“You’re deep in this now, girl,” Larkin said.
“Just let me go,” I said quickly. “Just let me walk away. I can handle things myself.”
“Well,” he sighed, “that’s interesting.”
“Please. I won’t bother you guys again.”
“Problem is, you already did bother us. You heard the boys out there, right? They’re all fired up now.”
“I’ll talk to them, tell them it was all a mistake.”
He laughed a short, barking laugh. “Sorry, kid. You’re engaged to Ford, like it or not.”
“You can’t make me get married.”
“I can’t?” He raised an eyebrow at me. “If I say you get married, you get fucking married.”
“Please. Can’t I just stay claimed?”
“I thought about that. But if you can’t tell, my club is pretty divided over this war issue. Half the boys think you should be tossed out on your ass regardless of what Ford said.” He stood up, pressing his palms flat on the desk. “I say you marry him. That way, we’re deep in this thing, like it or not.”
I felt the blood drain from my face. Larkin stared down at me, cold and brutal, a tiny hint of a menacing smile on his lips.
Marry Ford. That was what he had been trying to say back in my apartment. He had tried to explain it, but I hadn’t wanted to listen. Claiming wasn’t just saying something was yours; it was a promise. He had promised to marry me, and I hadn’t fought him on it.
Last night, I had thought I needed his protection. I probably still did. But I could already see that there was so much more happening besides my well-being, something way above my head. Larkin had his own agenda, wanted to get into a war for some reason, and he thought if I married Ford, then they’d have to fight to keep me safe.
“I can’t,” I said softly. “Please.”
“You’re going to marry him,” Larkin said. “If it helps at all, I doubt Ford really wants to marry you, either. Boy’s been inside more club whores than anyone else I know. But he made his choice, and so did you.”
“You can’t force me,” I said.
“I can force you. But I won’t have to.” He stood up and crossed his arms. “Ford will. Now get out.”
I stood up, my knees shaking, my gut a twisted mess. “This is crazy,” I said.
“Welcome to the Demons MC,” he said, laughing.
I turned and left his office, completely stunned.
Last night I had watched my friend get murdered in cold blood in front of me. Now I was somehow a part of some gang war that I wanted nothing to do with.
And to top it all off, I was going to have to marry that cocky asshole from my past. Ford Cook, deliciously attractive, absolutely crude, a total asshole.
I looked up at him, and he was looking at me from across the room. I couldn’t read his expression, but I could tell he knew.
I shook my head once. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t marry him. He had his chance that night at the lake, but he decided to disappear and never talk to me again. He had his chance and he blew it. I knew what I meant to him, and that was absolutely nothing.
I wasn’t going to be his property. I wasn’t going to be some thing he could just lay claim to and keep however he wanted.
I wasn’t going to be his damn wife.
I took off, walking fast across the room, threw the door open, and just started running.
Screw danger. I wasn’t marrying some biker asshole.
Even if that biker asshole was Ford.
Chapter Ten: Ford
I watched her walk fast across the room.
“Shit,” I muttered to myself. It was pretty obvious what she was about to do.
I watch as she opened the door and just booked it out of there, running hard.
I got to my feet.
“We got a runner!” one of the boys called out.
I silenced him with a glare as I went after her.
Damn girl is going to be the death of me, I thought as I tore ass after her.
She wasn’t exactly fast. I saw her turn a corner up ahead as I quickly hopped on my bike, kicking it into gear. I sped down the alley after her, tearing rubber around the corner.
She looked back over her shoulder, determination etched on her face. I revved my engine and followed her. She cut left down another alley.
I had to go the long way. I went around the block, running a few red lights on the way, and came around to the other side. Caralee had already come out of the alley and was hauling ass down the street.
I quickly sped down along the block, hopping up onto the curb, scaring the shit out of the pedestrians. I tore along, passing her on the left, and then slammed my brakes and swung my bike around.