Snatched

by Cathleen Ross

  “You should have trusted me.”

  “In my business, trusting people gets you killed.”

  She placed her hand over her heart. “We’re not at war. We never were. But you refused to listen to one word I said. You knew I had a thing for you. I respected you for helping Dad, and thought you were a good man. But I realize I built up a rosy picture of you in my mind because I was vulnerable. I thought you were some sort of hero coming in at a time when Brian and I were miserable.”

  “You were telling the truth about Animal, I should have trusted you,” he conceded. He moved to take her in his arms.

  “But I shouldn’t have.” She butted her palms against his chest to keep him away. “I believed you when you said you wouldn’t hurt me. You are a heartless bastard. Those feelings I had for you were all in my imagination. I can see that now. I loved my Dad. I was so sad, and there you were, helping us when I didn’t have anyone except Brian. God, Troy, you were like an angel, walking in with those damned cancer drugs. I honestly thought you cared about us. That you were a good guy. Special. How could I have been so wrong?”

  “Come on, baby, don’t be angry. Let me make it up to you.” He went to put his hands around her waist.

  Her expression turned incredulous. “How can you possibly do that?”

  Chapter Thirteen

  In Stacey’s mind, every ounce, every shred of trust for Troy was gone.

  True, he hadn’t physically hurt her, but he had deliberately terrorized her. If he thought they could be on good terms after that, he needed his head examined. Her only consolation was he looked damned guilty and regretful.

  She was loving that.

  He slashed a hand through his hair. “I feel really bad about this. At least let me try to make it up to you. I don’t want fear to be the last memory you have of this place. Not when it’s so beautiful here.”

  “You mean you don’t want my last memory of you to be of an asshole.”

  He grimaced. “That, too.”

  “If you think that sweet-talking me is going to result in sex, forget it. Not after what you did to me. We’re done. I realize I was living in a fantasyland about you.”

  “I know you’ll never sleep with me again. I get that. But I owe you an apology, and this is the only way I can think to do it,” Troy said. He strode to the refrigerator and took out two bottles of water, then grabbed a set of keys off a hook on the wall. Opening the front door, he stepped back and held it for her.

  “Where are we going?” she asked suspiciously as she stepped out onto the front deck. What the hell did he have planned?

  “Out on my boat.”

  Was he serious? “You think a boat trip is going to make things better? What are you, an emotional drop-kick?”

  “I’m sure my sister thinks so.”

  He strode down the stairs, and she followed him, looking left and right for any alligators. An aluminum boat was moored at the edge of the water near the house. There were hand-built steps leading down to it.

  “Will that hideous monster try and jump in?” she asked. The last thing she could deal with was that giant reptile making a reappearance.

  “Don’t worry. It’s safe. Psycho hates the sound of the outboard motor. Too noisy for him.”

  She took another look around, undecided. But she had to admit, the bayou was beautiful. Irresistible. It brought back delightful childhood memories of her father.

  When she was a child, he had taken her fishing. She’d adored him, and she was still grieving. She’d never been happier in her life than when she was with her father. Even though she’d always insisted he throw back any fish they caught.

  Besides, it was satisfying watching Troy trying to make up to her. Though, he could rot in hell, for all she cared.

  “Anyway, the boat is too big for an alligator attack,” he said as he started the outboard motor, then held out his hand to her.

  Fine. Some time on the water would calm her, help her think of her father and put his memory to rest. To hell with Troy. Keeping an eye out for any sign of Psycho, she walked down the two steps and jumped onto the boat without taking Troy’s hand. She sat on the bench seat in the middle of the boat as he undid the rope mooring and set off.

  Soon they left the main waterway and entered a smaller channel surrounded on both sides by tidewater cypress swampland. Spanish moss hung from the trees, and a giant, awe-inspiring tupelo gum tree rose from the water on her left. Troy cut the engine, and they floated noiselessly as the sound of birdsong rippled across the air.

  He leaned over her and pointed to the bank. She was just about to tell him to back off when she saw two raccoons playing. “Oh, look at that! I’ve never seen them in the wild.”

