by Jenika Snow
Her father had a heart attack at the wheel; the shock of the accident causing his already fragile organ to fail. She had seen it happen but before any of them could react, the car had gone over the ledge and rolled down the rocky verge, smashing all the windows on the way down. There had been a piece of glass embedded in her eye, and she was now completely blind in that one because of it.
Her fiancé, Brando, had been able to save her. He’d disconnected her belt buckle and pushed her out of the broken back window. She had swum to the surface and collapsed on the edge of the water.
No one else had come up after her.
She had been found a couple of hours later, she had been told when she woke up. They had pulled her father’s car out of the water. Brando hadn’t been able to unhook his own belt. He had drowned, along with her mother.
God, a tragedy of the worst kind.
Horrible. Her engagement dinner turned into the worst night of her life.
What made it worse? She hadn’t cried, not once. Not for her father, mother, her fiancé, or even her eye.
Everything had changed, and yet, she couldn’t bring any tears.
She sat down on the path, staring at the gravestones. It was late at night, and she had a torch, which she used to light up the three people who meant everything to her.
“You’re a strange person, Constance, but I love you.”
Brando would always say that to her.
She couldn’t cry, and she had always struggled in so many situations. From the time she was a kid, she wasn’t like anyone else. They always wanted to fit in, and be like each other. She was happy to run around the school playground playing fairies. There was never a best friend for her, and she didn’t need one either.
Life just seemed so much more fun being alone.
There was no one to judge.
No disappointments.
No expectations.
Life was just what she made it, and that was fun.
Then Brando had come along. Sweet Brando. He was charming and nice. Her first and only crush, and even now she couldn’t be sure if it was so much as a crush, or just because he was the first guy who didn’t strike her as an asshole. Either way, it didn’t matter.
She touched her cheeks, expecting to find some tears, but once again, they were dry.
The sound of the main gate opening had her turning, pointing the flashlight at a dark figure.
“What the fuck? Get that shit out of my eyes.”
She moved the light and shone it on the headstone of her loved ones. “Sorry,” she said. “No one usually comes here late at night.”
“It’s probably a good thing.”
She stared at the headstone and knew it was time to leave. She had to go back home and get prepared for the rest of the weekend. Only she couldn’t bring herself to move.
She stood, the flashlight catching the man again. Constance saw his leather jacket with the logo. He was a biker, an MC member.
“Do you spend a lot of time alone in graveyards?” he asked, moving next to her and rubbing at his eyes.
“Yeah, I do. I have family here.” She pointed the light ahead of her.
“You don’t think to come during the day, when it’s safer?”
I’m standing with a complete stranger right now and it’s not awkward.
“I don’t come during the day.” She loved the darkness. When she came during the day, people watched her. She hated that. The stares. The way they were constantly trying to figure her out, as if they could. None of them had a clue about her. “I like being here at night.”
“It’s creepy.”
“Coming from the strange man who is here with me?” she asked. “That’s not creepy? Why are you here?”
“Because I want to be here. It’s quiet, peaceful even.”
A moment of silence passed.
“Who are they to you?” he asked.
Constance frowned and looked at him. She didn’t answer right away.
“I’m curious, and nosy as hell.”
She smiled. He smelled of oil and leather, and it was a strange scent, yet comforting, pleasant.
“They’re my family.” She pointed the flashlight to the headstones as she spoke. “Mom. Dad. Fiancé.”
“Damn.”
Yeah, that pretty much summed it up.
Chapter 2
He shouldn’t have said anything to her, but dammit if Vengeance didn’t feel this sadness, darkness coming from her.
Vengeance knew he should have kept walking, given her the space, the privacy. But shit, even a gated cemetery wasn’t safe. He’d gotten in just fine, and that meant anyone else could too.
“What’s your name?”
She didn’t say anything for long seconds, and for a moment he thought maybe she wouldn’t. It wasn’t his fucking business anyway. Finally, she turned and faced him.
“Constance. You?”
“Vengeance.” He stared at her, the glow from the flashlight allowing him to see her face. And she had a beautiful one. There was a jagged scar along one of her eyes, and he could see it was blind by the cloudy color, but Goddamn, she was gorgeous.
Her long dark hair moved along her shoulders, the wind teasing it, kissing it. Her bone structure was delicate, sharp even. She stared at him in the way he was watching her. Maybe she was taking stock of him, as well? Maybe she was wondering why in the fuck this biker was watching her.
They sat there for long moments, neither speaking. She had him curious, made him want to ask questions, get to know her more. He didn’t even know her, but fuck, he wanted to change that.
“How’d you get a name like that?”
He glanced at her and saw her already watching. Normally he would have just told her, would have just fucking spouted off the truth because he didn’t give a fuck. But a part of him wanted to lie, to make her see he wasn’t this bad guy. In the end he didn’t want to lie to her.
