he was committing horrendous murders, and you want us to believe you never knew?”
Heaving, I turn away, not wanting to say another word to this person who has decided he knows me. My skin prickles and my body hums as I pick up the pace toward the station. I can’t breathe, and when I try, my lungs burn. By the time I step through the door, I’m on the verge of panic.
Harry is there before I can even say a word to the receptionist. She must have called him out before I walked through the front door.
“Mera, are you okay?”
Harry places a hand on my shoulder as I struggle to catch my breath.
“Those people think it was me. They think it was me.”
Harry pauses, then he ushers me down the hall to his office. Once inside, he closes the door and helps me take a seat. I drop my head into my hands, fighting back tears as I try to process what just happened. Silence fills the room for a moment before Harry finally speaks, and when he does, his words cut me to my core.
“You know I have to ask the question, Mera. Do you know what happened to Nia?”
I jerk, and my head whips up, the tears I was holding in come rushing down my face. “You can’t honestly be asking me that question? You, of all people ...”
“I don’t want to ask it, but I have no choice. The people are reporting it, and I’m legally bound to do my job.”
“You think I’d actually hurt someone? I’m nothing like him, Harry. Nothing.”
Harry exhales. “I know, but I have to ask the questions. I don’t have a choice.”
The tears keep rolling, and I sit there as Harry asks me formal questions about where I was at the time Nia was taken, and if I have anyone that can vouch for my story. Then, he goes over other ideas, wondering if there is anyone who might be trying to copy my father’s crimes and if I know of anyone.
By the time I leave the station, I’m sobbing so heavily I can’t see straight.
As I move rapidly down the sidewalk, I make the mistake of looking up to see people whispering outside of a local bar, their eyes on me.
“I’m not a fucking killer,” I scream. “I am not my father.”
“Hey.”
A rough, stern voice and a hand on my shoulder has me flinching. I turn to see Wolfe standing behind me, his motorcycle humming on the road. I didn’t even hear it.
“I’m in no mood for you,” I hiccup. “Not right now.”
“Come with me.”
“No,” I sob, angrily swiping my tears away.
“You come with me, or you stay here and let these fuckers talk about you.”
I glance over my shoulder at the people now staring, some of them holding their phones. Fucking assholes. All of them. I know I have no choice. I have to go with Wolfe, because right now, I can’t think of anywhere else to go. I give a small, sharp nod, and when Wolfe indicates that I get onto his bike, I do just that.
Pulling the helmet over my head, I let the tears continue to fall as he gets on in front of me.
Then we’re off, riding away from the prying eyes of the monsters in this town.
The entire ride to the compound passes me by, and I pay very little attention. I wish I could enjoy the fact that I’m flying down a road on the back of a motorcycle with a gorgeous man, but, instead, I’m wondering if I’m going be the number one suspect for a kidnapping I didn’t commit.
As we begin to slow, I let my eyes focus on the large biker compound in front of me. It’s exactly as I would imagine, a large warehouse that has been converted to house the club and support whatever the hell it is they do from here. A large black flag with the club symbol is stretched above an entry way to the warehouse, and there are bikes absolutely everywhere.
Wolfe comes to a stop and gets off the bike, holding it steady so I can climb off, too.
I pull off my helmet, keeping my eyes on the huge space we’re in.
Now that we’re closer, I can see the warehouse is only one part of the space. It is almost a huge U shape, and as we get closer, I can see that one side is what looks like dorms, in the middle is a huge bar area with outdoor seating, and then the warehouse finishes off the other side. This is massive, and if I’m guessing correctly, these bikers live here.
Is this their entire world?
“You live here?” I ask, unable to help myself.
“I don’t, but I spend most of my time here. The other members live here if they choose.”
I make a mental note to learn more about club life, because I can’t deny that I’m somewhat fascinated by it.
As I trail Wolfe beyond the warehouse toward the central area, I notice even more people lounging around. The majority appear to be bikers, yet there are some outsiders and several women barely dressed. My eyes widen at the sight, and I bite my bottom lip to silence any more questions.
