Even the guys who were arguing for getting rid of me shake their heads at that. “Fuck no!”
“Just give me a few days to make this happen. Us.” King gestures at Hero and Wild Child to include them. He carries the voice of authority well. “We'll bring this motherfucker to his knees.”
“Alright. Here's what we're going to do. King, Wild Child and Hero. You three started this, and you're going to damn well finish it. Move ahead with your plan. Sending her back now with a note that says sorry ain't going to help jack shit.” Bear opens his mouth as if he's about to say something, but a sharp look has him sitting back down on the couch. “The rest of us, we're shoring up for the storm. If this goes ass up, then we're going to have to defend ourselves. Prepare for a fucking siege.”
“Thanks, Boss.” Wild Child makes a mock salute.
“You three better not fuck this up. You do, I'm taking your cuts and turning you out. I've spoken, and Church is settled.”
A couple of hands are up, people waiting for a chance to speak, but when he says the last, they drop. The decisions have been made. The discussion is over. Eagle-eye grabs Jupiter and puts it under his arm on his way out.
Wild Child pulls me with him. “Show's over.”
Back to staring at the walls, I guess. These guys argue, but it's clear that they respect each other too. Heck, if Dad cared about me as much as these guys care for each other, my life would've been completely different.
But that's just a dream, as unrealistic as my biker fantasy.
6
EMILY
“No, I'm not going to fucking wait. I'm calling about his daughter. Get him on the damn line,” King growls into his phone. He looks ready to throw it into the wall. “Jesus fuck, more goddamn hold music.”
Nasty biker or not, getting put on hold is the same for everyone. I even sympathize a little. But only a little. He and his henchmen there kidnapped me, after all.
The cot rocks and creaks as I sit up. The sheets are worn and the pillow's lumpy. I got a little sleep this morning before Church, but not much. It's a wonder there was any, but I was exhausted. Still am, but this isn't exactly a conducive environment to sleeping in.
“You'd think he didn't even care you were gone. Haven't you been a good girl for daddy?” Wild Child smirks in my direction. A stupid, sexy smirk. He's taken his denim vest off, so he's just wearing a T-shirt, and it stretches nicely over his torso. It's unfair that the guys who kidnapped me are so good-looking. Standing against the wall with one leg crossed over the other, he's amusing himself by flipping a knife in the air and catching it.
God, he looks so smug. “Fuck off,” I snap, before I catch myself. My panicked brain doesn't know what's good for me, apparently.
His eyes widen in surprise as he catches his knife in a firm grip. “What was that?” He comes over to crouch right in front of me, his bright green eyes hard like emeralds. This close, the intensity is overwhelming. “I'm not sure I heard that right.”
I look away, and find myself examining the tattoos on his arm instead.
Wait, is that a nun doing—
Oh God. I'd rather meet his gaze than look at that. My face burns.
“Nothing,” I mutter.
He laughs. “You told me to fuck off.”
“I—”
“I like you. Sharp-tongued and gorgeous.” He leans in closer. There's a faded, white scar that runs along his jaw. He licks his full lips, and even though I swear it's intentional, I can't keep my eyes from following. There's a stud in his tongue that glints in the harsh light of the bulbs. “If daddy's going to act like that, you might be here for a while. Let me know if you want to try a ride on the wild side.” He winks.
And the stupidest thing about it? It works. Even as my brain is trying to figure out how to run away and put these guys far behind me, my lady bits are wondering how to find a reason to stay and put these guys deep inside me instead. What would a ride on the wild side be like? With no experience and a vivid imagination, my mind has way too many places to go.
Oh my God, down girl!
Something really screwed me up at some point.
I can't let him get to me, no matter what my traitorous body wants. I have to very clearly remind myself that he's my captor, no matter how tempting the bumps of his nipples poking through his T-shirt are.
He wants sharp-tongued?
“If I do, I'll make sure I'll find someone who doesn't look like he spilled Kool-Aid in his hair. You seem more child than wild to me.”