by Nicole Fox
“Oh! You pretty things. Don’t you know that you’re driving your mamas and your papas insane?”
We finished the rest of the chorus and Zane ended the song with one last strum of the F chord. Once done, he set the guitar onto the couch and sat back.
“Damn,” he said. “You’ve got a hell of a voice.”
“You’d know that if you bothered to listen to my CD,” I said, flashing him a grin that let him know I was just joking around.
“I know, I know,” he said. “I’ll make sure to remedy that little situation as fast as possible.”
“And … you and I don’t sound half bad together,” I said.
“Nah,” he said. “I’m not much of a singer; I’m best behind the drums.”
“Just because you’re awesome at the drums doesn’t mean that you’re not a front man,” I said.
He gave me a curious look before hopping off the couch and making his way to the kitchen.
“Want some breakfast?” he asked. “I just made it.”
“Sure,” I said, suddenly feeling very hungry.
As Zane got the plates together and returned to the couch, a thought occurred to me.
“You look like you’ve definitely got something on your mind,” said Zane, handing me a plate of scrambled eggs, sausage, and toast.
“I do,” I said, looking away. “I mean, I don’t know.”
“Let’s hear it,” he said, stabbing a sausage link and bringing it to his mouth.
“I mean, I love my band, but we’ve hit kind of a creative rut. I don’t think it’s a surprise that we haven’t really gained any traction in the scene around town.”
“Doesn’t help that you’re getting mixed up with local biker gangs,” he said with a smirk.
I let out a light laugh.
“You’re right about that,” I said. “But maybe it’s time for me to take a little break from Vampire Hideaway, try something a little different.”
“Different like what?” asked Zane.
“Like this!” I pointed to the space between the two of us. “You and I seem to get along in so many other ways,” I said. “Maybe we ought to try something more creative.”
“I like to think I’m pretty creative in the bedroom,” he said with a smirk.
“Very true,” I said. “But we can’t exactly do that onstage.”
Zane laughed. “Fair enough,” he said.
“Plus,” I went on, “it’s not like I have a lot going on right now.”
“You don’t consider being pregnant and on the run from a vengeful biker gang to be ‘a lot going on’?”
“I mean as far as work,” I said, giving him a playful slap.
It was strange—I should’ve felt totally scared, like I had been for the last few days. But being here with Zane made me feel like I didn’t have to be scared of anything. He was here for me, and I knew that he’d do whatever it took to keep me and our baby safe.
“So,” he went on. “You want to form a band.”
“I think it’d be a lot of fun. And who knows—maybe we’d get even bigger than Revv?”
“Now, let’s not go crazy,” he said. “But … I think we can at least give it a try. Maybe you can sit in with the guys and I and we can, well, just see what happens.”
“I’d like that,” I said. “Maybe we could even do something on stage as a duet.”
“That’s also a possibility,” he said. “And I’m thinking that it’s time for you to meet the boys either way. You oughta come in tonight to a meeting, just so the dudes can get a good look at the girl who I’m starting to be totally crazy about.”
His words warmed my heart, and I couldn’t help but lean in and give him a big kiss on the cheek.
“You want me to meet all of your club friends?” I asked.
“What?” he said. “You worried?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “Just that I don’t have much luck getting along with those types of guys.”
“They’re all big softies,” said Zane, taking another bite of his food. “And you’re the boss’ girl, on top of that.”
I smiled, very pleased with the title.
“But,” he said, shoving down another mouthful of food. “We’re going to have to take care of these … other situations as soon as possible. Buck’s not going to go away.”
A tinge of anxiety spread out from my stomach at the mention of Buck.
“What are you going to do?” I asked.
“Not sure,” said Zane. “I just don’t know how insane he’s going to get. Buck’s the kind of man who gets single-minded when revenge is the subject.”
But then his expression turned as serious as could be.
“But I’ll swear this to you,” he said. “You won’t have to worry about a thing as long as I’m around. And it’s not just me watching your back—you’ve got all of the Marauders on your side.”
I set down my food and threw my arms around Zane. Feelings blossomed in me that I couldn’t understand.
Chapter 26
Zane
Driving to work, I felt happier than I had in as long as I could remember. It was an odd feeling, one that I didn’t recognize when it’d taken hold of me. I was the kind of guy who, between my MC and my bar, was used to having one problem or another on my plate—usually more than one. Women came and went, but they were usually nothing more than a temporary distraction from the responsibility of being the man on top.
