Scratch had died because of me, and now Fighter would too.
I was cursed!
Forever doomed to be miserable and alone.
“So what now?” I asked, though the words came out as more of a breathy whisper. How they had found out so quickly, I wasn’t sure, but I tried to push the dark thoughts to one side. It wasn’t my problem anymore—it couldn’t be. It was his—Fighter’s; it was the Highwaymen’s problem. I’d kept my promise. I had to think of myself. My safety. My survival. My life.
“Now you get to meet your old man. The man who found out who it was that took my little girl and is getting ready to put them to ground.” Dad grinned at me, like the cat that ate the canary. Only this wasn’t just a canary; this was blood and death and violence, and his own daughter.
“Solomon, get your ass over here,” Dad called, and I squeezed my eyes closed.
No! Anyone but Solomon.
Anyone at all.
Hell, I’d rather go back to Fighter and be unloved and unwanted than be with Solomon.
Solomon was an ugly man, both inside and out. He was the embodiment of a man-slut that would sleep with anything and anyone. And I meananything. That man had put his dick into more things than I’d had warm meals. Though Lord knew how, because he was the sort of ugly that made babies cry.
He stalked toward me, my skin crawling as he looked me up and down with slick satisfaction, rubbing his dirty hands together. My dad gripped my bicep and pushed me toward him.
“There you go—payment for finding the fucker who thought he could mess with me and my club.” Dad patted Solomon’s shoulder. “Look after her. She’s not as sweet and innocent as she looks, are you, sweetheart?” He snickered. “She may or may not be a virgin anymore, but she’s as good as. Only fucked once. Look at it as Scratch broke her in for you, brother.”
I felt sick. How could anyone talk about their daughter like that?
“Dad!” I cried out. “I didn’t. You know I didn’t.”
He looked at me like I was trash. “You may as well have, Penny.”
Solomon pulled me to him, the stench of sweat and oil sucking itself into my lungs and making me gag. His hands pawed at me, sliding down my back to cup my ass and squeeze. I looked up into his face at his nose, which had been broken over half a dozen times and was now crooked, at his front teeth, which were chipped and dirty when he smiled. He winked at me, his eyes like pools of dirty water.
“Always had a thing for you, Penny,” he said, giving my ass a good squeeze. “We’re gonna have so much fun.” He licked his bottom lip and my stomach roiled in repulsion.
“I need to go home and pack some stuff,” I mumbled, trying to pry myself from his arms. If I could just get away for a few minutes, I could run. I could grab my car and drive until I couldn’t drive no more. Screw this life. Screw my dad and his club. Screw Solomon and Fighter and everyone else.
“I’ll get you new stuff,” he grunted, leaning down to try to kiss me.
His breath stank like he’d been eating onions and raw fish and I gagged, sliding out from his grip and taking a step back. “I really need to get some of my things, Solomon.”
His features contorted, anger flashing in his eyes, and before I realized what was happening he had swung his hand back and backhanded me across the face. I called out as pain flashed through my face and I dropped to my knees. He reached down and pulled me back up by my hair. He glanced over at where my dad was, seemingly satisfied that no one was going to stop him from doing what he wanted to me.
“I said, we’ll buy you some new stuff,” he gritted. “You’re my woman now, and you do what I say, when I say it. Got it?”
I nodded, my eyes streaming as pain lanced through my cheek.
“My room, now.” He pushed me toward his back room and I looked around the clubhouse for help, realizing with sadness and dread that none would be coming.
My dad stood in the doorway to his office, his arms folded over his large chest. I caught his gaze and he smiled and turned around, closing his office door behind him. The other Vipers had continued drinking and talking, and the sweetbutts were smirking.
That was what the club was like; everyone was out for themselves. No one cared about one another. It wasn’t a family like the Highwaymen; it was a group of selfish sinners all trying to get by, and no one was going to get involved to try and help me. What went on between a man and his women was their own business. That was what my dad always used to say, and that was how it was now.
This was between me and Solomon.
My old man and me.
And I had willingly gone back there.
Had willingly chosen that outcome.
