by Atlas, Lilly
With a yawn, she snuggled into the soft couch as she slid closer and closer to sleep.
Whether he told it, or she remembered her version, she just loved this part of their story so much…
CHAPTER NINE
1982 - OREGON
“Ready?” Viper hollered over the rumble of his idling bike.
He rolled his shoulders to no avail. The damn things had hardened like rocks and his neck ached like a motherfucker. Nothing but distance would lessen the intense stress building since yesterday. They needed to get as far away from his club as fast as possible. Then he could finally take a fucking breath.
Cassie’s nervous laugh had him smiling despite what was about to happen. She’d never been on a bike and it showed.
“To get out of here? Hell, yes, I’m ready,” she called back. “To ride on a motorcycle?” Her body shifted as she shrugged behind him, dragging her tits along his back.
There was that uneasy giggle again. Damned adorable sound. “I’m not so sure.”
“You’re ready, Cassie. Just hang on.” Ready or not, they were fucking going.
Her death grip around his waist hugged even tighter. Viper couldn’t help but chuckle. The woman had guts. She was practically trembling behind him but hadn’t voiced a peep of protest or a single complaint. He respected the hell outta her for doing what had to be done despite fear, and without bitching. It was an admirable quality not everyone possessed.
“Oh, my God.” She gasped as she released him to point toward the house. “Viper, look, it’s on fire!”
“I know, baby, that’s our cue to leave. We’re out in the middle of nowhere, but it’s still risky to linger. Just wanted to stick around long enough to make sure Sarge lit the place up. Time to roll.” He hit the throttle and peeled out, spraying dirt in an arc behind him.
He’d warned her they wouldn’t be making any stops on the three-hour trip to Beaverton, Oregon. Long ride for someone whose ass hadn’t so much as sat on a motorcycle, but as he’d expected, she handled it like a fucking champ. In fact, she was so quiet and still, at one point he worried she’d fallen asleep, but when he placed a hand on her thigh and gave it an affectionate squeeze, she threaded her fingers through his and squeezed back. Guess she’d gotten more comfortable riding as time wore on.
A little past midnight, they pulled into the sparsely populated parking lot of what could only be described as a no-tell motel. According to one of the sweet butts who used to work out of this motel, this place preferred cash, was known for being discreet, and was notoriously unfriendly toward local police. Three things they needed, depending on who came sniffing after them.
By now, his club would be well aware their shack had burned up. Viper figured his pops was losing his mind trying to determine if Viper had died, been taken prisoner, or went AWOL. A pang he could no longer ignore hit his heart, and he pressed a hand to the left side of his chest. Not only was he leaving his life behind, but he could never return. Not unless he developed a death wish. This decision was life-changing and permanent.
“You okay?” Cassie’s sleepy voice asked in his ear as though she’d noticed a change in him.
“Yeah, babe. I’m good.” He patted her thigh. “You must be beat.”
“I could be persuaded to sleep,” she said, humor in her drowsy voice.
And just like that, his mood lifted. He liked this woman. Genuinely liked what he’d learned of her and had seen from her so far. Maybe he could convince her to join him and Sarge on their cross-country adventure. She’d said she had nowhere to go. Though he’d be wise to revisit that with her. Supposedly, she came from money. Last thing they needed was her rich mommy and daddy stamping her face on milk cartons all across the country.
He climbed off the bike, then turned to help her down as well. Drawing her into his arms, he smiled at her sleepy face. “Then let’s get you into a bed.”
Immediately, a blush pinked her cheeks, and she stared at his chest instead of his face. He’d meant the bed comment strictly in reference to sleep, but, huh, look at that, the little virgin had a dirty mind. He groaned as she burrowed into his embrace. A dirty mind and a body that fit perfectly in his arms. Like he’d been custom built to absorb her softness.
His dick hardened against her stomach, something she couldn’t possibly miss. Instead of flinching away or acting like he was a lecherous jerk, she sighed and snuggled closer. She must be pretty fucking exhausted not to realize he was seconds away from dry humping her outside a shit motel. “Babe, enough of that or you’re gonna be getting an education you didn’t bargain for, right in this damn parking lot.”
