I look at her dipping my head. “She has a lot to lose, pres, and from this even more to gain.”
Her hopeful eyes stare at me as if in awe as she almost smiles.
Crest nods waving his hand through the air. “You make the choice, woman. You stay here until we can trust you… or you get a bullet right now.” She looks at me tensing all over. “Don’t look at him, girl. You answer me!”
She looks at Crest, standing taller, puffing out her chest with a sternness in her eyes. “Keep your damn bullets.”
I try to hide my smirk at her tenacity while Crest huffs. “Fine, but you’re locked in a room until we’re sure you’ve turned. No questions.”
I nod as she breathes a sigh of what looks like relief, though I’m not sure she knows what this means either.
She has to be one of us now.
She isn’t going anywhere.
Chapter Three
ESTELLA
I stumble as I’m forced through a door. My hands are still bound as the man who seems to be my guardian pushes me inside. The man who, back at the hotel, captured me. The man who’s holding me here against my will. The man who, for some crazy fucked-up reason, I’m so attracted to, it’s doing my goddamn head in.
I’ve always had a thing for bad boys. I always choose the wrong type of guy. There’s something about their dominant attitude and badass persona that draws me in. It’s bad for me—I know it. I need to let it go—and that’s why I’m fighting him so hard. Plus, the fact that the fucker’s kidnapped me and holding me against my will which is probably more pressing right now.
He pushes my back again forcing me to step further inside the room. I look around to see it’s not what I was expecting. It’s almost nice. It has a queen bed, a desk, a bathroom off to the side and even a television on the wall. For all intents and purposes, at least he’s giving me something with the essentials because who knows how long I’m going to be here for.
That thought scares me.
My family will be so worried when they don’t hear from me—when the payments stop coming through. My eyes mist as I think of them and how much I’ve screwed up. I turn around to get another good look at the man, swallowing hard as I take him in. He’s tall, taller than me. His brown hair is slicked back in an almost stylish way as his shaggy beard makes him look rugged and manly.
I bite on my bottom lip as I see the chest tattoo hidden beneath his shirt, which is tight beneath his club cut. His arms are covered in tattoos. He smells of leather and wood, and it’s enticing as I try to fight my mixed emotions.
I should hate him.
He’s damn well holding me against my will.
But he’s also the only man who put his hand up to save me.
I kind of owe him.
And for some reason with him on my side, I think I might pull out of this okay.
He closes the door behind him, and without hesitation, storms up to me. The fierce look and intent in his eyes lets me know he isn’t fucking around. It sends my stomach into knots as I gasp, his quick steps make my hands come up in a defensive gesture to stop him as he reaches around the back of his pants and pulls out a short blade. I tense up shaking my head as fear sweeps around inside of me. Maybe I had him pegged all wrong, perhaps he really is the ultimate bad boy I thought he was in the beginning.
Shit.
I start to back away as he holds the blade up. I thought I could trust him, I thought he was on my side, as he steps up to me dramatically. I let out a small squeal as I try to push him away, but it’s impossible when my hands are tied together. He grabs my arms forcing me to him, and I let out a small scream closing my eyes waiting for the blade to slice my throat.
Tension ripples through me, but all I feel is pressure on my wrists.
He lets out a sexy-as-fuck chuckle. “You’re so tense. I’m on your side… I don’t even know your name?” he asks making me open my eyes one at a time to see he’s cut my wrists free from their restraints.
Relief floods through me as I rub my wrists, nodding to him in a gesture of thanks. I want to throw my arms around him for not hurting me. Actually, I’m not sure he would hurt me, but for a moment there I was concerned. But with hindsight, I don’t think he’ll hurt me. Sure, he held me when I passed out, but now that I think about it, I’m sure that was only to protect me too. The other guy, I think his name was Dux by the patch on his cut, he subdued me. As for the rest, they all looked like they would have made me quiet in a whole different way.
I look to his name on his cut—Aero.
