Born to Ride

by Kasey Millstead

  I liked the way his eyes shone with more desire for me, until they turned teasing. “I fucked you hard, you screamed my name, and you still can’t say pussy? Babe.”

  “Shud’up and kiss me.”

  He grinned and obliged.

  “You need to get cleaned up, kitten. We got shit to talk about, once a-fuckin-gain, then we gotta get home to the kids.”

  I rolled my eyes, but did a happy dance on the inside, and then shoved him out of the way. “Yes, Talon.” I moved off to the door, picking up my underwear along the way.

  “Well, shit, babe. If all I gotta do is fuck you for you to be obedient, then be prepared to be on your back all the goddamn time.”

  “Whatever,” I snapped. But smiled.

  “Kitten—”

  “Talon, honey. You want me to get cleaned so we can talk or what?”

  “Bathroom’s right across the hall.” He smirked.

  “I knew that.” Although I hadn’t, but he didn’t need to know that.

  After I cleaned up, went back in the office, and had a make out session with Talon, he informed me one of his men had dropped Julian back at my house. Then he told me that Deanna had gone to bed in Griz’s room, as he dragged me down the hall past the main room I'd walked into when we arrived, which was now empty, and into what Talon called ‘the meetings room’. It was just as big as the main room. Two large tables sat in the middle, wooden kitchen chairs piled around it, and they were mostly filled with bikers. A bar—of course, another one—was to the back of the room. Some old arcade games and a ping-pong table—yes, apparently bikers played table tennis, giggle—sat at the other end of the room.

  As soon as we’d entered, and the bikers noticed us, they started clapping, cheering, and swearing. One cheer caught my attention, “Christ, 'bout time you claimed all of her.”

  Holy shit.

  Had they heard, seen, or watched?

  I knew my cheeks were flaming red, and I gripped Talon's hand tightly.

  “H-how?” I whispered to Talon, but apparently, I hadn't said it low enough, because it was Blue who answered.

  “Baby, Talon wouldn't walk in 'ere with a smile on his face after findin' out you'd been kidnapped. And you just confirmed what we guessed was happening.”

  I was more than embarrassed; I was annoyed and pissed. “Oh. My. God. Shut up. Seriously? Right, from now on, no one talks about me and Talon in front of me and Talon—unless, that is, Talon wants guy time and I've pissed him off in some way and he needs to vent. But that's it. We do not—” I turned to Talon, glaring. “Talk about our private time to anyone. Well, except for me, of course. I mean, come on, that's a given; I'm a woman and we talk about this stuff...I think I'll shut up now.” I crossed my arms over my chest, stalked to the table, and plopped down in the chair at the end of the table while the room erupted in laughter.

  “Shhhit, brother, where can I get me one of her?” Someone asked.

  Talon, grinning like a fool, walked over, pulled me out of my chair, sat down, and then tugged me down onto his lap. I tried to move, but he wouldn't have it.

  “She's one-of-a-kind, and what she says, goes. No one is to embarrass her like that again. 'Less you want to hear her rant once more.” Talon chuckled as I jabbed him in his side with my elbow.

  Seconds later, all joking left Talon's body. He stiffened, and eying Blue, Griz, and Pick he asked, “Right, who wants to start with why the fuck my woman was tasered, taken, and got free without me knowing about it?”

  The whole room took on a tenser atmosphere, as if Talon was a lion and they were waiting for him to attack. Maybe that ‘Talon and Zara happy, fun time' hadn't sedated his...pissed-off-ness?

  “Honey, can’t this wait 'til morning? I'm tired, and I'm sure all the fellas are as well. It's been a long night; can't we just go home?”

  “No, kitten.”

  I rolled my eyes, sighed, and looked heavenward.

  “Well, don't blame me if I pass out from exhaustion and hit my head on the table, get a concussion and then have to go to hospital—”

  “Babe.” Talon smiled when I looked down at him. “I'd catch'ya; your head would never touch the table.”

  Oh, wasn't that sweet, but he was totally missing the point. I needed a bed and now.

  “I'm spent. Being kidnapped, tasered, witnessing you tongue-bathing another woman, fighting, yelling, and mind-blowing sex can do that to a person.”

