Girth (Marked Skulls MC Book 1)

by Savannah Rylan

  “Now, get back in line and follow the others,” she said, giving me a little shove in the direction of the other girls.

  At least I tried. Now that Gunner was dead, now that I’d never see him again…what was the point in even fighting this? I was so close to just giving up.

  Chapter 22

  Gunner

  Good girl, I thought to myself as I watched Brooklyn screaming and throwing punches at the guy she called Viper. She wasn’t about to go down without a fight. As desperate I was to save her, and as much as I didn’t want to see her getting hurt; I was proud of her courage.

  Every word that came out of that asshole’s mouth had made me want to step out and take him down. But I was outnumbered and they were all armed. It would be a stupid move for me to reveal myself. Instead, I had to hold back and watch Brooklyn trying to stand up for herself. Just a few more minutes, I thought to myself. Just a few more minutes, and I’d have her safely with me.

  After the guys left, Brooklyn looked defeated as the older woman called Nancy shoved her back in line with the others. They all had the same empty expression on their faces and I wanted to save all of them. They were all innocent. But my priority was Brooklyn. Once she was safe, I could worry about rescuing the others. I hoped that Glock and the others were safe, but I hadn’t heard any shots being fired which meant that they hadn’t been discovered. At least not yet.

  I waited a few more minutes till the girls started to be herded forward. I needed Nancy to not turn around so that I could get closer to Brooklyn. Luckily, she was the last one in line so it would be easier for me. I remained in the shadows, counted to five and just when the girls started moving, I crouched and rushed towards her.

  It took me a few seconds to come up behind Brooklyn and I grasped her mouth. Her instinct was to scream and wriggle but I had pulled her back into the shadows before the girl in front of her noticed. The noise in the warehouse also made it easier.

  We both fell back on a wall and I dragged her harder. She still didn’t know who had their hand on her mouth, so she continued to struggle.

  “Brooklyn, it’s me,” I whispered in her ear and I sensed her muscles freeze. She stopped fighting me and it was safe for me to take my hand away from her mouth.

  She whipped around and I watched as she bit down on her lip, containing the happy scream that was rising in her. I placed a finger on her lips and she nodded.

  I pulled her into my arms again and she buried her face in my chest. Her body was warm and cold at the same time as we clung to each other. There was nothing I wanted to feel more, than to have her in my arms again.

  “You’re alive,” she said in a breathless whisper and I stroked her head.

  “I got away when they started firing at me,” I replied, my voice was muffled by her hair.

  “Gunner…I thought you were dead,” she squeaked and I pulled her away from me gently, peering deep into her eyes. She was beautiful and I’d not forgotten how she was capable of making me feel. This was more than just about rescuing Jenson’s sister, this was about her and me. About how I felt for her. I could feel the adrenaline pumping in my veins.

  “I know, but we’re going to get out of here. I’m not going to let anything happen to you,” I said, stopping myself just in time from confessing my true feelings for her. I was in love with her, but she wouldn’t believe me. We’d just met.

  She nodded her head, smiling, and I could see the relief in her eyes.

  “You were right. I knew you were right. They hit me…I would have put up a fight,” she said, tearing up again and I pulled her into my arms.

  “We can talk about it later. You’ve been very brave. But I need you to stay here now, do you understand?” I said, hugging her close to me. I could feel the wetness spreading on my shoulders where she had rubbed the tears on her cheeks. Brooklyn nodded her head again.

  “They’re going to notice you’re missing. I need to finish this. My friends are out there somewhere and I need to give them a hand,” I said and she nodded again. I reached over and kissed her, just when I heard a gunshot being fired. Our lips met and I breathed in her scent. If something was going to happen to me, at least I’d know that she was safe and that I’d had her in my arms again.

  “Go…” she said, in a weak voice as I pulled away from her. Our fingers interlaced as I stepped away from her and I felt the pressure of her hand.

  “Be safe, Gunner,” she said and I smiled at her.

