Several hours later, I opened my eyes. I kicked myself for falling asleep, but I knew it didn’t matter anyway. It’s not like I could sit up and see where we were going. I heard the grumble of the truck pulling off the highway and turning left. I watched as the night sky lit up little by little. We seemed to be driving to some town with an ounce of civilization, which could either be really bad or really good.
“We need to get some gas,” Rip said. “Gettin’ low.”
“I’m starving,” Shark said. “Could go for a couple cold ones too.”
They pulled into a gas station, and the fluorescent lights filled up the truck, illuminating all of us in its garish glow. I stared up and out the window, watching the swarms of hundreds of thousands of bugs that called the lights home.
Rip stepped out and stretched his legs, while Shark stayed in the truck with me. He glanced back at me, shot me a look, and took in our surroundings. As soon as Rip climbed back in, Shark hopped out.
“I’m going to run inside and grab a six pack,” he said. “Watch her.”
“Yep,” Rip said.
I stayed lying down, like a good girl, and wished more than anything that he’d find it in his heart to bring me back something to drink as well. My mouth was parched, and I knew I was becoming dehydrated. Even my eyes were dry. I didn’t think I could cry again even if I wanted to.
Shark returned a few short minutes later with a six pack of icy, cold beer.
“Let’s go get some grub,” he said to Rip. “We should probably feed the girl too. She’s got a long night ahead of her.”
My heart sank. They really were going to pimp me out and make me pay for fucking up their little plan.
Rip started up the truck and we rumbled out of the gravel parking lot and back towards the highway. I looked up through the windows as I watched fast-food joint after fast-food joint pass us by.
“There,” Shark said as he pointed towards the right. “Let’s go there.”
The truck pulled up to a drive thru and Rip and Shark bickered over what to order. I tried to tune them out. Sometimes they were as bad as an old married couple. They, of course, didn’t ask me what I wanted, but I heard them order an extra cheeseburger, so I assumed it was for me. They pulled up to the next window to pay. The sound of music from the 1950s or 1960s pumping out of some outdoor speakers filled the air. It must have been some type of old-fashioned burger joint.
My mouth started watering as best it could at the thought of chomping down on a juicy cheeseburger.
“Guys,” I said meekly from the back. “I’m thirsty too.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Shark said. “We ordered you a drink.”
I was shocked. It was one of the nicer things they’d done for me. Maybe they were starting to soften up a bit?
“Pull back there,” Shark said as he pointed towards a dark area of the parking lot. “We’ll eat there.”
“Street view,” Rip said. “I like the way you think.”
“No, it’s just more secluded,” Shark said. He seemed to be annoyed with Rip, and a little more agitated than usual the entire day. I wondered if he was nervous about something or if he was just super pissed at the way I’d thrown a huge wrench in his master plan.
“What time are we…” Rip asked Shark, purposely not finishing his question.
“In about an hour,” Rip replied.
I knew then and there that something major was about to go down in an hour.
Rip dug around in the paper bag and pulled out bags of French fries, sandwiches and napkins. He threw a cheeseburger wrapped in wax paper back at me like I was some sort of dog.
“There ya go, princess,” he snickered. He unwrapped his sandwich and shoved half of it in his mouth all at once. He was so disgusting.
The burger smelled charbroiled and the cheese was perfectly melted. The bun was soft and fresh, and much to my surprise, there was not an ounce of mayo anywhere on the thing. I took small, manageable bites. Hoping to make it last as long as possible. I knew if I inhaled it, I would be left just as starving as I was before.
Shark reached down and grabbed a couple cans of beer from his brown paper bag. He cracked one and handed the other to Rip, who cracked his and gulped it loudly, burping between each drink.
“Did you get my drink?” I asked.
Shark said nothing and handed me a cup of soda and a straw. I unwrapped the straw faster than I ever had in my life, stuck it in the cup, and took a sip. The cool, refreshing, citrusy drink told me it was none other than Mountain Dew. They were giving me more caffeine. It wasn’t quite an energy drink, but the night was starting off like it had the night before. I tried to focus on how good it felt to wet my whistle and have a warm meal in my belly. That was about all I had going for me in that moment.
CHAPTER 20
I sat in the back of the truck, quietly eating my sandwich and slurping my soda, while Rip and Shark got drunk in the front. Rip turned on the radio and the low lull of depressing country music filled the speakers. I could tell the sound had been moved to the rear speakers, which drowned out the conversation going on in the front seat. I couldn’t have made out what they were saying if I tried.
I watched their expressions and tried to get a read on them. They were up to something. Shark looked more and more agitated by the minute, almost as if he was on edge. Or maybe he was on high alert. Rip seemed like his idiotic, relaxed self. He mostly nodded to whatever Shark was saying to him.
“I’m going to go take a piss,” Shark announced loudly as he climbed out, nearly stumbling to the ground. He was clearly feeling those beers he’d just downed. I watched as he stumbled towards the inside of the restaurant. It was just Rip and me now.
