Gauge and Rider both chuckled at that, but Fighter just frowned, his dark eyebrows pulling in as he scowled at me.
Although that wasn’t exactly true. Because after his sexual torture after taking me, I did know him, and he knew me. Little did he know how much he’d defiled my body for his own gratification. Or how much I’d loved it. I certainly wasn’t going to tell him.
“Compliments, compliments, sweetheart,” Fighter finally drolled, sounding everything like the man I had known previously.
I gave him a scathing look before turning my back on him. Rider looked between us, waiting for Fighter to say something, but as usual, Fighter gave nothing away.
“Still need you out of sight, unless you wanna die today,” Rider said.
“And here I was hoping that by coming here I could avoid dying,” I replied with a humorless laugh.
“Come on,” Rider grunted, and started to lead the way through the clubhouse.
Fighter stayed close to me and I was glad, because I didn’t trust the other man—Gauge. As we walked, the three men blocked me from view of anyone still awake, though I feared it was probably too late for that. Plenty of people had already seen me arrive and cause a scene—the prospects, the sweetbutts. All it would take was one of them to open their mouth and mention that I had been there.
I felt Fighter close to me and I glanced over my shoulder to see him staring as we walked. It felt strange seeing him without his mask—intimate, even. His full mouth and shapely lips were what I’d imagined all those times he’d gone down on me, sucking at my clit like it was a delicate pearl. His jaw was angled and strong—cocky, almost. Could a jaw be cocky? I wasn’t sure, and yet his was. But it was still his eyes that pulled me in. I was a puddle and he was the sponge, absorbing me whether I wanted to go to him or not. God, I hated him.
Rider led us out of the back of the clubhouse and away from prying eyes and ears, and I realized with stomach-dropping dread that it could be a trap. They could have been leading me to my death right then, and there I was going with a happy little skip in my step. I was an idiot.
“Talk,” Rider said, turning to me as Gauge closed the door. “What is it that you want?”
I forced my fear away and looked him dead in the eye. “Just protection.”
“From your dad?” Gauge asked, his tone disbelieving.
“Yes. Like I said, he’s handing me over to be the old lady of whichever man finds out who took me and brings him their head.” Saying it out loud made it all the more real. I’d seen my daddy angry over the years, but not like that. He’d killed Scratch for almost sleeping with me. I had no doubt that if I disobeyed him, he’d kill me too.
“That’s family business,” Gauge grunted, swaying as he took a sip of his beer. “Besides, how bad could it really be marrying a Viper? You too good for them, sweetheart?”
I scowled at him. “I’d like a choice. That’s the fucking problem.”
“Whatever,” he replied, draining his bottle.
I shook my head angrily. “You’re just as bad as he is. Women aren’t objects. We’re not here just to satisfy your needs!” I said, my voice rising.
“No, you’re here to cook too,” Gauge sneered.
I raised my hand automatically, but Fighter grabbed me around the waist and pulled me back. “I knew I shouldn’t have come here. You’re just as bad as my daddy! An asshole who only thinks with one brain.” I looked him up and down with my own sneer.
Gauge laughed and gave me a wink. “It’s a big fucking brain, sweetheart. Huge.”
“All those muscles are probably just overcompensating,” I snarked. I slapped at Fighter’s hands, but he kept a tight grip and my stomach flipped at his hands on me.
“You wanna come over here and find out how big, sweetheart?” Gauge grabbed his dick over his jeans and smiled.
“Get Mr. Psycho here to let go of me and I’ll grab my magnifying glass and take a look!” I yelled.
“Calm the fuck down, Penny,” Fighter growled in my ear.
“I’ll help you find it when I ram it down your throat,” Gauge laughed.
Fighter dropped me suddenly and stormed toward Gauge. “You wanna say that again, motherfucker?”
“Keep your voices down,” Rider growled. “Gauge, either fuck off or shut up.”
Gauge laughed and threw his bottle against the fence, seemingly enjoying the sound of it smashing. He rubbed a hand down his bare chest and stared at me with a lazy grin.
“You’re pathetic.” I stormed toward him and Fighter spun around and grabbed me again. “Get off me!” I yelled at him.