“Because I’m the first brother in my club to go after a fuck who had wronged someone I care about.” He looked at her, wondering what she thought, how far she’d delve into what he’d just said.
“Your club, the MC?” She gestured to his cut.
He nodded. “Yeah, my family. The Soldiers of Wrath.”
She was silent after that, looking at his cut, the patches, everything that made him part of the brotherhood.
“So what do you do to people you hunt down? Beat them? Worse?” There was no accusation in her tone, no judgment. She sounded genuinely curious.
Again, he wasn’t going to lie, even if trying to be the “good guy” might not have had her running in the other fucking direction.
“If it comes down to it, yeah.” He stared at her, but her expression showed no emotion.
“They deserved it?”
He nodded, not missing a beat.
“And you’ve killed men?” Again, no emotion, just curiosity.
“Yeah,” he said, not sure if admitting that had just scared the fuck out of her.
She didn’t know if she should run as fast as she could from this biker or give him credit for being honest. In the end she found herself still sitting beside him, curious as to what kind of man he was.
He admitted to being a killer, yet she didn’t feel fear for him, didn’t even feel like he’d hurt her. There was a lot of comfort being in his presence, admitting what and who she lost, and not shying away from him.
“What does it feel like, killing someone?” She was curious, her life so confused, so broken after what she’d lost, that touching darkness seemed like the perfect thing, the right thing.
He stayed silent for long seconds, and she wondered if he’d answer her at all.
“Don’t I scare the fuck out of you?”
She shrugged. “You should, I know that, but I don’t feel any fear with you. It’s weird, I know.”
He ran a hand over his head, his bicep flexing, showing off his strength, his power. “Sometimes it feels good, really fucking good because it’s wh
at they deserved.” He shrugged. “Other times you can’t have emotion. You do what needs to be done because it’s for the good of the club.” He shook his head, and this strange expression filtered across his face. “I can’t believe I’m telling you any of this.” His chuckle was humorless. “I don’t even know you.”
Yeah, she knew what he meant. “Sometimes the best people to talk to are the ones you don’t know.”
Chapter 3
This had to be one of the weirdest conversations he had ever had. “You ever thought about killing someone?” he asked.
Constance shrugged. “No. I can honestly say that I’ve never thought about ending anyone’s life. Why would I want to do that?”
“You asked me what it was like and we’re here in a graveyard full of death. Are you one of those freaky chicks that gets off by being around dead things?”
She burst out laughing. “Are you for real right now?”
“I just thought I’d ask, and besides, it made you smile.”
“Very true. Congratulations, Vengeance. You made me smile, which I never thought would happen in a place like this.”
“So we’re getting off to a good start then.” He stared at the headstones.
“If you’re part of an MC, why are you out here late at night? Shouldn’t you be partying it up?”
“I needed a break away from all that shit.”
“All that shit…” Her voice faded. “I get that. When my parents and fiancé died, everyone was always staring at me, full of pity. My entire life had completely disappeared, and then all of a sudden, it was like everyone could tell me how great everyone was, you know? They didn’t give a shit when they were alive but now they were suddenly going to start telling me how good they were, and they wouldn’t be replaced.” She stopped, and he heard her sigh. “Sorry. I don’t know you. I really shouldn’t be talking about this shit with you.”
“Well, if you can’t talk to a stranger, who can you talk to? You’re alone in the world. Did your doctor advise some kind of therapist?”
“She advised, and I declined it. I’m not the kind of person who can sit around and talk all day. They’re dead, and I’m moving on.”
“You’re moving on sitting in a cemetery late at night with a flashlight.”
“I’ve got nothing better to do. What is your excuse?” she asked, shining the light on his face. “What scary things are in your closet, Vengeance?”
“Not a lot. I’m a boring guy with a boring future ahead of him.”
“Even being in an MC?” she asked. “And with all of your killing? You’re a bad ass, Vengeance. There’s no denying it.”
“I’m not denying it. I’m not exactly scary right now. I’m in one of the most morbid places in the world with you.”
She chuckled. “Yeah, you really do need to start questioning your priorities. But then again, so do I.” She sighed. “As much fun as this could be, I’ve got to go home. I shouldn’t be out after dark.”
“Leaving already?” he asked, getting to his feet with her. It was rather strange but he didn’t want her to leave.
“My sanity. See you around.” With that, she made her way out of the cemetery. What a strange, but very incredible woman.
He couldn’t leave it at that, though, and so he followed her out. “Hey,” he said.
She stopped, looking at him. “What’s wrong?”
“How about I take you to dinner?”
“You do know it’s late.”
“Then how about I take you for coffee?”
She smiled. “Sure. Coffee sounds great.”
They walked side by side down the long street.
“So, are you seeing anyone?” she asked.
“No. Why do you ask?”
“Small talk. I didn’t know if you had an old bird or something.”
“An old bird?” he asked, laughing.
