The first glimpse of security came into view.Relief flooded through me, followed immediately by tension.They’d want to know why I had a half-dead woman on my bike.I glanced behind me, but the bike was no longer there.
I flashed my headlight three times -- the all-clear signal.The chain dropped.As we approached, I recognized the Prospects -- newer guys, still proving themselves.They stared as we roared past, confusion evident even in the brief moment we passed them.
I’d deal with the fallout later.The main compound lay another mile ahead -- a collection of cabins and houses surrounding the clubhouse.Medical supplies there, people who could help.Sanctuary, if temporary.
Behind me, Callie’s head drooped against my shoulder, her grip loosening.Adrenaline wore off, her body giving in to exhaustion once the immediate danger faded.I reached back with one hand and squeezed her arm gently.
“Stay with me,” I called over the wind.“Almost there.”
She mumbled something I couldn’t make out, arms tightening again through sheer effort.
The headlight cut through darkness ahead while my mind spun through the implications.Breaking protocol meant consequences.The Kings functioned on trust and loyalty.I’d built fifteen years of it, from Prospect to patched member.Now I risked all of it on a stranger.
Still, as the lights of the compound appeared through the trees, certainty settled in my chest.I’d made the only choice I could live with.The Kings stood for something -- family, protection, justice on our own terms.We lived outside the law but followed a code, and sometimes that code demanded hard choices.
I felt Callie’s fevered skin against my neck, heard her ragged breathing in my ear.Whatever trouble followed her, it was our trouble now.Mine, specifically.
The compound entrance loomed ahead, and I slowed the bike, preparing for the reception that awaited us.Whatever I’d set in motion tonight, there was no turning back now.
Chapter Two
Samson
The compound’s gate emerged from the darkness.Security lights mounted on tall posts cast harsh white beams across the entrance, creating pools of unforgiving brightness amid the night.Two Prospects stood guard, their leather cuts gleaming under the artificial glare.As I slowed the Harley to a stop, their postures shifted from casual to alert, eyes locking on the unexpected passenger pressed against my back.I felt Callie stiffen behind me, her feverish heat penetrating through my jacket as her arms tightened around my waist.
“Samson, what’s this?”The Prospect’s hand drifted casually toward the waistband of his jeans, not quite a threat but a reminder of readiness.
“Need to get inside,” I replied, keeping my voice neutral.“Now.”
The second Prospect stepped forward, older and more seasoned.I recognized him as a transfer from another chapter, already carrying himself with the confidence of someone who’d seen his share of shit.His eyes narrowed as they settled on Callie.
“You know the rules about bringing outsiders in,” he said, not a question but a statement.“Especially this time of night.”
I cut the engine, the sudden silence heavy around us.Callie’s breathing came ragged against my back, each exhale carrying a slight tremor.
“She needs help.”Explanations could come later.
The Prospects exchanged glances, club protocol warring with respect for a patched member.The older one shook his head.
“Can’t let her in without clearance.Beast’s orders.”
“Then get Beast,” I said, an edge creeping into my voice.“Tell him it’s urgent.”
I swung my leg over the bike, supporting Callie as I dismounted.She slumped against me, barely conscious.The security lights cast stark shadows across her face, illuminating details I hadn’t fully registered on the dark road.Up close, in the unforgiving light, she looked even worse than I’d initially thought.
The younger Prospect stepped back, hand now resting openly on his weapon.His eyes weren’t hostile, just wary.Smart kid.
“Jesus,” he muttered, taking in Callie’s condition.“What happened to her?”
“Someone who isn’t getting to her again,” I answered, my voice hard.
The older Prospect pulled out his radio, never taking his eyes off us.“Beast, we got a situation at the gate.Samson’s here with… company.”The pause before “company” carried significance, club shorthand for an outsider.“Female.Injured.”
Static crackled before Beast’s voice came through, clipped and precise.“Keep them there.On my way.”
I shifted Callie in my arms, supporting more of her weight as her knees buckled.
“How long’s she been like this?”the older Prospect asked.
