by Harley Wylde
“No, you won’t.” I leaned forward, putting more weight on her until she gasped, and her eyes went wide. “But if you come after Grizzly again, I will kick your ass. Keep your filthy hands off him.”
Magda patted my shoulder and I released the woman. “That’s my girl. Come on. Let the whore go and we’ll go to the kitchen. We can snack on the cookies we made earlier.”
“Y-you made cookies? With the Pres’s old lady?” The woman on the floor rubbed at her chest. “Who the hell are you?”
Magda put her arm around my shoulders. “She’s my adopted daughter and Grizzly’s woman. Next time you fuck with her, remember that. What she did was mild. You know damn well what will happen if I get my hands on you.”
With that, she steered me away. I felt everyone watching as we walked out of the main room and down the short hallway to the kitchen. Magda already had a plate of cookies in the center of the table and she’d pulled out two ice-cold sodas.
“You told her I was your adopted daughter,” I said as I took a seat.
“I did, and as far as I’m concerned, you are. Bullseye already knows how I feel. I’ve made it quite clear to him that I’m going to claim you as ours, and if he doesn’t like it, he can go suck rotten eggs.”
I snorted my drink and coughed, trying to catch my breath. “You told him that?”
Magda smiled. “We’ve been together a long time. Since I was sixteen. Well, unofficially. It took him a while to make me his old lady. We wanted kids when we were younger, but it just never happened. Then Bullseye became the club President and we knew the timing was just all wrong.”
I reached over and placed my hand over hers. “I’d be honored to be your daughter.”
The warmth in her eyes as she smiled at me made me feel happier than I had been in a long time. Magda would have been an amazing mother, unlike the woman who’d given birth to me. If anyone proved that being able to have children didn’t necessarily mean you should have them, it was Laura Ross.
Chapter Six
Grizzly
I’d been so fucking proud of May tonight. She’d impressed my brothers not only sitting at our table, but those who’d been close enough to pay attention to what was going on. The way she’d put the club whore on her ass was sexy as hell. I hadn’t realized May had it in her, but she’d proved me wrong. I knew I was a long way from getting to make her mine in the eyes of the club, and give her a property cut, but it was a step in the right direction.
She lay curled against me, her head on my shoulder as she slept. I’d enjoyed a few beers with my brothers before I’d found her in the kitchen, laughing with Magda as if they were old friends. Or mother and daughter in truth. I couldn’t believe she’d claimed May in front of everyone. I wondered if Bullseye knew.
I hated that I couldn’t make her mine. I hoped like hell if we settled the issues with Cartwright it would mean things could change around here. I couldn’t be the only one who wanted an old lady. The way Blades had talked tonight, I had a feeling he wouldn’t mind finding a woman to call his own. Yeti was a little younger than me and I knew he was still happy to screw around with the club whores, but some of the other guys seemed to be getting tired of the casual pussy.
Maybe it made me less of a man, but I wanted to hold a woman at night, watch her sleep peacefully in my arms. Like I was doing right now with May, except I wanted it every fucking night. The taste of her was still on my tongue and I knew she was the woman I wanted to keep for the rest of my life. I just had to make sure it was safe first.
“You’re thinking too hard,” she murmured.
I stroked her arm and kissed her forehead. “Go back to sleep, May.”
“Can’t. My pillow is too tense.”
I chuckled and gave her a slight squeeze. “So now I’m just your pillow?”
“Mmm. I want you to be more, but you said we had to wait.” She snuggled closer. “I’m just trying to follow your rules.”
I snorted. “Yeah, right. You didn’t dress in as little as possible, then practically crawl on top of me because you were following anything except your own desires. You want me as much as I want you, and it’s a big fucking turn-on, May. It’s just not safe right now. Not only because of the rules of the club. It’s not safe outside the Devil’s Fury. There are people who would hurt you just because you’re mine.”
I ran my fingers over the patch of exposed skin above her panties. She’d put on a clean tank and changed into another pair of the panties I’d picked up earlier, and that’s all she’d decided to wear to bed. The little temptress!
