Riot: A Hell's Heathens MC Christmas Story (Older Man, Younger Woman MC Romance)

by Raven Dark

“Get off!” I scream, loud enough to wake the dead. “Get the fuck off me!” I swing blindly, trying to hit him in the face, but with him pushing my face up, I can’t see him, so I hit nothing but air.

  “I can get rough with you,” he snarls, ripping at my shirt. “This is what you want, isn’t it?”

  God help me, he can’t. “You son of a bitch, get off!”

  He releases me and I see him pull something from the pocket of his jeans. A syringe is in his fist.

  Terror rips through me and I thrash, trying to buck him off, roll away, anything to keep him from sticking me with that thing. If he pumps me with whatever shit is in that needle, I’m so fucked.

  He pulls the cap off with his teeth and his fist draws back.

  Bike engines roar in the distance.

  Hope flares on a rush of adrenaline. Please tell me I’m not imagining them…

  Clutch freezes and his head snaps up, his eyes darting to the windows.

  The bike engines grow louder. The guys… Riot…

  With his eyes off of me, I swing my fist at his face.

  Clutch pushes to his feet and I miss.

  The engines draw closer until the motorbikes sound like they’re right in the front yard. Men’s voices raise, and the engines cut. Clutch drops the syringe to the floor. If I can just hold him off long enough for them to reach me…

  I grab the needle and jam it into his leg, slamming the plunger down. He shouts in pain. I scramble backward, get to my feet, and race for the door.

  Footsteps pound the dirt floor behind me, then Clutch’s body slams in to me. I crash into the floor on my stomach with a grunt. Less than five feet from the door, I reach for it, but my fingers don’t even touch it.

  He straddles me again and seizes my hair, pulling hard enough to yank it out.

  There’s a crash, what sounds like the front door slamming open, then footsteps and harsh male voices fill the upstairs.

  “Help!” I scream. “Down here! Help!”

  Clutch’s hand covers my mouth, and his body pins me to the floor. “Shut up. You hear me? Shut up or you’re dead.”

  Boots thud across the upstairs floor, men shouting for me. Devil’s unusual growl, and Riot’s voice calling out.

  I try to shake Clutch off and scream, but his hand tightens on my mouth.

  “Shh.” His voice is a menacing hiss in my ear. His breathing is harsh, and I feel the gun at my back. “Be a good like biker’s bitch and shut up.”

  “Red! Red, where are you!”

  Riot!

  Tears sting my eyes. I can’t risk struggling or screaming when he’s got that fucking gun on me. I give a shaky rasp against Clutch’s palm.

  Footsteps thud down the stairs, approaching the door. Men’s voices—Riot’s and Devil’s among them—fill the basement hall.

  Panic tears into me. If I can’t cry out, they might leave, never knowing I’m here.

  The men rush toward the door.

  Clutch scrambles off me, but before I can get up, he grabs my ankle and drags me backward, across the floor away from the door. I twist onto my back, thrashing and kicking blindly. Clutch is pointing the gun at the door.

  There’s a loud thud and the door rattles in its frame.

  My heart pounds. If that door opens, whoever is there is going to end up with a bullet in him.

  “Riot, no, he’s got a gun!”

  There’s another resounding thud, as if someone’s kicked the door. It flings open.

  Devil raises his gun.

  Riot shoves him to the ground, covering him with his body like a shield.

  I see Riot draw a gun and the minute he sits up, his piece raised, Clutch’s gun goes off behind me with a bang.

  Riot shouts and his body gives a jolt; he rolls his shoulder back with a growl of pain.

  “Freeze, or I’ll kill her!” Clutch yanks me to my knees. The cold barrel of his gun presses to the back of my head.

  Riot raises his gun and squeezes off two shots.

  Clutch gives an agonized shout and releases me. There’s a thud. I throw myself onto my back to see him lying in the dirt. There are two large holes in his forehead, and his eyes stare at the ceiling, unseeing.

  Badger, Gar and Vicious’s voices filter through my ears, but I only half register them as I stare at Clutch’s unmoving from. Blood pools around his head, and he lies unnaturally still, and yet I’m frozen in place, as if terrified he’ll somehow reanimate and kill us all.

