When the last two bikes left the property, I set a timer for three and a half minutes, and then I waited.
And waited.
It was the longest goddamn three minutes of my life.
When it finally buzzed, I sighed heavily as I picked up my bag and crept out of the clubhouse. I looked all around as I left, changing my pace so that anyone watching would think what we wanted them to think, that I was running off. That I was alone.
Unprotected.
My heart hammered so hard I thought it might crack my ribs, but I stood tall when I was clear of the clubhouse. I walked like I was alone. Like I wasn’t surrounded by eyes and weapons, and men who would burn the world down for me.
It didn’t take long before company pulled up.
A car turned onto the street. I heard it before I saw it because they kept just enough distance between me and them to pretend it was just a coincidence. My pulse spiked like crazy, but I kept walking. I counted my steps, my heartbeats, the sounds of car horns in the distance. No matter how calm and cool I looked on the outside, my breathing was shallow and my palms were a sweaty mess.
The car got closer and closer, coming to a stop in the middle of a street filled with closed shops. I heard the footsteps as they moved into place behind me and when they grabbed me, I fought.
I kicked and screamed. I threw punches and I even bit one of those assholes. I put up a believable fight, but ultimately,I was overpowered—and punched a few good times—and tossed into the back of a van.
Before I could look around, something was yanked over my head. Another something tightened around my wrists. And the van took off, throwing me around in back as we made our way to wherever the hell we were going.
The engine screamed and my stomach dropped. Suddenly it felt like I was being driven to my own execution.
You’re fine, Macy. You’ll get through this.
I forced myself to breathe. In. Out. Do not panic. Do not spiral.My vision blurred anyway as fear crawled up my throat burning it like acid.
Eventually, the car stopped. Hands yanked me out of the van and onto a gravel lot that scraped at my knees every time I stumbled. Hands dragged me inside where the air was colder and heavier. It was too dark for daylight, and the difference forced me to squint.
And then he was there. DiegofuckingRuiz. The man who had haunted my nightmares for months smiled at me like we were lovers reunited.
“There you are.” He flashed that smile that at first glance looked friendly, almost charming, but a deeper look made it obvious that it was just surface. His eyes never quite matched his smile and the lines that bracketed his mouth had a menacing tilt to them.
I stepped back without thinking, a nasty snarl tore from my mouth. “I didn’t ask to be here.” There was no need to act like I was a willing participant in this reunion.
His smile faltered. It was just a flicker, but I caught it before he slapped that smile back in place. “Yet here you are,” he said softly. “As if fate herself has brought you to me.”
I barely suppressed my eyeroll.
“I have missed you, sweet Macy. You were memorable in all the right ways,” he grinned. “I am happy to have you back and if you go easily, without much fight,” he grinned. “I will leave your, ah,biker friendsalone.”
His words gave me pause. He was not, as far as I could tell, a benevolent man so why would he make this offer? I tilted my chin up and stared at him. “Why?”
“Because you are mine,” he said. “That’s why. Now,” he snapped his fingers, pointing to the spot in front of him. “Come.” He crooked his finger as though it had some invisible tether on it.
My feet refused to move. I couldn’t go to him, couldn’t cosign all the sick shit he wanted to do to me.
Diego’s expression darkened at my silent refusal. A low growl escaped before anger flashed and he reached out, grabbing me and yanking me forward. “Mine,” he snarled, his grip tightening on my arm.
Then suddenly everything exploded, just like we’d planned.
Gunfire erupted outside, sharp and deafening. Loud grunts mixed in with gunfire, and though I couldn’t be sure, I heard the sounds of bodies falling onto that gravel lot.
Diego’s eyes widened. He swore loudly but he couldn’t hide the fear that blanched his skin. “Fuck!” he shouted andspun in a confused circle. He dragged me with him, pulling me in front of his body like a barrier between him and the Steel Demons.
The doors burst open just as loud as the gunfire. My heart jumped at the noise but then Steel Demons flooded the room, their guns trained on Diego, which meant trained onme.
I was shaking and terrified, sure that today was the day I’d take my final breath. I was sure that after a lifetime of shit and then finding Drew, and having these wonderful weeks with him, that was all the happiness I’d be granted in this world. My heart ached but I found a small smile because they had been incredible weeks.
