“Do I know you?”
“I’m in your science class.”
“Right.” I nod attempting to play it cool. I so don’t have a science class. “Professor Shinling’s class.”
“That’s the one.” He smiles and falls into step beside me.
My first instinct is to scream or run, but I don’t want to make an idiot of myself incase he’s just some random guy who thinks I am pretty or something. My gut is telling me that he’s not though. My gut is telling me to cut and run.
“Are you going to the game this weekend?”
“Not sure.”
“Maybe we could meet up and go together?” He smiles, wishful.
“What was your name?”
“Danny.”
I stop walking and face him. “Danny, it was nice bumping into you, but I am late meeting my boyfriend,” I lie. “I don’t mean to be rude, but he’s the jealous type and if he sees us walking together he may get the wrong idea.”
“Yeah, sure, no problem.” He jogs off, and I rub my hands down my arms as a cold chill washes over me.
That was just strange. I shake my head and cross the street. There’s this great diner a few blocks over that has great food.
I make it to the diner and place a to go order for Bridgette, enjoying my milkshake while I wait for her food.
The diner is a real down home kinda place. Soft serve ice cream, hotdogs and chicken strip baskets are on the menu, reminding me of the Dairy Bar back home. It makes me smile. Maybe I will go home next weekend for girl’s night with Harley.
As much as I like Cole, my sister should come first and I don’t want her thinking she can’t count on me.
Pulling out my phone I give her a quick call.
“Hey, little bird. How’s my favorite little sister?”
“I’m your only little sister.” She giggles.
“I just wanted to tell you I’m sorry I didn’t make it home this weekend, but I promise you, next weekend, I’ll be home. We’ll watch anything you want, and I will get some of that washable pink hair dye you love.”
“Deal.”
“Alright. Talk soon. Love you.”
“Love you, Morg.”
Bridgett’s order is ready. After shoving my phone in my pocket, I grab the takeout bag and leave. As I step onto the sidewalk and prepare to cross the street a white van screeches to a halt in front of me. The side door slides open. Danny jumps out and grabs me, taking me unaware. The shock of it all hits me as my milkshake falls to the ground along with Bridgette’s dinner.
Shit.
My voice doesn’t find me until I am tossed in the back of the van and it is too late for my scream to save me.
“Sorry, Morgan.” He winks and pulls my wrists in front of me, securing me in handcuffs. “If you promise not to scream again, I won’t gag you.” He binds my ankles.
I nod. Fighting will not do me any good. I’m not going to get far in my current situation. Too bad I can’t get in my pocket and use my phone to text my old man. Then this punk would let me go.
“I hope you know that when my father gets a hold of you, you’ll wish you had never been born.”
“And why is that?”
“So, you don’t know who my dad is?” Why else would someone grab me if not to start something with the Black Rebel Riders’ MC?
“I don’t give a shit who your old man is, I got orders.”
“Stop talking back there,” a deep voice growls from the front.
“Your funeral,” I mumble.
This Danny guy, if that is even his real name eyes me strangely and scoots close to my side. “Who is your dad?”
“You don’t care, remember? But I can guarantee you that you will soon enough.” I smirk and turn away from him.
My dad will grind him up and feed him to the fish in his pond.
I can’t help but wonder if this guy didn’t grab me in retaliation against my family, then why? What do they want with me? I’m no one special or important. My dad is only the Vice President of the MC, and keeps me far away from the politics.
I try sitting up to watch out the back window to see if we pass any important landmarks, but we are going too fast and I can’t see as much as I would like to. I look around the floorboard for something I can use as a weapon, coming up empty. The back of the van is spotless and smells like bleach, which in turn makes me panic. What the hell would go on in here that they need to scrub it with bleach?
I hope I’m not about to find out.
Eventually, the van rolls to a stop and doors open and close from the front of the vehicle. Finally, the sliding door slides open and Danny exits, dragging me to the door by my feet. With the help of another man, I am tossed over his shoulder. My head is at his ass and his hands are on my ass cheeks.
