Taken By The Biker (Royal Bastards MC: Charleston, WV, #6)

by Glenna Maynard

  Hazel: I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.

  Jackson: Right. Not good enough to see you except for when you need something.

  Ugh. I don’t know why I reached out to him.

  Right. Desperation makes people do stupid things.

  Jackson: What’s in it for me?

  Just like a man.

  Hazel: Never mind.

  Jackson: Come on, don’t be like that. We were good together.

  He’s got to be joking. Jackson wouldn’t know good if it punched him in the face.

  Jackson: I’ll pick you up, but there’s something you gotta do for me.

  Hazel: Of course there is. What is it?

  Jackson: I’ll let you know when I decide. On my way.

  Hazel: Thanks.

  I go back to my room and tug the first pair of jeans I see over my ass then sweep my hair into a ponytail after putting on my favorite worn Boot Hill Saloon tee. The logo is faded and there is a small hole in the left armpit, but I don’t care. I’m not dressing to impress Jackson of all people. I slip my kick ass black leather boots on and grab my purse on my way out the door.

  It doesn’t take Jackson long to pull up in his beater of a truck. An old Ford that could pass for a lawn ornament the frame is so rusted. I keep telling him one day the damn thing will fall apart.

  Throwing him a small wave, I jerk the passenger door open and pray it doesn’t come off the hinges. “Hey.” I climb up into the passenger seat.

  “Hey.” He smiles, flashing his country boy dimples at me. Those baby blues sparkle bright in the sunlight. “Crystal still in the apartment in Antioch?”

  “Yup. Still with Bruno.”

  “Right.” He gives a shake of his head.

  Jackson may be a lot of things but even he knows what a low life Bruno is. And that’s saying something.

  “Thanks for the lift.”

  “I got called in so if you want to drop me at work. You can pick me up later or I’ll have one of the guys bring me to wherever to grab my truck.”

  “You still working at that warehouse?”

  “Same old shit different day.”

  How I wish that were somewhat true. My thoughts go back to last night. Replaying the expression on Beni’s face when he realized what I’d done. Pure disappointment. The attraction that sucked me in from the moment we made contact. It had always been that way between us. Things and people change though.

  I’m so spaced out it takes me a second to realize the truck has stopped.

  “You okay?”

  “Yeah. Good. Just tired. I didn’t get much sleep.”

  “I know I fucked up with you.”

  “Jackson.” I shake my head. “Let’s not do this. I needed a friend today and you came through. Let’s leave it at that.”

  “If that’s what you want.”

  “It is. I’m not the girl for you.”

  “Maybe. Maybe not. I gotta get in there. But you owe me a dinner at least.”

  “Okay. Whatever you want. My next night off.”

  “I’m gonna hold you to it.

  “I’ll be there.”

  He gives me a nod and brushes a hand over his buzz cut head. “I know.” Jackson exits the truck and leaves it running. I slide across the console into the driver’s seat and adjust it and the mirrors before backing out and driving straight to Crystal’s apartment.

  I pull in and do a quick scan. I don’t see my car or Crystal’s either. I text her again and get a response finally.

  Crystal: Hey girl, sorry. I fell asleep.

  Hazel: I need to get my car.

  Crystal: Come on over.

  Hazel: Okay...I’m already here.

  I’m a bit peeved she didn’t bring me my car and expects me to just come get it when she was supposed to bring it to me. But whatever. I’m here now. I go knock on her door to get my keys. I still don’t see my car anywhere though. Maybe she had to park somewhere else?

  It’s chillier out than I thought. The sunshine is misleading. A shiver rivets through me as I stroll along the sidewalk in front of Crystal’s building. Like me she lives in a bottom unit, but the layout is different since hers is a two bedroom and mine is a single. Normally when I come over Bruno is home and the Tv or his music is blaring so loud she can never hear me knock. Today there’s nothing. The silence has me uneasy. I tap on the door a few times. “Crystal, it’s me. Hazel. I’m here.” No response. “I came by to get my car. I have to work tonight.”

  Nothing still.

