Page 4 of Taming Trickster
A humorless chuckle rumbles from my chest.
"Sometimes being a decent human being is reason enough. Beside..." I shrug, "Call it my personal vendetta against lowlifes like the Outlaws. I wasn't planning on getting mixed up in a kidnapping rescue tonight, but I'll take this win."
My gaze drifts over to the two groaning piles of man sprawled nearby. One's cradling his shattered ankle, the other's face a bloody mess. Guess I don't know my own strength sometimes.
The girl follows my gaze to the defeated Outlaw Riders, a shudder running through her slim frame.
"What...what are we going to do with them?"
I consider our options for a moment. The smart move would be to call the cops, turn these dirtbags in, and let the law sort it out. But something makes me hesitate.
These Outlaws clearly have no issues with kidnapping and forcing themselves on a young girl. If I hand them over officially, there's a chance they could get out on bail or make a deal. Then she'd never really be safe from their retaliation.
I don't fully trust the system with scum like this. They need to be sent a much clearer message - mess with the Rogue Riders and our town, and there will be severe consequences.
"Don't you worry about them," I tell the girl, putting a hint of steel in my voice. "I've got a nice, secluded spot in mind where they can cool their heels for a while. Think about the errors of their ways."
She seems to pick up on my meaning, eyes going wide but doesn't argue. Smart girl. Sometimes ruthless justice is the only kind that sticks with these types of degenerates.
Pulling out my burner phone, I punch in a coded message to Chance, the infamous Mercenary and my leader: Pickup is required at my location. Two packages need disposal and reeducation. He'll understand.
Within the hour, this will all be cleaned up, nice and tidy. The girl will be safe, at least from these two. As for whatever bigger mess she might be in...well, I'll just have to keep her under my protection until I can get to the bottom of it.
"Follow me," I say gruffly, gesturing to my idling motorcycle. "You're coming with me, at least for now. Can't leave a defenseless kid out here on her own."
Chapter 3 - Rose
I can hardly believe what just happened. One minute I was defenseless, about to be beaten by those horrible Outlaw Riders who kidnapped me.
The next, this mysterious biker showed up and took them both down like it was nothing!
As he towers over their groaning bodies, I can’t help but stare in awe. He's absolutely massive, with bulging muscles that ripple beneath his leather jacket. His shaggy dark hair and rugged face give him a dangerous look, but those intense eyes seem to soften when they land on me.
"Follow me. You're coming with me, at least for now. Can't leave a defenseless kid out here on her own."
Part of me feels like I should protest being called a "kid." I mean, I'm nineteen, basically an adult! But the truth is, I've never felt so young and helpless as I do right now after my terrifying ordeal.
So, I simply nod meekly and allow the tall, imposing biker to lead me over to his motorcycle. Up close, I can smell the musky scent of leather and motor oil mixed with a subtle woodsy cologne. He smells...good. Intoxicatingly masculine.
Goddamn it. This total stranger may have saved me, but that doesn't mean I should be fawning all over him. For all I know, he could be just as dangerous as those Outlaws! Probably is!
Seeming to sense my inner turmoil, the biker turns those intense eyes on me again.
"Name's Trickster, by the way. And you are...?"
"R-Rose," I stammer, mesmerized by his gruff baritone voice.
He gives a curt nod.
"Rose. Okay, well, Rose - you're safe now, you hear? I've got a place nearby where we can lay low while I figure out our next move. The cleanup crew is also on the way to collect those two dirtbags. Don't you worry your pretty little head about them anymore, okay?"
I shiver at his words, unconsciously pulling my thin dress tighter around my body. What is he going to do to them? The look in his eyes...he seems utterly merciless.
"You...you're not going to kill them, are you?" I can't stop myself from asking tremulously.
"If I did, they'd be getting off easy after what they tried to do to you." His jaw tightens. "But don't worry, death would be too good for parasites like that. They're gonna wish it was that simple by the time my boys are through re-educating them on how to treat a lady."
A chill runs down my spine at Trickster's ominous words about "re-educating" the Outlaw Riders. Just how far is he willing to go to dish out his ruthless form of justice?