“Club whores, Sweetbutts, take your pick on what you want to call ‘em,” Wolfe murmurs, nodding to someone as we pass.
He must have seen the expression on my face without me saying a single word.
“Sweetbutts?” I almost gasp. “What kind of ...”
“Most clubs refer to them as that. They choose to be here.”
Oh.
Well.
My eyes scan the other women in the group, and I notice a lot of them are wearing leather jackets that state they are the property of someone. Property?
“And them?” I can’t help but ask as we move toward the bar.
“They are old ladies, property of a member, family.”
Oh.
“So, they’re married to someone here?” I question.
“Not always, but a member has claimed them and therefore they are respected and taken care of by everyone in the club.”
I definitely am doing more research into clubs. This is somewhat fascinating. A world I have never experienced. It’s interesting. I can’t help but want to learn more about it.
“And you?”
He pauses, turning toward me. “I’m the President. This is my club.”
My eyes widen. “But some of those men ... they are older than you.”
“Don’t matter.”
“Yo, Pres.”
A biker begins walking toward us, and beside him, I see Talon. I practically shrink behind Wolfe, because I still feel horrible for what I did to him. I’m glad to see he’s okay, but it doesn’t take away the guilty feeling swimming around in my chest.
“Don’t hide behind me,” Wolfe growls. “You can face up to your actions.”
He steps out of the way, and I fight the urge to cuss at him. Talon and the other biker stop in front of us, and my eyes warily go to the beautiful man I nearly strangled to death. I offer a sheepish smile and shrug. “Sorry, I guess.”
His eyes scan my face. There’s an intensity in Talon I struggle to put my finger on. Clearly wounded, his past seems to have drained the very soul from him. Despite their striking appearance, his eyes reflect a haunting emptiness that pierces my heart. What happened to him?
“Do it again, and you’ll find yourself in a position you won’t walk from.”
His words are clipped, and I swallow the lump in my throat.
“Noted,” I murmur.
The man beside Talon grins, instantly capturing my attention. He’s stunning, and I can’t tear my eyes away. His skin is an exquisite blend of light and dark, the most striking mix I have ever seen. Complemented by ice-blue eyes, a beard, and long, thick hair, he resembles a figure from a Viking legend, absolutely breathtaking.
“Don’t worry, darlin’, I’m a whole lot nicer than these two. Pleasure to meet the woman who had the balls to take on not one, but two bikers. I’m Kael, but you can call me Thorn.”
I blink, and then a slow smile spreads across my face. “I’m Mera, but I have no doubt you already know that.”
“Everyone knows that, darlin’.”
I press my lips together.
“Got some shit to take care of,” Wolfe mutters. “Keep eyes on her, shit is goin’ down in town that we need to deal with. Don’t want her leavin’.”
With that, Wolfe strides away, not a single look back at me.
Well, fuck you, too.
Kael grins and pulls out a cigarette. “Tell me, darlin’, do you like to party?”
Oh, boy.
I’M DRUNK.
I didn’t come to this town to drink, I came here for answers, yet here I am again, off my damn face.
Frustrated with myself, I stumble through the compound looking for a toilet. Desperate not to pee myself, I begin opening doors in hopes I can find a bathroom. I could just ask, but by this time of the evening, most of the bikers are in their dorms fucking, sitting around the fire drinking, or terrify me enough that I’m not willing to approach them.
I haven’t seen Wolfe.
Kael has given me a hell of an evening, but I have to admit, I like him. I really do.
Swinging a door open, I find myself walking into a large room with a pool table, sofas, televisions, and a small kitchen area. On one of those sofas sits Wolfe, fully naked, a woman on his lap, her dark hair trailing down her back as she fucks him. My eyes widen, and I gasp, completely caught off guard.
The woman turns to look at me, and the moment our eyes meet, I curse.
Fucking Esmerelda.
Of course she’s here at the club, fucking the men.
But Wolfe?
“Oh, you can’t be fucking serious?”
Jumping off Wolfe’s lap, she spins toward me, jerking a towel from beside them to cover herself. I don’t even want to know why there is a towel there. Wolfe doesn’t move from his spot on the sofa, and I can’t help my eyes as they travel down his perfectly tattooed body, over the hard ridges of muscle and down to his thick, long, hard dick.
