Chapter 14
Harley
These guys were partying hard, and inevitably, their parties led to fights. Weren’t they supposed to be brothers in arms? On the same team? Didn’t they have each other’s backs?
Instead, one fight broke out after another and they were at each other’s throats. I watched them from behind the bar counter, trying to stay out of sight because I didn’t want to get involved. It was scary to see them being violent like that. I had no idea what they were going to do next.
While Caesar remained in the middle of it all, smashing bottles and giving orders, I remained cowering behind the counter. I just wanted it to be over soon so I could figure out what to do about Dash.
I had to do something, now that I knew his life was in imminent danger.
All of a sudden, they decided they were going to take their fight outside. One by one, they started pouring out of the bar and getting on their bikes. Getting ready to leave.
I watched them leave with a hopeful heart. Relieved that they were all going to go. But Caesar was one of the last ones to leave. When I saw him staggeringly approaching me, I made myself busy cleaning glasses. I didn’t want to meet his eyes. Or give him any reason to speak to me. But he was going to do what he wanted to do.
I could smell him before he’d even come close to me. The stench of his cigarettes and alcohol.
He leaned towards me, over the counter while I kept my eyes down. I could sense him reaching his hand out towards me. He tucked a lock of my hair behind my ears. Almost tenderly, and I felt my whole body shiver.
“You hide that beautiful body of yours under all those clothes. The boys get frustrated. How many times do I have to tell you to show more skin?”
He’d just tucked the hair behind my ear and he grabbed the side of my face, tipping it up so he could look into my eyes. I gasped. Afraid he was going to hit me again.
“I’ll wear something different tomorrow,” I murmured. I could see the desire in his eyes. He wanted to have me tonight. My heart was racing in my chest.
“You better, if you know what’s good for you,” he growled and let me go. I stumbled backwards from the force.
“Clean the shit up around here!” he added, pulling a cigarette out of his pocket and he lit up.
“Yes, I will,” I said. Was I going to be left alone with Dash? Clearly, he didn’t think I was capable of doing anything. Maybe he thought I was afraid of him.
I watched him walk out of the clubhouse, and the remaining guys followed him out. I waited until I saw them get on their bikes and ride away.
The thing was, Caesar didn’t know me at all. He had no idea what I was capable of.
***
I went down to the cellar after everyone had left. Carlos was gone too, so there was nobody guarding the door. I was grateful for the fact that they were a bunch of idiots, and had no idea how to keep their prisoner secure. They were too drunk to think straight.
They even left the keys hanging next to the door.
I quickly grabbed them and unlocked the cellar and went in. Dash was sitting on the ground as usual, with his hands chained to the pipe.
“Midnight snack?” he asked with a grin. It ached my heart to see him always smiling like that. I rushed towards him.
“I think I can get you out,” I told him. Dash searched my eyes, eager to find out what I was talking about.
“They’re gone, all of them. I checked the whole clubhouse, they’ve all gotten on their bikes and left,” I said.
Dash was beginning to grin now.
“And they left you in-charge of me?” he asked and I shrugged.
“They didn’t say anything about that. I guess they figured I wouldn’t go anywhere near you. They barely notice me,” I replied.
“Clearly they’ve underestimated you.”
We smiled at each other.
“If you leave now, there won’t be anybody here to stop you, but you have to get out soon,” I told him.
Dash nodded, but then he squared his shoulders.
“Harley, you have to come with me,” he said.
“What?”
“You and your daughter. I’m going to take you with me. I’m not leaving you here,” he continued.
Dash was searching my eyes, I could barely breathe. That wasn’t a part of my plan. I didn’t intend on leaving. Not like this…
“But…”
“Don’t make any more excuses to yourself to stay. Just don’t. I’m going to get you and your daughter out of this life. I’m going to protect you from him. From these motherfuckers. Will you let me?”
I licked my lips nervously. My brain was working a mile a minute. In all these years, I’d never imagined there could ever be an escape. I was so afraid of Caesar and the others, that I never considered it could actually happen for me.
“He will find me. He will find Amanda,” I whimpered and Dash held my gaze firmly.
“You have to trust me, Harley, I’m not going to let that happen to you or Amanda. You’ll be safe with me. I promise. Do you trust me?”
My eyes welled up with tears. Nobody had shown me kindness like this in the past eight years. I didn’t even think men were capable of it. And a man like Dash…so sexy, so handsome and strong. A man who could have any woman he wanted. But he wanted to keep me safe.
“I trust you,” I said and he smiled.
“Good. Now all I have to do is get this damned pipe off the wall!”
I was confused at first and then I saw what he was talking about.
***
Somehow, through sheer physical strength; Dash had managed to pry the pipe off the wall. Just a little more effort and that thing would be free and he could just slide the handcuffs out of the pipe after.
He looked at me, with an accomplished grin on his face.
“You really don’t have to do that, I know you’re very strong already,” I teased him with a smile.
I pulled one of the bobby pins out of my hair and I held it up for him to see.
“You’re holding it like it’s a weapon,” he said and I shrugged.
“It is mine,” I replied and he crossed his brows. He didn’t think I could do it.
I reached for his cuffs and started working on them. This was a skill I taught myself a very long time ago. Right back when I was a teenager and I had to sneak around behind my parents’ backs. Picking locks was my way to freedom.
The lock in the handcuff clicked and Dash stared up at me in astonishment.
“They really do underestimate you, Harley.”
Smiling, I watched as he pulled his hands out of the cuffs and looked at me again.
Before I could say anything, or even breathe, Dash caught me by the back of my neck. I gasped when he touched me because I needed to be touched by him for so long. He pulled me close to himself and our mouths met in a sizzling kiss.
I wrapped my arms around him and he stood up, pulling me up along with him. His mouth was on mine, his tongue explored me, slid down my throat and I tried to devour him at the same time. This kiss was explosive. It was nothing like anything I’d experienced before.
I had never imagined kissing someone like this. Someone who could make me feel this way. I touched him freely now, feeling the strength of his arms, his biceps moved under my touch. His body was hard and strong as he kept me pinned to himself.
His hands were all over me too. Feeling my shape, the curve of my butt, then down the back of my thighs. I was breathless when he finally pulled his mouth away from me. I was panting. He was looking deep into my eyes.
“I’ve been wanting to do that since I first saw you,” he said gruffly, under his breath. I blushed because I was thinking the same thing.
“We should get out of here,” I said breathlessly, still reeling from that kiss of a lifetime.
“Let’s go get your daughter,” he said and he released me. I gave him my hand because I wanted to keep touching him. My hand was small and weak in his, but now that I knew what it felt like to be in his arms—I knew I had nothing to worry about.
Dash was going to find a way to keep us all safe.