by Harley Wylde
“It would be my pleasure,” Seth said, taking a step closer. His dad held up a hand.
“Not you. I need her to still be a virgin, if she’s telling the truth. If you go down there, you’ll do something stupid and her value will drop.”
Right. Because I wasn’t worth anything more than a sale to these people, including my parents who hadn’t said a damn word since bringing me here, except a one-word response to Cartwright. They didn’t have a flicker of sympathy or regret in their eyes as one of the armed men grabbed me.
“Come on, girl,” he said, yanking on my arm and dragging me down a hall. When we reached a door, he shoved me through, and I nearly fell down a flight of stairs. As I descended into the dark, keeping one hand on the wall, I worried I’d never see Grizzly again. Even if he did figure out where I was, how would he ever get in here to save me?
I’d noticed the wrought-iron fence, and the guards when we’d arrived. It would be suicide for him to even try getting into this place. As much as I wanted to go back to the clubhouse, I didn’t want Grizzly to risk his life for me. I cared too much about him. I had no doubt if Mr. Cartwright got his hands on any member of the club, he’d kill them. Watching Grizzly die would be worse than whatever was in store for me. I could get through this as long as I knew he was still alive and out there somewhere, hopefully trying to find a way to rescue me.
You couldn’t have taken some self-defense classes? Or learned something useful?
No, but then I hadn’t exactly thought I’d ever end up in a situation like this one either. Whoever contemplated their parents selling them? Your parents were supposed to love you and care for you. Granted, mine hadn’t ever seemed to care. I still hadn’t ever thought they’d be so cold as to sell me to the highest bidder.
At the bottom of the stairs, the man flipped on a switch and the room lit up. I wished he’d just left the lights off. Chills skated down my spine as I looked at my surroundings. Whimpers drew my attention to the cage in the corner. Three girls were inside. They’d been stripped, and had bruises covering their skin. If they were being sold, I couldn’t think of why anyone would pay for them in this condition.
“Unless you want to join our little toys, you’ll do as you’re told,” the guard behind me said, giving me a shove toward a room on the right.
Toys? I wasn’t sure I wanted to know. Still, maybe there was a way I could help them if I knew more about why they were here. If I did get a chance to escape, I could try to take them with me. “Why do you call them that?”
“Because they’re here for us to play with,” he said.
I glanced their way again. Two of them looked younger than me and the other girl was a little familiar. They’d hurt those girls for sport. Would the same thing happen to me when I got to whoever was going to buy me? Could I survive?
The man shoved me into a small room. A twin bed sat against one wall. The rest of the space was empty except for a door. He nudged me toward it, and I discovered a bathroom. It was just a small shower, a toilet, and a sink hung on the wall.
“You need to get clean,” the man said.
I waited, thinking he’d leave. Except he didn’t. He folded his arms and stared. I turned, giving him my back and wondered if I could go through with it. Could I undress in front of him and wash? It didn’t look like he was going to give me a choice. My hands shook as I removed my shirt and jeans. I was wishing for my non-sexy underthings as I stood in front of the stranger. Instead, I had on one of the lacy sets Grizzly had bought for me.
I reached behind me to unlatch the bra and let it fall to the ground. Before I got a chance to take off the panties, gunfire sounded from somewhere above. The man in the doorway cursed and I heard him stomp away. I didn’t know how much time I’d have, so I quickly put on my clothes again and peered into the bedroom. He’d left, but it didn’t mean he’d gone back upstairs. I tiptoed to the bedroom door and tried to see out into the main area without getting caught.
The girls were subdued and huddled together. I crept closer, not seeing the man anywhere down here. As I neared the cage, I tried to figure out how to open it. I didn’t have a key. Scanning the area, I saw a line of hooks and keys. It couldn’t really be that easy, could it?
I grabbed all of them and ran back to the cage. I tried every key, until one worked. The door swung open on squeaky hinges.
“Come on. Let’s find a way out.” I held my hand out to them, but they just cowered farther back into the cage. “Don’t you want out of here?”
“They’ll kill us, like they did Daisy,” one of them said.
