“You know who we are. Give us what we want, and we’ll go our separate ways nice and easy this time.” Snake Eyes arched a pale brow while studying me with soulless eyes.
“I don’t who the hell you are or what the fuck you want. How about you get out of our way before we start to take things personally?” My big attitude wasn’t fooling anyone, especially not the piece of shit holding court in front of us.
“You have something that belongs to me.” His eyes narrowed, and he motioned for one of his soldiers to check Bear’s truck. “I wasn’t done with my toy yet and need to get it back.”
He was a psychopath. Like hell I’d let him get his hands on Ginger again, though I wasn’t sure how I was going to stop him.
“I think you’ve got the wrong guys.” Palms out, I shook my head. “We’re heading into town to pick up a few kegs. May as well keep the New Year’s party going, right?”
“I expected more from an officer of the Mustang Mountain Riders. Did you really think we’d fall for your poorly executed decoy plan?” A chilling smile spread across his thin lips. “It’s your last chance, Six. Hand her over or you’ll all die.”
My mind spun, searching for a way to get all of us out of the situation alive. Bear and the other two guys were my brothers. Even though we all knew what it meant to patch into the Mustang Mountain Riders, I hated myself for putting them in a no-win situation. But I also couldn’t turn Ginger over to the man I’d promised to protect her from.
“Take me instead.” I stepped forward, willing to lay down my life for the woman who’d cracked open the cage around my heart. He couldn’t have her, and I’d find a way to make sure of that if I had to rip him apart with my bare hands. “I’m not sure what your end game is, but I can help you get what you want.”
“No offense, but you’re not exactly my type.” His smile widened as he reached behind his back and pulled out a long-barreled silver revolver. “I’ll give you one more chance to turn her over before I blow your brains out of your skull.”
He was only a few feet away. If I launched myself at him with enough force, I could probably get a couple of good hits in before he realized what was happening.
“One…” he said.
“What are you going to do with her?” I asked, trying to buy some time.
“I’m going to finish what we started. Isn’t that right, Ginger?” Snake Eyes raised his voice and called out toward my truck. “You’ve been a very naughty girl and will need to be punished for running away.”
“You sick fuck.” I charged, ramming my shoulder into his gut. Shots rang out but I didn’t feel a thing except for the crunch of his bones as they hit the pavement. “Go, Little Deer.”
Metal scraped against metal. I lifted my head to see Bear on the ground. He got off several shots before the cold barrel of a gun dug into the back of my neck.
“Enough!” Ginger’s voice rang out loud and clear. “I’ll go with you, but only if you leave these men alone.”
“Don’t do it. Get out of here.” I wouldn’t let her turn herself over. Not for me. I wasn’t ready to admit I’d failed her.
Snake Eyes staggered to his feet, his hand clutching his ribs. “There she is. I’m glad at least one of you is smart enough to see there’s only one way out of this scuffle.”
“Let them go and you can have me.” Ginger shot a quick glance my way. She was so strong and so fucking beautiful. It hurt to look at her, but I made myself follow her every move. I deserved to have this moment burned into my mind for the rest of eternity… the moment I failed to save her.
“And I have your word you won’t run again?” Snake Eyes stalked toward her. When he reached Ginger, he turned her to face me and wrapped his hands around her throat. “Say it out loud. That you’ll be my good girl and won’t run away again.”
Tears ran down her cheeks as she repeated the words. “I’ll be your good girl and not run away again.”
I seethed with rage at the sight of his hands on her. I’d rather be shot and put out of my misery than think about what kind of plans he had for her. The sick fuck would get what was coming to him, even if I had to track him down in the afterlife.
“Make sure they’re not going to go anywhere anytime soon,” Snake Eyes directed a few of his underlings. “As for me and Ginger, we’ve got some lost time to make up for, don’t we Red?”
I struggled against the three men holding me back as Snake Eyes ran his tongue down Ginger’s cheek. She closed her eyes, her body stiff and unresponsive. It was my fault he’d been able to get his hands on her again. All my fucking fault.
“Oh, one more thing.” Snake Eyes loosened his grip on Ginger and took a few steps toward me. “I’m a man of my word most of the time, so I won’t kill you. She didn’t say anything about not slowing you down though.”
The impact of the bullet from the short distance between us threw my body back against the door of my truck. I crumbled into a bloody heap by my front tire.
“No!” Ginger ran toward me, but Snake Eyes caught her around the waist and pulled her back. Her screams echoed in my ears as they shoved her into the backseat of a jacked up truck. Gravel sprayed over my head. Then she was gone.
CHAPTER10
GINGER
I staredout the back window of the truck, willing Six to get up, brush off his jeans, and come tearing down the road after us. He didn’t move. Pain like I’d never felt before ripped through me. If it weren’t for me, he’d be sitting around the table at the clubhouse, maybe enjoying a plate of Bear’s fluffy scrambled eggs. Life couldn’t be this cruel, could it?
