by KJ Dahlen
Shyla could feel his hard pulsing cock beneath her. She looked up at him in a daze. “Take me to bed,” she whispered. “I want you so much right now.”
“We can’t,” he groaned. “I’m not going to hurt you like that. You need time to recover but I can at least hold you in my arms tonight.”
They continued down the hall and he pushed his door open. The room was huge and sparsely furnished but it looked clean and comfortable. Greer had a huge super-sized bed. He walked over to it and deposited her on it gently.
Shyla looked around the room and liked what she saw. There was a huge closet and three dressers that looked to be custom made. A sofa sat under the big window with a TV stand that held a flatscreen TV. One either side of the windows was floor to ceiling bookcases filled with books. She looked up at him. “I like what you’ve done here.”
The big man blushed slightly. “Thanks.” He sat down on the bed next to her.
“Where did you get this furniture? It looks custom made and it’s beautiful.”
Greer smiled. “It is custom made... I made it.”
Shyla paused and stared at him. “You made them?”
Greer nodded and laid down beside her. Motioning around the room he said, “This is what I do when I got time off from club duties. We’ve been busy this last few weeks looking for someone but I have a little workshop nearby and do custom pieces for people.”
Shyla turned her head to look at him and frowned. “What do you mean you guys are looking for someone?”
He shrugged. “A couple of the elders from the tribe came to Breed a few weeks ago and told him they’ve seen signs that there may be someone hiding in the woods around here. They haven’t seen anyone but they found small footprints where they shouldn’t be and the animals are too quiet. So we’ve been out looking for what shouldn’t be there. That’s how we found Kizzy.”
Shyla nodded. “That was good you found her.”
“The thing is she doesn’t remember how she got into the dingy or how she got on the river,” Greer explained. Turning his head, he studied her for a moment. “Were you there at Blade’s when he brought her in? Did you see her Monday night?”
Shyla didn’t say anything but she did close her eyes.
Greer stared down at her face. “What do you know about this?” he asked her softly.
She opened her eyes and looked at him steadily. “There is one thing Blade is very good at and that’s bragging. In all other aspects, he’s a total moron but he is good at bragging. When he got back Monday night, he and his buddies began drinking heavily. He began boasting about making up to them all that fate had taken away from the club. He told his club that the day they met Joey was the beginning of a wonderful relationship. That Joey might not be so smart as he thought he was. He dangled the carrot of money over his head and now, they had him where they wanted him. He was in debt to them and they were going to bleed him dry before they ended his miserable life and they would start with his cousin. They would ask for a ransom and then get a fortune from Brian.” She paused and felt tired suddenly.
“Look,” Greer spoke now. “You can tell us all this later. I see that you are still needing rest. You have bound ribs and I bet you are in pain.”
She nodded. “Let me finish. I don’t know if I will feel like talking about this later on. It’s a nightmare that I just want to forget. So one of his guys asked, well what if the old man doesn’t pay?” Blade told him not to worry, Joey had his own trust fund and he would pay. He also said that if Joey had a trust fund then Kizzy would too. He said they could get their hands on her money and toss her in the river, never to be found. He bragged there were monsters in the river and they would take care of the evidence for them.”
“So how did she end up in a dingy?”
“I had to find a way to stop them didn’t I?” She shrugged. “As children, we are taught how to free ourselves from any containment. I could have left at any time. I just used what I’d been taught and got her free. I put her in the dingy and pushed it out into the river. I was hoping she would make it here and that the tribe would find her.”
“Why didn’t you go with her?” Greer demanded.
Shyla shrugged but didn’t say anything for a moment.
Greer couldn’t take his eyes off her.
Finally, she said, “I couldn’t leave those girls behind with no protection ok?” She turned her head away. “They held me for three fucking weeks in that hole. They fed me when they remembered and there were times I was so weak, I could barely move, so there was no escape attempt for that time as I could barely function. Then one by one, they brought in the girls. Those girls were so young and scared. They didn’t know what was going on but I did. Blade got himself hooked up in human trafficking and he was filling an order for the cartel. Remember, I told you he loved to brag? Well, he made no secret of his actions the last week I was there. That’s how I know all that I do. He never thought I would be around to tell anyone, that’s for sure.”
“You went back into that hell for those girls?” Greer asked.
Shyla shrugged. “They needed me.” She looked over at him with steady eyes. “And yes, I would do it again.”
Greer didn’t say a word, he just gathered her in his arms and held her.
Shyla felt her body letting down and she closed her eyes as she let the feeling of warmth and safety take her. She was sore and she was tired. She knew she needed to sleep and heal, so she gave into the feeling.
Chapter Five
Only when she totally relaxed did Greer know she was asleep.
He laid there with her for a long time then carefully separated himself from her. He didn’t want to leave her but he knew Breed would need the information she had given him.
He left her laying there and joined Breed in the main room.
Greer turned the chair around and sat down. He glanced over the room to be sure no one was close enough to overhear this and finally, his gaze settled on Breed and Matt. “Well, we now know how Kizzy ended up in the dingy.”
