The Biker's Gift (Royal Bastards MC)

by Landis, Nikki

  “Shit,” I whispered aloud. I was fuckin’ losing my heart to this girl.

  How in the fuck had that happened? Worse, I wasn’t that upset about it.

  With a flick of my wrist, I opened the door wide, a huge grin plastered on my face that quickly turned into a frown. The room was empty. Caught off guard, I turned around and headed back toward the bar and the rowdy, drunken crowd. Even after scanning the entire vicinity twice, I didn’t see Sasha.

  My stomach did a tiny little flip as I felt the tension settle into my lower back. Grim was seated with a blonde on his lap, her hand stroking him through his jeans. He must have sensed something was wrong because he pushed her away and stood up, heading my way with purpose.

  “What’s the matter?”

  “I can’t find Sasha.”

  He scanned the room, shrewdly glancing over all the girls. “I don’t see Cindi either.”

  We approached Lucky who was drunk off his ass, laughing with Wraith over a joke we missed the punchline for. “’Sup, my brothers?” he slurred. “You seen my girl? Can’t find Cindi anywhere.”

  Fucking hell. This wasn’t good.

  “No,” I growled, yanking my cousin to his feet. “Text her. Now.”

  Tilting his head to the side, Lucky must have noticed the urgency in my voice. He opted to call her cell instead as he lifted it to his ear. “Call me, babe. As soon as you get this. It’s an emergency.”

  “You able to track her phone?”

  Lucky nodded slowly. “Yeah. Shit. You think somethin’ happened?”

  “I don’t know,” I answered truthfully, “but Sasha is missing.”

  Lucky turned to one of the club whores and beckoned her over. “You see Cindi and Sasha earlier?”

  Snooki smiled. “Sure. They went to the store a few hours back. Must have gotten caught up in shopping. I haven’t seen them since.”

  “What about the other cookies?”

  Snooki frowned. “No. Everything okay?”

  Suddenly nauseous, I felt the room spin a little. This couldn’t be happening. Not again.

  Suraya disappeared the same way. A ghost in the night. Gone before I had a chance to say goodbye. Fate couldn’t be putting me through this hell again. No fuckin’ way.

  Grim noticed my panic. “Hey, chill, my brother. We’ll find them. I promise.”

  There was no way that I could answer that sentence without whining like a little bitch, so I didn’t. My entire body was coiled with tension and I felt like a rubber band pulled so tight it was about to snap.

  “Here, let me track her phone.” Lucky’s thumbs were flying over his device as I fought the urge to punch something. He was so drunk he wasn’t making any progress.

  “Let’s go to Xenon.”

  Grim led the way, entering a hidden room down the main corridor that Xenon used as his own personal voyeur station. Computers, monitors, and electrical equipment covered a large table and the wall in front of us. It was like watching an episode of NCIS or some shit.

  “What’s the deal?” Xenon asked, sensing something was up.

  “Need you to locate Cindi’s cell and the SUV she borrowed.”

  “Give me a minute.”

  It took him only about thirty seconds to find both.

  “Hey, it’s not far. I know both locations.”

  “They aren’t together?” I asked stupidly, confused.

  “No. They’re about fifty miles apart.” He wrote down the addresses. “The cell phone pinged here, and the SUV is there. Neither is moving and from what I can tell, they haven’t for hours.”

  Shit. That wasn’t good news.

  Snatching the piece of paper from Xenon’s hand, I lifted my chin in thanks. “Let’s move,” I roared, running for the front of the clubhouse and my bike.

  The bitter December wind slapped me full in the face as soon as I was outside, but I welcomed the sting. The pain was a reminder that life was unpredictable, and you had to seize the moments that mattered by the balls. Something I had forgotten until now.

  Rows of bikes filled the lot as well as dozens of trucks and SUVs outside the auto repair shop we owned next door. Snow flurries blew around in the air as I mounted my hog, glancing up at the twinkling lights that dangled outside the entrance of the Crossroads. The clubhouse seemed so serene, a hulking giant of a monster doused in whimsical colors and icicle strands while a pre-lit inflatable Santa on a motorcycle revved an imaginary engine with a sack of puffy presents. Cindi put it up last week for all of the member’s kids.

