AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Just in case some shit goes down.
In case?I laugh silently because I’m lying to myself. This isn’t some hypothetical situation; this is the real world. This is my life right here in the present, and I know two things for certain. One is that I’ve had the best sex of my life with a man half my age. The second is that today is the day that I’m going to die.
Mom, I’m sorry I never lived up to your expectations.
Daddy, I’m sorry that I didn’t take the job with your friend in Brooklyn. I needed to find my own place in the world.
I love you both.
Footsteps sound much closer than I’m comfortable with, and I shrink into an even smaller ball in the corner, cover my head with my hands, and hold my breath.
With my eyes shut tight, I hope Cyrus or his Iron Kings buddies are too stupid to do a thorough search of the garage. I hope they scan the room and decide it’s empty and go away.
I let out my breath slowly, silently as the heavy-booted footfalls sound closer and closer. I listen for the sound of the inside door opening and closing behind him, but that’s not what I hear. The footsteps stop close to the boxes, too close for comfort, and I keep my eyes closed tight.
Long seconds pass with no hands reaching out to grab me, no bullets tearing through my skin, and no fists pounding into me, so I risk a quick peek and open one eye, then the other.
The first thing I see is a pair of dirty motorcycle boots, and then as my eyes travel up, a long pair of legs wrapped in black denim, and I suck in a shocked breath. Holy shit, that man is huge.
There’s a giant Viking staring down at me with a blank expression on his face, his tall form casts a dim shadow over me, and I fall back on my ass. A scream escapes my lips, and the big guy makes his move, lunging forward and clapping a hand over my mouth.
This is it. I’m going to die.
“Stay quiet,” he snarls at me, wraps his arm around my waist, and lifts me in the air as if I were a feather.
Quiet? The giant has to be kidding me. Even with my body completely airborne, I kick and squirm and grunt, hoping like hell I find a way to break free of this monster. “Let me go,” I scream, but my words are muffled thanks to his hand that covers half my face.
“I will as soon as you shut up, lady.”
My eyes go wide. “How rude!” I say and try to bite his hand to no avail.
He grins, but his hand stays on my mouth. “Rude? I’m here to rescue you, and I nearly get kicked in the balls and called rude. That’s a fine thank you.”
“Rescue me? Fucking liar!” I say.
The blond Viking’s eyes go wide with surprise, and his full lips tug into a smile. “And they tell me you’re a nice girl. With that potty mouth, I’m gonna have to disagree.”
“Dammit,” I shout behind his hand and kick my legs again, clawing at his chest and shoulders. “Put me down, and I won’t kick your ass,” I grunt, even though I’m incredibly scared that this man is going to kill me.
His shoulders relax a little, and the Viking sets me on my feet, keeping one hand over my mouth and the other gripping my shoulder to stop me from running.
“Look, lady, my name is Stone, and I’m here on behalf of the Reckless Souls. They sent me to find you while they help Wild Man, who I assume is inside. Got it?”
“Bullshit,” I spit out. “I don’t believe you. I know the Reckless Souls. They hang out at my bakery, and I’ve met them all.”
He smiles. “I’m a Reckless Bastard, not from around here. I’m just here helping these guys out for a while, lady.”
“Maven,” I spit back. “My name is Maven, not lady. I’m not a fucking Disney dog.”
He lets out a low chuckle, but it’s interrupted by the sound of a gunshot and then another. My eyes go wide, and I take off toward the door. “Wilder!”
Stone reaches out and grabs me at the last minute, pulling me back and tossing me over his shoulder. “What the hell is it about sassy-ass women and bikers? I’ll never know, but I’m also not waiting for you to get yourself shot.”
“Why? You have something more depraved in mind for me?” I kick my feet as his long legs eat up the distance across the garage. The cool night air hits my skin, and I realize how warm my skin feels, how feverish I feel. Is it arousal or anxiety? Given my fucked up life, it could be both.
The Viking, Stone, chuckles. “Depravity ain’t my style, sweetheart.” His southern twang is endearing. At least, it would be if he wasn’t carrying me to my death.
“Okay, then, if you’re really who you say you are, put me down and go help Wilder. Please.”
