Ride Hard

And then I see the tiny key that no doubt goes to the lock.

Using all the strength I can muster, I rip the chain from around his neck and haul ass back downstairs. The biker is still sitting against the wall, his body seemingly calm and collected, his expression stoic. I wonder what he’s thinking, if he’ll hurt me as soon as I unlock him, kill me.

But as I look at him, there’s something inside me that tells me I can trust him. And God help me for feeling like that.

I’m in front of him a second later, on my knees and reaching out with shaky hands to put the key inside the lock. With a flick of my wrist, the lock is disengaged. I should’ve stumbled back, gotten as far away from him as I can, but instead, I’m rooted in place, staring into his dark eyes, wondering what his next move will be.

Slowly, he pulls the chain away from him, freeing himself fully. The metal drops to the ground with a resounding thunk and then he slowly stands, his big body unfurling from the ground. My heart races, and my breath stalls in my chest.

I try to move but stumble over my own feet and fall back on my ass. As I sit here with my knees bent, my hands braced on the cold cement behind me, all I can do is crane my neck and look into his face.

He is fully standing now, his entire body intimidating, his strength and power undeniable and immense. God, did I just make the worst mistake ever?

He takes a step toward me, but I am still frozen in place, too scared to move.

“Show me where the body is and let’s get this taken care of.”

And just like that, I relax, and maybe, just maybe, everything will be okay.Chapter TwelveRide“What do people call you?” I ask the girl, trying to distract her.

My men had gotten here a little over an hour ago and took the body away. Now, there are a few club girls in there cleaning shit up. The more I see of this place, the more I have to wonder how the girl lived here. Fuck, it’s so bad; surviving is all she’s done.

And then there’s the old lady. She’s in bad shape too. Langley isn’t going to like me for what happens next, but it needs to happen. I probably need my fucking head examined, but I’m going to step in and do it. This girl needs someone to save her. She’s drowning. I don’t know why I’ve decided that someone needs to be me… but I have.

“Call me?”

“Yeah. A nickname?”

“I told you. My name is Langley,” she says, her eyes still round and wide, no doubt from shock. I knew her name, because she’s answered every question I asked her, and I asked her plenty. Although they were mostly nonsensical ones to distract her.

And I know she’s needed those inconsequential questions to keep her mind off all the other bullshit moving around right now, because she’s clung to my side, actually grabbed my arm on one occasion, her nails biting into my flesh when my men showed up. It’s like she saw me as a lifeline.

I admit my fellow patches can be scary motherfuckers, but then I’m worse. Langley doesn’t seem to notice that. Maybe she’s decided I’m her savior or something. What she’ll come to learn is that I’m a far cry from that shit, but I am going to try to be that for her.

And again, I don’t fucking know why.

“Fine. I’ll call you Lee.”

“Lee?” she asks.

“You got a problem with that? I’m not going to call you Langley every single time I need your damn attention. It’s either Lee or girl. Take your pick.”

“I don’t know why you would need to call me anything. It’s not like we will see each other again after today,” she says so matter-of-factly it pisses me off.

I frown at her. Most women aren’t in such a fucking hurry to get rid of me. She’s just a girl, so damn young. Maybe that’s why, but it’s still a fucking blow to a man’s ego.

“Ride, baby, we got the room cleaned. Bonzo used the bleach like you asked and it looks good—well, as good as this hellhole can get,” Dessie says, coming up from behind me, sliding into my lap without warning. She’s club candy and one of the good ones. Normally, I like any attention she gives me, but with Langley staring at me, it feels wrong. Maybe she’s too young to see what happens between a man and a woman. No, she’s definitely old enough for that, but she doesn’t need to see that shit with everything she’s gone through today. Or maybe I don’t want her seeing this kind of obscene shit, because she’s latched her claws deep into me and is making me feel… things I’d rather not.