Taking a deep breath, I try to relax a little. “Estella... my name’s Estella.”
His eyes bug open like he’s shocked.
I furrow my brows, confused by his expression as I tilt my head. “What?”
“No, nothing. It’s just… I went into the Air Force a long time ago because of my fascination with space. Now you show up with a name like Estella. A name that’s Spanish for star. It’s just—”
“Weird,” I finish his sentence.
His lips turn up slightly as he nods placing his blade back into his jeans pocket as he rubs the back of his neck. “You’re feisty. Anyone ever tell you that?” He chuckles walking over to the seat that’s at the desk, pulls it out, and then sits down.
I look at the bed as I take a seat. It surprises me how comfortable the mattress is. I finally smile. “Spanish blood is fiery. We’re all a little… hot-blooded.”
He raises his brow. “Keep it up, it’ll keep you alive.”
Aero stands up, turning to walk toward the door. My heart rate picks up a notch as I look for some reason, not wanting him to leave. “Where are you going?”
He chuckles turning to look at me. “To get you some clothes and something to eat.”
“Oh,” I murmur chewing on my bottom lip. I wasn’t expecting that. Tensing up, I sit a little taller. I want to show my appreciation without actually saying thank you. “I don’t like pickles,” I blurt out.
He turns back to me with a bright smile. It’s fucking dazzling. My clit throbs, and I squeeze my legs together to dull the ache.
Fucking hell.
This is not good.
This is so not good!
“No pickles, got it!” He chuckles again grabbing for the door handle, but I can’t help myself, I need to know. “You were doing a drug deal, weren’t you?” I blurt out, and then mentally berate myself.
He exhales, his body visibly shuddering. He turns back to me, his eyes hard, turning darker and more sinister as he stares at me. “What you saw, Estella, you need to forget. The quicker you do that, the better off you’ll be. Trust me. I’m trying to help you, but if you fight me, if this takes too long, I won’t be able to help you forever.”
Fear ripples through me as he turns back to the door before opening it. I spot his gun tucked into the back of his pants and make a mental note of where he keeps it as he walks through the doorway like he didn’t just intend to scare the living shit out of me. He basically just affirmed if I don’t fall in line with these guys and soon, I’m dead anyway.
I grab the closest thing near me after I hear the door close and lock, which happens to be an alarm clock, and hurtle it at the door where he just left. It hits with a hefty clatter then it smashes against the woodgrain with an almighty clang as I slump back on the bed throwing my arm over my face feeling deflated.
Holy shit!
Chapter Four
ESTELLA
He’s been gone for so long, I’m starting to go stir crazy in here. I’ve tried the door handle multiple times even though I know it’s locked. Why the hell did I smash the only goddamn clock in this room?
Good one, Estella!
As I pace the carpet in my bare feet, the plush pile feels incredible against the soles of my tired flesh. At least something about this feels good. My stomach rumbles as I glance out the window to see daylight fading. I checked the window too to see if I could escape through it, but I can’t, it’s bolted and has bars on it. Fuckers
have me locked in tight.
I hear something at the door. It clicks, then the door handle turns. I stand ready for whoever’s coming in. For some fucking reason, I feel like it’s a good idea to get into a ridiculous ninja pose. I have zero ninja moves, but this fucker coming through doesn’t know that.
The door flies open, and Aero walks in holding a tray of something which smells amazing. My stomach rumbles loudly as he looks at me letting out a loud laugh while he takes in my pose. He shuts the door behind him with his foot, and I don’t hesitate to rush at him grabbing a French fry from the tray and shoving it into my mouth.
“Jesus woman, when was the last time you ate?” he asks simply holding the tray as I shovel the food into my mouth. It tastes like fucking heaven, and I don’t even care what a greedy pig I look like right now.
“Last thing I ate was some steamed rice last night, and that’s all I ate yesterday,” I murmur through my full mouth.