He feels my phone and pulls it out. Great. I should have known they would find it sooner or later.
He hands it to someone, and I can hear it crunch under the stomping of their boot.
Danny starts walking, and I hear a female say, “Oh good, you made it.”
“As you wished, not a hair on her head was touched,” Danny replies, dropping me with a thud onto a couch. He pulls me into a sitting position and leaves me alone with this chick I’ve never met before.
I look her over and she reminds of the lead singer of a gothic metal band. Blonde hair with black tips. Dark lipstick, racoon eyes.
“We are going to have the most fun, Morgan.” She claps her hands together with a smirk. “You and me are gonna be the best of friends.” She uncuffs my wrists.
“I have enough friends.”
She trails her finger along my jaw. “Silly girl. So innocent and unsure of the world. You have no idea. Cole can’t save you, ya know. Not that he’d try. Might as well fall in line. He belongs to me and now…so do you.”
My heart sinks hearing his name. This has nothing to do with my family and everything to do with my outlaw. “What are you talking about?”
“You didn’t think he was going to be with you, did you?” Her tone is incredulous as she continues to shatter my heart with her words. “Cole is my lover, among many things.”
Is she who he runs to when he isn’t with me? Could it be true. Cole isn’t who he says? He said he loved me. I feel so dumb. I look around the room and I feel sick to my stomach. Is this the bad thing he was talking about? Me, bringing me here? Was this his plan all along? To seduce me and use me.
A knock sounds at the door and Danny returns, followed by a burly biker dude. Danny has the nerve to smile at me and wink. He hands this chick something. “Here’s your phone, sis.”
“That will be all, Danny.” She hints for him to leave.
As he is closing the door I read the back of his companion’s denim cut, Devils Rejects.
Oh hell, please, no. Cole is the enemy. I thought these bastards died out a long time ago?
Was I Cole’s target, a piece in the game of war?
The video she shoves in my face on display on the screen of her cell phone answers my questions, cementing his lies. Struggling to breathe let alone see through my rage, I jerk the phone from her hand and smash it in her face, hitting her with it as she laughs maniacally. This bitch is insane and she can have him.
“Just stop!” I scream at her and she continues to laugh.
“You really thought he loved you, damn girl. I’m sorry.” She shakes her head, while her hair slinks down her back in long waves.
I wish I had never looked twice at Cole Johnson. I wish I had never climbed on the back of his motorcycle. I wish I had never given myself so freely to him.
Cole grunts on the video, making a sound, I’ve come to know all too well. A sound I never want to hear again.
I wipe at the tear that trickles down my cheek. I hate him.
“Now what? You gonna call my old man and arrange for a payment or a trade?”
“Your old man?” She sneers.
“Not hardly. You’re to be a lesson to Cole.” She smiles. “D
on’t try anything stupid. I have plans for you.” She exits the room and I immediately go to work on freeing my ankles.
Danny
I don’t know why I care. She’s nothing to me. However, there is something so innocent about her, something that says she is delicate and in need of my help…my protection. She reminds me of someone I knew once. I should just leave. Go back home. My sister called in a favor. I fulfilled my duty. I need to get the hell away from here before she sucks me back into her shenanigans any further.
I love my sister, she’s crazy as hell, but at the end of the day I’d do anything for her. Including abduction, apparently. Just as I am trying to do just that—leave, Harper sinks her claws in my arm.
“I have something to do. Watch the girl. Make sure she doesn’t do anything stupid,” my dear sister barks at me, snapping her fingers.
I throw my hands up. “Whoa. I did what you asked. I got her here. I’m done.”
“You’ll do what is asked of you. You enjoy that truck you drive and that apartment I foot the bill for, so do as you are told, Danny boy.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“You owe me. I kept you out of jail and provided you with a new life. You’ll do what I say. If I tell you to jump, you ask how fucking high!”
