by Jordan Marie
“I tell you, she’s special.”
“She got a golden snatch or something?”
I laugh at his words, but in a way he’s not wrong. Tengo miedo han sido capturados. Nunca dejar ir. That’s what I told Beth, and I was serious. Roughly translated, it means: I am afraid I have been captured. Never let go. I don’t want her to. I like knowing that she has had no other man before me, that I stretched her to fit only my cock, that the blood of her innocence was on me, that I claimed it. It’s mine. Fuck, I don’t care if it’s only been a matter of weeks or that she’s only been in my bed two days. I’m claiming her and by God I’m keeping her.
“Skull?” Diesel prompts me. We’re walking through the door of the local lodge’s restaurant. It’s shut down thanks to Diesel and his crew. Inside, I see Colin Donahue sitting at a table with two of his main henchmen. I guess he didn’t feel the need to have big brother with him today. That’s not fucking good. I hate dealing with the Donahues in general, but Colin is the most miserable fucker ever born. He’s worse than his fucking father Edmund ever was—and that is saying something.
I motion to Torch and Sabre to stay at my six and remain standing, then I sit down at the table with the Devil himself.
Time to get this party started.
“Skull, you in here?” I hear Torch in the distance. I mumble and dig further under the covers. My body is sore from the workout that Skull gave me last night, and I’m worn out because it was so late when we returned from the lake.
Tonight will be my last night with Skull. I’m praying the memories we’ve made will be enough to help me survive life without him.
Skull squeezes me and I smile without opening my eyes or acknowledging him. Since I’ve been seeing him, he’s always touching or hugging me. He does it even more since I’ve been here. He kisses the top of my head, then I feel the bed shift as he gets up.
“Quiet, asshole, Beth’s sleeping.”
“Sorry, Boss. We got word this morning. Colin wants to meet at the Ridge.”
“Did you tell Diesel?”
“Yeah, he set it up, just like you wanted. We need to head out now.”
“Okay. Get our best men together. Beast stays to watch over Beth. I want him making sure she’s safe and doesn’t leave, got it?”
“I’ll tell him now.”
My body freezes as I hear the conversation. All signs of sleep are gone. I’m wide awake now and halfway into a panic attack. It takes all I have to keep my breathing even. I can’t let Skull know that I heard them. Inside, I’m filled with panic and despair. I won’t get one more night with Skull. The pain hits me so hard it robs me of breath. I keep my eyes closed tight and try to tune out the sounds of Skull getting dressed. I try to still the heavy beating of my heart as he leans on the bed behind me to kiss the top of my head.
“Mi cielo… I will return soon to you. I miss you too much to stay away too long,” he whispers, and I block out the pain the words cause. The last two days and nights with Skull have been so wonderful that I’ve tried to convince myself there was a way for this to work out. After hearing this conversation, all my hopes die.
I manage to keep it bottled up until Skull closes the door. I sit up in bed the minute he’s gone. I count to twenty in silence as the tears run down my face. When I think I’m in the clear, I allow my sobs to take over. My cries echo in the room as I accept that this is the end. I don’t know how long I cry, but I make myself stop. I need to figure a way to get out of here.
Skull left Beast in charge of me, which means I need to figure out a way to distract him. Sadly, for Beast at least, I think I know how to do just that. I get up and try to use makeup to cover up the damage the tears caused. Then, I head to the kitchen, praying luck is on my side.
When I make it to the kitchen, Jan’s there with one of the club girls that I heard Torch call Carla. They look at me with that barely disguised hate that I’m coming to expect from them.
They should be glad to help me leave.
“I figured Skull would have grown tired of your pussy by now,” says Carla with a sneer. “He doesn’t usually do repeats.”
“Actually, I need to leave,” I respond, keeping the pain out of my voice; I can’t afford to show any weakness.
“Oh, poor thing. Did Skull kick your ass out?” Jan speaks up. Not for the first time, I think of what a bitch she is. From everything I’ve seen of Beast, he’s a great guy. I don’t understand how he got saddled with her.