“Is that why the ridiculous rules were put into place? So none of you would want to claim a woman?” she asked.
“You’re too perceptive. And yes, that’s why.” I sighed. “I hate to say it, baby girl, but your parents are in the thick of it. Beacon shouldn’t have opened his mouth earlier. He didn’t know you have no idea what your parents are up to. It’s not safe for you to go home, but you aren’t entirely safe here either. If Cartwright’s men were to attack, you could be captured or killed. Since I put his son on his ass for touching you, it makes you even more vulnerable. It won’t just be the senior Cartwright trying to use you to get to the club, or even your parents. The younger one will want payback.”
She traced a pattern on my chest before pressing a kiss to the side of my neck. The heat of her breath as it fanned across my skin had my dick even harder. She wasn’t making it easy to keep my hands in respectable places. I wanted nothing more than to strip her down and claim her innocence. Make her mine in the most basic of ways.
“I was in danger before you brought me here, John. At least I have a chance as long as I’m by your side, and there’s honestly nowhere else I’d rather be. As for my parents, I don’t delude myself into thinking they care. If I were to die tomorrow, you and Magda are the only ones who’d even notice. I might not know what they do for Mr. Cartwright, but I have a feeling it isn’t something legal.”
I turned, rolling her underneath me. Stroking her hair back from her face, I studied her in the moonlight. I’d never seen anyone as beautiful as May. It wasn’t just her physical beauty, but her inner beauty. She was sweet, but it seemed she was strong as well. There was no woman more perfect for me than my angel.
“How many days until your birthday?” I asked.
She chewed on her lower lip and something flashed in her eyes. It almost seemed as if she had a confession to make. Had she already turned eighteen and had just been fucking with me?
“Does it really matter? If we’re down to counting days, what’s the difference?” she asked. “If anyone asks, we can say I’m eighteen. It’s not like I have a driver’s license for them to check, and who’s going to ask to see my birth certificate?”
“I want to do right by you, May. I’ve fucked up enough things in my life. It’s bad enough just being mine could damn well ruin you. This town isn’t going to look at you the same way once our names are linked.”
She reached up and cupped my cheek. “John, my parents aren’t nice people. Once the truth comes out, do you think anyone is going to see me as sweet, innocent May? Because they won’t. They’ll wonder if I was part of it all. I may not know everything they’re up to, but don’t think I didn’t notice the look on Killer’s face when I said their names. And the way Beacon mentioned their connection to the Cartwrights only confirms that. Your club knows something about them, which means my parents are into some illegal stuff. I don’t know how bad it is, and I don’t care.”
“You’re an angel, May. My angel. Anyone who sees you any different isn’t worth your time. As for your parents, they don’t just work for Cartwright. They play an integral role in his business, but I don’t want to tell you more than that.”
She bit her lip, giving my beard a slight tug. “I think I’m falling for you, John. Don’t break my heart. I don’t think I’d survive it.”
I kissed her soft and slow. She might be falling for me, but I damn well knew I was already ass over head in love with h
er. I’d never met her equal and knew I never would. She was amazing, and she’d be mine one way or another.
The window rattled and the bed under us vibrated. I heard shouts and a stampede of booted feet. My heart hammered in my chest as I stared at May. I didn’t want to leave her behind if it wasn’t safe in the building, but taking her with me could be bad too.
“Put some clothes on. Quickly,” I said, rolling out of bed. I drew on my jeans, a black tee and my cut before shoving my feet into my boots. I wasn’t about to take time for a damn belt or socks when I didn’t know what the fuck was going on out there.
Once May was ready, I grabbed her hand and led her to the door. I picked up my Glock 17 off the dresser and cracked the door open just enough for me to view the hall. May squeezed my hand as I stepped out of the room. One of my brothers ran past, shrugging on his cut and his pants still undone.
“What the fuck is going on?” I asked.
“Someone set off explosives.”