His brows crease as he walks with me following him over to the desk as he places the tray on the wooden top gesturing for me to sit down. I do as he sits on the desk next to the tray. I calm down enough to compose myself and look at him. “Thank you.”
He smiles. “And the burger has no pickles.”
I try to hide my smile as I pick it up, ketchup slides down my hand, but I don’t care as I take a big juicy bite. It’s like heaven in my mouth as I eat without pause, without caring. I haven’t had a decent meal in months. All my money goes to my family. So even though I’m being held against my will, this is pretty fricking epic.
He clears his throat as he assesses me. “So, you told me a little about you. Now, I figure it’s my turn.”
I raise my brow stopping mid-bite. “You’re gonna tell me about you, Aero?”
He cocks his brow like he’s surprised I figured out his name. “You catch on quick. You’re smart, aren’t you, Estella?”
I snort. “I thought we were talking about you?”
He chuckles. “Okay. So I told you I was in the Air Force, hence my road name Aero. Planes were my life. I come from a military background but also a motorcycle club background. When my father left the Air Force, he joined the Notorious Knights MC when I was about six or seven, so I grew up loving both.”
I bob my head but continue eating as I listen.
“Dad wanted me to join the club, obviously, him and Mom are still here. But my love of planes and flying was too strong, so even though I was a club brat, I chose the military.”
Furrowing my brows, I put the tiny remainder of my burger down. “But you’re here.”
He exhales. “Yeah, I was destined to be in this club. Probably should have taken this route to begin with.”
My interest is piqued as I watch his expression change. I figure fuck it, I’m going to ask. “What happened?”
He looks to me, a sadness washing over his features. “I was on a mission. My jet was hit with a missile, the blast went off right in front of the cockpit. The jet went down. I managed to eject in time, but my eyesight was damaged. I don’t have the perfect vision needed to be a pilot, especially my night vision. It’s fucked. So, I was medically discharged.”
My heart squeezes as I watch the forlorn look on his face. He looks like he’s actually torn up about having to leave the job he loved. Now I understand why he stopped in that room when the lights were first turned on, and everyone else kept walking around him. His eyes were adjusting. I thought it was weird at the time, seems he’s got issues just like normal people do.
I have mine, he has his.
Maybe we can find some common ground in this tricky situation.
“Wow. I’m sorry that happened to you, Aero. Having to leave a job you loved must have been shit.” I reach out placing my hand on his arm in a gesture of support, shocking myself and him. We look up at each other, our eyes connecting, and it’s like something passes between us—a jolt, an energy, some kind of magnetism is pulling me toward him as a tingle emanates through my fingers on his arm. It’s crazy. I’ve never felt this kind of attraction before with someone. It might be the situation. He’s my captor, perhaps that’s heightening all my emotions.
That must be what this is.
Isn’t it?
He clears his throat, and it brings me back into the moment. I look away quickly taking my hand from his arm as I grab my food and continue eating.
He looks away from me out into the room like he’s contemplating something. “Yeah… thanks. It was hard at the time, but coming back to the club was an easy choice. I belong here. I guess if I didn’t come back, then I wouldn’t be here with you.”
I almost choke on the fry I picked up as I cough making him laugh. He pats my back as I swallow the greasy fried potato and nod. “Yeah, I guess.”
He stands from the table, and my heart rate picks up watching him. For some reason, I don’t want him to leave. “Don’t go…”
He looks to the door then back to me. Letting out a heavy sigh, he nods then sits down on the desk. After he picks up a French fry, he shoves it in his mouth.
I smile at him. “Thank you.”
He winks at me. “Now eat up, so I can get your dessert.”
My eyes widen in delight as I pick up the rest of my burger to devour it.
I don’t know what it is about Aero, he doesn’t seem like the other bikers who are in his club. Whether this is all a ploy to get me to trust him or not, I’m not sure, but right now, it’s working.