  He smiled. “This glade is full of creatures. I come here to fish. I can stay for hours just listening to the quiet. I need it to decompress after a mission.”

  She turned to him, trying not to drink him in. “You’re right. This place is magical.” Peaceful. Already she could feel the tension leaving her body.

  Could she ever forgive him for his rough treatment? She didn’t know, but it didn’t rattle her so much anymore. Not with the sun streaming down through the trees, intensifying the green around them. Not while he sat near her, his eyes alight like a boy’s, experiencing the delight and magnificence of this prehistoric place.

  “Look over there.” He pointed to a grassy embankment. A stag was watching them.

  “He’s magnificent and so close.”

  “You like the swamp,” he said, sounding a bit surprised.

  “I love it. My dad used to bring me, long ago. Brian was always too wriggly on a boat, so he never came along. But I could sit for hours. It was just Dad and me. Our special time.”

  Troy gazed at her, looking regretful. “I’m sorry, Stacey. I’m sorry I hurt you. I hope bringing you here helped you feel…a little better.” He uncapped and handed her a bottle of water.

  “I know you’re sorry. I saw it on your face the moment you spoke to Lizzie.” She hadn’t realized she was thirsty, but she drank the water with gratitude.

  The air smelled of the sweet perfume of wild azaleas…and Troy’s subtle musk. Something in her stirred at his scent, but she clamped the feeling down. She would be grateful for this lovely moment with him, but nothing more.

  “I hope you’ll be able to forgive me.”

  She glanced at him with longing. He was a damned sexy beast. He seemed to instinctively know what would calm her. But she had to remind herself that all they had in common was great sex. Nothing else.

  “I’m not good with betrayal,” she said quietly. Take me home, Troy. I need to start my life again. Without you in it.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Troy pulled up in front of Stacey and Brian’s house. It was sunny and warm, and the clapboard place looked like a welcoming smile. But he felt anything but cheerful.

  Stacey had been very quiet on the drive home, withdrawn right into herself while he’d played what-ifs in his mind. The Stacey he enjoyed most was the one who’d begged for his cock. He wanted that Stacey back.

  Even though he shouldn’t.

  This wasn’t a relationship. He didn’t do relationships. But that didn’t stop him wanting her.

  She leaped from the car, and he winced at the sharp gravel on the driveway digging into her bare feet as she raced for her front door.

  She twisted the handle, but it was locked. “Damn.”

  He got out to help her.

  She spun to face him. “I hid a spare key. I don’t need your help.”

  His heart thudded painfully. Great. She was wiping him out of her life like an eraser on a dirty page.

  He took a metal instrument from his set of keys, slid it into the lock, and jiggled until he heard it pop. “You need to get a better lock. I’ll come put one in tomorrow.”

  “No. That’s not a good idea. It was lovely today out on the bayou, and it did help reset my mood. But you’re too wild to fit into my life, Troy. Too dan
gerous.”

  He didn’t disagree. “And you’re too vulnerable here alone.”

  “I was fine until my brother got mixed up with you. It’s thanks to you his life is in danger.”

  “Please, Stacey. Let me fix this. I owe you.”

  “You owe Brian, not me. Clear his name. I need him to help me run the business. That’s all I want.”

  “That won’t be easy. Lizzie should have gone to Pa to solve her problem, not Animal. Pa won’t rest until Lizzie comes home.”

  “Even if she doesn’t want to?”

  Troy glanced away. “No one leaves the Slayers unless it’s in a box.”

  “But women aren’t members,” she said. “Right? I’ve always heard motorcycle clubs are chauvinistic organizations that women would do well to steer clear of.”

  Troy shrugged. A common perception. “Maybe. But Lizzie was born into the life. Pa and the brothers won’t accept her leaving.”

  An uneasy frown settled on Stacey’s brow. “Why do I get the feeling this involves me in some way?”

  “You’re the only link to Lizzie, via your brother.”

  “Meaning?”

  “Meaning I need to convince the men you don’t know anything. Or they’ll be paying you a visit. And it won’t be pleasant.”