“So what’s the plan?” I asked him, trying to seem casual.
Rip reached up and turned the music down until it was nearly silent.
“Huh?” he asked. I couldn’t tell if he was playing dumb or buying time to try to think of what to say without his brains, AKA Shark, there to think for him.
“What’s going on tonight?” I asked again.
“Already told you,” he replied. “You’re earning your keep. Making us back the money you lost us last night and then some.”
“You know, you could probably make a lot more money by selling me back to Raze,” I said, trying to think on my feet. “Like a ransom.”
Rip raised his eyebrows as if to agree with me.
“Had you even thought of that?” I asked.
“Well then what would be the point of that?” he asked. “That’d be no fun.”
“I didn’t realize this was about having fun,” I said with my arms crossed. “I thought this was about you and Raze.”
“Oh, trust me, sweetheart,” Rip snorted. “It is about us and Raze.”
I figured they got some sort of sick satisfaction by pimping out Raze’s girl. That was the only thing I could think of. I knew Raze would stop at nothing and pay any price to get me back if they put a ransom on my head. It wasn’t about the money, I was starting to realize. It was about power and control.
I leaned back in the seat and sighed. I was getting nowhere with Rip. He may have been dumber than a box of rocks or it may have all been an act, but I was still getting nowhere.
My head began to pound and throb, and I could feel a massive headache coming on. Probably from the dehydration, I figured. I hoped the caffeine from the soda would kick in soon and take care of it. The last thing those assholes would get for me would be any sort of pain reliever.
I looked around the parking lot. Shark should’ve been returning soon and then the night was sure to really get started. It was getting later and later. I figured it was only a matter of time before they’d take me to some local bar and get things going.
Completely out of nowhere, I heard the click of a door handle and Rip went flying out of the driver’s side of the truck. I popped up, startled, and scooted over to look out the window. Rip was lying on the ground and some man was pounding and pulverizing th
e shit out of him.
“Agh, ah, ugh,” I heard as Rip took punch after punch to the face and back. His body made a sick thud as it landed on the gravel. Rocks were flying everywhere.
The man was dressed in black leather and wore a black ski mask, which was unusual for summer. I couldn’t tell if it was a random mugging or a planned attack.
Rip was drunk enough that he didn’t have an ounce of dexterity to even fight back. I saw splatters of blood all over the white gravel parking lot, and Rip’s shirt was quickly tattered and torn. Under the pale glow of the moonlight above, I could see Rip’s face turning growing black, blue, and swollen. Blood dripped from his nose and mouth as he put up his hands to block the swinging punches that seemed to continue without any sort of relent.
Soon Rip was completely passed out. That or he was dead. I wasn’t completely sure. My blood suddenly ran ice cold as the man turned towards the truck and locked eyes with me. In the dark night, I couldn’t see his face, but he had honed in on me. I wondered if I was next and what he wanted.
He took a step closer to the truck and swung open the door, climbing inside.
“Wh-who are you?” I stammered.
He took a look around the parking lot before lifting up his ski mask part-way. I saw the most amazing sight I’d ever seen in my entire life. It was Raze.
“Raze!” I exclaimed as my heart raced. “Oh, my god!”
“Shh!” he said as he lowered the mask back over his face. “Act natural.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Shark returning to the car. Thank goodness he couldn’t see Rip’s limp and possibly lifeless body lying next to the driver’s side of the truck. Shark wrestled with the door handle, still drunk as a skunk, and climbed in the passenger seat.
“Glad to see you didn’t do anything stupid,” he snorted to me. “Got big plans for you tonight.”
He reached down and fished around for another beer in his paper sack and then groaned as he realized they were all gone.
“Well, fuck,” he said. He leaned back in his seat, sighing loudly in frustration.
I sat in the back, frozen like a block of ice, as I waited for Raze to make a move. Somehow Shark hadn’t noticed that it wasn’t Rip sitting in the driver’s seat. It was nothing short of a miracle.
I heard the cocking of what could only be a handgun, and I closed my eyes.
“What the-” I heard Shark say.
“Don’t move,” Raze said in a low growl. It didn’t sound like Raze at all.
“What fuck is this?” Shark said with a smart ass laugh. He was trying to act like he wasn’t intimidated at all.
“What the fuck do you think it is?” Raze growled back. “Don’t move or I’ll blow your fucking brains out all over the inside of this truck.”
“You wouldn’t,” Shark said.
“Try me,” Raze said. “Seriously. Try me.”
Raze held the gun mere inches from Shark’s temple, inching it closer and closer until it was smack dab against his left temple. Shark winced as the cool, smooth metal made contact with his skin.
“I highly recommend the lady in the back closes her eyes,” Raze said in a low tone.
I willingly obliged. I trusted Raze.