Things were different now—I had Roxy. And she wasn’t just some chick; she was a woman who brought feelings out in me that I didn’t know I was still capable of. Sometime during the midst of the one-night-stands that made up my dating life, I’d found myself wondering if I was still capable of true passion, true romance. Roxy was making it clear to me that I was capable of more than that—I could still feel love.
And on top of everything, she was carrying my child. My son or daughter was growing inside of her, and soon I’d have even more responsibility than I already had. But I was ready; I was excited. I know that, with Roxy by my side, I’d be able to handle everything.
I’d have to—Buck was still out there, after all. God knew what he was capable of.
The days seemed to fly by. I’d go to work, leaving Roxy to look after the place while I was gone. She asked me now and then if she could come in for a shift or two at Amped, but I didn’t want her out there where Buck could find her. I could tell that she was going a little stir-crazy being in the apartment for most of the day, but she knew as well as I did that it was for her own safety.
What we got up to at night made the days so very much worth it. The sex was hotter every time, and I knew that there was something between her and I that I just couldn’t ignore. She was my girl, I was her man, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I’d find myself daydreaming at Amped about what our life was going to look like years down the road. Were we going to get married? Was the baby she was carrying now the first of many? Was this girl going to turn me into the domesticated man that I thought I’d never be?
Our music was taking off, too. We wrote a few songs together, and it was clear to see that there was musical chemistry between us in addition to the romantic and sexual. Roxy was like no girl that I’d ever met before, and I felt like the luckiest man on earth.
However, everything changed one day after work.
It was late at night, getting into the small hours. Jess and Mia and I were closing up, and I was eager to get home to Roxy.
“Go ahead and take off, boss,” said Jess. “I think we’ve got it covered here.”
“You sure?” I asked. “Still plenty of cleanup to do.”
“We’re good,” said Mia. “Besides, you’ve got a lady with a child at home. Get on back to her.”
Mia gave me a wink, and I was left surprised that the Mia that I knew was showing something like a maternal instinct.
They were right, however—I hated leaving Roxy at home by herself, especially with what was going on with Bu
ck. Since Roxy had moved in with me, the black car drive-bys had stopped, and I hadn’t seen hide or hair of him around Boozehounds. But I knew him well enough to understand that he wasn’t giving up, not by a long shot. If anything, he was putting plans into motion.
I stepped out into the back lot of Amped, ready to hop on my bike and get back home to my girl. What I saw when I approached my ride, however, made it clear that things had taken a turn for much, much worse.
My bike had been knocked over on its side, and as I approached it I saw that it’d been worked over with something heavy. The chrome had been beaten in, and deep grooves had been carved into the paint with keys or something else sharp.
And crudely taped onto the side with duct tape was a note. My heart pounded as I squatted down next to my bike and snatched up the note.
Come to my MC headquarters as soon as you get this. No fucking around. I’ve got something very, very important to you. Well, maybe two somethings.
B
I crumpled the note up and pitched it across the lot. Anger like I’d never known before burned inside of me, and it took every bit of restraint I had not to utterly smash every single fucking thing in sight. I let out a roar that sounded less like a man and more like a wild beast.
Buck had my girl, and he was going to fucking pay.
I stormed back into Amped.
“What’s going on, boss?” asked Jess.
“It’s Buck,” I said. “I need you two to stay in here and lock the place up—I’ll pay you triple overtime and a bonus.”
Jess and Mia exchanged a look, one that seemed to suggest they knew that something terrible had gone down.
Once back in my office, I pulled out my phone and called up Roxy. The phone rang again and again before someone finally picked up.
“Where are you?” I yelled. “Tell me where you are and I’ll come find you.”
But there was only silence on the other end. That was, until a raw laugh sounded out.
“There’s my Zaney,” said Buck.
I gritted my teeth hard. At that moment I wanted nothing more than to drive my fist so hard into that fucker’s face that his head separated from his damn neck.
“Buck, I’m gonna give you one warning, and one warning only—you let Roxy go, right fucking now, and I won’t come to your place and rip your fucking skin off.”
“Big words for the man who can’t even protect his own girl,” said Buck. “I’m gonna assume you got the note?”
A moment passed.
“I got it,” I said.
“Good. Then you know where to find me.”
Right at that moment I heard a scream on the other end of the line, one that could’ve only belonged to Roxy. But the line cut off before I could hear what, if anything, she’d said.
I didn’t waste any time. I called Motor, Rex, and every other man in the crew. They were ready to stand at my side, as always, but each of them was even more eager once I let them know that tonight was the night we were finally gonna take out Buck for good.
This was it—do or die. Roxy’s life depended on it.
