Page 30 of Where We Ended

Sasha kept the lights off, flipping only the one above the microwave on. I cradled my arms to my chest, unsure of what this meant exactly.

“He’s known about me…I’ve been in the club, around here?—”

Sasha shook her head and I noticed her hands were shaking. “No, you don’t understand. He wants you, Natty.”

“You’re right, I don’t understand…” My voice shook.

“I’ll break it down for you. You have big tits, a tiny waist, and golden—silky hair that touches your ass. You’re beautiful, Natty. More than that…you’re sexy…and Dirk likes to have first dibs on anyone in the club that looks as good as you do.”

My eyes burned, fingers trembling. “I’m only sixteen…he wouldn’t…he can’t.”

Sasha glared; her jaw tensed as she let out a heavy sigh.

She didn’t have to say anything more. There were angels and demons that danced along a minuscule line in these motorcycle clubs. So far I’d veered toward the safe side of things, for the most part…but Dirk was a bad man. Someone who wanted to hurt me, and now if he knew I was here…

“Will he come for me?” I gripped the back of the chair until my nails sunk into the wood.

Sasha’s trembling fingers came up to her hair as she tucked a few pieces behind her ear.

“I’ll do everything I can to protect you, Natty…but I need you to promise me you’ll stay away from the club. Do not go over there, no matter what. Do you understand?”

I nodded and when I saw Sasha grab a beer and start to leave, I turned toward the hall only to stop mid step and spin back toward her.

“I don’t think we should tell Silas about this.”

Sasha took a sip, and I might have been mistaken, but tears were gathered in her eyes when she shook her head. “No, I don’t think we can. He’ll try to murder Dirk and get himself killed in the process.”

That was my concern as well. Silas was protective of me in a way that made him forget logic and act first. I gave her one last nod, agreeing that this thing would stay between us and then I turned and slipped back into the only room I had ever felt wanted in.

TEN

SILAS

AGE SEVENTEEN

The leather cut was too big on me, but I knew it was pointless to say anything about it. Dirk, the president, was a tall man, built thick as a tree with faded ink all over his body. His glare landed on the patch sewn in under my name.

“That going to be a problem for my club?”

I knew which one he was talking about, but I wasn’t sure how to answer him. At only seventeen I should be a prospect, especially considering my lack of involvement with the Death Raiders since living on club property.

I had no desire to join this club, in any capacity, but this past summer took my remaining freedom, soaked it in red and painted a target on my back. A beacon of warning straight from my father, who happened to be proud as hell. The name on my cut wouldn’t have any power unless it was on a patch and people started talking about it. I knew my father had plans to force me into his club, the Destroyers.

Tactically it made more sense to hide among the ranks of a lesser evil in the Death Raiders.

I should have known my father would have contacted Dirk and told him about my new moniker.

Dirk’s silver brows came together in concern, bringing me back to his question.

“No, sir.”

“If I need your services, you’ll be at my disposal as long as Fable hasn’t requested you.”

My stomach bottomed out as I processed what this new name meant for me, and what it meant for those who had more power than me. I refused to be a pawn used to kill at will, but I was running out of options. I gave him a nod and slid my gaze to the side, seeing my mother wearing Dirk’s property patch.

Her dark hair was pulled back, so I had a clear view of her back, proudly proclaiming that she was now his property. Natty wouldn’t step foot inside the club and now my mother was dating the president. Something had happened, but I couldn’t piece together what, especially as neither my mother nor Natty would talk about it, so I searched for Dempsey.

I found him working at a local mechanic shop, still wearing his cut so he was still a part of the Death Raiders but his captain’s patch was gone.