Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36052 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36052 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
“To Knox’s place?” I knew we couldn’t take her to the compound. Not without precautions. If the guys had truly backed off, she wasn’t in immediate danger. If they hadn’t, we’d reevaluate when we spotted them.
Ringo nodded. “I’ll be on your six. Just gonna let Rocket know what’s goin’ on and that we’ll call him when we know more.”
I grunted, but tugged the woman with me and hurried to my bike. I snagged the helmet strapped to the back of my bike and shoved it on her head. Instead of waiting while she climbed on, I lifted her and set her on the back. “Feet on the pegs.” I put her foot closest to me where I indicated and trusted her to do the same with the other one. Once I’d climbed on, I tugged her arms until they were around my waist. I wanted to tell myself it was for her safety. I mean, it was, but it was also because I wanted her mashed up against me. Needed it. Craved it. “Do not let go of me. Understand?”
“Yes.” Her voice was soft and breathy, and she trembled. “Aren’t you going to ask me any questions?”
“Yep,” I said as I started up the bike and took off. I had plenty of fucking questions. Starting with how she knew the club’s safe word for the women and what she expected to happen next. But not until me and Ringo were sure we were in a safe place with no immediate threats. Then we’d get to the bottom of this and find out what the woman expected to happen next. Because, if I had my way, once whatever threat she was facing was eliminated, I intended to get to know her a lot better.
* * *
Olivia
I clung to the truly massive biker in front of me like my life depended on it. And I mean fucking huge. Guy towered over my five-foot five frame like I was a child. He had at least a hundred and fifty pounds on me. The phrase I’d dropped on him had started a chain of events I knew I’d regret. Probably for the rest of my life, even knowing the rest of my life probably wasn’t going to be very long. Lord knew this guy could break me in half with little more than a thought.
We rode through the back streets, taking several twists and turns. I thought there might have been a few double backs as well. In another situation, I’d have been having the time of my life. Not only was there a thrill riding on the bike, but the man…
He was big. Muscled. Tattooed. And, oh my God, he smelled wonderful. Cedar and sandalwood. And gasoline. I could feel the muscles of his abdomen rippling beneath my hands where I clung to him. In another world, without all the shit I was getting ready to bring down on his club, I could see myself trying to keep his attention focused on me. Being wrapped up tight in his arms had been the safest I’d felt in a very long time. It only lasted a few seconds, but the effect was profound. I’d do anything this man wanted. Follow wherever he wanted me to go. But that could never happen. Even if I knew he wouldn’t take me over until I was a shell of myself, what I was about to do to his club would forever negate anything there might have been between us.
As if a man like this would ever want a woman like me. No. He’d want someone strong. Someone who fought for what was right, no matter the consequences to herself, instead of a little girl clinging to something toxic and dangerous just because it was familiar. Guess which one I was. Spoiler alert: it’s not the former.
It wasn’t until the other biker pulled up beside us and gave some kind of hand signal that we headed in a direction with purpose. The streetlights gave way to a darker, narrower road, and we seemed to disappear in the night.
A few minutes later, we pulled into the driveway of a ranch-style house with a porch running the length of the front. I didn’t get a great look at it because it was too dark, but the windows were lit up from the inside as if someone was already there. The big biker drove straight into the open garage. The second both bikes were inside, the door closed, and they shut down their rides.
“Rocket, Lemon and Dom are already here,” the other one said. “Inside.”
Neither man spoke to me, but the one I’d thrown myself at helped me off the bike before taking my helmet. Then he took my hand and led me inside the house.
The second we entered the living room, Lemon moved in my direction. I’d never met her but there was no denying who she was. She was the harder version of her sister, Apple. Lemon narrowed her gaze at me. “I know you. You’re Apple’s friend. Liv? The one she told me she was worried about.” She looked me up and down, taking in my appearance. “What happened?” I wasn’t sure if she was talking to me or not, but was saved from asking with the big one, the one I’d rode here with, answered her question.