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“So where am I?”

“You are at the clubhouse.  My clubhouse.  Well, the clubhouse for my motorcycle club.”

“Motorcycle club?!” I had obviously noticed his vest, but I hadn’t really given it much thought.  I was about to laugh at the absurdity of this, but he looked so serious.

“Yes, ma’am.  The Devil’s Horsemen.  I’m the president.”

“The president, huh?  And if all that you need to do is keep me safe, why do I get the honor of being watched by the president?  Don’t you have some minions to do that for you?”

“This is a special job.”

“I see. Hawk, does this have something to do with my father?  Do you even know who my father is?”  I hated saying that.  I hated who my father was, but he was running for the mayor of Los Angeles, and I had two thoughts beginning to form in my head.  Either I was here because of my father, or somehow my father would be able to get me out of this.

“I do know who your father is, yes, ma’am.”

“Please stop calling me ma’am.  My name is Vanessa.”

“Okay, Vanessa. You got it.”

“Okay, so you know who my father is. So, maybe there’s something my father can do for you and then you can let me go?  He has a lot of money, so maybe he can pay you even more than this client of yours?”

At this point, I was assuming I was being held for ransom or something.  I kept hoping Hawk would give me some clue, but he didn’t at all.

“Vanessa, I’m sorry, I can’t tell you anything.  But don’t worry, you won’t get hurt and I will personally see to your safety at all times while you are in my custody.”

“Custody?  You make it sound like I’m in jail.”  I jangled my chains to sarcastically prove my point.

“Can’t you at least unchain me?”  I asked.

“I’m sorry, that’s not possible at this time.  Maybe later.”

“Later.  Great.  That’s just fucking great.”  I plopped down on the bed, kicked off my uncomfortable high heels and folded my legs under me.  Obviously, I wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon, so I might as well get comfortable.

Suddenly, I thought of Pearl.

“But what about Pearl? Oh, my god! You have to let me go.”  I stood up again, panicked again about the fact that she was alone. “How long have I been here, anyway?”

“Just about twelve hours, that’s all.  Who is Pearl?”

“Pearl is my dog, dammit!  She can’t be left alone for too long.  Please?  You have to let me go, I can’t leave her alone.  Please, I’ll do anything, I will get money from my father for you, but I can’t let anything happen to my dog.  Please?”  I was begging now, my voice shaking as I was afraid that he would say no.

“No way.  I can’t let you go.” 

“You have to!”

“Dammit,” he replied, scratching his chin. “They didn’t tell me you had a dog.  Don’t you have a roommate or someone that will watch her?”

“No, I live alone!  You should know these things!  I have to get to my dog.”

“Look, just relax.  I will figure something out.  Like I said, I think you might be here for a few days at least.”

“My dog will die if I leave her alone that long.”

“Die? Really?  How old is she?” 

“Twelve.  And she needs her kidney medicine!”

“Fuck.”

He sat down in his chair, and I sat down on the bed, trying to calm down, and hoping that he had some ounce of decency in him that he wouldn’t let my sweet Pearl starve to death.

“Alright, look.  I’ll go get her.  I’ll bring her to you.”

“You will?” I asked, astonished. I guess that was better than nothing, but that meant he would be in my apartment.

“Can I go with you?” I asked.

“No way.  You have to stay here.  I’ll have someone watch you for a short while, and I’ll bring your…Pearl, is it?…back to you.  Is she dangerous?  Will she attack me?”

I bit my lip to keep from laughing.  Screw this guy.  I was shaking in fear, he could have a little fear himself.

“She’s selective about who she bites and who she doesn’t.  Good luck.”

“Fucking great.  Are your keys in your purse?”

“Yes.”

He grabbed my purse and rummaged through it, pulling out my wallet and my keys.  Opening my wallet, he pulled out my ID and whistled.

“Wow.  Fancy address.”

“Yeah, whatever.  Don’t forget Pearl’s medicine.  It’s in a blue bottle in the kitchen.  And her food.  And her water bowl, she won’t drink out of any other bowls.  And her treats, and her pink bed.  And look for a chewed up stuffed lamb.  It’s her favorite.”

“Oh, fucking christ.”  

I smirked as he left the room, and I hated myself for noticing how tightly his jeans fit his perfectly muscular ass as he walked away.