I’ll never forget the sound that followed. The explosion. The smell of gun powder. The ringing in my ears. The blood everywhere, splattered across the dash, the upholstery, the windows, and both of us. It happened so fast.
Raze climbed out of the truck, popped the seat forward and grabbed me by the arm. My legs felt like Jell-O from being crammed back there all day, but I ran after him as fast as I could. No matter how fast we ran, though, it still felt like slow motion. Even though I knew Shark was dead, I still wanted to turn back and look over my shoulder. I felt like he was chasing after me, about to grab my shoulder and yank me away from Raze at any moment.
We hurried around to the side of the building where Raze’s bike was hidden between some dumpsters. He climbed on, started it up, and I hopped on behind him. I clenched onto him so tight it probably hurt him, but I didn’t care. I was never letting go of him ever again.
As the fresh air covered our blood-spattered selves and the vibration of the cycle rumbled beneath us, I’d never felt anything so amazing in my life.
Raze had rescued me. I was free.
CHAPTER 21
I don’t remember how long we rode for. The minutes seemed to stand still and fly by all at the same time. It was surreal to say the least. To be riding on the back of Raze’s bike once again, to have been rescued from the evilness that was Rip and Shark, and to be free once and for all was nothing short of a dream for me.
I’d never given up hope completely, but I had my moments over those three days where I seriously doubted I would ever be free.
I rested my cheek against Raze’s back and breathed in the musky scent of his leather jacket. He felt like home to me. He was home to me.
We pulled off to a rest stop along a quiet stretch of dark interstate some time later.
“Raze,” I said as we climbed off and he took a step towards me. My eyes burned and tears wanted to fall, but they were happy tears. “I never thought I’d see you again.”
He cupped my face in his hands and rubbed my cheek.
“Let’s get cleaned up,” he said. “We can talk when we get to the hotel.”
“I’m not leaving your side,” I said as I clenched onto his hand.
“That’s fine,” he laughed.
We strolled towards the bathrooms, hand in hand, and found a private, single stall restroom labeled for family use only. Paying no regards to the sign, we walked in and locked the door. I glanced at my reflection in the mirror. I looked awful. My skin was pale and sallow. I had big circles under my eyes and my dark hair washed out my fair complexion, especially under those harsh fluorescent lights.
Blood spatters covered the side of my face, and dried bits of blood were stuck in my hair. It was almost a metallic scent and one that I’d never forget as long as I lived.
“I’m sorry you had to see me to that,” Raze said with a solemn expression.
“It’s fine,” I said. “I’m glad you did that. Those men were monsters.”
Raze studied my face. I could tell he wanted to ask about everything that had happened, but he knew it just wasn’t the time.
“Let’s get cleaned up and back on the road,” he said. He pulled out a plastic sack. I hadn’t even noticed him grab it. I guess I was too worried about not letting go of him for one second.
He sat out a bottle of shampoo, a bar of soap, and a fresh change of my clothes. He was so prepared and it was damn sexy. I wondered how many times he’d done that before, cleaned up after a crime, but I quickly pushed that thought aside. It didn’t matter now. Not at all.
I turned the faucet on, adjusting the temp to the perfect combination of hot and cold, and lowered my hair down. Raze grabbed the bottle of shampoo, squeezed a glob into his hand and began massaging it into my hair. The water ran red as Shark’s blood rinsed out. It was both disgusting and exhilarating to see those traces of Shark get clean washed away.
His strong hands massaging my scalp was everything I loved about Raze. He was tough yet he had a sensitive, compassionate side. He was protective, yet you didn’t want to ever cross him. I knew he was capable of a lot of things, many of them unspeakable, but I knew he cared about me deeply. I knew he shared with me a side that no one else got to see.
As the last of the blood rinsed from my hair, I stood up and ringed out the excess water, letting it drip clean down the sink. I washed the blood spatters off my face and grabbed the clean change of clothes.
Raze watched as I ripped off my white tank top to reveal a black teddy. His face seemed to temporarily fill with rage at the first sight of the hideous lingerie they’d put me in.
He shook his head and his jaw clenched, but he said nothing. I couldn’t get it off of me quick enough. I peeled off the teddy and slid off the too-loose jeans and tossed them in the g
arbage.
Raze tore off his blood-covered leather jacket, washed his face, and changed into clean clothes. We were almost as good as new, and it was almost as if none of that had happened.
“Ready?” he asked as he looked me up and down, inspecting me.
“Yep,” I said with a smile. It was the first time I’d smiled in almost three days.
We left our bloodied clothes in the bathroom trash and stepped out of the family restroom. Fortunately no one was around to see us, and we took cover under the shade of the night sky. We climbed back on his bike and zoomed up the on ramp, back on the interstate. I didn’t ask Raze where we were going. I knew wherever it was, it didn’t matter. I was back with him now, and I felt safe.
Redemption (MC Biker Romance) Page 17