Her eyes were wide and full of disbelief as she took a tentative step back.
He chuckled. “Thought so. Here, put your hood up.” Even though he gave her the instruction, he tucked her long auburn hair into the hood of the borrowed sweatshirt himself. He shouldn’t have, but he couldn’t resist brushing his fingertips along the baby-soft skin of her neck. A subtle tremor ran through her at the contact. Damn, she may be inexperienced, but her body responded as though it knew exactly what it wanted.
Turning away before he got a glimpse of those tired yet curious eyes, he grabbed a crumpled ball cap out of his saddlebag, and shoved it on his head, pulling the brim low. Best they had as far as disguises. “Don’t make eye contact with the guy working the desk if you can help it. We want to be as forgettable as possible.”
“Got it. I bet they have one of those displays with pamphlets of things to do in the area. I’ll browse through them while you check us in.”
“Good thinking.” She sure rolled with the punches well.
Hand in hand, they walked into the lobby of the motel. Cassie played her role to a tee. As soon as they entered the lobby, she kissed his cheek and moseyed on over to the brochure display. Try as he might, Viper couldn’t stop the rush of blood to his cock when her soft lips brushed his stubbled face.
The clerk moved slow as shit, but Cassie had managed to look interested in what the area had to offer the entire fifteen minutes it took him to check them in and pay with cash as Mr. and Mrs. Dickerson. The clerk handed over a key with a large rectangular acrylic keychain. A peeling, metallic number seven indicated their room. After walking out with his arm around Cassie, Viper moved his bike, parking right outside the room so Sarge could find them easily. As long as his brother hadn’t hit any major snags, he would be rolling into town at any time.
Once they arrived at their room, Viper spent a solid thirty seconds working the key into the rusted lock. Cassie stood so close, he could feel the slight tremor of her body, probably a combination of fear and cold. Finally, the door swung open to reveal an unimpressive motel room. He suppressed a chuckle. In her most terrifying nightmares, Cassie probably never imagined herself staying in a place with stained yellow walls, the distinct odor of stale cigarettes, and frayed bedding.
“After you, m’lady,” Viper said, sweeping his arm in a grand gesture.
With a snort, Cassie stepped on into the room. Slowly, she spun. “Classy place.” Her eyes twinkled despite the wariness in her voice. Then she shrugged. “Though it’s about a thousand times better than where I was headed, so it’s a palace as far as I’m concerned.” The teasing expression turned into one of sincere gratitude.
Damn, she kept surprising him. He’d at least expected a wrinkled nose or a shudder at the accommodations from the girl who grew up with a silver spoon. Looked like he had a lot to learn about the rich girl he’d rescued.
As she continued to scan their home for the next few days, Cassie drew the hood off her head. Her hair was a mess from the ride, giving her a rumbled look made cuter when combined with her wind-reddened cheeks.
As though driven by an invisible force, Viper walked to her. He’d only had the barest of touches, yet his hands itched to feel her skin once again. “Let me help,” he said, sliding his hands behind her neck. She kept her mesmerizing green gaze locked with his as he worked her long auburn hair out of the sweats
hirt. This time, he didn’t even try to pretend he wasn’t touching her for selfish purposes. He stroked the pads of his fingertips along her neck, tracing her hairline.
A soft puff of air left her lips, and she quivered as she’d done in the parking lot.
“That tickles,” she whispered as her eyelids fell shut.
“Yeah?” He took a step closer. All he had to do was bend a few inches forward, and those gloss-free lips would be his. For the first time since he started having sex at fifteen, he hesitated. She was a goddamned virgin. A virgin who’d been kidnapped, roughed up, and sold. He might have saved her before they raped her, but still, she couldn’t be feeling too great about his gender at the moment. “Want me to stop?”
A slight smile curled her lips, tempting him even further. “No. Definitely don’t stop. It tickles in a good way. In a tingly—”
“Well, shit, didn’t think I’d be a third fucking wheel.”