  “You stay here,” I said and she nodded again.

  She slunk back in the shadows, pressing herself to the wall and I stepped out. The group of girls she was with were nowhere in sight, but I could hear raised voices and shouting in the distance. The Dragon Knights knew we were here. We’d been found out, but it didn’t matter anymore. Brooklyn was safe and that was how I intended to keep her.

  ***

  I wanted to get to Viper. He was the bastard I was really focused on. I kept my gun pointed forward as I strode down the dark corridors of the warehouse. In the distance, somewhere within the labyrinth of the structure; I could hear high pitched voices, running and shots.

  My military training came back to me, like second nature and I had all my senses focused on shooting at a split second’s notice. Just like I had been trained to do.

  Something had caught fire somewhere, because I could smell the burn. It was hot as hell in there, and just like in the army, I could feel the sweat dripping down my temples.

  A Dragon Knight appeared in front of me just as I blinked, and I saw him move his hands. He was going to shoot but I shot him first. He fell to the ground screaming and two others came out from one of the corridors. I shot one, point blank in the head and the other one’s bullet grazed my arm. I shot him too.

  I could feel the searing pain where the bullet had cut open my flesh. It was my right arm, just at the bicep, and my hand shook for a second. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to keep my gun steady. But I had turned into a killing machine. I wasn’t going to disappoint my club and I was going to keep Brooklyn safe. Nothing else mattered. Pain was all in the mind and I wasn’t concerned about my body.

  My muscles rippled under my t-shirt as I walked up noiselessly behind another Dragon Knight. I shot him in the back and he yelped in pain, falling to the ground. I didn’t see another one coming towards me, holding a knife up in the air.

  My hands shook as I pointed at him but before I could pull the trigger, he fell down screaming to the ground. Sniper was at the other end of the corridor, smiling. He got to him first. I returned his smile and then he tipped his head to the side.

  I followed him.

  We were headed towards the main shutters of the warehouse and now I could hear girls screaming.

  “Where are they?” I asked Sniper and he pointed to the front.

  I could see the streetlights pouring in through the open shutters now and there were blazes of shots. The Bad Disciples and the Dragon Knights were shooting at each other. I joined in the chaos, shooting at whoever I had the chance and ducking behind a wall. When I peeped out to take aim at someone else, I saw Tank at the mouth of the warehouse.

  He was ushering the girls out into safety. Axel would be waiting for them with another group of backups from the Bad Disciples, to take the girls. That was the plan.

  “You!” I heard a voice behind me and I turned with my gun pointed.

  It was Viper and he had his teeth gritted and he was throwing himself at me. I pulled the trigger but I was out of bullets and his hands curled around my neck.

  I pushed back, reaching for his neck as I tried to strangle him at the same time. His eyes were bloodshot, bulging as we both tried to kill each other. I wanted to kill him with my bare hands for touching Brooklyn. I didn’t care if he killed me in the process. I could feel myself choking, the flesh on my bicep burning where the bullet had cut it open.

  Then we heard the sirens. Viper weakened his grip around my neck and I took the opportunity to throw a punch at him. My kn
uckles met bone and he staggered back on his feet.

  “Fuck!” he screamed and I punched him in the stomach, knocking the breath out of him. There was blood dripping from his nose and he was bent over, holding his stomach. No. I didn’t want him to die like this. I wanted him to die slowly. Painfully.

  “Gunner!” I heard Tank’s voice.

  “We have to go now!” Glock yelled out to me. Someone had called the cops. It could have been one of the girls who might have run away before Axel caught her.

  I could see everyone running out of the warehouse, the Bad Disciples and the Dragon Knights alike. None of us wanted to get involved with the cops. Viper was still hunched over, trying to gather himself.

  “I have to go get Brooklyn,” I said to Glock.