He’s pierced, the shining barbell reflecting beneath the light.
When my eyes meet his again, he’s got a grin on his face that has my cheeks burning as I focus my attention back to Esme, who is glaring at me with such fire that I immediately brace for the argument that is about to come.
“Why the hell is she here, Rook?” Esme demands, after her first statement went unanswered.
Rook.
Nope.
I won’t call him that.
“None of your fuckin’ business,” Wolfe growls, pushing to his feet and pulling up his jeans, leaving them unbuttoned.
I can’t help but envy Esme for being able to sit on his lap, to taste him, to feel him inside her. I might not like the man, but I am a woman and oh, my fantasies could run wild thinking about the things I’d like to do to him.
Fuck .
Focus .
Shaking my head, I focus back on Esme. Of course she would have the most perfect body, hair, and lord knows what else. The woman is beautiful, and she knows it. It doesn’t surprise me at all that Wolfe would go for someone like her. I’m certain a man like him has a certain level of looks he chases after, and I’m also certain Esme fits that.
“Why doesn’t it surprise me that you’re here throwing yourself at a biker?” I mutter, shaking my head.
“Jealous, are we? You should be. Rook is fussy, and I can tell you right now, he’d never put his hands on scum like you.”
I take a step toward her. “Be careful what you say next. I’m in no fucking mood for you, Esmerelda. You might have pushed me around in school, but I’m not here for it now.”
She steps up to me, her beautiful face scrunching with rage. “What are you going to do, murder me?”
That’s it.
I’m done.
Done with people like her assuming to know everything about me.
I swing, but my fist is caught by Wolfe who steps in between us, his front facing me, his eyes locked on mine. I try to jerk my fist away, but he doesn’t let it go. He’s defending her? Her? Is he serious?
“I don’t know you, but I sure thought you had better taste in women,” I snap, then jerk as hard as I can, forcing him to let me go. “I’m done here. I’m going to call a real man to help me out.”
Turning, I get the hell out of there because I know those words won’t go down well.
I rush to the front of the compound, and once I’m out the front gates, I stand in the dark and call the only person I can think of. Jace.
“Mera? Is everything okay? It’s really late.”
“I’m at the biker compound; it’s a long story, but ... I really don’t want to be here. Can you please come and get me?”
He goes quiet for a minute, then answers. “Of course. Stay right there.”
I hang up the phone and wait. As promised, Jace rolls in only five minutes later, his car something sleek and silver, and when he gets out, I see he’s only wearing a pair of pajama bottoms. I must have woken him up. I feel really awful about that, but in this very moment, I just need to get out of here. I’m busting to pee, and I don’t want to see Wolfe or his whores for a single second longer.
“Jesus, you look like you’ve had a hell of a day. Come on,” Jace ushers me toward the car, opening the door for me.
I climb in, and we take off into the night.
“Do you want to tell me why you’re at the Fallen Son’s compound?” Jace asks once we are far enough away.
“People in this town think I took that girl who went missing. I couldn’t even walk down the street today without their vile comments. Wolfe just happened to be in the area and helped me. That’s all.”
Jace’s eyes widen. “People are blaming you?”
“Apparently there hasn’t been a single thing go wrong in this god forsaken town since my father left, and now I’m back and a girl goes missing. You can only imagine who all the fingers immediately pointed to.”
Shaking his head, Jace reaches over and takes my hand. “I don’t believe it, but we will get to the bottom of it. If you need somewhere to stay, I have plenty of spare rooms. If that’s not too weird for you.”
My heart swells. “Thank you, I will think about it. If you don’t mind, tonight I just want to go back to the hotel and sleep.”
“Understood.”
The rest of the drive is silent, and I simply turn and stare out the window at the houses passing by.
These people really believe I have it in me to take an innocent girl?
That hurts. More than I’ll ever admit.
Now I not only have to figure out what really happened to my mother, but also who the hell would want to take a young girl at the exact same time I came back into town.
Maybe Wolfe is right, maybe I shouldn’t have come back here.