  “Baby, are you all right?”

  As though his voice brings me back to life, I give a jerk. Tearing my eyes away from Clutch, my gaze finds Riot’s. He’s squatting in front of me.

  “Talk to me, sweetness.” He tips my head up, checking me over. I can barely fathom the level of protectiveness in his eyes. “Tell me you’re okay.”

  I manage a nod, and the next moment, he’s crushing me to him. It slams home how close I came to biting it. To losing him. I cling to him, tears of relief spilling down my cheeks. I can’t stop them.

  “Riot… I thought I was dead… I thought I’d never see you…”

  He holds me tighter. “Sssh. It’s alright. I’m here. You’re safe, baby. It’s over.” He rocks me. The warmth of him and the tenderness in his voice makes my chest squeeze painfully.

  And that’s it. I’m done. Gone is the tough girl with the stiff upper lip who doesn’t need to be taken care of. Damn it if I’m not shaking and sniffling, clinging to him like a lifeline.

  He pulls back, and then he’s covering my face with kisses, my cheeks, my eyes, my lips. “It’s over. He’s gone. He can’t hurt you anymore.”

  I bury my face in his chest, letting his warmth and strength soothe me.

  When I turn my head, I catch sight of Devil looking over the body with Cal. The two of them are talking about what to do with Clutch. There’s mention of how deep Tanner Lake is, and Cal getting his machete from the car.

  Devil picks up Clutch’s gun and his eyes meet mine. There’s warmth in them that I’ve never seen before. His eyes then flick to Riot.

  I tense and feel Riot’s hands go still on my back.

  Devil’s eyes go to the ceiling. “Oh, go on, have at it then.”

  A small firework bursts in my chest.

  Riot and I cling to each other, he kisses me hard on the mouth, and then he scoops me up in his arms, pushing to his feet.

  “Riot, you’re shoulder.” It’s bleeding a lot; crimson covers his shoulder and runs down his arm.

  “Don’t worry about it, woman, let me take care of you.”

  If he’s in pain, I can’t tell. Affection for him makes my heart swell.

  “I don’t need to be carried, Florida,” I mumble, but there’s zero force in it.

  He carries me from the dark basement and outside, into the early morning light. “Maybe not, but I want you in my arms, all right?”

  I wrap myself up in him and lose myself in his warmth and the safety that is him. How the hell am I supposed to argue with that?

  12

  Revelations

  Riot and Badger rush me to the hospital in Badger’s car. I’d love to have been able to go home, but the doctors insist on keeping me overnight for observation. According to the doc, I’m good to go home tomorrow.

  One of the guys stays at my side at all times. Devil, Badger, Vicious, Gar, or Riot. It annoys me that they’re mothering me so much, but I love them for it.

  The morning after the guys got me out of that lake house, sunlight floods through the window of my hospital room and stabs at my eyes. Groaning at the pain thudding at the inside of my head like a drum, I turn my face to the side. A gorgeous pair of hazel eyes fills my vision.

  “Riot,” I croak. A weak smile pulls at my lips.

  “Morning sleepyhead.” His warm hand envelopes mine. The chair he’s sitting on creaks as he leans closer to me. There’s a bandage on his shoulder, partly hidden by his cut. “How are you feeling?”

  The tenderness in his voice—coming from this hu
ge, hardened warrior of a man—floors me. Protective worry darkens his eyes.

  Everything that’s happened between us floods back to me, and uncertainty knots my gut. Emotions for him I can barely name fill me to bursting.

  There’s so much I want to say to him, but how?

  “Your shoulder,” I say softly. I reach out my hand and gently brush the bandage with my fingers. “I can’t believe he shot you. It must be so painful.”

  “Naw, I’m fine, sweetheart.” He squeezes my fingers, pressing my hand to his chest. “It’s just a graze. There’s a pretty cool looking welt, but I’m fine.”

  “Tough guy, huh? I say, using the same words I used on him the first day I met him.

  His smile is beautiful. “You didn’t answer my question, though.” He strokes my forehead with his fingers. “You feeling okay?”