Cassie’s eyes flew open and she jumped away from Viper’s touch.
Shit. He turned to find Sarge standing with his shoulder propped against the door frame, arms crossed, and a shit-eating grin on his face. Viper sent an apologetic smile Cassie’s way before running his hand down his face. Nothing he could do to hide the obvious boner tenting his jeans.
Christ, he hadn’t even closed the damn door. Whatever fascination he was developing with Cassie was causing him to lose sight of the big picture. And that could be fucking fatal.
Remaining aware of his surroundings had to be in the forefront of his brain at all times. He couldn’t neglect simple shit like closing and locking doors or they might all end up with bullets lodged in their brains. Well, all but Cassie. Her fate would be even worse. At some point, the club would realize they’d been played and initiate a manhunt. He and Sarge needed to remain vigilant at all times.
Getting lost in the beauty, strength, and courage of Cassie wouldn’t keep anyone alive.
“Hey, brother,” he said as he put a few feet of distance between him and Cassie. “Any trouble getting out of town?”
Sarge shook his head, but his focus lingered squarely on Cassie, whose face had turned an adorable shade of pink
“Sarge this is Cassie. Cas, Sarge.”
“Hi, Sarge,” she squeaked. “I know it’s not nearly adequate, but I want to say thank you.”
With a nod for her, Sarge strode into the room. He made a big production of closing and locking the door. Viper rolled his eyes. If possible, Cassie’s face turned an even deeper shade of fuchsia.
“Ain’t a thing, doll,” Sarge said with a wink for Cassie, as though they’d helped load her groceries in her trunk instead of rescuing her from sex traffickers.
“Everything go as planned?” Viper asked. Cassie inched a step closer to him. Then another. And one more until her shoulder bumped his. And, damn, if he didn’t like the fuck out of that. Meant she felt safe with him. Wanted to be near him. Maybe it was just the high stress of the situation, but he had the distinct urge to puff out his chest and beat his fists against his pecs, Tarzan-style. Instead, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and tucked her to his side. No point in fucking pretending, Sarge had already walked in on him seconds from devouring her.
“Yeah, it’s all good,” Sarge said, eyes shifting between Viper and Cassie. “Place burned fast. All that dry wood. The body burned too, but not enough to be unrecognizable. Now we just gotta hope it buys us enough time to get across the country before the coroner IDs the guy and everyone figures out it’s not really a Scoundrel.”
“Where are you going?” Cassie asked, looking up at Viper.
“Tennessee,” he said.
“Oh, wow, that is across the country, isn’t it?”
Was it his imagination, or did she sound disappointed he’d be going so far?
“That’s the point.” Sarge scratched the back of his neck then met Viper’s gaze. After prospecting together for a year, they’d developed a sort of non-verbal communication. It’d come in handy, even saved their asses a few times. Tonight, though, Sarge didn’t seem to be picking up what Viper was putting down. And that was to keep his ass in the motel room. Priority one was not being discovered.
“Okay, kids, I’m all amped up. Need to find a place to blow off some steam. Wanna join?”
Damnit, could he be more oblivious? Leaving Viper and Cassie alone was a bad fucking idea. He could only resist so much temptation.
“Not smart to be flashing our faces all around town right now, brother.”
Even dumber to leave me with the gorgeous traumatized virgin.
They stared each other down. Sarge’s smirk spoke for itself. Though the man could be described as Viper’s closest friend, he also tended to be a wild card. Nothing cranked Sarge up more than breaking the rules. Going out and drinking while the club was hunting them would give Sarge a rush like no other.
With his attention on his brother, Viper could practically feel Cassie’s gaze bouncing between them. “Oh, um, I don’t think I’m up for it anyway,” she said, twisting the ends of her hair. She gave an uneasy chuckle.
Of course she wasn’t up for it. The poor girl hadn’t slept in days, had been roughed up, frightened out of her mind, and now she was with two bikers she didn’t know. Two bikers from the club who’d sold her. Getting blitzed and dancing the night away probably wouldn’t be on her radar for quite some time.