  Hands slapping the table, laughter, chuckling, and shouting made me realize I had just said that aloud.

  Holy crab cake.

  With wide eyes, I looked down at Talon's satisfied face and uttered, “I said that out loud.”

  “Yep.” He nodded, his eyes laughing.

  “See?” I whined. “I'm tired. I need sleep, honey, and now. Plus, I want the kids to wake up with a parent home.”

  “All right, babe.”

  I grinned. “We're going home?” I asked, as the bikers around the table talked and joked amongst themselves.

  “You are. I need to find out what happened. I can't have anyone think they can do that shit to my woman without payback —”

  “Talon, please. It was a mistake. Don't do anything to Travis—”

  “I might just visit him, kitten. But if I don't like what he says, then we're gonna have problems.”

  “There won’t be a problem. He's nice; he's got a daughter, and we're going to catch up for coffee one day—”

  “What the fuck, babe?”

  I sighed. “Don't worry, honey...hey, that rhymes—worry-honey.” I giggled to myself. Yep, I was way overtired now. “Anyway, you don't have to worry. He’s got a thing for Violet, and a history. So she'll be coming with me when we catch up, a-a-and, if you want to work things out with your sister, it may be good not to off the guy she likes.”

  Talon shook his smiling face. “You make friends wherever you go, even after the guy fuckin' kidnaps you. Babe, get your ass home for that sleep before the kids wake up.” He looked over my shoulder. “Pick, take Zara to my house.”

  “Sure, boss,” Pick said, standing from the table, suddenly looking gloomy.

  “Kitten, I need your mouth before you go; and don't worry...I won’t off the guy.”

  “Thanks, honey.” I grinned and kissed my man.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Pick drove for a long, silent, fifteen minutes. He seemed to have something on his mind and any other time, I would have asked about it to see if I could be of some help, but I was beat. We pulled onto a dirt driveway that woundaround to a massive ranch-style home. It was the prettiest white, weather-boarded house I had ever seen, with a large deck surrounding it.

  “Wildcat, wait here a sec before we go in. I need to make a call.” Without an answer, he climbed out of the car, shut the door, flipped his phone open, and placed it to his ear. I couldn’t make out what was being said; he was speaking in a hushed tone, but whatever it was, Pick didn’t seem happy about it at all. He waved his free arm wildly in the air trying to get some message across that, obviously, someone wasn’t getting.

  I turned my attention back to the house; most lights were off except the porch, and what I presumed would be the lounge. How had Talon afforded a place like this? It looked as though—from what I could see in the dark—that along with the house, there was some mighty big acreage going on.

  “Fuck,” I heard yelled, bringing my gaze back to Pick just as he pounded the bonnet with his fist. He swung the door open and snapped, “Let’s move.”

  Undoing my belt, I got out and met him at the front of the car. “Pick, are you okay?”

  He grabbed my upper left arm and pulled me toward the house. “No, Wildcat, I’m not. I hate my fuckin’ life right now. All I ever do is try to protect my ma, but she just keeps bringin’ shit into her life, and then I have to fuckin’ fix it. It sucks.” We stopped just outside the front door as he turned me to face him. “Shit, Zee, sorry.”

  “Don’t worry about it; you need to talk to get it off your c
hest, and maybe when I’m not so dogged-tired, I could have some great advice for you, but right now, I doubt anything that came out of my mouth would be understandable.”

  He hunched and looked to his feet. “You’re a great person, Wildcat...and, I’m sorry—”

  What?

  The front door opened to a smiling Vic. “Come on in, sweet-stuff.” He reached out and grabbed my hand, dragging me forward, but I couldn’t move my gaze from Pick. He seemed truly worried and remorseful.

  He met my stare and whispered, “I would never have done this if it weren’t for me protecting my ma. Never. I’m sorry.”

  Shaking my head, I smiled. “Pick, what are you talking about?”

  “Momma.”

  I spun so fast I would have fallen if Vic still didn’t have a hold of my hand. “Maya—” It was then I took in the scene in front of me, and I felt sick to my stomach. “W-what’s going on?” I asked with wide eyes, staring at Julian and Mattie sitting on the floor near the far wall, cradling a scared Maya and Cody. I turned to Vic and noticed for the first time that he held a gun.