“Daisy?” I asked.
“She tried to run. They made an example of her. Strapped her to a table in the middle of the room and forced us to watch as they tortured and raped her, before they finally slit her throat.” The older girl pressed closer to the other two. “We aren’t ever leaving this place. Not unless we’re dead.”
I couldn’t fault them for being scared. I was terrified, but I refused to give up. I left their cage open, in hopes they would change their minds and try to get out of this place. Making my way up the stairs, I noticed the gunfire seemed to be farther away now. I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or bad thing. Would the guard come back? Or had we gotten lucky and someone had shot him?
At the top, I peered through the doorway and breathed a sigh of relief. I saw several men in Devil’s Fury cuts fighting with Cartwright’s men. I recognized Yeti and hoped if he was here, then Grizzly would be too. I ran from my hiding place and sprinted toward the front of the house. Maybe if I could get outside, I’d have a chance of getting away from this madness.
A strong arm wrapped around my waist from behind and hauled me back against a broad chest. I thrashed, slamming my heels back into the man’s shins. There was no way I’d go back down to that room!
“Hey! Easy, angel.”
The fight drained from me. “Grizzly?”
He released me and I turned to face him. Tears welled in my eyes and I threw myself into his arms. He’d found me!
“Did you think I wouldn’t come for you?” he asked.
“I didn’t know how you’d get into this place.”
“No one takes my woman and gets away with it,” he said. “Heard your parents were there.”
I nodded. “They hurt Magda.”
“She’ll be okay. Did they hurt you?” he asked.
“Not exactly.”
He tensed. “What the hell does that mean?”
“I have some bumps and bruises, and they embarrassed me. Mr. Cartwright felt me up, testing the merchandise, I guess. Said he might have a buyer for me. One of the guards made me strip and was going to watch me shower, but… I guess you guys broke into this place. I heard guns going off and the man left.”
“Which man?” Grizzly asked, scanning the area.
“It doesn’t matter. Please. Can we leave? I want to get out of this place.”
“If your parents and Cartwright aren’t handled, they’ll just come for you again,” he said. “I’m not walking out of here until I know they’re dead.”
I could tell he wouldn’t budge on the matter. He’d meant every word. Which meant I needed to find my parents in all this chaos. It looked like nearly the entire club was here. Grizzly held tight to my hand. We went room by room. It wasn’t long before we found my mother. She lay in a pool of blood, her throat slit and her sightless eyes staring up at the ceiling.
By the time we reached the back of the house, we’d also passed my father and Seth. Both had been shot multiple times. Which only left Mr. Cartwright. We found him in the backyard, along with Killer and Bullseye. The President of the Devil’s Fury looked like the thing of nightmares. If I hadn’t known we were on the same side, I might have peed myself right then.
“Grizzly, get your woman out of here,” Killer said, not taking his gaze off Cartwright. “She doesn’t need to see this.”
“He touched her,” Grizzly said.
Killer took a step back and waved at Cartwright. �
��Then get a few hits in. But don’t kill him. The Pres gets that honor.”
Grizzly released me and stalked toward Cartwright. He slammed his fist into the man’s face twice. When he hauled back his arm to do it again, Bullseye grabbed his fist and yanked him back.
“That’s it, kid. Get your girl out of here.” Bullseye shoved him toward me. “Take her to see her mom. She’s worried sick.”
“My mom?” I asked.
“My woman adopted you, remember? Makes you our kid. Now do as you’re told. Go see your mom and take this hothead with you,” Bullseye said.
Warmth filled me at his words, and I tugged on Grizzly’s arm. “Come on. Take me to the clubhouse.”
Grizzly gave a low growl but swung me up into his arms. Before he carried me off, I remembered the poor girls in the basement. If they hadn’t been found yet, someone needed to save them. I looked over at Bullseye.
“There’s a few girls in the basement. They’ve been badly abused, and they’re terrified.”
Killer flashed me a smile. “We’ll handle it. Go see your mom and don’t think about this place anymore.”