I had a feeling all this was connected to Cartwright. Sure, the club had other enemies, but they weren’t the type to try and blow up the clubhouse. Assuming that’s what happened. Until I got my orders, I wouldn’t know for sure what was going on. When I ran across Magda, I left May with her, pressing a quick kiss to her lips.
“Stay safe, sweet girl. Do what Magda says. I’ll come get you as soon as I can.”
Magda wrapped her arm around May. “We’re going into the cellar.”
I gave her a nod, some of the tension easing from me. What Magda called a cellar was actually a trapdoor that led to an underground room and a hidden passage that would carry them about a mile from the clubhouse. It would hopefully get them far enough to be safe from whatever was going on here.
I rushed to the main room where Bullseye was barking orders. The club’s VP, Sandman, was standing by his side, which drew me to a quick halt. Last I’d seen him he’d been full of holes and dying. What the hell was going on?
The emptiness in his gaze chilled me as Sandman scanned the room, seeming blind to the chaos around him. No one else found it strange he just happened to reappear when someone set off explosives? Where had he been the last few months? The way Bullseye glanced his way a few times told me the President didn’t trust him right now either. Not completely.
Killer approached. “Cartwright’s men set off some small explosives along the perimeter. Not anywhere near close enough to take out the building, which makes me wonder why he bothered. If he wanted our attention, he’s got it.”
“You think it was more of a distraction?”
Killer leaned in closer, his voice dropping. “You mean because our VP suddenly appeared after not hearing from him in months? The very man we believed had died on our last run?”
“Something like that,” I said, not wanting to mention my distrust out loud. Not being an officer, I wasn’t about to say I was suspicious of our VP.
“Bullseye isn’t too accepting of Sandman’s return right now either. But he could have walked in here without all the extra shit. So I don’t think he’s the reason for the explosives.”
“Then who…” Every muscle in my body froze. May. Cartwright had called to demand we return May to his son, and we’d refused. This wasn’t about the club at all. It was about my woman.
I rushed back the way I’d come and tried to lift the cellar door. Magda must have locked it from the inside. The door didn’t budge, and I heard the rattle of the bolt on the other side as I yanked on the handle several times. Backing away from the trapdoor, I raced through the clubhouse and went out to my bike. By the time I had the engine going, Killer and Yeti were beside me mounting their bikes as well. They followed as I drove away from the clubhouse. I knew exactly where the hidden tunnel would let out. I only hoped I wasn’t too late.
The wind whipped through my hair and my headlight cut through the darkness. The back roads behind the clubhouse were rough, nothing more than dirt. The bikes kicked up dust as we made our way toward the back half of the Devil’s Fury property. A small form lay on the ground at the entrance to the tunnel and it felt like all the air had been sucked from my lungs. I brought my bike to a skidding halt, barely pausing long enough to put down the kickstand before I rushed toward the woman.
Magda. I brushed her hair back and saw the blood trickling from a wound on her head. From the swelling and bruising, it looked like someone had bashed her over the head.
“Jesus,” Killer muttered, kneeling next to me. He took Magda into his arms and cradled her close. “Magda, can you hear me? Wake up.”
She moaned and her lashes fluttered before she opened her eyes all the way.
“Good girl,” Killer murmured. “I’m going to take you to Bullseye, but first I need to know what happened. The kid here is about to lose his shit.”
He wasn’t wrong. It felt like I was unraveling at the seams. May was gone. I knew in my gut Cartwright had her, and I worried he’d let his son finish what he’d started.
“They took her,” Magda said, her words slurring. “Her parents and two others.”
“Her parents?” I asked. “Are you sure?”
“She recognized them,” Magda said. “Tried to stop them, but I couldn’t. They hit me and snatched her from my arms.”
Killer pressed a kiss to her brow. I wondered exactly how close the two of them were since she was Bullseye’s old lady, but now wasn’t the time. “You did good. Let’s get you to your old man.”
She groaned as he stood, lifting her into his arms.