  “We’re going to get all those girls back,” I heard Viper say and I threw him a look over my shoulder as I walked back into the warehouse. “We’re going to come back stronger than before. You guys are dead meat,” he said as he lay crumpled on the floor and I nearly smiled. It was over for them, he just didn’t know it yet.

  In the dark, I ran through the corridors. They were all empty. Everyone had left. I could hear the cop sirens outside getting closer.

  “Brooklyn!” I screamed for her, hoping she was all right.

  “Gunner!” I heard her say and I followed the voice.

  When I found her, she ran into my open arms and I pulled her to me. She kissed the side of my neck.

  “We have to get out of here. The cops are coming,” I said, grabbing her face with both hands and she nodded.

  “Bastards,” she said and we smiled at each other.

  “Did you get all of them?” she asked as I locked her hand in mine, leading her through the corridors towards the door on the side that we had come in through.

  I looked at her and smiled and a wash of relief flooded her eyes.

  “It sounded awful out there. I wish I could have helped,” I heard her say.

  “I just needed you to stay out of it. I’m glad you did,” I said to her as we ran out in the open.

  Chapter 23

  Brooklyn

  I was sitting on Gunner’s Harley behind him; with my arms wrapped tightly at his waist. I could feel the wind in my hair, it lashed against my face and nothing felt sweeter than this freedom.

  I laid my face on Gunner’s back and I felt his muscles move underneath my cheek. I’d thought he was dead. Viper had convinced me that they got him. But here he was, in the flesh and I was holding him. He had saved me, just like I knew he would.

  This man who I thought I didn’t know, was now the only person in the world I could trust. It was strange to imagine that the people who I considered to be family were the ones who had put me in this situation. This guy who I had just met was the one who had saved me from them.

  I slipped my fingers underneath his t-shirt, just to feel the warmth of his skin. I breathed in deeply and his scent tingled my nose. Just an hour ago, I believed that I was going to be forced to have sex with some kind of monster. Gunner had saved me from it.

  I was surprised when he slowed the bike and eventually brought it to a stop on the side of the road. The sound of the cop sirens was still in the air, but we were far enough away for nobody to find us.

  Gunner turned to me, before jumping off the bike.

  “I needed to stop,” he said in a deep throaty voice. His blue eyes were sparkling and he looked strong and I bit down on my lip.

  “Why?” I asked him and without saying anything, he leaned towards me and pressed his lips to mine. I gasped when our mouths touched and I sucked in his breath. His hands had reached up for my face and he was holding me in position, sliding his tongue in and out of my mouth. It was the same motion he would have used if his cock was inside me and I couldn’t stop myself from imagining it. I wanted him inside me again. At this most inappropriate moment!

  Gunner pulled himself away from me and I noticed that he had a smile on his face.

  “You were touching me. I needed to kiss you,” he said and I sensed my cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interfere with the ride,” I said and he leaned over and kissed my lips lightly again.

  “It isn’t your fault that you have an irresistible effect on me,” he said and I was blushing again.

  He was leaning against me, against the parked bike, and I wrapped my arms around his shoulders. I felt safe there with him, like nothing could happen to me. He was strong and muscular and he smelt of fire and metal. I wanted his mouth on mine again, but I was too shy to initiate a kiss.

  “Brooklyn…are you hurt?” he asked, placing a hooked finger underneath my chin. With that he tipped my face up towards him and peered into my eyes.

  “Not physically. Not anymore,” I said in a soft voice. Gunner’s eyes had turned stormy again. He was angry about something, when all I could feel was joy. Joy at seeing him again.

  “You said they hit you,” he said and I shook my head.

  “That was before, in my apartment. They didn’t after that,” I said and Gunner studied my face, as though he was looking for bruises or Vipers.

  “I shouldn’t have left you alone in the apartment,” he said and I shook my head.

  “It wasn’t your fault. I should have listened to you and left the bar with you last night. Then none of this would have happened,” I said and he stroked my chin gently with his thumb. His eyes were still focused on me.

  “You didn’t know. You trusted them and you were loyal to your family’s memory,” he said and I gulped.