  I bang with my fist. My worry only growing stronger with each rapt.

  I think I see movement in one of the windows.

  What the hell is she doing?

  The door opens while I’m mid knock, and I nearly punch Bruno in the face. He looks around me then jerks me inside by my shoulder. He slams the door shut behind me.

  “Hey,” I snap. “What the hell?”

  “Where’s Crystal?” he barks at me. I don’t know what she sees in the man. He’s not attractive. Pudgy belly that hangs over his jeans. He’s balding and doesn’t take care of himself at all. He’s gross and not a nice person. I could see if he treated her like a queen because looks aren’t everything, but he doesn’t.

  “That’s why I’m here, asshole. She has my car and I need it back.”

  “She ain’t here,” he growls, spit flying at my face. I shrink back from him as he leers at me, and that’s when I notice the scratches on his face and neck. What appears to be blood speckled on his white t-shirt.

  “Do you know where I can find my car?”

  “Maybe if you tell me where I can find my money you and that bitch owe me.”

  “I don’t owe you a damn thing.” I turn my back on him and go for the door when he grabs me from behind by my ponytail.

  “Told me how you picked up them bikers. How she fucked around on me for payback. How you stole my product.” He tugs on my hair harder.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Don’t play stupid with me, cunt.” He grips my chin and twists my head up at an awkward angle. “I’ll get my money outta you one way or another.” He licks his lips and comes at me like he’s going to kiss me.

  “Let me go.” I squirm but Bruno tightens the hold he has on my waist with his thick arm.

  “You bitches thought you could take from me. Make a fool of me. Naw. No one makes me look stupid. Can’t play me. Know you’re a whore who’ll give it up to anyone, and now I’m going to fuck you till I get my fill then pimp you out till I get back my money you whores costs me.”

  “Jackson’s outside waiting for me. If I’m not back out in five minutes he’ll come in after me. You don’t want to do this.”

  Bruno releases me and shoves me forward. I knock my head on the door but not hard enough to inflict any real damage.

  “You think I’m scared of that pansy mother fucker?” he undoes his belt and I think I’m going to throw up.

  “Bruno please.” I face him while reaching behind me for the doorknob.

  I shoot my shot kneeing him in the groin.

  Chapter Eight

  After swapping my bike for an SUV from Riff I go back by Hazel’s place again. There’s no red car but there is a prick in a shitty truck parked out front. I watch Hazel strut out and climb in. My heart squeezes tight at the sight. Shouldn’t bother me that she’s had a life outside of me and yet it does. The thought of any other man having her makes me want to blow his brains out. She’s mine. She’s always been mine. She always will be. Whoever this asshole is he better not get comfortable having a place in her life. The second I have a chance to nab her she’s out of here, done with stripping, and this fool. I don’t give a fuck what anyone has to say about it. I wait for them to pull out and stay two car lengths behind them trying to get my temper in check.

  I can’t go all cockeyed on emotions. Making decisions based off emotions leads to mistakes, and with her I can’t afford to be careless.

  Want to take her over my
damn knee and spank her ass for pulling that shit last night, drugging Viking and me. Tie her up and spank her till her ass glows red. Tease all her holes until she begs me to fuck her and then I’ll still deny her as punishment for that stunt. Thinking about it has me wanting to run them off the road and take her now. Bend her over in front of the asswipe and fuck her brains out while he watches. Want him to hear her cry out my name as I fuck her into next year.

  They pull in at a warehouse that fills orders for the commercial food industry. The fucker driving exits the truck and Hazel gets behind the wheel before I can attempt to grab her.

  She drives back toward her apartment but doesn’t stop there. I follow her into Antioch to another apartment complex. I keep my distance but have her in my sights. Middle apartment bottom floor. The door opens and Hazel jerks forward, disappearing inside. I listen by the door. One thing is clear. Whoever is on the other side of this fucking door with her wants to die the way he is speaking to her.

  “You bitches thought you could take from me. Make a fool of me. Naw. No one makes me look stupid. Can’t play me. Know you’re a whore who’ll give it up to anyone, and now I’m going to fuck you till I get my fill then pimp you out till I get back my money you whores cost me.”

