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She grips me by the shoulders with a concerned expression. “Oh, my God! Are you okay?”
Away from the gunslinging biker, uncertainty creeps in. Why did I agree to go with the MC when I know nothing about them? My need to flee Levi and my instant lust for a green-eyed biker muddled my common sense. “I—I don’t know.”
Starlight places her hands on her hips in that parental stance I’ve never experienced from my mom. “Opal, you cannot seriously be thinking about leaving with those bikers. They’re not good men.”
Living on the streets has given me a life lesson in how to spot bad people from a mile away. The biker with the green eyes doesn’t give off any red flags. A wicked man doesn’t pull a gun to defend a woman he doesn’t know, risking getting into trouble with law enforcement. “No. I don’t get that vibe.”
Starlight’s jaw drops. “Opal, he had a gun. He threatened Benny. Granted, the pig deserved it, but sensible people don’t go around ripping arms out of sockets.”
Everything Starlight says is true, but I can’t accept it. “Sometimes good people do bad things. It doesn’t make them bad.”
“Those kinds of men look at women as property. They take what they want when they want.”
“I think that’s a stereotype.” I find my clothes, tugging on my jeans and a favorite band t-shirt. When I throw my belongings in my bucket purse, it dawns on me I’m leaving this place. “I’m going.”
“Hold up,” Starlight says, throwing a hand in the air. “Opal, you’re like a little sister to me. Excuse me if I question your sanity when a biker gang comes in and draws guns. You’re eager to get far away from here and not thinking about it at one-hundred percent capacity. But I sure as fuck am. Exactly what is this MC affiliated with?”
Starlight has a point. I never considered these bikers might be involved with illegal activities, too smitten with a green-eyed biker to think logically. Jumping from the frying pan and into the fire.
“You need to get some answers before you get on the back on one of their bikes.”
I run my fingers through my rainbow hair. “Thanks, Starlight. I needed a reality check.”
“Knock, knock,” a husky voice calls from behind the curtain. “May I come in?”
“Yes,” I croak, clearing my throat and swallowing my nerves.
The handsome green-eyed biker steps around the curtain, his eyes sweeping over me hotly. The tiny dressing room feels a lot smaller, with his massive muscles taking up a lot of the real estate. Warmth pools deep in my belly when his eyes gaze back up my body to my eyes.
Starlight nudges me, snapping me back to my senses.
“I have some questions before I agree to come with you.”
He gives me a crooked smile. “I’m sure you do.”
“Where’s Benny?” The little weasel isn’t with him anymore, and it makes me nervous.
“Handed him off to my brothers. I got a question for you, too, Opal. Is that the name you prefer or do you have another?”
My actual name is dead to me. “It’s just Opal.”
He nods, accepting my answer. “Name’s Gauge. I’m the VP of the Mercy Ravens motorcycle club. Wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but I overheard your conversation as I was walking back here. My crew doesn’t treat or think of women as property. Yeah, we may fuck our fair share, but we’re upfront about it when we hook up with someone. We don’t take from anyone unless it’s freely given. We’ll treat you with respect if you come with us. You have my word.”
He’s direct. I’ll give him that. Can’t believe I’m having this conversation with the vice president of an MC composed of gladiator-size men. I don’t know him from Adam, but there’s something in the authority of his voice that makes me believe he’s telling the truth. I get the distinct feeling I can trust him.
He turns to address Starlight, offering her a small smile. “I understand your concern for your friend, but my club is not a gang, nor do we mix in nefarious activities…often. We’re government contracted mercenaries. Atlas, our MC president and my best friend, runs a security company that the crew works for. Opal couldn’t be in better—safer—hands.”
A massive sigh leaves my lungs. Even Starlight looks more relaxed. My situation couldn’t be more ideal than if I had handpicked it.
He raises a finger. “One more question. You jumped on this offer pretty damn fast. Are you running from someone other than the sleaze out front?”
Biting my lip, I suddenly feel sick. Maybe the MC won’t take me if they feel I’m more trouble than I’m worth. I pray they don’t back out.
Gauge lays a hand on my shoulder reassuringly. “I’m not turning you away, Opal. I only want to know in case something comes down the line later. So, is it your boss or someone else?”
I clear my throat. “Both.” But more Levi than Benny.
He nods, his rugged face darkening. “You finish getting ready. I’ll take you to yours. Grab everything you think you’ll need before we leave.”