  “How could they do this to me? Daddy…Luke…” I began to say and he took me into his arms again. The tears that were flooding my eyes again seemed to disappear the moment our bodies met.

  “They would never would have condoned this, Brooklyn. You can’t blame them,” he said and I buried my face in his chest. I could have spent my life in his arms, that was how relieved I was to be there. He was stroking my hair affectionately now.

  “What’s going to happen to the girls?” I asked, without looking at him.

  “I’m not sure, but Axel will make sure that they are taken care of. We don’t know how long they’ve been in captivity at that warehouse. We don’t know where they’re from,” he said and gently pulled me away from him so that he could look into my eyes. “But I promise you, Brooklyn, I’ll make sure that they get away as far as possible from here,” he said and I nodded my head.

  “I can’t believe I’m with you…you’re with the Bad Disciples,” I said with a laugh.

  “Jenson would have been disappointed in you. I mean, Luke,” he said and I shook my head.

  “Are you kidding me? He wouldn’t have been with the Dragon Knights anymore if he knew what they were doing. He wouldn’t have let them treat me like this. And he would have been grateful to you for what you did for me,” I said and Gunner leaned in to place a long wet kiss on my forehead.

  “I don’t need thanks for this, Brooklyn. I came for you because of myself. Because I wanted to see you safe. Because I wanted us to be together again,” he said and this time, I couldn’t stop myself from beaming. I kissed him, sucking his lips into my mouth and he leaned me over the bike, holding me by my waist. Our lips remained locked together and I was convinced that he was never going to let me go.

  Chapter 24

  Gunner

  I rode to The Rusty Pelican with Brooklyn and for the first time since Afghanistan, I felt a sense of accomplishment. I had rescued Jenson’s sister and I knew that in some way, I had returned my debt to him. I wasn’t so sure about how the Bad Disciples or Axel would feel about bringing a Dragon Knight’s associate to the bar. Rescuing her along with the other girls was one thing, but bringing her into our holy lair was another.

  I could sense that Brooklyn was nervous about it as well. When I stopped outside the bar, I helped her off the bike and we kissed again. A short and sweet kiss to help ease her nervousness.

  “It’s going to be all r
ight,” I said to her, stroking her hair. Brooklyn’s eyes were panicky and she looked tired.

  “We’ve been rivals for so long. I’m not sure that they would appreciate you bringing me here,” she said, smoothening the top of her messy brown hair. It had come undone and her curls had begun to straighten. She was still the most beautiful creature I’d set my eyes on.

  “I know this will be difficult for all of us, but I had to bring you here, you understand?” I said and she nodded her head.

  “I want to thank all your friends personally, for everything they’ve done for me and the girls,” she said and I reached for her hand.

  “Then let’s go inside,” I said and tugged at her hand. Brooklyn seemed to hesitate and when our gazes locked, I could sense that she needed more time.

  “Hey, I’ll be right beside you the whole time. And if they don’t accept you, we’ll leave together,” I told her. She shook her head.

  “No, I can’t do that to you. I know what family and loyalty mean. I don’t want you to get into trouble with them because of me,” she said, in a small weak voice and I reached for her face and pulled her to me again.

  “You mean more to me than my loyalty to a MC Club,” I said and couldn’t believe I was actually saying those words. My father nor Bryce would have been shocked and disapproving of those words. But they weren’t in my position and they didn’t know Brooklyn! She had managed to change my life in just a few days.

  She smiled at me weakly and then we walked towards the bar with our hands in each others.

  We could hear everyone cheering and celebrating inside as I pushed open the door. It was a victorious day and we had managed to win the war without losing any of our guys. The music was loud, the room was smoky and everyone was drinking and congratulating each other. When Brooklyn and I entered, several heads turned to us, including Glock, Tank and the others. Axel was in the middle of chugging down a big glass of beer, which he emptied down his throat and then slowly placed on the bar counter.