But I can’t think like that. He might be gaining my trust, but I have to gain his. This will be my plan going forward—gain his trust, make him think I’m settled and reliable, then take my opportunity to flee. I don’t know how, I don’t know when, but Aero will be my way of escape.
Chapter Five
AERO
A Month Later
Estella’s been here for a month, and in that time, I’ve been going into her room three times a day to bring her meals. To be honest, it’s the highlight of my motherfucking day every time I go in there. The woman is something else. I’ve learned more about Estella in a month than any other woman in my life bar my mother. I’ve honestly never had a connection with a woman like this. The thing is, I think she’s feeling it too even though she’s trying to hide it from me.
Sure, we have arguments over little things, but for the most part, I continue to make her giggle. And fuck if her giggle isn’t the sexiest fucking thing I’ve ever heard. Her husky voice, her slight accent, she has my cock all kinds of hard for her. But Crest, my president, is all up in my face about her being turned, about me making sure she’s on our side. He says she’s a resource hog. That she’s taking up a room, taking our food, and basically, we’re holding her when we don’t know for sure that she will turn to our side. The thing is, I think she will.
Why end a life when we don’t have to?
Why do we have to be that kind of club all the time?
Crest steps up to me as I’m walking toward her room. “Aero, a word.”
I roll my shoulders, turning back to him and nod. “Pres,” I murmur.
“What are you taking to her this time?” he asks.
I look down at my hands. “Just some clothes, she’s been wearing the ones she’s had on for a week. It’s only fair, Crest.”
He grunts running his hand over his chin. “You’re getting too attached to this bitch. If push comes to shove, are you gonna be able to make the call?”
A shudder runs through me as I exhale. “It’s not gonna come to that. But yes, if she won’t turn, then I’ll put the bullet in her myself.”
His stern face softens a fraction. “Glad to hear it. You’re a VP, Aero… remember your position.”
He slaps the VP patch on my cut and turns walking away down the hall. I take a deep breath as I cock my head wondering if maybe I’m going soft. Maybe I am playing this all wrong. Maybe I need to be harder with her. Fuck, I don’t know. I just need her to understand the gravity of the situation she’s found herself in. If she doesn’t know
by now that we’re not fucking around. maybe she is better off in the ground.
Pulling the key from my pocket, I unlock the door and walk in to see her laying on the bed listening to the iPod I brought in for her. Her head swivels to the side. She’s become a hell of a lot more relaxed now she knows I’m the only one who comes in here. No more half-baked ninja moves. I kind of miss those actually, they always made me smile.
Her lips turn up, the dimple on her left cheek dips in as the curve of her lip makes her cheeks pop up in an adorable way. She beams every time I walk in now, and it’s an adrenaline rush that I’m fast becoming addicted to. Seeing the way her eyes light up, the way her body moves toward me like she’s excited I’m here, I have to admit it’s a hell of a rush for me, too. I can’t explain it. I don’t know what’s happening, but I know I don’t want her to go.
“Evening, Estella.”
“Hey, what you got for me tonight?” she asks bounding up to me. She leans in and plants a kiss on my cheek. The lasting impression sends a tingle down my neck and all the way to my fucking cock. It was unexpected. It’s the most affection she’s shown me. I’m shocked, so I stand here like a stunned mullet.
She raises her brow. “You okay?”
I let out a small chuckle. “Yeah. Here’s a change of clothes. Thought you might like something new.”
Her eyes light up as I hand them to her. It’s like she’s a kid at Christmas. She grabs the top. Looking it over—it’s a simple black tank top and a pair of denim shorts. Nothing much, but I’m guessing to her, it’s the world. She smiles as I look at her wearing the pair of track pants and loosely fitting T-shirt I brought in for her over a week ago.
She bounces. “Something a little more feminine. Thank you, Aero.” She walks off to the bathroom to get changed closing the door behind her. The thought of her being naked behind that door is doing crazy things to me as I sit down on her bed and wait for her to come out. “Hey, Aero, I’ve been meaning to ask,” she calls out.
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