“I’ll go with Grizzly,” Yeti said. “You know he’s going after May and he shouldn’t go in alone.”
“Stop by the clubhouse first. You need more men with you. Take Blades and Beacon. When I can, I’ll see you get more reinforcements. You know where they’re taking her?” Killer asked.
“No. I’ll check her apartment first, in case her parents just took her home. If she’s not there, I’ll go to Cartwright’s place. I won’t go in guns blazing. I’ll sit and watch, see if I can figure out if she’s there or not,” I said.
“Keep your cool,” Killer said. “We’ll do whatever we can to get her back. Just don’t go in half-cocked and do something stupid or you’ll both end up dead.”
I nodded and went to my bike. Yeti followed. When we stopped at the clubhouse, Killer filled in Blades and Beacon after handing Magda off to a furious Bullseye. I knew if I didn’t tear Cartwright apart for stealing May, the Pres would go after him for harming his old lady. Couldn’t blame him.
Chapter Seven
May
Knowing your parents don’t care if you live or die and being present when they actually hand you over to a monster are two different things. I had to wonder why they’d even had me. It had always been clear they didn’t love me. My heart ached as I thought of Magda. They’d hit her so hard! If they’d killed her… No! I wouldn’t even think it. She had to be okay. Someone would find her and get her the help she needed. As for me, once Grizzly knew I was missing, he’d track me down. I didn’t doubt it for a second. I just hoped when he got here, he wasn’t falling into a trap that would get him killed.
Don Cartwright circled me, his hands behind his back as he eyed me up and down. I felt like a horse being auctioned off. He reached out to touch my hair, testing the texture. Squeezed my breasts and my ass. Fear and revulsion rolled through me, but I forced myself to hold still and take it. There would be a time to fight back, but standing in a room with four armed men wasn’t it. I’d end up shot or worse.
“And she’s seventeen?” Mr. Cartwright asked.
“Yes,” my mother said.
“No,” I said, then glanced at the clock on the wall, seeing it was after midnight. “Not anymore. It’s my birthday.”
“It would have been better if you’d brought her here several years ago. I can always find buyers for the younger girls. Girls, and even boys, thirteen to fifteen years old do really well. Even younger. But by this age… Well, I’m sure I can get a decent price for her
.” He stopped in front of me, gripping my chin tight. “How experienced are you?”
“W-what?”
“Are you a virgin? And don’t fucking lie. I’ll have you examined to make sure you’re telling the truth.”
My stomach knotted and I fought back the bile rising in my throat. Examined? And buyers… like he’d done this countless times. What exactly did my parents do for this man? The thought of them helping him sell kids made my stomach knot even more. How could they do such a thing? Were they completely heartless? Did they not have a conscience at all?
His hold on my chin tightened and tears stung my eyes. “Yes, I’m a virgin.”
He hmm’d and stepped back, releasing me. “Then I may be able to find someone after all.”
Seth strolled into the room. He seemed as if he hadn’t a care in the world, despite the bruises on his face and his split lip. The moment he noticed me, his lips tipped up in a smirk. As much as I didn’t want to be sold to some stranger, I didn’t exactly want his hands on me either. I didn’t know how I’d get out of this, but I needed to figure something out. Or say a prayer Grizzly found me in time.
“Well, if it isn’t my girlfriend,” Seth said.
“I’m not your girlfriend,” I said. “I tolerated you because I couldn’t have who I wanted. Things are different now.”
“Not so different if you’re still a virgin.” He sneered at me. “What? The nasty biker wouldn’t even touch you? Or were you a frigid bitch with him too?”
My fingers twitched as I fought the urge to smack him. I wanted to say something to put him in his place, but I didn’t dare. The last thing I wanted to do was let anyone here know exactly how far I’d gone with Grizzly. Although, right now, I was wishing he hadn’t held back. What if he didn’t make it in time and I ended up with some strange man?
Not helping! Don’t think about it.
“Show her to her quarters. She’ll need to be bathed and properly attired,” Mr. Cartwright said.