  Motherfucker just signed his death sentence. I go around the building and hope I’ve got the right back door. I take out my kit and fuck around with the lock. Been a while since I’ve needed to force entry. Should’ve kicked the front door in, but I can’t chance that I’d hurt Hazel. Coming through the back gives me the best shot at the element of surprise. I enter through the living room that also doubles as a dining room. Based on the pictures hanging on the wall I’m betting this is Crystal’s place. Lots of family photos, mostly of her and a kid. I don’t see Hazel.

  The front door is wide open, and a man is on the floor with a broken lamp next to his head. I need to get out of here and find Hazel but first this motherfucker is going to answer to me. Blood seeps from his temple, soaking into the beige carpet. Head wounds always bleed heavy.

  He opens his eyes and groans. “Who the fuck are you?”

  “God.” I kick him in the ribs. “Come near Hazel again and you’ll breathe through a tube and shit in a bag.” I press a boot to his temple. “We understood?”

  “Fuck you and that bitch,” he croaks.

  “Wrong answer. I don’t know whether you are dumb and ugly or both.”

  I press harder and pull my gun out the inner pocket of my cut. I push off his face and squat down. Pressing the barrel between his lips, it hits his teeth. “I don’t think you’re understanding me, man. You so much as fucking think about my woman I’ll come find you and shove this gun up your asshole and pull the trigger. Remember my face because it’s the last thing you’ll see before I end you.” I stand up and kick him again. This time in the nuts. “But before I do that, I’ll peel the skin off your balls with a paring knife, cut them off, fry them up, and force you to eat them.”

  Seeing that his skin is now a greenish hue in appearance I think he gets it.

  I close the door on my way out. Outside I make it to the parking lot in time to see the truck Hazel’s driving shoot off with a squeal of the tires. It’s a wonder the hunk of junk doesn’t fall apart with the exertion. I hustle to my loaner but don’t know which route she took.

  Fuck. I smack my palms on the steering wheel and debate going back and finishing that lousy fucker off. She’s probably freaked and on her way home. I travel in the direction of her apartment when I pass by one of those kinky sex toy stores. Since my girl is unpredictable and feisty, I may need provisions. I enter and first thing there is a display of dildos. Should buy the King Kong and go back and shove it up the bastard’s ass for the shit he said to my Honey Bee, but he’s not worth the effort.

  I find what I’m after easy enough. Leather cuffs, a collar, chains, and a pair of handcuffs for good measure. Remote control vibrating butt plug. Wonder how good she can work that pole with one pulsing in her ass while I watch? See a few other things I’d love to use on her but when we get back to West Virginia I have my favorites. Especially the paddle I’m going to take to her ass. My dick practically weeps at the thought of her sweet ass tanned as pink as her pretty little pussy. Going to spank it too while she’s hooked to the spreader bar.

  I pay for my items and drive back to Hazel’s apartment. The truck isn’t here but she’s bound to come home sooner or later. I get inside her apartment easy enough without anyone the wiser. I keep the lights off but do an inspection. The layout is simple. There’s a coat or utility closet by the front door then the kitchen and living room that leads to the back patio and off to the side is the bedroom and attached bathroom. The walls are bare of any decor. No personal items on display. No photographs. Furniture is minimal. I open the drawer of her nightstand. Packets of birth control pills and a nail file. A three-drawer dresser sits next to the closet. I open the closet and find it as bare as the rest of the place. A few shoe boxes in the bottom. Mainly heels and a pair of flip flops.

  I sniff the bottle of perfume on her dresser. Some flowery crap. I hate it. Doesn’t suit her. My mind flashes to when I had her alone in the pool. The taste of her lips. The way she looked at me like maybe she still loves me even though she didn’t know who I am at the time. There’s always been something between us, but we’re both older now. No longer that forgotten boy and that lonely girl who simply wanted someone to love them.

  Hazel was my lifeline. My hope. I was her protector.