  “Have you worked it out yet?” he smirked.

  “Not really,” I hissed, ripping my hand from his grip. “But please, enlighten my tired brain.”

  He chuckled. “I can see why Talon likes you, showing balls in the face of danger. Please, have a seat while we wait.” He shoved me to the couch near my family.

  Straightening my clothes and myself, I looked over to the children. “It’s going to be fine, okay?”

  “Yes, Momma,” my brave Maya said. Cody nodded.

  Looking back at Vic and Pick—yes, any other time I would have laughed at the rhyming, instead I said, “I can sort of understand your reason why, Pick. But Vic, why?”

  He shrugged. “I need the money.”

  “What’s he paying you to deliver me?”

  “Smart girl.”

  I shrugged. “Doesn’t take a genius to work it out.”

  “I guess not. Between the four of us, we get fifty thousand each. Easy money really. All we have to do is keep you here ‘til the delivery guys arrive. Easy as pie.”

  “Do you really think you’ll get the money in the end?” I studied him. “Oh my God, you do. Well, I guess you’re as stupid as you look.” I laughed, until he wiped that laugh from my face by slapping me. My head jerked to the side. Maya screamed; Mattie swore. “It’s okay. I’m okay,” I reassured them.

  “He will pay or he knows I’ll come after him,” Vic screamed.

  “Chill, man,” Pick said.

  “You fuckin’ chill. I’m not the one chickenin’ out. Now everyone shut the fuck up.” He glared at me and took a step closer to say, “I may have to deliver you and the kids, but it doesn’t have to be in one piece.”

  I gasped. “Kids? No, please no. Leave them here, please.”

  Vic chuckled a sardonic laugh. “I don’t think so. At least then I know you’ll behave. Not only for them, but if you try shit on the delivery, I’ll kill your brother and his...” he looked at Julian in disgust, “thing.”

  Jesus. What the hell am I going to do?

  “W-why Cody too?”

  “To shove it up Talon. Thinks he’s hot shit; I’ll show him.”

  “And you’re okay with this, Pick?” I asked, tears threatening.

  “No.” He shook his head, again looking to his feet. “But if I don’t get that money, my ma will be killed by loan sharks.”

  “Talon would have helped you. Why didn’t you go to him?”

  “I couldn’t. I was...ashamed.”

  “And you thought this was the best way out of that black-hole? To ruin other people's lives? Especially one who took you in, who looked out for you.”

  “Shut up, bitch,” Vic snapped, hitting me in the back of the head.

  “Vic, don’t,” Pick growled.

  “Don’t get a conscience now. Man up, fucker.”

  “God, please, please, just let the kids leave with Mattie and Julian. Please, I won’t make any trouble; I promise. I won’t do anything; just let them go.”

  “Zara, it’s no use,” Mattie said. I turned my wet eyes upon them.

  Regret.

  All I could feel was regret, because they were here because of me. I’m sorry, I mouthed. I watched Julian’s bottom lip tremble as he gripped Maya closer, and Mattie shook his head at me with a sad smile upon his mouth.

  “W-where are t-the others that came here? Didn’t you get dropped off, Julian?”

  Vic laughed. “Still holding out for someone to save you? Won’t happen tonight. Your man will be very busy with the planned distraction.”

  “What?” I hissed through clenched teeth.

  “Yeah, I saw that bitch at the pool all over Talon. She didn’t like to be dissed as nothing. So I approached her, asked her to help me out a bit. She went home crying to her fella. I rang her and told her where you’d be...after my man Pick had informed me. She mentioned it to her man, and he sent his guys to pick you up. Didn’t think it’d be that easy, but you were stupid enough to go to the crappa on your own. So now, Talon will keep himself busy defending his woman, and while that’s happening...” he laughed, “his life will be shattered right from under him.”

  The room fell silent.

  All I could think about was scratching out his eyes. How dare he do this to Talon, to Cody and Maya?

  Julian cleared his throat. “I was dropped off out the front, pumpkin. Walked in here blind to the trouble, just like you did.”