Wiping my hand over my head, I sigh.
“Good. Now that your tantrum is over…” She hands me a key to the door I presume.
“Yeah. Watch the girl. Got it.”
“Oh, and Danny.”
“What?”
“Don’t touch her. She’s special.”
I can only nod as I wonder what in the hell I’ve gotten myself into this time.
Once she has gotten in her car, I go back to the holding room she has Morgan in.
I knock lightly and there is no reply, not that I expected one.
I unlock the door and let myself in.
I close the door, not wanting anyone to hear us. Harper has eyes and ears everywhere.
“Hey,” I say, whispering and she turns her head, not wanting to look at me, or not wanting me to witness her tears, maybe both. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry. I had to take you. It isn’t personal.” That gets a snort out of her.
She crosses her arms across her chest and huffs. I get it. I’d hate me too. I made one mistake and now my sister thinks she owns me, and I guess in a way she does. She kept my ass free and does support me while I go to school, but it isn’t like she is doing it for me. It’s all for her benefit.
She never does anything selflessly. She wasn’t always such a cold-hearted bitch, but life fucked us over and this is who she is now. I am biding my time, trying to make it through school, and earn my degree so I can get the hell away from here before I give in to the temptation and the lure of this life.
Money…women…it’s tempting, but somehow there is some good left in me. I only hope I can hang on before what little light I have left is snuffed out completely.
“Listen, I know your situation is fucked. You don’t like me. I get that, I do, but you are stuck here with me as your babysitter. It doesn’t have to be completely miserable.”
“Are you going to let me go?”
“No.”
“Then we have nothing to talk about.”
She goes back to staring at the ceiling.
“We could watch TV,” I suggest. This chick doesn’t even flinch. “Are you hungry? Thirsty?”
“Do you ever shut up?”
“Not really.” I smile and I see a hint of a smile tugging at her plump lips. “What year are you?”
“Freshmen.” Her one worded response seems almost robotic. “I need the bathroom,” she says twisting in my direction.
“Yeah, sure, no problem, but no funny business.”
Morgan rolls her eyes and it makes me smile wider. Something about getting under her skin makes me…happy.
Chapter 20
Bridgette
Damn, I am so hungry I could eat my left arm. Morgan must’ve went to freaking kill the chicken and pluck it for my sandwich. I try her cell phone, but it goes straight to voicemail. I’ve already sent her a few text messages and no response. It isn’t like her to just bail on me. I suppose Cole could’ve stolen her attention.
I give up on my bestie and decide to take matters into my own hands. I can’t wait any longer. I’m famished. As I am opening the door to leave, Rhyner is standing on the other side with his fist raised about to knock.
“Hey you, whatcha doing here?”
“Is Morgan here?”
“Well hello to you too. Um, no she isn’t.”
“Where is she, it’s important?”
“I don’t know. Where’s Cole? My guess is wherever your boy is, that’s where she is. She was supposed to bring me some food an hour ago.”
Rhyner runs a shaky hand through his hair. “Shit,” he mutters, worrying his bottom lip.
“What’s wrong?” My mind drifts back to what he told me earlier. “Is Morgan in danger?”
“Where was she getting your food from?”
“Billy’s Diner.”
“Stay here, lock the door. Don’t open for anyone,” he stresses.
“Okay, Rhy you’re scaring me. If Morg is in trouble, I’m coming with you.”
“No! You can’t. It will be better if you stay put where I know you’re safe. Please.”
“Fine.”
“I’ll be back, soon.” He kisses my forehead, but I want to stomp my feet and demand he take me with him. However, I concede, closing the door after I see him step on the elevator.
My inner child slams the door, and I regret not asking him to bring me food. Guess I will suck it up and order a pizza. My thighs will hate me but my stomach will thank me.