“How?” Breed looked agitated at the very mention of her close demise.
“You cousin,” he told his boss and friend. “They had held her for three weeks and one thing she learned was that Kizzy was going to be used to bring in the big money. Blade was going to drain the old man dry and kill her anyway. Then he was going to do the same to Joey but only after they found a way to tap the old man’s accounts.”
Matt shook his head. “That never would have worked. Brian never would have paid a dime for either Kizzy or Joey. And Joey can’t tap his trust for another year. He needs Brian’s permission to get a dime before he turns twenty six.”
“Yeah, well Blade doesn’t know that or he doesn’t care, he thinks the way to get rich is to tap Brian’s account.” Greer assured them.
“Wait a minute...” Breed frowned. “Back up, if it was Shyla that put Kizzy in the dingy then why didn’t she go with her and escape that hellhole?”
Greer looked steadily at Breed. “She wouldn’t leave the girls there alone and she knew she couldn’t get them all out without getting caught. All she could hope for was that Kizzy would get this far before she was found.”
Breed nodded. “That’s something Shy would do.” Hanging his head he swore, “Damn it to hell.”
“By the way boss.” Greer straightened his shoulders.
Breed looked up at his VP.
Greer continued to look Breed in the eyes as he announced, “I’m claiming her. I know you guys are cousins. I’m not asking for your permission but letting you know she belongs to me.”
Breed smiled. “I’m not the one you need to worry about Greer. I’m just her cousin. You have to worry about her dad and three older brothers. You do have to get their permission.”
“Well, shit.” Greer shook his head.
Breed chuckled. “You know the stories I’ve told you. They will have a...” he paused and looked him in the eyes. “Well, let’s just say. You need to bring a dowry. It h
as to be a good one too. Then meet with her parents and brothers. Speak your peace as to why you are claiming her. Then...” he paused.
Greer was glaring now. “Then what?”
“A proving ceremony.”
Greer blinked his eyes. “What is that?”
Breed shrugged. “It could take any form. Like it is set by her brothers and father. You have to go through some...hardship or some other test.”
Matt had sat forward. “Interesting.”
Geer leaned back in his chair. “What the fuck?”
Breed laughed. “Yes, there are lots of things the tribe doesn’t abide by these days as many traditions just don’t fit. But her family will insist on this.”
“Why? Cuz I’m white?”
Breed scoffed. “Nah, they accepted me from birth and I’m half white. They aren’t like that. They value the women of the tribe, especially pure bloods, well so maybe they won’t like it? But I’m telling you that even if it was a full blood buck in the tribe that staked their claim on her, they would still insist on this.”
“Boss,” Monster called from the doorway. “We got visitors.”
Breed and Greer stood up.
“They are on horses of all things...” Monster looked puzzled. “And they have a whole pack of horses with them.”
Breed looked upset. He then strode over toward the door.
Greer and Matt followed him.
He paused at the door. “Everyone stays here.”
Greer opened his mouth to argue as he was supposed to protect the prez.
Breed held his hand up. “This is tribe business. It would be better for just me to go.” He stepped through the door.
Greer went up close and watched the scene carefully.
A group of riders sat atop their horses as they all stared at Breed.
Greer’s jaw dropped as he observed the peculiar sight, only found in some old western movie.
An older man sat on the middle horse, dressed in a traditional Indian outfit, red and white paint streaks adorning his cheeks. A full Indian headdress of white feathers with red tips completed the image.
With a sense of the surreal, Greer looked over at the other riders.
Two men accompanied him, they wore no paint just jeans and t shirts as they waited on their mounts at either side of the horse line. He recognized one of them as he’d seen him with Breed a few times before.
They all spoke in Cherokee as Greer watched Breed closely. He wondered at all the extra horses they had with them.
“Weird right?” Monster asked from beside him.
Greer shrugged as he waited for this little meeting to be over.
The two men finally turned the pack of horses and led them to the outer buildings.
Breed gave a lowered head to the old man for a full minute in a show of respect.
Then the Indian Chief or whatever he was ‒ turned his horse and moved away. Soon, the two men joined him and they all rode away.
Breed walked back to the door.
Greer and Monster stepped back.
Coming in, Breed spoke, “They say Blade has men snooping around the Indian lands and they cannot get in, but they ride bikes and wear the Hades’ Messenger patches.”
“So Blade knows that you might be the one who took his cargo,” Greer stated.
“Yeah, looks like it.
“So what’s with the horses?” Monster spoke up.
Breed shut the door and looked up at them. “See... um, that’s the part I um... forgot to mention.”
“What?” Monster frowned, voicing what Greer wondered too.
“We can only go to the holy lands...” Breed paused. “...on horseback.”
The two bikers stared at him for a few seconds. Then they laughed.
“Seriously,” Greer said as he chuckled. “Damn Breed, you had us going there for a minute.”
Breed did not smile. “I’m serious. We cannot ride cycles on that land.”
Greer rolled his eyes.
