Lexi, Property of Rhyder: A Motorcycle Club Romance (Blood Brothers MC Book 6)

by J. A. Collard

  Prez turns to me. “I know you wanna fly out to Mexico, brother, but first, we need to see if Lexi is one of the girls being delivered to the US.”

  I nod, understanding.

  “Promise me you won’t do anything irrational. Let’s do this the right way, and only have to do it once,” Prez states.

  I grind my jaw, everything in my body is telling me to catch the next damn flight to Mexico, but I know Prez is right, and I need to be smart, especially when it comes down to Clemente.

  LEXI

  My eyes flutter open then close again. I’m so tired, my head feels so heavy, and it’s pounding. It is dark, and for a minute, I think I’m dreaming. Slowly, I open my eyes again. My mouth is dry and my body’s so drugged that I am struggling to sit up.

  Slowly, I turn on my side and freeze when I notice a silhouette of a man sitting in a chair in the corner, smoking a cigar. I can’t make out his face only that he’s there.

  With a shaky voice, I ask, “Wh-Who are y-you? Wh-Where am I-I?”

  He doesn’t answer me continuing to puff away on his cigar. Gradually, he stands.

  I try to shift back on the bed, but I can barely move—my head’s spinning. The man walks toward me, and I scream when he places his hand out to switch the lamp on thinking he’s going to touch me.

  Once the light is on, my eyes adjust to him. He’s not as old as I thought. He seems like maybe he’s in his thirties with dark hair and green eyes, and, of course, he’s wearing a suit. My eyes focus on his gold Rolex watch as he takes another puff from his cigar then sits on the edge of the bed.

  I freeze.

  “Please, don’t hurt me,” I beg with tears blurring my vision.

  The man places his cigar down in an ashtray, then gives me his full attention. His eyes travel down my body, pinning on my breasts, and I squeeze my eyes shut allowing the tears to fall. Very gently, the back of his hand runs down the side of my face, then over my neck. His fingertips lightly brush my nipples on the outside of my negligee. I cry out, knowing that even if I try to fight him, I won’t win.

  “You are quite a beautiful woman, Luscious.”

  I widen my eyes open—his accent is American, not Spanish.

  “Who are you?” I ask with hope that he’s here to take me home.

  “I don’t allow questions, Luscious. But what I will say is… I’m your new owner. You can call me Master or Sir Lawrence, and you, my girl, have a ridiculous name. I’m going to call you Red because from now on, all I want to see on you is that red lipstick. Do you understand, Red?” His thumb rubs against my lips, and his other hand travels from my breast to my shoulder. “Have we got an understanding?”

  I sit, stunned, lost for words.

  This can’t be happening.

  Can it?

  “Answer me,” he growls, his voice now sounding more demanding.

  I sink back into the bed, terrified of what’s next. “Yes, I understand,” I reply as fear grips me, causing my voice to come out in a breathy whisper.

  “That’s a good girl,” he says, patting me on the head like some sort of pet. “I paid a lot of money for you.” He leans in closer against my ear, and whispers, “Are you going to be a good girl and obey me?”

  The smell of strong alcohol and cigars reaches my nostrils, and it instantly makes me feel ill. I bite down on my lip to try and stop my chattering teeth and the bile that’s threatening to come up my throat.

  “Sorry, I didn’t hear you,” he says, his tone sarcastic.

  “Yes,” I reply.

  Feeling sorrow in my heart, I know this is it. This is my life now. No one will be able to find me. I’ve now been sold and paid for by this man in front of me. A man I have to obey and God only knows what else.

  “That’s a good girl. Tonight you will sleep here, but tomorrow we leave on my jet to fly to my home where you will live with me. Do not try and leave because all these doors are locked and guarded,” he states.

  I nod in understanding and watch him stand. He’s tall, at least six feet, and looks as if he trains. A lot. His body is firm, and he has wide shoulders with lean hips and wide thighs like an athlete. He said we leave for his house tomorrow.

  Where is it?

  And where is Paige?

  Sir Lawrence walks toward the door, but stops when I cry out, “Do you know what happened to my sister? Her name is Paige.”

