Property of Drex (Death Chasers MC 1)

Chapter 1

EVE

“You should strip. These clothes aren’t going to cut it. And I also need to search you. Everywhere.”

He removes his hand and steps away, watching and waiting, and I swallow hard. The painful knot in my throat only grows as I reach for the hem of my shirt. Taking a deep breath, I pull it off quickly.

His eyes are on me, watching with open interest as I move to my jeans. As much as I’d like to draw this out and delay the inevitable, I also don’t want to keep dreading the first time. The sooner I’m naked, the sooner the suspense ends. I’ve prepared myself for what I hope is the worst.

“You know what’s going to happen to you, right?” he asks, crossing his arms over his chest as I push the jeans down my legs.

He takes a deep breath as I step out of them.

In nothing but my pink, cotton underwear, I try to find the courage to meet his gaze, keeping my expression as impassive as possible under the grim circumstances.

“I know.”

Chapter 2

EVE

Two Days Ago…

“So you came to me because you need money. For your family,” Benny says, stroking his beard as he eyes me. It’s not a question; he’s just laying the facts out there, summarizing.

Swallowing back my nerves, I chance a glance at Ben, my best friend since grade school. When he suggested asking his dad for help, I wasn’t planning on it being this intimidating. Then again, I should have.

Walking into the clubhouse for the Hell Breathers motorcycle club—one of the biggest around—should have reminded me how stupid this is. But desperate and stupid go hand in hand, it seems.

“Yes, sir. My dad left behind a huge—”

“The details aren’t necessary,” Benny interrupts, his creepy grin spreading as his eyes roam over me, appraising me in a way that leaves me feeling like I need a shower. “All that matters is that you know what will be expected of you. You’ll do anything asked. As a somewhat intelligent girl, I’m sure you can figure out the consequences if you try to change your mind.”

Some of the other bikers step up, smirking for the most part. Several lick their lips suggestively, warning me of what’s to come. This isn’t what I had in mind, and now I wish I’d worn a sweatshirt to hide me better, even though it’s hot as hell outside.

“Dad, you can’t—” Ben’s words are cut off when he’s slapped down to the ground.

It all happens so fast that the action doesn’t even have time to register in my mind until it’s over. I want to look down to see if he’s okay, but I’m too scared to take my eyes off Benny now.

“You know better,” Benny says, talking to his son, but keeping his eyes locked on me. “I don’t give away money for free. If Eve wants it, she’ll have to agree to the terms.”

A wave of nausea slams into me, making it impossible to stand here without turning pale, or maybe I’m turning puce. I should have expected this when he told me to bring proof of a clean bill of health, yet I was naïve enough to believe Ben’s father would see me as a child instead of a woman.

“Think about it, Eve,” Benny says, turning his back on me as he faces his menacing crew. “You have two days to decide what to do. If you say yes, remember how permanent it is. Once you’re in, you’re always in. If you say no, then… well, good luck.”

With that, he and his guys walk off, leaving me at the entryway with a bleeding Ben. He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, regret and anger shading his eyes.

“I’m sorry, Eve. I didn’t know he’d do this. I swear I thought he’d just give you the money.”

My lips tighten into a thin line. I forgot a very important fact in life; you never get something for free.

The depths of depravity I would have to face isn’t worth it. Not with a man who I grew up knowing as my best friend’s father. It’s just sick.

“Come on. I’ll get you out of here,” Ben says apologetically. “We’ll figure something else out. I have a little money saved up. It’s nowhere near enough, but it might help you until you can get more.”

I have to figure something else out, because this is no longer an option.

Chapter 3

EVE

“Ben called to talk to you. Says he can’t reach you on your phone,” Mom says softly as she comes out of the twins’ room.

Moving past her, I peek in to see both of my five-year-old brothers sleeping peacefully in their separate beds. One more day before Benny The Sicko shuts the door on his disgusting offer. But I don’t know how else I can get that sort of money.