Page 27 of Rogue’s Vow

She has her sheet lifted right up beneath her chin when I walk in. “I don’t know who the son of a bitch is that brought me upstairs, but he stripped me bare!”

My mouth gapes. “What?”

Ari nods. “Yep, not a stitch of clothes on but my panties.”

There must be some misunderstanding. Hayze is a really good guy. At least now that I’ve gotten to know the intimidating man better than I did the first night I walked through that door. “That doesn’t make any sense. He’s Rogue’s right-hand man. He’s not going to hurt my sister. Were your clothes wet or something?”

Her eyes widen. “Who cares. I didn’t ask him to undress me!”

I sit on the mattress beside her. “Why don’t you ask him?” I honestly don’t think he meant any harm but undressing her after what she’s been through and as a perfect stranger does sound a little over the top to me too.

“I don’t ever want to see the asshole again. He had no right.”

She’s not wrong but she was pretty out of it last night and who knows how long it had been since she had a decent night’s sleep. “Why don’t I ask him?”

Ari glares at me. “No, if I’m going to stay here for a while, we’re going to run into each other and when we do, he’s got a hell of a lot of explaining to do! I’ll ask that asshole myself.”

I take her hand. “Do you want to talk about what happened when the Scorpions found you? I know Dad gave up your location. That man is the worst snake in the world. How he can even look himself in the mirror after all he’s done to his daughters, stepdaughters or not, is beyond me. He always treated us like his real daughters while mom was alive.”

She shakes her head. “I really don’t. We’re safe. That’s all that matters now. Besides I’m famished. Think you could find something for me to eat? I don’t really feel like being around anyone else just yet. And maybe you could find me some clothes since that asshole seems to have stolen mine?”

I smile. She may not be ready to talk yet but at least she has an appetite, and some of that hot tempered Ari spirit. I’ll take that as a step in the right direction.

30

ROGUE

Ipull my rider into the parking lot of a bar not far from Vegas, a little outskirt of town type bar. I hope they’ll have a cold bottle of beer on hand after a dusty and sunbaked ride. The bartender gives me a nod as I sit down on one of the stools. “Name’s Rogue, I’m supposed to ask for a bartender named Bruiser and meet Capone and Ryker. You see them?”

He shakes his head. “Names don’t sound familiar. What can I get you to drink?”

“Cold bottle of beer, that’ll work. You sure you haven’t seen them? Carver sent me out this way and told me I was supposed to meet them.”

He laughs, popping a top off a domestic beer that’s slightly frosty. The cold brew goes down really good as I try to figure out what’s got him so friendly all of a sudden.

The barkeep wipes his hand on his apron and extends it to me. “I’m just giving you a hard time. Name’s Bruiser, Carver and I go back a long way. That boy’s been running through this neck of the woods for a long-ass time. Any friend of his is a friend of ours.”

I look up and see two bikers walk in from the back, and those colors sure as shit aren’t the Royal Bastards’. I stand and extend a hand because I know exactly who these two are. Presidents of the Rivals. The only club in the desert who has such a large territory they run with two presidents to cover the Rivals’ territory instead of splitting into chapters. “Capone and Ryker?” I ask.

Capone nods while Ryker just assesses me and gestures for me to take a seat again. One sits on either side of me. I can’t help feeling they’ve made this intimidation play before, but I’ll bide my time. As long as they can help me, I’ll deal with them feeling me out. Hell, I’m sure it’s a requirement working for the Larussio crime family and all.

Bruiser hands the two bikers a beer. “I’ve got some stuff that needs taken care of in back. Call if you need anything.” He doesn’t wait for an answer, just turns to go into the back leaving me alone with the two presidents.

Ryker turns to me. “So this fuck who paid the Scorpions for your girl, we sent the information Carver gave us to our boss. He and his family don’t like traffickers, especially being run through their territory. Let’s just say he saw the Scorpions deal with this fuck as an insult. He and his people did some looking around, and they’re pretty sure they know exactly who the man is. It's being handled and you and your girl, and her sister, don’t need to worry anymore.”

Capone laughs. “I don’t think anyone’s going to have to worry anymore once we cut the head off of that snake sitting pretty over in Columbia waiting for these fuckers to bring him virgin after virgin to feed his breeding kink.”

I nod, relief flooding my veins. Not that I can’t protect her if he comes knocking on the door, but I want her to know she’s really safe now with no need to look over her shoulder every time she turns around. “I can’t thank you all enough. Please extend my gratitude to your boss. If there’s ever a time you need the help of the Royal Bastards, we’re a phone call away. I mean it. We are in your debt.”

Ryker and Capone nod. “We’re just happy we can help. It’s good to have allies in the desert. The Scorpions and Desert Riders cause enough trouble to keep us all on our toes.”

I take a swig of my beer. “That’s a damn fact. But after last night, I don’t think they’ll be showing their faces for a while, at least not around here. It’s going to take them time to rebuild, get others from different chapters to come in again.”

Capone looks out the window as the dust swirls in the distance. “The fuckers had that coming. You did a good thing last night. Fucking lowlife sons a bitches. Always running girls every chance they get. Hopefully it will be a long time before they get a crew back together.”

I nod. “We can only hope. It’s a ways to Tucson, and I’m anxious to get back.” I point toward the dirty window. “Especially in this wind that’s popped up, but I appreciate all you’ve done for us.”

They stand and walk with me to the door and watch as I get on my bike and rev it up. I’m satisfied the man who caused Angel’s heartache will see justice at the hands of the Rivals. Hell, he’s probably an enemy of theirs or competitor one. Looks like he won’t be paying for the trafficking of girls anymore.