  His back is facing me, and I see his body tense and his fists clench beside him, but he continues to walk to the door and open it. But before he leaves, he turns toward me and says, “I told you that you do not ask questions. I’ll give you a pass this time because you are new, but if you do it again, I will punish you instantly.”

  He smiles, but it’s not a happy smile. It’s most definitely a warning.

  “See you tomorrow morning. Get some sleep, you are going to need it.” Then he exits the room.

  When I hear the door click and lock, I hug my arms around my body and cry. I cry for what is going to happen to me. I cry for Paige and the fear she must be feeling and that I cannot protect her. I cry for what once was.

  But most of all, I cry for Rhyder.

  Because this time, I have no savior.

  RHYDER

  We walk into the Sinners’ clubhouse and take our seats with Tate opposite me. He places his hands on the table, and his eyes land on mine. “I got some intel, but you’re not gonna like it.”

  My stomach flips as I fist my hands on the table. “Give it to me straight, Tate. If you know where the fuck she is, then you better tell me fuckin’ now,” I spit.

  “Calm the fuck down, Rhyder. Tate’s here to help us. Don’t go shooting your mouth and shit.”

  I blow out a long, steadying breath and look at Prez. “You’re right, sorry, brother,” I say, looking back at Tate. The problem is I’m going out of my fucking mind.

  Luke takes a seat next to Tate, and he’s ready to speak. Luke’s the Sinners VP. It wasn’t that long ago that the Blood Brothers stepped in to help find Luke’s sister, Amy, for the exact same reason we’re now looking for Lexi. She was kidnapped for human trafficking. Luckily, we found her in time before she was shipped overseas.

  “Look, I get you. I’ve been where you are when my sister went fuckin’ missing last year. We won’t let you down. We will get her back.”

  I clasp my hands together on the table and nod. “Thanks, brothers.”

  When Tate starts to speak, I lean back in my chair.

  “The El Pasos said there’s a shipment of girls being delivered to LA tomorrow night at twenty-two hundred. They couldn’t tell me who the girls are, just that eight of them are on their way here from Mexico.”

  “They got a description of the girls. Hair color? Age?”

  Tate shakes his head. “We won’t know till we see them with our own eyes. They have numbers tattooed on their wrists, and the name and address of the owners they gotta be delivered to.”

  I begin to feel sick, the thought of these young girls being sold and used as prostitutes makes my stomach turn—girls who are just like Lexi. Good girls.

  “So, what’s the plan?” I ask.

  “We can’t act too suspicious. So, a few of the boys and I are heading down to LA to meet with the El Pasos. I told them we’ll be in on the deal, so we can see the women for ourselves.”

  I stand. “I’m comin’ with you, bro.”

  Tate looks at Prez then at me. “Don’t think that’s a good idea, brother. If things go sour, we could be in deep shit. This ain’t a regular job, we’re dealing with fucking dangerous people. Cartels and drug lords have paid big money for these girls. If they so much as sniff something’s up, then we’re jeopardizing Lexi’s life, and the other girls for that mat—”

  “Don’t care,” I interrupt. “I’m comin’, too. Don’t try and stop me.”

  Tate stands and points a finger at me. “You can’t be there. If they catch on to why we’re there, shit will go down.”

  “They won’t. I won’t let anyt
hin’ happen to Lexi or us, I’m not fuckin’ stupid. Prez, say somethin’,” I demand while looking right at him. Prez stares but gives me nothing.

  “Come on, you know how much this means to me. I would never put Lexi in harm’s way.”

  “I know that. What if she is there, though? You gonna be able to handle your temper and lay low without giving any hint you know her?”

  I nod. “I give you my word, Prez.”

  Prez links his hands behind his head and swings on his chair. “All right. Tate, Rhyder, Hawke, Trigger Blaze, and I are comin’ with you. Tracker will drive the van, and we’ll ride our bikes. Tracker, brother, you got any more information on Lexi’s cell?”

  He shakes his head. “Nope, still nothing. Still at the same spot.”