Grizzly moved quickly around the side of the house and out to his motorcycle. I clung to him, eager to leave this place behind.
Chapter Eight
Grizzly
May had insisted on taking a shower and changing before she saw Magda. After what she’d been through, I could understand. I’d helped her undress and wash. Held her while she cried. Now she sat in a chair by the Pres’s bed, holding Magda’s hand. The woman had tears in her eyes as she stared at May.
“I failed you,” Magda said. “But you’re my strong girl and you came home.”
“You didn’t fail me. You’ve been the best mom ever.” May licked her lips and her knee bounced up and down as she fidgeted. “Would it… I mean, could I…”
“She wants to call you Mom,” I said.
Magda lit up, the biggest smile spreading across her lips. “I’d love nothing more. My sweet girl. You’re the best gift I could have ever received.”
“And you know damn well you didn’t fail her. Sandman betrayed us all. Then he took the coward’s way out and put a bullet in his own head before any of us had the chance.”
After May had been taken, Bullseye had lit into Sandman, questioning where he’d been, how he’d survived. The VP had broken down and admitted to joining Cartwright’s crew after we’d left him behind. Didn’t matter the club had thought he was dead. He’d decided to get even by switching sides.
May openly cried as she hugged Magda. I decided to leave them alone for a few minutes, but I wouldn’t be far. As it was, Bullseye had left two Prospects to guard Magda, and a few brothers were in the main area and standing guard outside. He hadn’t taken any chances with his woman. Hopefully, he’d finish off Cartwright and things would settle down. It would put an end to the human trafficking in this area, at least for now. The club would take over the drug business for this region, and who knew what else. I had a feeling Cartwright was into more than selling girls and drugs.
I went to the bar to get a cold beer and kicked back at one of the tables. I’d give my woman a few more minutes with Magda before I decided to steal her away. It was my hope, when the dust settled a bit more, the club would vote her in as my old lady. With Magda and Bullseye claiming her as their kid now, I didn’t see why anyone would stand in my way. Unless the Pres didn’t think I was worthy of his new daughter.
May might have lost her birth parents, and her entire life might be changing, but I had a feeling things would be looking up for her. She had the love and support of this club now. And she had me. I’d do anything for her. Hell, I could admit I loved her. Maybe I needed to tell her. Was she ready for something like that?
“You going to sit here and second-guess yourself or go get your woman?” Blades asked, kicking my chair.
“When did you get back?” I asked.
He nodded toward the door. “We’re all back. Bullseye took care of Cartwright. The cleaners have been called, and now… now it’s time to party.”
I eyed the blood spattering his clothes. “Might want to shower first.”
He threw his head back and laughed. “You may be right there. I plan to indulge in as much pussy as I can tonight. Wouldn’t want to scare the ladies off.”
I snorted. “Ladies. That’s a good one.”
He smacked the back of my head. “Don’t go disrespecting them. Just because they spread their legs easier than most doesn’t mean you can look down on them.”
“Tell me that again after they’ve tried to start shit with the woman you want to claim. Right now, I hope they all give me a wide berth. I’m not up for their games.”
“Go get May. Bullseye will be wanting to spend some time with Magda. Besides, your woman may want a quiet night in your room after all she’s been through. Better take some drinks up there. You can get a Prospect to bring you some food when you’re ready. Whether it’s a snack or later on for breakfast.”
“Good idea.” I stood and slapped Blades on the back before heading to the Pres’s room to get May. She and Magda were quietly talking when I stepped into the room and both stopped immediately. A pretty blush spread across May’s cheeks.
“Tell him,” Magda said.
“Tell me what?”
May stood and came toward me. “My birthday is today. I’m eighteen. And… when I was with Cartwright, and he… Well, I was wishing you hadn’t waited. That you’d claimed me. Made me yours. If he’d succeeded in selling me and my first time had been with some strange man, I think I’d have died inside.”
Oh, hell. I gathered her close and glared at Magda. “What kind of mother encourages her kid to have sex?”