“Especially in this outfit. Plus, I need to shower.” She stepped out from under Viper’s hold and he immediately missed her soft weight against him. “But you guys go.”
She was crazy if she thought he’d leave her alone and defenseless in this piece of shit motel. Viper scowled at his brother. “I’m staying.”
Relief flashed across Cassie’s face.
“Okay,” Sarge said with a shrug. “Don’t wait up; I’ll be a solid few hours.” He winked at Cassie then started for the door.
Viper clenched his teeth. How the hell was he supposed to keep his hands off her now? Fuck, this was gonna take a feat of Hulk-like strength for fucking sure. That and a superhuman tolerance for blue balls. “Here. Take this.” Viper tossed the oversized keychain to Sarge who caught it with a downward swipe of his hand.
“The fuck is this?” Sarge stared down at the ridiculous key ring as though he was looking at a paternity test with a flashing plus sign.
Cassie giggled. “Think of it as an accessory.”
“Whatever. Be good, kids.” The door snicked shut, leaving Viper and Cassie alone in charged silence.
“Well, um, I guess I’m going to take a shower.” She looked everywhere but at him while fiddling with the string on his hoodie. Christ, when she took that thing off it was gonna fucking smell like her.
“All right,” he said. Hopefully she wouldn’t catch the strain in his voice. “Take your time.”
Without another word, she disappeared into the bathroom. He didn’t miss the distinct click echoing through the room like a gunshot as she engaged the lock. Guess that was that. Cassie didn’t want his company while showering.
Not that he blamed her. Christ, she’d been nearly raped, slated to be raped repeatedly by some sicko who bought her, and to top it all off she was a fucking virgin. Who the fuck made it past the age of seventeen with their V-card still tucked in their wallet? No one in his world.
Yet he had to admit, the idea of seeing her face morph in pleasure as she took a dick inside her for the first time made him hard as hell. Because it wouldn’t just be a dick, it’d be his dick pushing into her warm, wet heat and making her feel pleasure no man had before him.
Fuck, he was so damn turned on his cock had to be leaking like a sieve in his fucking briefs.
With a sigh, Viper dropped onto one of the beds. The damn thing creaked like it was made a hundred years ago. After kicking off his boots, he hefted his feet on the bed and flopped back. Damn, as shitty as the bed was, it felt incredible to be horizontal.
The comforting sound of the shower’s rushing water lulled him into
a pensive state. Just one day, one twenty-four-hour period in his life had changed everything. Instead of rising to the top of a club he’d always considered part of his soul, he was on the run with only one friend and a girl who was worming her way deep under his skin.
He didn’t regret the decision to free Cassie, nor the decision to leave his club. It had to be done. Even at just twenty-one, Viper had a good handle on the type of man he was becoming. He couldn’t take part in what was going to happen to Cassie. Not with his history. He’d never be able to look in the mirror again.
The only potential regret was vanishing without speaking to his old man first. Fox would grieve the loss of his only son with a fierce and vengeful power. Viper’s disappearance would slice a wound that would never heal.
Truth be told, Fox would no doubt prefer Viper’s death to his abandonment of the club. What he and Sarge had done would be viewed as the ultimate betrayal. The greatest act of disloyalty. It would cut his father like nothing else.
If he was honest, Viper was starting to feel disloyal. When he’d patched in, just two fucking nights ago, he’d sworn to do anything and everything asked of him by the club. He’d sworn in blood, to shed more blood to protect his brothers if necessary. He’d vowed nothing would ever come before the club. He’d keep no secrets from his brothers. He’d value nothing or no one above his brothers. The oath wasn’t spoken lightly or until a prospect had proven in action what they’d say in words the night they patched in.
And damn if he hadn’t fucking meant every single syllable when then fallen from his tongue.
Had he known the first test of his commitment would be the one act he couldn’t condone, he never would have made those vows. Because he had taken them seriously. Even if he’d bailed like the boat was fucking sinking. Bottom line, he had to live in this skin for the rest of his years, and if he spent those years trafficking women, he’d end up eating his gun before his thirtieth birthday.