Getting on my computer, I go through the steps to build my pizza. Double cheese and mushrooms. Yummy. I shouldn’t be thinking of food right now, but I have to stay positive and believe that Morgan is fine. I have to hold onto hope that she will show up any minute now, giggling about Cole stealing her away.
I’ve earned pizza points for a free brownie. I’ll give it to Morgan because she loves them.
I kick back on my bed and try to study, but I can’t concentrate. Any minute now she will show. I keep watching the door, waiting for the knob to turn. When that doesn’t happen, I stare at my phone willing it to ring.
That doesn’t happen either. Finally, there is a knock at my door. Probably my food. And now that I think about it, I’m not that hungry after all.
Not thinking, I throw the door open. It isn’t pizza. It’s some goth chick.
“Can I help you?”
She wets her dark tinted lips. “Bridgette, is it?”
“Yeah?”
“Come with me if you want to see your friend alive again.”
“What?”
“Morgan is in danger, but you have to come with me.” She grabs my wrist and tugs on it, hard.
“Who the hell are you?”
“I’m a friend.” She smiles, flashing her perfect teeth at me, but there is something dark and uninviting about her eyes. I don’t mean her makeup either. This chick gives off an evil vibe, but what if she is telling the truth? I have to go with her for Morgan, don’t I?
“Okay, let me get my shoes on.” I swallow as she pushes into the room.
“Hurry up!” She snaps at me as I bend down to tie my laces.
My eyes dart to my phone on my nightstand. I need to distract her so I can get a call through to Rhyner. Where the hell is he? Shouldn’t he have come back by now?
I pop up, turning my back to her. “Just grabbing my keys,” I explain, grabbing them with a jingle and attempting to swipe my phone.
Another knock sounds at my door. Please be Rhy, please be Rhyner. I don’t trust this chick.
“Expecting company? We really need to go.”
“Must be my pizza.” I shrug, making for the door.
Damn, it is only the pizza guy.
“Thanks,” I tell the older man,
taking the pizza and sitting it on my desk.
“I just need you to sign here.” He hands me a pen and the receipt for the order.
“Sure.” I smile at him and bend down using my hair as a curtain while I write a message for the delivery driver.
My hand is shaking as I try to remember the number Morgan’s old man told me to text if we ever needed him. My adrenaline spikes and I recite the number mentally as I write it down quickly. Text help to 555-4456
I hand the bill back quickly, hoping like hell the dude sees me mouth the words, read the receipt.
He eyes me curiously and gives me an odd smile.
“Do we have time for me to eat?” I ask, stalling.
“Bring it with you. We need to move, now. Someone may already be on the way here for you. Your friend has been taken, we have to hurry,” she urges, moving me out the door.
I see the delivery guy in the elevator as the doors are closing; relief washes over me as I see his eyes scanning the ticket.
“The stairs will be just as fast,” she orders and I comply.
Rhyner
At the diner, I question the waitress behind the counter if she remembers seeing a girl who resembles Morgan.
“Yeah, was here a few hours ago or so. I can’t recall the time but she had a milkshake and a to go order. Pretty thing. She your girlfriend or something?”
“Yeah, we were supposed to meet and I’m running late.” I shrug with a weak smile. “Thanks for your help.”
I step outside wondering what in the hell happened to her. A car passes by and I look down seeing something white float up with the air. Part of a bag. I look around and see a spilled milkshake and a flattened bag of food. Fuck.
I try Cole’s cell and there is no answer.
Not that I should expect any. The Black Rebels took him and I don’t know why. Shit is so fucked. At least Bridgette is safe at the dorm. No one has any reason to go after her.
I do the only thing I know to do, I call Porter for guidance.
“You got trouble?”
“The girl, Rebel Black’s daughter, she’s missing, and I have reason to believe she’s been taken.”
“Goddamnit. You think the Devils Rejects?”
Blood Of A Rebel (Black Rebel Riders' MC Book 9) Page 13