“I just need to go home, but I need help.”
“What the fuck for?” Carla asks.
“I need someone to distract, Beast. Skull has him watching me. I need him occupied so I can get away. I thought you might be able to help with that,” I tell Jan, waiting for her response.
“What’s in it for me?” she asks, her greed evident in her words and the way she watches me.
“Fifty dollars?”
I wait for her answer. I’ve only been here a couple of days and Skull’s been keeping me busy, but even I have heard of Jan’s problem. She’s addicted to coke. It’s not my place to worry, but I feel bad for Beast.
“It’s going to cost more than a fifty to do what you’re asking. Fucker won’t ignore an order given to him by Skull. I’ll have to suck his dick to even stand a chance.”
“I’ll suck his cock for a fifty,” says Carla.
“Damn fucker won’t let you. He hasn’t been with another woman since he put a fucking ring on my finger. Shit, I leave just to get a break from giving him pussy. Drives me fucking crazy. He’s the most boring fuck around.”
I wince, feeling bad for Beast. I wish he could see what a bitch he’s hooked up with. I may not know him that well, but no man deserves to put up with this kind of stuff.
“So, how much?” I ask, anxious to end this conversation.
“A hundred.”
Guilt hits me as I hand her the money. I know it will go for drugs. Still, I try and justify it by admitting that if I don’t get away, no one will survive. Colin won’t quit until he makes sure of that.
“I’ll be going in there in ten minutes. You better do what you have to do because I’m not about to make sure you’re gone to finish him off.”
She’s just so freaking sweet, I think to myself. I listen as she gives me directions on how to get out of here and exactly what she will arrange, then hurry towards Skull’s room, desperate to get away from her.
“Everything okay, Beth?” asks Beast, and I come to a stop right before I can make my escape.
“Sure,” I say, trying to avoid eye contact. “Why do you ask?”
“Just checking. Skull and the boys will be back late this evening.”
“Yeah, he told me. Hey, Beast?”
“What’s up?”
“You’re a nice guy, you know. I mean… I don’t know you that well, but I can tell.” I feel my cheeks flushing.
“Uh… thanks, Beth.”
“Sure. Anytime. I… better go and take a bath. You can’t be too clean, you know.”
He grins. It’s a stiff grin, but a grin nonetheless. I’m being an idiot. It’s a wonder he’s not laughing and making fun of me.
“Bye, Beth.”
“Yeah. Bye, Beast. I really enjoyed talking with you and meeting you. You know. Just… everything.”
He does laugh a little this time, and why wouldn’t he? I sound loony. I just feel guilty that Jan’s been talking about him the way she has and that I’m using it to my advantage. I wish I could tell him all about Jan, but I can’t.
“Talk to you at dinner, Beth.”
“Yeah, sure, okay,” I tell him, opening the door to Skull’s room and needing to get away before I break down and tell him everything I’m planning.
I grab my backpack and sit on the bed, trying to calm my nerves. I only had two days with Skull as his, but they were the best two days I’ve ever had in my life. The weeks I spent meeting Skull at the coffee shop and then here at his club are memories I shall take with me to survive the
rest of my life.
I get off the bed and crack Skull’s door and wait. When I hear Beast’s moans of pleasures, I sneak into the large hall bathroom. Jan said she’d have Marker, one of the new prospects who was in charge of monitoring the back of the building, wait for me and get me out of here. I wonder if Skull knows how shitty some of the people he keeps in his compound are.
It takes some prying and a lot of cursing, but I manage to get the bathroom window open and shimmy out of it. My plan was to hold onto the ledge and then jump down, but my hands slip and I fall to the ground with a hard thump. It jars me and knocks the breath out of my lungs. I have to sit on the ground for a couple of minutes before I can continue. I stand up and find my legs weak, though I think it has more to do with nerves than from falling. I look up and there’s a large man wearing a black leather cut just like Skull’s. The only exception is there’s no name or designation on it. It’s blank.