  I’ll show her that she doesn’t need anyone but me. That I’m the man who will deliver on the promises I broke as a boy.

  Pilfering through her apartment, I get the sense she’s still lost, but she need not worry. I’ve found her, and I’m never letting her go. I open her top drawer, fingering through her intimate apparel. The black lace is a step up from her days of the week cotton briefs she always wore.

  Next drawer houses some pajama shorts and tanks.

  Hidden under a stack of t-shirts is her vibrator. I grin. I could have some fun with this. Watching her suck it. Fucking herself. Teasing her ass while I eat her cunt. Jesus the filthy things I want to do to her.

  I shake my head and push away those thoughts for now.

  Under her bed though there’s a box. I should have remorse for invading her privacy, but we never kept secrets from one another. Why start now? It’s mostly papers. Her birth certificate. Car title. Lease for the apartment. Looks like she has three months left on it.

  With nothing left to do but wait, I go to her fridge happy to find fixings for a sandwich and a cold beer. I make myself at home but clean up after I eat. I settle in on her couch with my beer and light up a cigarette. And I wait. Soon as I get my hands on her, her ass will be glowing with my handprint.

  Chapter Nine

  Shit.

  Hell. Fire.

  Fuck.

  Fuck me.

  I can’t believe what’s happening. Bruno attacked me. I always have known he’s a dick, but never imagined I’d be in this situation. He left me no choice. I had to defend myself, but I shouldn’t have run. Only I heard someone coming through the back door and I freaked even more than I already am. I cracked him in the head with a lamp and he dropped on the floor like a sack of potatoes. I didn’t know what the hell to do. I got the hell out of dodge. Was it Bruno texting me pretending to be Crystal? It had to be. I chew on my thumbnail and continue to drive with no clue where I’m going.

  My phone buzzes with a call from an unknown number. What if it’s him? What if he comes after me? Or worse, what if I killed him? Sure, he’s a shitty father and boyfriend. Does that mean he needs to die? Ugh. I pull over in a parking lot to answer the call. The last thing I need is to get a ticket in Jackson’s truck. Then he will really think I owe him one. The jerk. All men fucking suck. Every single last one of them.

  “Hello.”

  “Is this Hazel?”

  “Speaking.”

  “This is Crystal’s mom. W
anda.”

  “Is Crystal okay?”

  “She asked me to call and let you know that your car is at the club. She had a bad fight with that asshole, and I had to pick her up.”

  “Oh my god. Can I talk to her?”

  “She’s filing a report.”

  I bite my bottom lip. That means the cops will go question him, and he’s going to tell them I attacked him if he’s not dead. My prints will be on the lamp and the door. What if one of the neighbors saw me? What if I killed him? Crystal will hate me. She might be mad at him now, but she always takes him back. No matter what she is his ride or die, and I swear one day she will die either at his hands or for him.

  “You there?”

  “Yes. Sorry. I’m here. Does Crystal have my keys?”

  “No. Said she left them in the club with one of the girls. I would have called sooner but it took me all morning to convince her to get looked at.”

  “No worries. Tell Crystal to call me when she feels up to it.”

  I hang up. This is a mess. I have the text message that was sent to me from her phone though. Saying she was home to come over. It could help my defense. Maybe. Or maybe I should get the hell out of town. Pack up and go while the getting is good. I could use a change of scenery. I’m over Nashville. I’m over men. I’m over it all.

  I drive to the club on autopilot. I park Jackson’s piece of shit truck next to my car. I don’t want to see anyone right now, but it looks like I’ll have to if I want to get my car and get out of here. I need to take a chill pill and think about my options. A new town and new life can solve anything. At least that is the lie I’m feeding myself.

  I go through the back hoping I can avoid Dirty Tony and Lefty. I should just get in my car and drive until I run out of gas and money and never look back. I can’t do that though. I still have the Holy/Beni situation looming in the back of my mind. Is he even still in town? Will he come back? Do I want to see him again?

  I can’t do anything about him right now but thoughts of him keep flashing to the forefront of my mind as I enter the club.