  Everything that’s happened with Clutch washes over me, and all the emotions for Riot tugging at me squeeze my heart in a tight fist.

  He not only saved me, but he saved my brother, too. The memory of the way he’d pushed Devil down so that the bullet would hit him instead doesn’t even feel real. It feels as crazy and surreal as that whole ordeal with Clutch.

  I clear my throat awkwardly and latch onto something easier to focus on than us, or the last few days.

  “They got any pain meds in this place, Florida?”

  The worry lifts from his face and he grins. “You’re still yourself, I see.”

  “You got a problem with that?” I tease.

  “Not even a little.” He brushes his lips over my knuckles. “Hold tight.”

  Riot gets up, flagging down a nurse. I hear her tell him she’ll be back with pain meds, and then he’s at my side again.

  “Devil’s here too,” he says. “He’s down getting coffee, but he’s been here watching over you.”

  Warmth fills my heart, knowing my brother’s been here with me.

  “How did you guys even find me anyway? No one knew about that cabin except Clutch and me.”

  “Dave helped us, actually.” Riot looks surprised. “Apparently, his dad stopped using the place after his wife died. Dave said his dad couldn’t bring himself to go there after she passed. He had it under her name, so it took Dave a while to find it or we’d have been there a lot sooner.” His eyes close. Regret pounds off him as he brushes his lips over my knuckles. “I can’t believe how close I came to losing you.”

  My eyes tear up at the memories. No response seems appropriate for this big, badass biker who took a bullet and saved my life, so I just smile weakly, my heart feeling full.

  The nurse comes in and I wash down the pills she gives me, shuddering at the taste. It’ll be worth it to stop my head from feeling like someone’s using a jackhammer on my skull.

  The nurse leaves and I turn my attention back to him. There’s so much to say, I hardly know where to start. “Riot…”

  He leans over and brushes my hair back from my forehead, running his knuckles over my cheek. “Shh. We don’t have to talk about this now. Just rest, baby. I’m not going anywhere.”

  I sigh, somehow feeling the tightness in my chest loosen with his words.

  “Rest. Get better. When you get home, I’ll be waiting.”

  I nod and squeeze his hand.

  I have a decision to make, but he’s right, now isn’t the time.

  He’ll be waiting. I just wish I knew what I was going to tell him.

  By early evening, the dizziness and headache has passed, so the doctor sends me home. I’m feeling much better, but by the time we arrive at the clubhouse, I’m no less certain of what to do about my plans to go back to California. Unfortunately, I’ve missed my flight, so I won’t be going anywhere for a while.

  Gabby still hasn’t called, but Dave is a different story. We find him waiting on the porch with the others when we arrive. Far from being mad at Riot, he’s made sure to remind me that anyone who defends me the way he did must be a good guy.

  I expected him to be really broken up about Clutch when we tell him. And I’d thought he’d be livid with Riot and the guys for killing his brother. He didn’t react at all the way I expected.

  “After what he did to you, there’s no way I could be pissed at you, Red. Or at any of you.” Walking beside me back to his car, he gives Riot and the other MC members a respectful nod.

  Riot keeps pace on my other side. I’m pretty sure he’s walking closer than necessary. I notice that none of the guys tell Dave exactly what they did with Clutch after he was dead.

  They won’t tell me, either.

  “Still,” Riot says. “Sorry for your loss, man.”

  I nod and squeeze his hand.

  “Don’t be. With what he was into, his going down like that was inevitable.” Grief darkens his eyes. “I’m just sorry he did what he did to you, Red. And that I didn’t see it coming.” He squeezes my shoulder. “Let’s go out for coffee before you go take off for Cali. Call me if you need anything. Either of you.”

  After Dave leaves, I turn to see Riot talking with Badger. I wish all of me was sure I still wanted to go back to California. After all that’s happened, maybe I should want to remain in Ohio with the MC where I’m surrounded by my friends and family, but I can’t forget what’s at stake here.

  Riot might have saved my life, the club may have rushed in to rescue me, and Devil might have let Riot and me have a moment, but it doesn’t change things.