  “Okay. Tomorrow morning, we head out to LA and meet up with the El Pasos.”

  “But what are they gonna say when we rock up with our patch?”

  “I’ve got that covered. Got some cuts for you to wear…” he pauses before he says, “… Sinner cuts.”

  “Mmm… don’t know how I feel about that,” Prez states, his mouth lifting into a smirk. “My patch reads ‘President,’ right?”

  Tate smiles. “Nah, just ‘Jackass.’”

  We all laugh, and then I turn serious. “What’s the plan if she is there? Ain’t no fuckin’ way I’m drivin’ her to some fucker’s house.”

  “Don’t worry, that’s why we have Tracker,” Prez adds. “We’ll make sure he’s the one takin’ Lexi and her sister, and we’ll bring her here.”

  I nod in agreement. “I’m drivin’ in the SUV with Tracker. If she is there, I’m with her in the van. Deal?”

  “Deal,” Tate adds. “Now you got some pictures of Lexi and her sister? We wanna make sure we know who we’re looking for.”

  “Already done,” Tracker says as he grabs some prints and passes them around. He hands me one with a look on his face that says, ‘he’s sorry.’

  Staring at the photograph he’s printed, it’s one of Lexi and Paige together, a picture that was shared on the news. I remember this one well because Lexi’s wearing her graduation outfit, and I was there in the background watching as she took photographs with her friends and family.

  “She’s cute,” Luke says, and I give him a murderous look. “Calm the fuck down, just giving her a compliment.”

  “Yeah, well, keep your thoughts to yourself.”

  Luke smiles. “Don’t worry, bro, we’ll get her back.”

  “I hope you’re right.”

  “Okay, let’s get some grub. I’m starving,” Tate says, and the boys agree.

  Before I walked into church, I noticed that some of the ol’ ladies were cooking up a feast, and a cooked meal is something I need right now.

  “Sounds good,” I reply and stand to open the door.

  Music’s playing loudly in the clubroom, and the club’s ladies are carrying food out the back of the clubhouse.

  My phone rings and I answer the silent number—to my surprise, it’s Brittany.

  “What’s up,” I ask with some annoyance in my voice.

  “Hey, baby, can we talk?”

  I sigh loudly. I don’t want to have any conversation, but I know I need to get this over and done with. If I’m going to try and make things work with Lexi, then I have to deal with Brittany, and now. “Okay… but make it quick.”

  Walking out of the main room, I try to find somewhere quiet to talk. Opening the first door on the right, I step inside, and loud moans are echoing around the room.

  Torch is fucking some whore doggy style with his ass facing us. He looks over his shoulder and says, “I’m up for it if you are?”

  “Fuck you,” I growl, then step out, shutting the door behind me.

  I walk further down to my room and open it. Once I’m inside, I say, “What do you want, Brittany? I don’t have much time.”

  “Don’t be like that, baby. Just wondering when you’re coming back? I have a surprise for you. A very hot and sexy surprise.”

  Running my hand down my face I realize that the only way I’m going to get through to her is by being harsh. “Listen, Britt, you and I… we’re not happenin’ again. I need you to know that this… whatever it was between us… it’s over.”

  Silence.

  Then finally, she asks, “What’s going on, Rhyder? You’ve never turned me down before. Is there someone else?”

  I decide that telling the truth will do no good, so I lie. “No, there’s not.”

  Laughing, she says, “You gotta be fuckin’ kidding me, Rhyder. I know you have needs. Who is she?”

  “You’re right, I do have needs, but that’s no longer any of your goddamn business. Do you get me?” I growl, anger now threatening to spill.

  “I want to know the name of the bitch you’re fucking. The one who’s obviously taken my place.”

  I sigh not wanting to deal with this shitshow right now but know it has to be done. “Listen here… you don’t own me,” I growl while pacing the room “I ain’t never claimed your ass. So you got no say in who I fuck. Now, I said we’re over, and that’s that. I don’t need to explain myself. You’re just a fuckin’ whore.”

