“I’m going to miss you.” I gave him a final pat before heading down the steps and climbing into my car. After spending hours searching online last night, I’d found an apartment I could afford in Oklahoma City. It would be available to lease in a couple of weeks, so I’d filled out an online application. That only gave me a few days to work up the nerve to put in my two weeks’ notice.
I’d just have to savor the next several days and try to store up enough memories of Mustang Mountain to last me a lifetime. With a heavy heart, I turned to head down the mountain.
Twenty minutes later, I pulled up in front of the rental cabin. It was the largest one Ruby owned and the most secluded which made it the most popular. I couldn’t count the number of times I’d turned it over between guests. The routine was so ingrained that I fired up my favorite playlist and let my mind wander as I got to work.
I was a little surprised I hadn’t seen Crank on my way to the cabin. He usually followed me in the mornings. It hadn’t always been that way, but with the Savage Bones becoming more and more active in the area, I’d seen him around more often. Knowing he was nearby provided me with a feeling of security. It didn’t make sense, not after what I’d been through, but I’d learned to trust my gut.
If only I’d trusted it when it told me to stay far away from my ex. All the signs were there, I just hadn’t wanted to see them. I shook my head, dislodging the negative thoughts. Live and learn. That’s all I could do.
I stripped the beds and shoved the sheets into a trash bag so I could take them into town to wash them. Then, I cleaned the bathrooms, vacuumed the rest of the cabin, and tidied up the kitchen. I was carrying the bedding out to my car when I heard the rumble of a motorcycle heading my way.
Crank. My heart did that flittery, fluttery thing. He was coming to check on me after all.
I stepped out onto the porch, prepared to pretend not to see him. Three men I didn’t recognize sat on the gravel drive, their bikes rumbling underneath them. They had to be Savage Bones. There was no mistaking the skull and crossbones on the front of one of the bikes. A chill raced down my spine. I’d left my phone on the counter. If I could just ease back inside, I could call Ruby. She’d send someone to help.
“Where do you think you’re going?” The largest of the three climbed off his bike and took slow steps toward me.
I weighed my options: either stand on the porch and try to reason with men who’d proven themselves to be extremely unreasonable or get inside and lock the door. Dropping the trash bag, I spun around and raced for the open doorway. I didn’t make it three feet before he was on me, his arm gripping me around the waist.
“Not so fast, sweets. Looks like we found ourselves a prize in the woods.” His breath reeked of cigarettes. I turned my head and gasped for fresh air.
“What are you going to do with her, Meat?” One of the guys still on his bike asked.
Meat grabbed a fistful of my hair and forced me to meet his gaze. “We’re going to send the Riders a message. What do you think about that, doll?”
“I think you can go fuck yourself.” Summoning a well of courage I didn’t know I possessed, I hauled back and spit directly in his face.
The two guys on bikes laughed. Meat’s face turned bright red. He reached up with his free hand and wiped the trail of spittle away. “No one gets away with disrespecting me like that.”
He raised his fist and brought it down on my head. The world went black.
Voices tugged at my consciousness, dragging me out of a vacuum of darkness. My head felt like it was splitting in half. I tried to reach up, but my hands were tied behind my back. Panic clawed its way through my chest as everything came back to me… the cabin… the men… the fist slamming into my temple.
“She’s moving,” a man said. I didn’t recognize the voice.
I cracked open an eyelid and tried to focus. Blurred images swam in front of my face. Slowly, I focused. Several men sat around a small table.
“Put the fucking blindfold on her,” one of them grumbled. “You dumbfucks ought to know better than to let someone from the outside see my face.”
I shot a glance his way and got a quick look at a dark gray beard and angry eyes before someone slid a dark piece of fabric over my eyes.
“What are you going to do to her?” a woman asked. I didn’t recognize her voice either, but it held a trace of compassion that was missing from the others.
“Your job is to keep the Pres happy, not worry about our plans, Bex,” Meat said. I’d never forget his voice or the way he’d looked at me with such hate before he hit me. “We’re going to send a message to those fuckers. They think they can run us out of town, but we’re going to show them we can get to anyone we want, even the mayor’s wife’s little helper.”
Something clicked, and a loud buzzing filled my ears.
“Meat, don’t!” Bex yelled above the noise.
Within moments, I knew what the buzzing was. I felt the tug of the clippers on my hair as Meat guided it over my head. Not willing to give in without a fight, I swung my head away from the sound and struggled to get to my feet.
“Goddammit. Hold her down,” Meat said.
Arms closed around me, forcing me back down to the ground. I twisted and turned, even sank my teeth into someone’s flesh, but the grip didn’t loosen.
“She fucking bit me,” one of the men said. A sharp crack ricocheted through my head as his palm connected with my cheek. Then everything went black again.
CHAPTER 6