  She shuddered. “Then you’d better do that. Jeez. No wonder your sister wanted to get away. Your culture is hideous.” She gave him one last look of disgust and turned to go inside.

  He grabbed her arm. There was one last thing he wanted to get cleared up.

  She tried to jerk out of his grip. He tightened it.

  “Stacey?”

  “What?”

  “We had unprotected sex.”

  She tried to pull away from him. “What are you trying to say? Should I get an STD test?”

  Stung, he dropped his hand from her arm. “Are you on the pill?”

  “I’ll be fine. I won’t make it your problem.” She moved inside and shut the front door on his face.

  He knew he deserved that. So, why did it hurt like fuck?

  Chapter Fifteen

  Troy drove the SUV back to the club and parked it in the garage around the back. The club building had been refurbished with granite block walls and had no windows on the ground floor on account of them being shot out by a rival club five years ago. The windows on the second level had sturdy iron bars. With the rebuild, the place had taken on the look of a fortress. Since the shootout, no other clubs had messed with them.

  Okay, his rocket launcher hit on their rival club, the Banderos, might have helped. He didn’t tolerate disrespect.

  There were only about ten bikes parked in the back, which meant the club was quiet. Troy strode through the games room and bar, gave his good pal, Axel, a heads up, nodded at the others, and walked into his pa’s office.

  “Where’s Lizzie?” Pa, known in the club as Razor, didn’t bother with a greeting. He never did. He was as tall as Troy and even deadlier in appearance.

  Sitting on the visitor’s side of Pa’s desk was the club VP, Hawg—named on account of his size—who was holding a hand grenade. Thankfully, it still had the pin in it.

  “Banderos got a new delivery,” Hawg said, nodding at Troy. “Too bad for them we intercepted it, so they can’t use this shit on us.”

  “Don’t pull the pin. Pa just painted his office,” Troy said with a half grin. Hawg was a mean bastard with a round face and a bushy beard. He and Pa went way back. He was his father’s best pal.

  The Banderos were rebuilding their clubhouse. He’d wait to see if they continued to be a threat before he blew it up again. Neutralizing the enemy was his job, and he was damned good at it.

  He waited, hoping Hawg would take the hint and leave. Troy didn’t want to discuss his sister in front of him. Although Lizzie was outgoing, she kept her private life to herself, and he respected that. But no such luck. Hawg just leaned back in his chair, which creaked like it was about to give out.

  Pa pointed to a second seat. “What’s going on? Did you find your sister?”

  Given present company, Troy decided on a brief version. “I snatched Animal’s sister and took her to the bayou. Animal picked up when Stacey called him. I spoke to Lizzie, and she says she’s not coming home just yet. Claims she caught Snake with one of Gabriella’s whores.”

  The MC had fifty brothers and owned several legit businesses, mainly bars and bike shops, thanks to Pa’s management. The guarding of Gabriella’s “escort service” was new to the club. Another club had wanted to take over her business, so Pa had stepped up to protect her.

  Troy wasn’t interested in being around a brothel, but several members loved the gig. Snake, a little too much, it seemed.

  “Is Lizzie fucking Animal?” Pa asked, missing the point entirely.

  “Don’t know.” Interesting that Snake’s extra activity was no surprise to Pa or to Hawg.

  His father scratched his spiky gray goatee. “Your mother is frantic because your sister isn’t picking up her cell.”

  “Lizzie promised she’d call Mom when she’s calmer. Want me to drop in?” Mom was always freaking over her kids, though usually, it was over him. Didn’t matter that he was a full-grown man.

  “Nah. I’ll call her,” Pa said.

  “Where’s Lizzie staying?” Hawg asked.

  “Wouldn’t say.” Lizzie was none of the VP’s fucking business.

  Hawg surveyed him with inquisitive eyes, as if he thought Troy was holding back information. “This sister, she know where Animal is?”

  “No,” Troy said firmly.

  “You pressure her?” Pa asked.

  “Yeah. She knows nothing.”

  The last thing he fucking wanted was the brothers’ attention on Stacey. Hell, he didn’t normally feel guilty, but he’d done a number on her. Made her angry. Made her feel hurt, betrayed. Besides, he’d found he actually…liked her. If she got hurt, he’d have to kill somebody.