“You Skull’s whore?”
I wince. I want to argue, but I bite my tongue. Is it so far from the truth, really? Do I even care? Truth is, I would give myself to Skull over and over if I had the chance. It wouldn’t even be a question.
“I’m Beth,” I tell him.
“Whatever, follow me. I’m getting your ass out of here before one of the other men can catch me. You get caught, you never saw me. Got it?”
“Got it.”
I take a breath and follow him. It takes all I have not to look back or run back to Skull’s room and wait for him.
“Colin,” I acknowledge, sitting across from him.
He doesn’t say anything. His cold steel eyes look me over. Everything about this motherfucker sets off alarm bells in my head.
“You have five minutes,” he says, and my hands shake from the need to end the motherfucker.
“I need to know why you and Matthew called an end to our truce.”
“We had no truce. You were merely inconsequential,” he says, leaning back in his chair.
“Fuck that. Matthew and I brokered a truce and it’s been pretty fucking effective the last few years. Then you and the Saints decide to come into my territory and make a fucking declaration of war. I demand to know why,” I tell him, my voice hard. I’m not toying with the asshole. I don’t care who he is.
“Matthew’s not in charge anymore, chico,” he says, the slur rolling off his tongue… a tongue I make a vow to cut off someday soon. Very soon.
“Does Matthew know he’s not in charge?”
“My brother does not concern you. You’re running out of time.”
“And you did not answer my question satisfactorily. If you want war, believe me asshole, I can give it to you. I would rather not see the shedding of blood if it is not necessary.”
“Are you afraid?” the cocky bastard asks, taking a drink from his glass. There’s an empty glass in front of me and an aged bottle of scotch, but I don’t trust the motherfucker not to have it drugged, so I ignore it.
“Not in the least. Enough of the song and dance, Colin. We both know you wouldn’t strike without a reason, however fucked up it is. So tell me, what the fuck does this come down to? Or, we can both get the fuck out of here and war can begin. I got warm pussy waiting for me at home. I much prefer that to looking at you.”
His lips curl in distaste. My fist clenches under the table so no one can see it. I keep my face impassive.
“Beth.”
He says my woman’s name and my insides freeze. My brain doesn’t comprehend it at first. How does he know her name? Why is he bringing her up? What the fuck is going on?
“Excuse me?” I ask, feeling my way in the fucking dark and vowing to have a word with Beth when I get back. I planned on learning her secrets… but fuck me sideways, not like this.
“You think you can touch my property? You bought yourself a world of trouble, and the only blood that will be spilled… is yours. And that is a promise. This meeting is done.”
“Your property?” I ask, my voice laced in ice.
“Mine,” he states, and it takes all I have not to tear him apart with my bare hands.
“Does she know that? Because I don’t remember her saying your name when she was begging for my cock.”
Shock comes over Colin’s face, then jealousy. I see it clearly before he locks it down.
“You’re lying.”
“She’s got the sweetest pussy I’ve ever been inside of. Drains a man dry and begs for more. Too bad you didn’t get a taste when you could, Colin, because she’s mine now, and unlike you, motherfucker, I protect my property.” I stand up. “Now this meeting’s finished.”
“Return her back to me and I might let you live, Skull.”
“I’ll see you in hell first,” I tell him, not bothering to turn around. “Let’s go boys,” I call to Torch and Sabre. My mouth got away from me. I know there will be blood flowing in this fucking war, but I can’t stop it. The son of a bitch is never getting his hands on my woman. She is mine, even if I’m going to fucking make sure she can’t sit down for a week.
“Jesus, when you get serious over a woman, you make sure it’s not simple, ese,” Diesel says, following us out. I don’t answer him. There’s nothing I can say because he’s absolutely fucking right.
