“How are you feeling?”

Charlie smiles at me, her face so battered it’s hard to make out her features. Her bruises have gone from being purple, to a pale greenish color, just like mine. She is still bandaged up in a few places, and over all, she looks like she’s on the mend. I’m glad, because I know how hard it is for me some days to feel like I’m healing, and she was a lot worse.

We’re sitting around the fire, the club has organised another cookout, I supposed to make everyone feel better. I’m glad Charlie came along. “I’m getting there,” she tells me.

They’ve basically welcomed her with open arms, after what she did for them. I suppose she showed her loyalty, and they respect that. So, she’s welcome here anytime. I’m glad, because she’s a great girl, and I like her a lot. Scarlett, too.

“I’m glad. I haven’t had much chance to say it, but I’m so grateful you were around when I got taken by Treyton. I couldn’t have gotten through that without you.”

She nods, her green eyes never fully opening up. She’s guarded. Always protecting something inside her. “You’re welcome. I could say the same.”

“You know,” Scarlett says, joining the conversation and shuffling a bit closer. “There are a heap of hot bikers that are single in this club.”

She wiggles her brows at Charlie, who rolls her eyes. “You’re not honestly playing matchmaker, are you?”

“It’s her thing,” I murmur.

Scarlett giggles. “It would do you good to have a biker, they’re worth it, I promise.”

Charlie grins. “No biker could handle me, I can assure you.”

“Koda could...” Scarlett winks.

“Dakoda looks like he wants to murder me on a good day.”

“That’s because he’s all dark and twisty,” I tell her, joining in, because why the hell not? “I think you two would be a good match. You’re both the same.”

“We’d be a good match in a fight to the death, and that’s about it.”

Charlie is grinning, and it has us all doing the same.

“Imagine the sex, though,” Scarlett pretends to fan herself. “With all that built up anger.”

Charlie snorts. “No.”

“Koda has a wild streak. It could be fun.”

I giggle.

Scarlett is wiggling her brows and doing thrusting motions.

Charlie just stares at the two of us.

“You two have issues.”

“So does Koda,” I point out.

She gives me a glare, but it’s playful. “Not going to happen.”

“What about Boston, then?” Scarlett continues. “He’s all broken and secretive.”

“Nope,” Charlie continues.

“Mason?” I add on. “He’s hot.”

“Not going to happen,” Charlie smirks.

“Charlie, it’s not healthy to avoid male company,” Scarlett wiggles a finger at her. “Imagine what one of these men, hell even two, if that’s what you’re into, could do for you?”

Charlie spits out her drink and laughs, glancing at Scarlett. “You’re twisted.”

She beams. “Thank you, I know.”

“I don’t need a biker, or any man, for that matter. I do fine on my own.”

Scarlett pouts, and I laugh. “But how do you...you know...get satisfaction?”

“It’s called a dildo, you ought to try it,” Charlie tells her.

We all lose it. Laughing so hard.

“I think I like you, Charlie,” Scarlett nods. “Yes, I think you can stay.”

Charlie grins. “I wasn’t planning on leaving.”

We keep chatting, laughing and joking, waiting for the men to come out of the club house. They’ve been in there for hours, talking about who knows what. When they do finally come out, it’s apparent right away that something is wrong. Three bikers branch off and go to the front gate, locking it. Two more circle the house and the sheds, looking around, as if they’re making sure no one is here.

Maverick, Malakai and Koda all stride towards us girls, and I notice that Charlie’s face goes pale, and I know, even before Malakai speaks, that something is very wrong.

“Stand up,” he orders Charlie.

She glances at us, and then slowly stands.

“Goin’ to ask you once, and I swear to fuck Charlie, if you lie to me, I’ll drop you here and now.”

“Malakai,” I say, horrified.

He shoots me a look that tells me to back down, and I do. Immediately.

“Like you a lot,” he continues. “Took care of my girl, took care of my club, never shared a word about what you knew. But I got a little word from Treyton before I ended him, something that sparked my attention.”

Charlie looks down at her feet.

Whatever he’s talking about, she knows what it is.

And whatever it is, it’s true.

“Is what I just found out from Koda, true?”

She glances at Koda, and then back to Malakai. “Depends what you found out.”

Her voice isn’t hard, if anything, it’s a little scared.

Whatever they know, it scares the hell out of her.

“Ask you once, and once only. Is your real name Charlene Masters?”

Her face gets a little pale, and she flinches. Then she nods. It’s small, but it’s there.

“Fuck,” Malaki barks. “Fuck!”

“H-h-h-how did you know?” she whispers.

“Took me a lot of fuckin’ diggin’, but I found it out,” Koda growls, stepping forward. “Also found out you’ve got a fuckin’ hit for a million fuckin’ dollars on your head.”

The entire club goes silent.

Dead. Silent.

My mouth drops open, and I look to Charlie, who is staring at Koda, her fingers trembling. A million dollars. One. Million. Dollars. How in the world could a young girl have a hit like that on her head? What has she done? Who the hell is she?

“Pack your things,” Koda tells her. “Now.”

“Please,” she whispers, rubbing her arms. “Don’t send me out there on my own. Please. Eventually, he’ll find me.”

Who will find her?

What’s going on?

“Wasn’t goin’ to send you out on your own,” Malakai informs her. “Like I said, you showed your loyalty to us, and now we’ll show you ours. Koda is takin’ you to a cabin up in the mountains. We’re goin’ to sort this issue out down here, and get you safe again.”

She stares at Malakai, then at Koda, then back to Malakai. “A cabin?”

“Yeah,” Malakai grunts.

“In the...mountains?” she continues.

Malakai nods.

She looks to Koda, “With him?”

“Koda is the best we have. His tracking skills are incredible. He can keep you safe as well as find out the information we need. He’s the best man for the job. It’s somewhat of a...passion...of his. You’ll be safe with him.”

Charlie shakes her head. “Can’t you send me up there with someone else? Anyone else? Can’t he stay down here and find his information?”

Malakai grins.

Koda grins bigger.

“Scared of me, darlin’?” Koda says to her, his voice low and husky.

“No,” Charlie snaps. “I just don’t particularly like you.”

Koda’s grin gets bigger, and holy hell, it’s scary. “That makes two of us. Should be fun then, yeah?”

Oh boy.

This isn’t good.

Not only because Charlie must be in some serious danger for them to send her away, but also because she’s going to end up in a cabin, in the mountains, alone, with Koda.

That should be...interesting.

God help them both.