AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Fine,” I bit off, throwing my hands up in the air and opening my mouth, letting another scream belt out like I was a damn professional scream queen. Right in the middle of my performance his hand slapped over my mouth, abruptly cutting it off.
Outside a chorus of laughter sounded around us as footsteps shuffled past the door.
“I want her next!” Devlin yelled as he let out a loud catcall.
Holy Hell.
Just for maximum effect, I screamed again, more out of frustration than anything.
Bryce chuckled under his breath and took the seat next to me, leaning back and fixing me with a calculating stare that unnerved me.
“What?” I asked testily, glaring back.
“Damn, you sure are cute. If you weren’t already Edge’s old lady, I’d make a move and take you for my own.”
I couldn’t tell if he was serious or teasing, “Well as uh, flattering, as that may be, why don’t you get to the point?”
“I need you to give Edge a message for me. He needs to know I’m serious. Protecting you and returning you to him whole and untouched is my gesture of goodwill.”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Goodwill? He’s the one who helped kidnap me!
“Why do you call him Edge?” I asked again since he didn’t bother to answer the last time I asked.
He waved the question away impatiently, “Not important. Everyone calls him Edge. It’s his name with the RRMC. The message I need him to hear is more important.”
“Alright, let me hear this message.”
His face lost the soft look and turned hard, a cruelty I would have thought couldn’t exist two minutes ago radiated from him. His right lip curled up, tugging his skin down and pulling his mouth upward, and stretching the long puffy scar that ran jagged across the left side of his face from temple to chin, “Striker, my father, is one crazy son of a bitch. He’s mixed up in some serious shit, and from what I understand he’s involved not only your stepdad Charles –”
“Vader,” I spat, “that jerk is not related to me.”
He managed to bark a low laugh and continued, “Rafe is involved too. Guns, drugs, and crossing not only state lines but international dealings with a few MCs and guys I wouldn’t fuck with. That’s saying a lot,” he interjected in case I wasn’t sure whether or not he was dangerous.
What an ego.
“So how is Charles involved?”
Let’s cross that bridge first.
“He’s beholden to Striker. He was stupid enough to owe him money and got himself addicted to some of the drugs we pushed, even if he is a casual user.”
“Meaning?”
“He’s bad news for your family Rae. You’ve got to make sure he isn’t allowed back in your house if he survives the tasks Striker has set for him. He’s just desperate enough to try anything. I don’t know if he’d hurt you or your mom, and you’ve got Leah too.”
I just stared at him, chills running up and down my spine, “How do you know so much about me?”
“I make it my business to know this town and the people in it, especially my rivals and enemies, just in case I need leverage.”
I swallowed hard. Leverage. Like now. I was only safe because it served his purpose. Sighing I stood and began to pace, chewing on my fingernails in nervous agitation, “Why was I taken, Bryce?”
“To prove a point to Edge. He’s too close to the truth, and if he gets mixed up in all of this shit, he’s going to end up dead. I’m giving you a chance to keep him far away. You were supposed to be hurt today,” he admitted, “so Edge knows we mean business.”
“Yet you aren’t hurting me. Why?” I sank down next to him again, shaking my head. “Just tell me, please.”
“Maybe I’m a decent guy Rae.”
I searched his eyes, giving him the benefit of the doubt, but I knew how ruthless this MC was and having Striker for a father meant he had a cruel and difficult upbringing, “I’d like to believe that, but we both know it isn’t the case.”
