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Alessa’s eyes sparkle. “Your situation? I saw you come out of Blade’s room… It’s more than just him, isn’t it? Oh, this is too good.”
The kids are playing hide and seek behind the furniture, while the guys are hanging out by the bar, talking. I’m trying to imagine this kind of atmosphere back at the Pit Vipers, and I’m coming up empty. Of all the ways I’ve pictured an MC, this is definitely not it.
Could I imagine myself here like this with the guys? That’s a whole other thing, isn’t it? The fantasy of the three of them in bed with me is one thing, but making an actual family out of it? It’s way too soon to think about the future when I’m still dealing with my past, but now that I’ve seen the possibility in action? My imagination is way too vivid.
Just then, the door opens and a group of people come in the front door. Three massive bikers—like they all seem to be around here—and a smaller woman about my age who’s positively glowing.
The oldest of the boys comes darting out from behind one of the booths and charges right for the woman. “Mommy!”
She scoops him up, squeezes him hard, then passes him over to the biggest of her three companions, who makes a chair out of the cradle of his arm for the boy to sit on. “Hey, big guy.”
I don’t understand this world. I saw the party last night, and it looked like I expected from a clubhouse. A little nicer than the Pit Vipers, but still plenty of sex, booze and who knows what else. Then I wake up to happy biker families. Family friendly would be stretching it, but this is a hundred times more wholesome than anything I remember from my childhood.
Emily introduces herself and her three men, King, Wild Child and Hero. She’s just as nice as Alessa, but both of them are giving off private school, fancy vibes. There have to be stories behind how they ended up here, but I don’t have time to ask, because the door opens and Alpha and Ripper come in.
Ripper grins and puts his arm around me. “Hey, hot stuff. Can we drag you away for a second?”
“Um, yeah. Sure.” I let him lead me away.
Alpha leans in. “Everything good? Anything you want to tell us about?”
Are they mad that I was with Blade? I have a moment of panic. I thought they wanted to share? “Um, Blade and I… Well—”
“Yeah, we know, and about fucking time,” Ripper says. “He’s too stubborn sometimes. This makes it a lot less fucking complicated.”
Less complicated?
The door to Dad’s loft slams, and he’s charging down followed by an eager Jupiter and a woman I recognize from the times I’ve talked to Dad over the past couple years. Miriam. “Take the kids and get out, ladies. Club business.”
Emily and Alessa throw each other concerned looks, but quickly gather the kids and leave. As soon as they’re out, the entire mood of the place changes. Gone are the cuddly biker dads, and in their place are a crew of deadly serious men, their focus completely on my father.
King nods. “What’s up?”
Dad slams his phone down on the table and immediately I get chills. It’s Crow. Standing just next to him and a bit to the back is Shovelhead, a man I hoped I’d never have to look at again. The ugly grin on his face makes it very clear that we’re not going to like this.
“Everyone there?” Crow says in his oily, condescending voice. “I’d hate for anyone to fucking miss anything.”
“We’re here,” growls Dad in a tone that I don’t think I’ve ever heard. It has the promise of death in it. “Say your piece, but you don’t have shit on me now.”
“Not you. Not this time.” Crow laughs, an ugly, hoarse sound. “This is for your little brat.”
“Just say it,” I snap.
I want to rip Crow apart for what he’s done. Alpha comes up behind to wrap his arms around me. Dad raises an eyebrow, but doesn’t say anything.
“C’mon girl, why don’t you say a message to your bestie?” Crow takes a step to one side, while Shovelhead takes a step to the other.
Tied to a chair in front of a nondescript, gray wall, my best friend, the girl who sees the best in everyone, is being held hostage.
24
FAITH
“Faith,don’t let them mess with you. I’ll be okay!” Nicky might be trying to sound brave, but I hear the terror in her voice through the tinny phone speaker. We’ve been friends for way too long for her to hide that. “I’ll be—” Shovelhead backhands her so hard the chair nearly tips over.
“Nicky!” I recoil in horror at her scream of pain.
“Shut the fuck up,” says Crow. “They get the fucking point.”
