I’m so tired that I stumble with my every step. I’ve been walking nonstop since Marker got me out of there. I kept expecting Beast to find me or one of the others out hunting for me, but so far I’ve been home free. I’m probably overestimating my value. I mean, just because I’m more than halfway in love with Skull doesn’t mean he has the same emotions. He’s told me several times that he’ll grow tired of me. He’ll probably get back and decide I’m not worth the trouble. Up ahead, I can see the bus station.

I find the sight of it brings me both relief and sadness.

I make it through the doors and go straight to the bathroom. It’s been so dry in Georgia that I can feel the dust all over my skin. I freshen up and splash water on my face. Once I make it back to the main lobby, I stare at the big map of the states pinned on the bulletin board. I don’t have a plan about where to go. If I go back to Montana, Colin and Matthew will find me and I don’t want that. Colorado? Texas? Do I pick a small town, or would it be easier to get lost in a big city? There’s so many decisions and I’m scared to death to make the wrong one. I send up a small prayer and hope I’m doing it right.

In the end, I decide to go with the bus that’s leaving the quickest. In fact, this one’s loading right now. I buy my ticket and head to the door. I’m putting my change in my purse and look up just in time to hear that voice hit me.

“Beth. Where do you think you’re going?”

My blood runs cold.

“How did you find me?”

“A better question would be, why did you disobey me?”

I take three steps backwards until I’m pressed up against the side of the building.

“You had a meeting today…”

“And it’s over. Imagine my surprise when I get a call that you’re walking along the side of a road. Let’s get in the car. We’ll discuss the trouble you’ve caused me then.”

“Colin, I don’t want to go back. I don’t want to be here. Let me go. We’re not family, not really.”

His cold face, which has always been scary to me, turns even colder.

“You are my property, Beth. You can’t leave. You do as I say, when I say it. Get in the car. Don’t make this worse on yourself,” Colin warns.

I bite my lip and the coppery taste of blood releases into my mouth. I knew escaping was going to be a longshot, but I thought I would get further than I did.

I’m about to take a step towards Colin when another voice, this one from my opposite side, stops me.

“Beth, if you take one more step, I will tan your ass more than it was already going to get.”

My heart turns over and then slams quickly in my chest, beating so fast I’m sure people can see it shaking my body. Skull.

“Skull…”

“Get over here, woman, and let’s get back home.”

“If she goes with you,” says Colin, “I’ll wipe you and your whole club out. That’s my family you’re messing with. It will not happen.”

“You shouldn’t be sporting a fucking hard-on for your sister anyway, Colin. Talk about disgusting,” Skull taunts.

My legs quake. I wonder, if I took off running, how far I would get? When Beast blocks the door back into the bus station, I figure any hope of that is gone.

“She’s not my sister, but she is mine.”

“Beth. Now,” Skull orders, ignoring Colin.

“You do, and you will live to regret it,” Colin says to me, his eyes filled with hate and every bit of it is directed at Skull.

“She’ll be fine. If I were you, Colin, I’d worry about myself, because I’m going to fucking end you. I told you, Beth was mine. I really didn’t expect this of you. Who knew you’d be so eager to get my sloppy seconds?”

“Skull!” I gasp. I know he’s just taunting Colin, but surely he knows how stupid this is. “Colin, he didn’t mean—”

“I sure as fuck did. Told you before, Colin. I’ve had her, and I’m not letting go. That young pussy, cabrón? Fucking delicious. I broke in that tight little snatch and formed her to fit only my cock. I’m not giving that shit up, so you’re out of luck.”

“Beth…” they warn me together.

“Will you both hush!” I growl, stomping my foot. “I’m not property! I’m a real person! I want to leave. I’m not going back with any of you!”

“Beast.”

“Got it, Boss,” Beast growls and, before I know what to expect, he grabs me and throws me over his shoulder. He moves us behind Skull and the other men. Over my yelling, I can hear Skull in the background.

“You’re giving me a license to wipe you off the map, biker. I don’t think you want to do that.”

“It’s not going to be that easy. You want war, you got it, but I warn you now, Colin, I will fucking make it my mission to cut your head off and mount it for your brother.”

Panic fills me. I have to stop this. Doesn’t Skull realize how much he has to lose? Doesn’t he know the kind of power that Colin and Matthew wield? Beast will not let me down and, in desperation, I plant my teeth into his shoulder, hoping the pain makes him drop me.

“Ow! Fuck, Skull! Your woman bit me!” Beast growls, trying to pull me away. I give up when it’s clear he’s not going to drop me.

“This isn’t over,” Colin says, motioning to the men around him. That’s when I see Colin’s men holding guns. Skull’s men have guns pointed directly at them. How did I miss that? At Colin’s signal, they back away but keep their guns aimed. “It looks like you got your war,” he says and my stomach rolls with the implications of that.

“So be it. I’m not giving her up,” Skull says.

My tears fall at that declaration. The thing I was trying to prevent just happened. How many deaths will be my fault? Will Skull’s?