  A sudden rush of memories surfaced but it wasn’t Suraya that occupied my thoughts. Sasha and the night we met in the snow outside of the Blacktop, the feel of her warm body in my arms, the lingering scent of cinnamon, and the sweet taste of her arousal. She was my sugar-coated fantasy. My holiday dessert topped with honey-flavored cream.

  A gift that I didn’t deserve.

  Suppressing a growl, I left the parking lot like the hounds of hell were riding my ass.

  Sasha had to be safe. She had to . . . because I was gonna murder Acid and every last one of those fuckin’ Scorpions if she wasn’t. And I didn’t give a damn if I had to go rogue or what Grim would say about it.

  Chapter 13 – Sasha

  The hour drive to the coffee shop felt like an eternity. I had entirely too long to think about the events of the last few days and how they seemed to crash right into the past with a death wish. Trish and I would never be safe as long as Acid and the Scorpions lived and we were naïve fools to stick around in the unpredictable desert of Nevada, hoping for a change. If I was honest with myself, this trouble was nothing new. I fled California for similar reasons, and I’d done nothing more than repeat the same stupid mistakes.

  Suraya and I had always been close, but she had always been more rebellious in nature. I was more reserved. The “good girl” of the sisters but not many could tell us apart with any certainty. This led to trouble, usually for me. It wasn’t hard to be coerced by Suraya and her next disaster. Sometimes I went on dates and let the guys down gently that she’d dumped without a word. The life of the party, my sister rarely noticed the chaos she left behind her. She never fully comprehended how much I sacrificed to keep her happy and safe.

  One particular incident with a drug dealer led to her life being threatened. She had to leave Palmdale and decided to move to Hawthorne, Nevada. Why, I would never understand. Maybe she was finally ready to move on from her wild lifestyle, but I would soon find out that wasn’t true in the most painful of ways.

  I stayed behind for eight months while Suraya found a job at the Blacktop, became best friends with Trish and moved in with her, met Grim and the Royal Bastards MC, and began dating Bodie Whitman. It was a long eight months. Saving all my money, I managed to gather enough to move to Nevada. I assumed we’d live together but when I arrived, I found my sister had already moved on. She was living with a biker in Tonopah.

  Tricia was there to pick up the pieces and offered a place to stay. I settled into Hawthorne, hoping to find work but nothing opened up until I agreed to take the job my sister vacated when she quit without notice. Trish and I became close and she confided that Suraya had been getting threatening calls and messages and that she had to change her number. I didn’t worry much since my sister tended to piss off guys a lot in the past. Suraya said she was happy, and things were turning around for the better.

  I believed her.

  That was a mistake.

  Sighing, I shut off the SUV and glanced around, trying to recognize the cars in the lot. None were familiar. No motorcycles filled the area but that didn’t mean Acid, Zook, and Dawg weren’t nearby. Palms sweaty, I wiped them across my jeans. The Scorpions were bad news and this time I probably wouldn’t escape before they exacted their revenge. Guys like Acid and his club would never forget when they were humiliated by a woman. I wasn’t dumb enough to think they’d let me live.

  Maybe I should have run and never looked back. I could have driven that SUV as far as the ga
s tank allowed and then left everything behind. A new life for the bitter, broken girl I glimpsed in the mirror. Unfortunately, I not only had a conscience, but I wasn’t a coward. I couldn’t leave Trish behind and I wasn’t willing to let that asshole Acid win.

  He killed my sister in cold blood. Acid needed to pay for his crimes.

  The coffee shop wasn’t crowded. I entered silently and glanced around, finding Zook and Dawg seated at a table in the back. No sign of Trish. Swallowing hard, I lifted my chin and approached their table with false bravado.

  “Hey Sasha,” Zook grinned. “Glad you could make it.”

  Right.

  Dawg’s gaze swept over me with a lecherous grin. “I look forward to picking up where we left off.”

  I didn’t say a word in response but issued a clear “fuck you” look in his direction.

  “Acid is on his way. He was a bit . . . detained.”

  I’ll bet. “Where’s Trish?”

  Both guys chuckled. I guess I should have expected that response.

  “Where did you park?” Dawg leaned forward. “Hand me the keys.”

  “About three rows back.”