Chapter 27
Zane
My bike was trashed, but it still ran. Buck’s MC was based up in Washington Heights, and I spent the drive up there imagining just what I’d do when I finally got my hands on that fucker. But I knew I had to play it cool, to not let my emotions get the better of me. Buck had to know that by having Roxy he was putting me in a very emotionally volatile state, and he was likely counting on me losing control and doing something that he could take advantage of.
The sky was ink-dark above, and I whipped down the streets of Manhattan so fast that the buildings passed by in muted blurs. By the time I reached the warehouse that Buck and the rest of his crew called their HQ, I was feeling cool, calm, and collected. Though the image of pulling Buck apart limb-from-limb was still clear as a bell in my mind.
I parked my bike and stepped up to the front doors of the warehouse. Steeling myself, I knocked on the door, a heavy metallic bang sounding out.
“Who is it?” came a mocking voice from inside.
“You know goddamn well who it is,” I said, my anger increasing by the second.
The door opened with a creak and I stepped into the sliver of darkness beyond. I knew that this could very well be some sort of trap, that Buck or one of his goons might be waiting for me on the other side of the door, ready to put a round in my head from some darkened corner. It was a move that sounded just cowardly and backhanded enough for a man like Buck.
Instead, I was greeted by the sneering, ugly face of one of Buck’s goons.
“Right this way, Zane,” he said as he led me down the warehouse entryway.
We soon arrived at a pair of metal double doors. The goon opened one and revealed the main warehouse floor. About a dozen of Buck’s henchmen were there, all armed and all looking ready for a fight. And in the middle of the space was Buck himself, Roxy tied to a chair to his right. Roxy’s mouth was bound with tape, and she let out a muffled cry as she laid eyes on me.
My first instinct was to rush over to her and see if she’d been hurt. But before I could take even a single step, one of Buck’s goons grabbed me by the arm and held me in place.
“There’s the man of the hour!” called out Buck as he slapped his hands together. “You know, I was starting to think you might not show up!”
“Buck,” I said, keeping my voice clear and calm. “I’m gonna tell you this once: let her go, or I’ll kill you.”
“Zaney, Zaney,” he said, shaking his head. “I don’t know how many levels of denial you’re on right now, but you’re not exactly in a position to be making any threats. See, I’ve got your girl, and I’m the one holding all the cards. So if you’ve got any brains between those ears of yours, you’ll be a good boy, shut the fuck up, and listen.”
Roxy’s eyes were wide with fear and shot back and forth between Buck and me.
“Fine, Buck,” I said. “You’re the man in charge. Now tell me what it is you want.”
“That’s a smart boy,” he said, taking a seat on the edge of the table in the middle of the room. “Now, here are my terms. You might want to listen carefully, because I’m only going to say them once.”
“You’re gonna give me your bar. You’re gonna run my bar and yours, and you’re going to make them both very, very successful, just like what we discussed before. And, of course, you’re gonna sign the title for Amped over to me, and my boys and I will be taking the juiciest cut from all your hard work. And that’s it. You agree to this, and you, your girl, and the little baby growing in that fertile womb of hers will be as safe as can be.”
A shock ran through me.
“How the hell did you know she’s pregnant?” I asked.
“Zaney, please,” he said. “I’ve got men everywhere in this city, men who I pay for the specific purpose of keeping me in the know. So when this sweet little thing of yours went off to get a pregnancy test done, I had the results in my hands before the hour was out.”
“So,” he said, “those are the fucking terms. If you’re still on the fence, let me help out your decision-making process.”
With that, he pulled a massive bowie knife out from his belt and pressed the tip of the blade to Roxy’s neck. The tip barely penetrated her skin, but enough to cause a drop of blood to trickle down her neck.
I’d never been more furious before than I was at that moment. But I had a plan—if Buck managed to get the better of me, I risked blowing it. I had to play it cool, despite how much I wanted to rip out Buck’s innards and feed them to wolves.
“Fine,” I said. “Whatever you want, I’ll do it. Just let her go now.”
Buck’s raised his eyebrows. He clearly wasn’t expecting that.
“Wow, Zaney,” he said. “I was expecting you to do what I said, but I have to admit I was expecting a little more of a fight out of you. Here I was thinking that I might have to take off one of her fingers or something!”
&nb
sp; Then he shrugged.
“But if you want to play smart I’m not gonna stop you.”
He waved the blade in front of Roxy’s face.
“But I want to hear you say it first—I want to hear you say that I, Buck, am your new boss, and that you’ll do whatever I say.”