I’m so tired that I stumble with my every step. I’ve been walking nonstop since Marker got me out of there. I kept expecting Beast to find me or one of the others out hunting for me, but so far I’ve been home free. I’m probably overestimating my value. I mean, just because I’m more than halfway in love with Skull doesn’t mean he has the same emotions. He’s told me several times that he’ll grow tired of me. He’ll probably get back and decide I’m not worth the trouble. Up ahead, I can see the bus station.
I find the sight of it brings me both relief and sadness.
I make it through the doors and go straight to the bathroom. It’s been so dry in Georgia that I can feel the dust all over my skin. I freshen up and splash water on my face. Once I make it back to the main lobby, I stare at the big map of the states pinned on the bulletin board. I don’t have a plan about where to go. If I go back to Montana, Colin and Matthew will find me and I don’t want that. Colorado? Texas? Do I pick a small town, or would it be easier to get lost in a big city? There’s so many decisions and I’m scared to death to make the wrong one. I send up a small prayer and hope I’m doing it right.
In the end, I decide to go with the bus that’s leaving the quickest. In fact, this one’s loading right now. I buy my ticket and head to the door. I’m putting my change in my purse and look up just in time to hear that voice hit me.
“Beth. Where do you think you’re going?”
My blood runs cold.
“How did you find me?”
“A better question would be, why did you disobey me?”
I take three steps backwards until I’m pressed up against the side of the building.
“You had a meeting today…”
“And it’s over. Imagine my surprise when I get a call that you’re walking along the side of a road. Let’s get in the car. We’ll discuss the trouble you’ve caused me then.”
“Colin, I don’t want to go back. I don’t want to be here. Let me go. We’re not family, not really.”
His cold face, which has always been scary to me, turns even colder.
“You are my property, Beth. You can’t leave. You do as I say, when I say it. Get in the car. Don’t make this worse on yourself,” Colin warns.
I bite my lip and the coppery taste of blood releases into my mouth. I knew escaping was going to be a longshot, but I thought I would get further than I did.
I’m about to take a step towards Colin when another voice, this one from my opposite side, stops me.
“Beth, if you take one more step, I will tan your ass more than it was already going to get.”
My heart turns over and then slams quickly in my chest, beating so fast I’m sure people can see it shaking my body. Skull.
“Skull…”
“If she goes with you,” says Colin, “I’ll wipe you and your whole club out. That’s my family you’re messing with. It will not happen.”
“You shouldn’t be sporting a fucking hard-on for your sister anyway, Colin. Talk about disgusting,” Skull taunts.
My legs quake. I wonder, if I took off running, how far I would get? When Beast blocks the door back into the bus station, I figure any hope of that is gone.
“She’s not my sister, but she is mine.”
“Beth. Now,” Skull orders, ignoring Colin.
“You do, and you will live to regret it,” Colin says to me, his eyes filled with hate and every bit of it is directed at Skull.
“She’ll be fine. If I were you, Colin, I’d worry about myself, because I’m going to fucking end you. I told you, Beth was mine. I really didn’t expect this of you. Who knew you’d be so eager to get my sloppy seconds?”
“Skull!” I gasp. I know he’s just taunting Colin, but surely he knows how stupid this is. “Colin, he didn’t mean—”
“I sure as fuck did. Told you before, Colin. I’ve had her, and I’m not letting go. That young pussy, cabrón? Fucking delicious. I broke in that tight little snatch and formed her to fit only my cock. I’m not giving that shit up, so you’re out of luck.”
“Beth…” they warn me together.
“Will you both hush!” I growl, stomping my foot. “I’m not property! I’m a real person! I want to leave. I’m not going back with any of you!”
“Beast.”
“Got it, Boss,” Beast growls and, before I know what to expect, he grabs me and throws me over his shoulder. He moves us behind Skull and the other men. Over my yelling, I can hear Skull in the background.
“You’re giving me a license to wipe you off the map, biker. I don’t think you want to do that.”
“It’s not going to be that easy. You want war, you got it, but I warn you now, Colin, I will fucking make it my mission to cut your head off and mount it for your brother.”