  Lifting a brow, I didn’t argue. I slid the keys across the table as he snatched them up with a wicked grin and left me alone with Zook.

  “Just in case you were wondering, we’ve had you followed since you left the Crossroads.”

  I tried to hide my reaction, but panic filled my chest. Had they seen Cindi?

  “Dawg wants to meet that little blonde you were with earlier. What’s her name?”

  Clenching my trembling fingers together, I met his cold stare without blinking. “Is it important? I’m here now.”

  “Cindi, right? She’s an ol’ lady if I remember correctly.”

  Shit. How much did they know about the Royal Bastards?

  “Please don’t hurt her,” I pleaded, fighting back tears. “She’s innocent.”

  “No one associated with the fuckin’ Royal Bastards MC is innocent, babe. That includes you.”

  My heart was beating so fast I barely heard his next words.

  “Acid is here. Time to go, sweet stuff.”

  Bodie

  WE DROVE TO THE CELL phone location first. It took a few minutes to locate the device since it was stashed inside one of the dumpsters behind the local Wal-Mart. Dread filled my stomach as Lucky, Grim, Patriot, and Hannibal parked their hogs next to my own. My heart was racing, frantic with thoughts that Cindi and Sasha were being harmed at that very moment. Fear scraped my insides raw. Memories of my past surfaced and I fought hard not to lose my shit.

  I was the first off of my bike, but I wasn’t the one who heard Cindi.

  Lucky’s tortured roar of horror and rage emptied into the cold, bitter night as he rushed forward, shoving Patriot out of the way as he picked up Cindi’s cold, shivering body. Her clothes were torn, blood soaked into the fabric of her clothes and dried on her arms and legs. She’d been sliced up bad. Only the freezing temperature had saved her life. She would have bled out otherwise.

  Rage bubbled under the surface of my skin as I fought back the change. My Reaper was pissed. No hint of Sasha could be found as I searched the area, throwing shit around and ready to fuck up anyone who stood in my way.

  Grim squeezed my shoulder, his voice low. “Lucky needs you.”

  I turned, walking toward my cousin as I inhaled deep breaths, calming down enough to focus.

  Lucky removed his jacket and wrapped it around Cindi as he lifted her in his arms. “She needs a hospital.”

  Wraith had followed in his truck and opened the passenger door, wordlessly offering to give them a ride as the prospect Shadow slipped out and walked over to Lucky’s bike. He’d ride back to the Crossroads and inform my brothers of current events.

  Acid wanted his war. He just fuckin’ got it.

  “Take her,” I growled as Cindi moaned, incoherent. “Text as soon as you know something.”

  “I will,” Lucky promised, heading for the truck. Once Cindi was carefully placed inside, he gripped the side of the frame, dragging his gaze to our prez. “I’ll fucking kill them.” The promise was evident in his eyes. “Once I find who did this, I’ll gut the bastards.”

  Grim nodded, gesturing to Wraith. “Keep your eyes open. Stay in contact.”

  “Done,” Wraith replied, his jaw locked in anger. None of us condoned violence against women but to do so to an ol’ lady of the club? That was fuckin’ suicide.

  I placed a hand on my cousin’s shoulder as his eyes met mine, full of agony. “I don’t know if . . .” he couldn’t finish the words. “There’s so much blood.”

  There was no way of knowing if they violated Cindi during her attack. The torture blazed bright in Lucky’s eyes. “You stay strong. Be there for your woman.” I leaned in and hugged his stiff body, pulling back as I continued, “And don’t you fuckin’ worry. I’ll find and kill these motherfuckers. Justice, my brother. I swear it.”

  Lucky nodded, squaring his shoulders back before he climbed into the truck and Wraith helped settle Cindi in his arms. We watched them drive away, the tension increasing with every second that went by.

  “The SUV,” I growled, straddling my bike, and glancing at the address. Fifty fuckin’ miles. Way too much time for my imagination to run wild and conjure every possible scenario in my head.

  The ride seemed to drag on relentlessly even though I arrived in only thirty minutes. The SUV was parked outside a little coffee shop that was already closed for the night. There was no sign of Sasha. Grim was right behind me as I hopped off my bike and snatched the envelope off the front windshield.