  My brother will still try to run my life, and being with Riot still means giving up my dreams. If I want the life I’ve planned, I can’t have it and stay here. I can’t have both that future, and him.

  That makes my heart hurt like hell.

  When I walk into the clubhouse, I’m greeted with a flurry of hugs. Barbie’s spoiled me with a large cheesecake. Anne is fine, and still very pregnant.

  “Thank fuck you’re okay,” I tell Anne, hugging her close. “I was so worried.”

  “So was I, to be honest.”

  “Some Christmas you’re having, huh?” Sandra says, throwing her arms around me.

  I laugh and hold her. “No kidding.”

  When the last of the welcome home hugs stop, a husky, smooth voice whispers in my ear.

  “About time you and I had that talk, huh?”

  My heart stutters. I turn to look up at Riot as he slips off his coat. That bandage is still on his shoulder. He still looks perfect. My blond god in leather. The god I wish I could have.

  Feeling torn, I take a deep breath and nod. “Let’s go, Florida.”

  A minute later, we’re in the kitchen. For the first time since I’d come back, there’s no women cooking up a storm in here. It’s just him and me.

  Riot leans against the counter, crossing his ankles. He looks at the hardwood floor for a second before he meets my eyes.

  We say nothing for a long time. I stand in front of him, wringing my hands and swallowing.

  “One of us should say something before Christmas comes,” I mumble.

  He crosses his arms, his chin on his chest. “Are you still going back to California?”

  I sigh and run my hands through my curls. “I don’t know.”

  His head snaps up. The hope in his eyes tugs at my heart.

  “All right,” he says carefully. “Look, Red, for the record, I know that going off on Dave like that… It was a fucking boneheaded move.” He rubs the back of his neck. “I’m sorry.”

  I blink at him. Riot is so stubborn and hardheaded, I never would have imagined him apologizing to me. I lick my lips, unsure how to respond.

  “I’m not going to make excuses for myself, but I want you to understand. I honestly thought he was Clutch. I’m a territorial guy. In my mind, I saw someone who was fucking with my girl, and I went a little nuts.”

  “Riot, I’m not ma—”

  He holds up his hand. “No, let me get this out first. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, but you have to want to too. I won’t force you into a life you’ll hate. If you really d
on’t want to be with me, fine, I’ll back off, but at least tell me why. Something’s holding you back. What is it?”

  He thinks I don’t want to be with him. Well, I did tell him I felt nothing for him, didn’t I? I only wish it were that easy.

  I heave a sigh. I hate the feeling that I’m baring my soul. I don’t like feeling vulnerable, but I owe him this much.

  “All right.” I put my hands together under my chin, sorting my thoughts before I meet his penetrating gaze. “Here’s the thing. Before my mother had Devil and me, she was a completely different woman. She kept extensive journals of her life, and I read them. I got to know the woman she was before she had Dev. She went to college. She had a career. She grew up wanting to be a lawyer, and she did it, all on her own. She was a strong woman, take no shit.”

  “She was like you.” His eyes are warm.

  I push my hair back, not letting the compliment or that gorgeous smile distract me. “The point is, her life was all hers. And then she met my dad.”

  I pace in front of him as I talk.

  “He completely took over. He forced her to quit school and wouldn’t let her work, unless it was in the kind of jobs he wanted her to have. A secretary. Cleaning.”

  “Women’s work,” he says softly.

  “Yes. She was not allowed to earn more than him, and he would never, ever have put up with her owning her own business. He wasn’t cruel, but her life wasn’t hers anymore.” I shake my head. “It wasn’t him I was mad at. He was a biker, and that’s how I thought he was supposed to be. But I hated—I hated—that she let him.”

  Riot nods. “She let him destroy who she was.”

  “Yeah.” I fling my hand out. “She let him control her. She turned into the obedient little housewife who never challenged him. She let him disappear into his club while he totally ignored her until it suited him.”

  My fists tighten.

  “I saw what she’d let herself become, and I promised myself I would never, ever let that happen to me.”

  “Red, do you seriously think I would ever do that to you?” He straightens and drops his arms, looking almost hurt. “You really think I would try to take your life from you like that? I would never want a woman like that, and I would never try to make you like that. Never.”