“No, man.” Breed took his arm. “They will be taking all the girls to the Tribal center with the tribe women that showed up earlier as they plan to send the busses back here. Then we will journey to the old church estate.”
“On horseback?” Greer asked in disbelief.
Monster stared at his Prez his shock was so striking that he did not even blink. “The fuck?”
Breed nodded.
Greer shook his head and tried to hide his smile at Monster’s almost comic expression.
“So I know Greer can ride.” Breed looked at Monster and around at the few men present. “But how many of the brothers can ride?”
Crow walked over. “We ride. Harleys, not Pintos.” He chuckled.
“Well, at times, you do what is called for. Most of you learned this in the service,” Breed reminded them.
“Uh yeah,” Brick piped up. “But tanks, jeeps, cycles and even fucking helicopters.”
Crow agreed, “Give us a machine, and we can run it. But a horse?”
Breed grinned. “You all are tough enough.”
“I just hope we don’t all look stupid,” Monster grumbled. “I’m a big guy, so what horse can carry me?”
Breed laughed. “They brought Iron Man. That will be your horse.”
“M-my...horse?” Monster echoed what he said.
The men all laughed despite this new challenge.
Breed stared at him and then got a call. “Just a minute.” He turned away and spoke to the caller.
Geer grinned at Monster. “So a horse called Iron Man, eh?”
Monster did not look happy. “I’m telling ya, there isn’t a horse that can carry my 350 pound ass.”
Breed came back over. “That was Maverick. Blade and his men are getting ready to go. He thinks they plan a raid here.”
“How does he know?”
Breed snorted. “You remember what he did in the Marines don’t you? Surveillance. So he had a pickup device on them and could hear some of what was said. They somehow know that Kizzy is alive and that Shyla is here.”
Greer glared at him. “How the fuck?”
Breed shrugged. “He didn’t hear part of it. But someone had been watching the roads, he thinks? Then as to Kizzy, I have no idea. It is bad news any way you slice it.”
Monster stepped forward. “I will be one of the men here.”
Breed looked up at him. “Man, you cannot fight all the men he will bring.”
“Maybe not but I’m good at sniping.”
“I am too,” Crow reminded them. “Plus, I will be able to get all their faces.”
The men turned to the IT for the club.
Crow shrugged. “They are gonna go down for this one way or another. I get facial recognition either way. We get em, or we turn them in. They all need to fry for what they have done to children.”
The men all went quiet for a long moment as they all agreed.
Breed then looked over at Greer. “Well, you have no choice but to come as Shyla will be with us. I hope she’ll be up to the trip. The tribe can hide the children easily among the kids at the center. Some of them are even light skinned there. But we have to keep Shyla and Kizzy with us.”
Greer nodded. “Where she goes, I go.”
The men all turned to stare at him.
Greer shrugged. “I make no bones about it. She will be my woman.”
The men raised their brows.
Breed already knew this so he remained quiet for a moment. Then, he spoke, “I want you men who stay to be somewhere in the woods. Not inside here.” He let out a sigh. “We may lose it all, but you are not to take chances with your lives.” He stared at Monster then at Crow. “You got that?”
The two men put their hands into their jean pockets and nodded.
“This is an order. You both get that, right?” Breed reminded them.
They both met his gaze reluctantly and said, “Yes.”
Breed gave them that steel eyed stare of his and then nodded at them. “Ok, let’s gathe
r what we need to take with us. Four of the horses have the saddlebags we need.” He turned and walked down the hall. “We leave in the morning.”
Greer looked over at Monster. “So I don’t get to see your huge ass on a horse eh?”
Monster growled. “If you ever do, he wouldn’t be a horse. He’d have to be a fucking bison from hell.”
The brothers all laughed.
Chapter Six
Several hours later, after helping to pack the saddlebags and getting things in order, Greer finally headed back to his room. He was worried about Shyla making this trip and wanted to see how she felt or if Cowboy needed to come check her.
He opened the door.
The bed was empty, the covers on the floor. He studied the room. He looked around and saw a trail of clothes, her blouse, her jeans, an emerald colored lace trimmed bra...
“What the fuck?” he muttered as he headed along the clothes trail to the bathroom. He paused at the door and put his ear to it. He could hear his showering running.
How the fuck long had she been in there? The whole time he was gone? She was supposed to be sleeping. With the calls and the packing up, he’d been gone for maybe three hours.
Greer paused.
Could he chance this? Get an eyeful of those curves that were under those clothes, that he’d felt when he’d carried her in here? He took a deep breath. He needed to make sure she was okay, so he opened the door.
His shower was a glass covered stall and he peered at it as he stepped closer. He couldn’t see her outline. He furrowed his brows and looked around. There on the floor were her lace panties.
“Shyla,” he called out, hoping she would respond.
Nothing.
He stepped over to the shower door. “Shyla? Are, you in there?”
Just water running, no other sound.
He took a deep breath and opened the door.
Sitting there with the water hitting all that tan silky looking skin, she was huddled in a corner. Asleep against the tiles. He then took a closer look at her to see her body was shivering.