Magda gave a weak laugh. “The kind who knows love when she sees it. You love my girl and she worships you. Waiting was foolish. It’s not like it’s illegal for the two of you to be a couple. The two of you belong together. Don’t waste another minute, Grizzly. Life is too fleeting.”
“She’s right,” May said. “We don’t know how many tomorrows we’ll have. I want to enjoy every last one we have together. I love you, John. You’re the only one I’ve ever wanted, and I’ll love you until the day I die.”
I cupped her cheek and stared into her eyes. “Love you too, May. You’re it for me. I did my best to stay away, thinking you deserved better. I was an idiot and I’m sorry. But why the hell didn’t you tell me your birthday was so close? I was thinking it was days or weeks away, if not longer.”
“I guess it just bothered me you were so hung up on me turning eighteen. It didn’t matter. It wasn’t illegal for you to be with me when I was seventeen, and it wasn’t like you were going to force me. I wanted to be with you. Still do.”
“Get out of here. Let an old woman rest,” Magda said, her voice getting weaker as sleep tugged at her.
I led May from the room and to what would now be our room. I didn’t know how the Pres lived here with Magda. As loud as this place could get, and as crazy, I’d have preferred to take May to a nice cozy house. A place that was just our own. Maybe someday we could have a home. For now, the room at the clubhouse would have to do.
“Why don’t you change into something comfortable,” I said. “Want me to grab you a soda from the kitchen? The guys are going to party in celebration of Cartwright being gone. It’s going to be loud, and I’m not sure you’re up for that scene.”
She sank onto the foot of the bed. “Definitely not up for a party.”
“I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
I stepped out into the hall and went for the drinks I’d promised her. While I was in the kitchen, I grabbed a plate of the leftover cookies. By the time I got back to the room, May was under the covers. I set the drinks and cookies on the dresser, then locked the door so we wouldn’t be disturbed. Unless the place was on fire, or we were under attack, I didn’t want anyone barging in.
“Ready for bed?” I asked as I shrugged out of my cut and set it on the
dresser. I toed off my boots and pulled my shirt over my head. When I reached for the button of my jeans, I noticed her cheeks were flushed. “Or is my angel ready for something else?”
She gripped the covers tight a moment, then flung them off, leaving her bare to my gaze. I stared, thinking I must have died and gone to heaven. May was… perfection. I’d seen her mostly naked before, but this… this was different. She’d stripped down completely and crawled into our bed.
“Fuck, May. Never seen anything so beautiful in my life.”
Her cheeks flushed a darker shade of pink and she gave me a shy smile. “Hurry up and finish undressing. I’m not sure how long I’ll feel this bold.”
“You have nothing to be ashamed of. Besides, you’re mine, right? That means I get to look whenever I want. I also get to touch you. Kiss you.” I finished removing my clothes and crawled onto the bed beside her. “Fuck you. God, May. You have no idea how bad I’ve wanted you. Since long before I should have.”
“Then take me, John. I’m yours.”
I kissed her, ravaging her mouth as I traced her curves with my fingers. As much as I wanted the moment to last forever, I didn’t think I could hold on that long. Still, it was her first time and I wanted to make it memorable for her. If I’d planned tonight, I could have bought some candles or something. Women liked that shit, didn’t they?
I trailed my lips down her neck, across her collarbone, and down to her breast. Taking my time, I tasted her. Teased her nipples until they were hard little buds. Sucked on the tips until she made the sweetest sounds and clung to me. I traced her slit with my fingers and found her already wet and ready. I knew I wasn’t exactly small and didn’t want to hurt her.
I worked her pussy with one finger, then two, bringing her close to the edge again and again, yet never letting her fall. Sweat slicked her skin and she clawed at the bedding.
“Please, John! Please. I need… need…”
“Does my angel need to come?” I asked.
“Yes! Stop teasing me!”
I smiled and kissed her again as I drove my fingers into her faster and harder. I rubbed her clit with my thumb, and she detonated, crying out as her body tightened and her back bowed. I felt the hot gush of her release and groaned, wanting to feel her do that while my cock was inside her. Before she came down her from her high, I settled over her.