  Bastards was written across the top in all caps and I snarled, ripping the damn thing open as I skimmed the note before handing it over to Grim.

  Meet me at the address below. We have unfinished business.

  “Acid has Sasha.” The words were hardly more than a growl. “I won’t hold back, Grim. Not this time.”

  Grim swore under his breath as he read the note and pulled out his lighter, burning it into pieces. “Acid goes down. Every member of the Scorpions is our enemy. Shoot to kill. I don’t give a fuck,” Grim hissed, his eyes glowing with that feral gleam that proved he was close to his Reaper. “We end this shit tonight.” Fingers moving fast, he typed a message on his phone. “Xenon will stay behind with the prospects. Rael, Mammoth, and Lance will meet us there. Exorcist is back from his ride south. He’s only thirty minutes out and will probably beat us there.”

  Patriot and Hannibal nodded.

  “Let’s roll out.”

  Grim led the way as we followed, each of us ready to do what was necessary to protect the club.

  My gloved hand gripped the throttle tighter as I pulled back and zipped through the city streets.

  Tonight, I would have closure, one way or another. Even if it meant the grave.

  Chapter 14 – Sasha

  “Trish!” I yelled, running to my friend as she hugged me tight. “Are you okay?”

  Five minutes ago, I arrived at a warehouse, the gated lot full of Scorpion members that were heavily armed and ready for a confrontation. I heard multiple voices and conversations as well as the click of ammunition being loaded. Acid had dumped my ass into the back of a black van with tinted windows and secured my wrists with zip ties. He confiscated my phone, so I had no clue what time it was or how long we had been on the road. To make matters worse, I was blindfolded until the moment I was shoved into this room.

  “Sasha!” Trish’s voice was concerned as we managed an awkward hug. “I’ve been better. How are you, honey?”

  “Not good,” I admitted.

  Acid hadn’t removed the zip ties, but the hood was yanked over my head before he left and locked the door, issuing a warning for us to remain quiet and not to piss him off. I didn’t recognize the empty office we were in but that didn’t mean we weren’t at their compound.

  Looking her over, I noticed several bruises, a busted lip that was healing, a
nd a few scratches. She winced as she moved around, and I caught the flash of pain that briefly crossed her face.

  “What happened? Who hurt you?”

  “Dawg doesn’t like the word no,” she spat, sitting down with her back against the far wall. Only one window in this small, empty room.

  I peeked outside and found a significant drop below to the asphalt parking lot, only a few sporadic bushes lined up along the edge of the building. More weeds than anything else.

  Sinking next to my friend on the hard concrete, I reached for her hand. “Did he force you?”

  She snorted. “I managed to avoid being raped but that didn’t mean I don’t know the taste of his nasty dick.”

  Relieved he didn’t force her into sex, I exhaled slowly. Anger still made my words harsh. “Fuck that. You should have bitten it off.”

  “He’s in pain,” she assured me.

  The thought made me smile. “I want to make them all suffer.”

  “You and me both,” Trish assured me. “Acid most of all. He’s a worthless piece of shit.”

  “I know.” Sighing, I leaned my head on her shoulder. “Have you tried to get away?”

  “There’s no where to go even if I didn’t break an ankle trying to jump out the window.”

  “Too many Scorpions around,” I acknowledged. “Any other ideas?”

  “I’ve seen the back entrance. If we could bust out of this room, we might be able to reach a vehicle and escape. Of course, we need keys and I don’t where to get them.”

  Shit. “Alright. Let’s think through. First, how do we get out of this room?”

  “The door is always locked. We could try to overpower one of them if they come in alone.”

  “I won’t be much help.” Lifting my hands, I reminded her of the zip ties. “These are a pain in the ass.”

  “There’s nothing in this room but an empty desk in the corner. Acid has made me sit on the cold concrete for days. My ass is permanently frozen.”

  Her joke caused my lips to lift in a tiny smile. We both shivered as the temperature seemed to drop. A draft was allowing freezing air to pass through the multiple cracks in the walls and the poor insulation. Before I could speak, the door opened. Acid walked into the room with a smug smile on his deformed face. A long scar ran down the left side and tugged his eye lower than normal. Recognizing my handiwork, I smiled evilly.