  “Think if we bomb his house, Animal will cough up Lizzie?” Hawg asked Pa as he rolled the hand grenade on the desk.

  Pa scowled. “Quit playing with that fucking thing. You’re making me nervous. Think I want to scrape you off my fucking walls?”

  Troy kept his face neutral at Hawg’s comment. He had to keep the brothers’ attention off Stacey. “Violence won’t make Lizzie come back. She hates violence. She’s just pissed off at Snake.”

  “Fucking women,” Pa muttered. “The moment we took over guarding that brothel, trouble started. The men can’t keep their dicks in their pants. The girlfriends and wives are all calling me complaining. What am I, a fucking counselor?”

  “I like the gig,” Hawg said.

  “That’s because if you fucked a civilian, you’d squash her,” Pa said. “I already had to reinforce one bed you broke.”

  “You did a good job.” Hawg laughed, his whole body jiggling as Pa’s gaze turned back to Beast. His fist slammed down on the desk.

  “I want my daughter answering my calls. I want my daughter home, living near her mother, so I don’t have to worry.”

  “Happy wife, happy life,” Hawg said, ever the poet.

  “Tell me about it.” Pa picked up his cell phone and speed-dialed Lizzie. It went straight to voicemail. Pa banged it down.

  Like Troy, their women—Mom and Lizzie—were Pa’s responsibility to protect. Bikers’ families, their female partners, and their children were off-limits to other club members. No matter how bad things got, even enemy clubs didn’t go after family unless they wanted war.

  That fool, Animal, was a different case, because he’d started it.

  Except he hadn’t really. Lizzie had begged him. Not that Pa would believe it.

  “Lizzie wants us out of her business,” Troy said. “She’ll come home when she’s ready.”

  “She didn’t ask my permission to leave,” Pa muttered.

  Troy eyed the hand grenade that Hawg was still fingering. Troy wasn’t sure which would make a bigger explosion if he d
ropped the truth on Pa that Lizzie blamed him. He’d bet on Pa over the grenade.

  “Lizzie thinks she has the right to make up her own mind where she lives,” Troy said.

  Pa scowled. “Tell her Snake made a mistake. He goes to that brothel again, Hawg will cut off his dick.”

  “I’m not touching Snake’s dick.” Hawg shuddered. “You ain’t seen the asses it goes into.”

  Jesus.

  Why didn’t his father object to Snake’s behavior? Troy wasn’t going to question him in front of Hawg, but Lizzy was not wrong to be upset.

  “She’s not taking my calls,” Troy said. “I had to wave Animal’s screaming sister over Psycho’s head with her cell phone on speaker to get him to make Lizzie call me. Now she hates me.”

  “Nice trick.” Hawg nodded approvingly.

  “I’m not proud.”

  “Animal’s behind this,” Pa said. “Lizzie should have come to me, not a prospect. It’s time to make Animal’s sister talk. We’ll get what we need out of her. When we find Animal, I’ll kill him.”

  “No one touches Stacey,” Troy said, straightening menacingly to show he was serious.

  “You fucking her?” Hawg asked, his gaze shrewd.

  “Mind your own fucking business.”

  “Told you Beast wouldn’t be able to do that job without getting laid,” Hawg said to Pa. “Is she a pretty little thing? Guess it’s time I pay her a visit and find out.”

  Troy moved on Hawg. “Like hell, you will.”

  “Back off, Beast,” Pa said, holding up his palm like a stop sign.

  “Obviously, you were too soft with the girl,” Hawg said tauntingly. “Except with your cock.”

  “She doesn’t know anything. And I don’t hurt innocents,” Troy said through gritted teeth.

  “Great. All that training, and you won’t use it,” Pa said disgustedly.

  Hell, if Troy did a kill count, he’d have more than all the brothers put together. He wasn’t proud, even though he’d been serving his country. But he’d had enough.

  “You should have tortured her until Animal showed his fucking face, dragging Lizzie behind him. Fucking useless,” Hawg said.