  “The other guys left when...” Mattie pointed at Pick, “he called them and told them it was fine to cut the guarding down to one. Vic offered to stay.”

  Shit. They had it all worked out.

  I wanted to crawl up in a protective ball and cry; but then again, I wanted to rip their dicks off and slap them over their heads with them.

  Oh, God. Talon.

  He was going to go crazy, especially when he found out that I’d dragged his son, his only boy, into this mess. He’d be on a warpath, and anything that crossed it was going to be destroyed.

  I didn’t even get to tell him I loved him.

  Love him.

  Because I did.

  Sure, to start with it was lust at first sight. But the care, the gentleness and protectiveness he had shown me...not only me, but Maya, and even Deanna, Mattie and Julian, had my heart beating in love for the first time in seven years.

  All I could do now was suck up all my emotions and feelings, and stay sane and safe for the children. They were what mattered now.

  What a fuckin’ well-planned night.

  I was just about ready to see my ex and punch him in the gonads for this.

  I shook my hands out and rubbed my eyes. I was beyond tired, but I had to stay focused for the kids.

  What about Mattie and Julian?

  Yes, what was going to happen to them once we left? I looked over to my beautiful brother and brother in-law. I wouldn’t be able to handle it if something did happen, but I really didn’t like our chances.

  “It’s okay, sis.” Mattie smiled. Had he read the anguish in my eyes?

  We all turned to the sound of a vehicle coming up Talon’s dirt driveway.

  “They’re here,” Vic said. He went to the window, looked out, and then walked out the front door to greet them, leaving Pick behind.

  Duh. I had felt like saying, sarcasm was something I hid my fear behind, but now wasn’t the time for it.

  “Come on, poppet. Go to your mum,” Julian said, as he helped Maya stand on shaking legs. She hugged and kissed them both, whispering something in their ears, causing them both to pull their lips between their teeth. Maya then ran to me and climbed onto my lap, her tiny arms encircled my neck.

  Mattie coughed to clear his throat. “Up you get too, Cody,” Mattie ordered. Cody mumbled something to them and they nodded.

  Shit, shit, shit. I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t leave my brothers. I closed my eyes to fight the tears.

  “Zee, honey.
” I opened them to Mattie. He ushered Cody forward, and Cody came to sit at my side. I placed my arm tightly around his shoulders while I held Maya just as tight as I could with the other.

  Looking back at Mattie and Julian, I forced a smile. “I love you g-guys.” I bit my bottom lip for control.

  Mattie stepped closer to a crying Julian and placed his arms around him. “We love you too, sis. And we wouldn’t change anything, we still would have come; we still would have stayed because it meant we got to spend more time with you. You, who I have missed for six years.”

  I closed my eyes and nodded, leaning my head against Maya’s as she hid her face in my shoulder. I wasn’t surprised that she hadn’t cried. When she was under stress, like I had witnessed when she went for her first swimming lesson, she turned quiet. Her fear built inside her, and the only way she really showed it was through her body. She was shaking like a leaf in the wind. Just for that, and the fact that Cody showed his fear by being a silent statue, his form was as stiff as board; it made me want to buy myself a machine gun and shoot Vic while he tried to run for his life.

  Though, I knew I wouldn’t have it in me to harm Pick. I could tell that he honestly would not be involved in any of this if it wasn’t to save his mother. Anyone could see that he knew this was the wrong choice. He was the one who was going to have to live with this regret...and that was only if Talon didn’t get to him first.

  Still, it also showed me that Pick was loyal. But in my opinion, he was being loyal to the wrong person. Yes, it was his mother, but a mother should never have dragged her own child into her mess. A mother was there to protect and provide for her child...not the other way around.

  I felt for Pick, because in one way or another, he was going to be living his own personal hell.

  Of course, I wouldn’t allow myself to feel too deeply for him, because if he hadn’t played a part in all this, I doubted I’d be in this situation.

  Julian cleared his throat and clapped. “Enough of this crap. Honey, do not worry; we’ll be fine, and you’ll all be fine. Cody’s superhero daddy will come to the rescue. Won’t he, mate?”

  “He will.” Cody nodded with confidence.