“What do you call the women that you keep?”
“They’re old ladies.”
“What about the girls that you screw and don’t have a care for?”
“They’re clubwhores or sweetbutts. And they are there because they want to be.”
“What charming names.” The sarcasm was dripping from her.
They found a late-night coffee shop. Entering, he took a seat at the counter, along with her.
“Hey, Benny,” she said.
“You bringing in some trouble?” Benny asked, teasing.
Vengeance sat down at the counter too. “I come in peace.”
“He’s fine, Benny. We’ll take two of your coffees.”
Benny nodded.
“You come here often?” Vengeance asked.
“Yes. I do. Going to the cemetery is thirsty work.”
Benny approached and put down their coffees. “You okay?” he asked, looking at him.
“You’re killing him with your look, Benny. Believe it or not, I think I may have just found a new friend.” She smiled at Vengeance.
He didn’t have a clue what he was doing with this woman, or even why he was here now. None of it made any sense to him.
She picked up her coffee and blew across the surface.
Vengeance was taken by her beauty, and how she didn’t seem to try to impress him. The women he had been around at the club were always intent on impressing him, getting his attention.
Well, not just his attention. They wanted anyone they could get.
“You’re staring.”
“I am.”
Vengeance was a strange man but to Constance, he had her heart in a flutter. She didn’t know what to think of him but then, what did he think of her? She had been staring at gravestones and he had sat with her.
She liked the way he kept looking at her, as if she were the only person in the world. Sipping at her hot coffee, she knew Benny was worried about her.
Vengeance was well over six feet tall, and built of solid muscle. No one would be able to stop him, if he decided to do something scary. But she felt safe with him, which was weird given the fact they had just met.
The air of fear that people seemed to feel around him thrilled her. She didn’t know why, but it was nice being with someone who made people feel something more than pity.
“Do you ever get used to that?” she asked.
“Get used to what?”
“People kind of scared of you?” She watched his lips, waiting for him to speak.
“No, I really don’t care. I’m used to people being afraid of me.”
“Don’t you ever want to … be the same as others? You know, follow what other people do?” she asked. MC members were known for defying tradition, right? They did what they wanted without a care in the world. Or at least she assumed.
“I do whatever the hell I want to. Don’t you ever want to forget what people are thinking?”
She smiled. “Always.”
He tilted his head to the side, smiling at her. “I bet you’d be one party animal if you just let yourself go.”
“I’ve never given it a try.” She was tempted to, though. How many times had she thought about just screaming at life, and going ahead and doing her own thing? It had been too many times. Biting her lip, she watched as he took a long swallow.
“You ever gone on a ride on a motorcycle?”
She shook her head.
“What do you say to a ride?” he asked.
“Really? Now?”
“Yes.” Vengeance finished his drink and threw down some money onto the counter. He held his hand out. “Come on. I promise it’ll clear your head.”
Hell, he could have been a psycho, but damn, she wanted to go.
Her heart began to pound, and she stared at that hand. It offered so many different possibilities it was impossible to focus on just the one. Should she take the hand and take a chance, or ignore it and go back to her boring life where she followed everyone else? Their pity, their concern, she was tired of it. She was fed up.
“Constance,” Benny said, warning, or maybe concern in his
voice.
She turned toward the man she had come to know because of her late-night cemetery visits. There was worry on his face, and she just knew.
There was only one way to break out of this world that she had created for herself, and so she took Vengeance’s hand. “I’d love to.”
Chapter 4
She couldn’t believe she was doing this, just following this biker out of the diner, getting onto his motorcycle and putting the helmet on. She’d never been so wild, so reckless. Her car was still parked at the cemetery, the walk to the diner short, allowing her to clear her head.
But right now, she almost wished she’d used more common sense. He had admitted to doing violent things, to killing people, hurting them. He didn’t mince his words, didn’t lie to her about it. And here she was, about to ride to who the hell knew where for what … a little freedom?
“Ready?” Vengeance said, his head cocked back, this small smile on his face. That one gesture seemed to change the way he looked, had him seeming soft, almost gentle. She wasn’t fooled, though. He was a hardened biker, dangerous, violent to anyone who crossed him.
But she felt safe.
“Ready.”
He started the engine and she wrapped her arms around his waist, holding on tight.
And then they were off, driving down the darkened road, the streetlights passing them in intervals.
Constance closed her eyes, loving the wind that rushed through her hair. She smiled, not able to stop herself. She did feel free in this moment, the pavement below them, rushing, disappearing. They were going far faster than they probably legally should, but she didn’t care. She loved this. Nothing held her down.
He revved the engine and took the corners tightly, having her heart jump in her throat for a second before calming. She was lightly sweating, adrenaline rushing through her veins, causing her to want him to slow down … yet go faster.
She had no clue where they were going, but right now it didn’t matter. Right now she felt like she had the world in her hands.