  “But… but… I thought I was special to you. I thought—”

  “Yeah, well, you thought fuckin’ wrong. You were nothin’ but a fuck to me. You knew what it was from the beginnin’, so don’t go blamin’ me about feelin’s.”

  Her voice turns low. “What happens to me now? Where do I go?”

  “Don’t care. Go fuck another brother for all I care.”

  “You’re going to regret this, you know.”

  “Yeah, well, let me deal with that.”

  I finally hang up the call, mumbling, “Fuckin’ bitches, thinkin’ they call the shots around here. That bitch has some fuckin’ nerve.”

  Spinning around, I walk over to my bed and sit on the edge of it. I probably could have handled that a little better, but the woman needs to be put in her place.

  Brittany knew where we stood all along.

  I never said once that I was going to claim her.

  LEXI

  I’m showered and dressed in blue jeans and a white linen shirt.

  I woke to a maid in my room asking me to shower and get ready to travel. She handed me some clothing and said that breakfast would be sent to my room. I had tried to get more information from her, but she wouldn’t tell me much, just that my Master will be here soon to answer all my questions.

  Master.

  Knowing I was going to get nowhere with the maid, I headed to the bathroom to shower and change. The undergarments left for me were a black lacy bra with black lace panties. The price tags were still on them, and I nearly died when I saw the value of the garments. The linen shirt and jeans also still had price tags on them and were from expensive labels. I know these labels and how much they cost because my mother wears them, and I see the prices when we shop together.

  After my shower, I applied a little makeup, and when I walked out of the bathroom, my Master was there waiting for me. I could see the disapproval in his eyes, the way he traveled them down my body and up again. I stared down at my clothing and wondered if I was wearing the correct clothes because I thought I looked good when I got a glimpse of myself in the mirror.

  He walked up to me and said, “Where’s your red lipstick? I want you wearing that whenever you’re in my presence. I won’t tell you again.”

  I remember thinking that he couldn’t be serious, but when I saw the look on his face, I knew he was. Scared of what would happen if I disobeyed him, I walked back into the bathroom and applied the red lipstick.

  Here I am now, standing out the front of the house waiting for Master, or Sir Lawrence, as he talks to the limousine driver. I look frantically back at the house, remembering when I arrived here and how Paige and I were scared out of our minds.

  Everything’s gone into fast motion since.

  Has it only been a day since I was sold?

 
Trying frantically to get a glimpse of Paige, I’m disappointed when no one will answer any of my questions. I tried so hard to get information out of the stupid maid, but all she would say was, “Ask your Master.”

  Feeling defeated and lost that my whole world is falling apart around me, I realize that my life as it was is now in the past. The girl who had dreams of going to Harvard and being a surgeon, they no longer exist. The thought of what is to become of me now is beyond my comprehension.

  Master looks back at me, and for a second, I take him in. Chiseled jaw, green eyes that turn blue when the sun shines, dark black hair, and olive skin. He has a day-old growth of hair on his face which only adds to his masculinity. He’s wearing black pants with a strong crease down the front, a white shirt tucked into them, and a silver buckle belt. This time he’s sans tie, with two buttons undone at the opening of the collar, and his cuffs are folded back showing off his forearms.

  Master walks to me, and I can’t help but freeze in position. The arrogance flows off him in waves, and his soul-crushing stare has me scared half to death. He grasps my arm, pulling me toward the car, and the driver opens the back door of the limousine. Master forces me in the back, and I slide over to the other side of the seat as far as I can go when he sits beside me. The driver takes off, and I feel his eyes on me. I continue to look out the window when he says, “Say goodbye to your old life, Red. Your new life will be full of… mmm… how shall I put this…” I turn to look at him, waiting to hear what he says, “… surprises.” Master smiles.

  “May I speak,” I ask, wanting to know more information.

  He nods.

  “Where is your house?”

  His smile vanishes, and he looks out the window while running his hand down his left thigh. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

  I may be able to speak, but I am now more than aware I am still not privileged to any useful information.

  We stay quiet for the rest of the drive, and now and then I catch his eyes on me.

  Driving through a set of security gates, there’s a jet parked ahead.

  We’re flying to his home.