CHAPTER FIVE

Sofia huffed and jogged the last few steps up to the double glass doors. She’d never ran so far. If not for the help of the woman at the Brothers of Mayhem clubhouse, she’d still be handcuffed to the pipe. The way everyone stared at her creeped her out. She shivered, more from fear than the cold. Whatever he’d planned, he failed. The woman’s kindness in letting Sofia use her cell phone to call Hector brought tears to her eyes. She even helped by giving her and Hector directions to a local restaurant slash gas station a few blocks away, the perfect place to wait for her cousin. Lots of people she could blend in with. Wolf would never grab her with so many witnesses.

After she stopped in the women’s restroom to clean up and make use of it, she wandered around, checking out the books and magazines, acting as if she was having a hard time deciding what to buy. Every time she heard the roar of a motorcycle, she froze. The clerk behind the cash register kept looking her way.

The clock with advertising hanging to the right of the check-out counter showed her cousin was late in arriving. What was keeping him so long? Shaking and sweating regardless of the chill outside, she probably acted like she was about to rob the place or was in the middle of withdrawals.

Hector walked in with two of his guards. Before he spotted her, a Sand County deputy entered from another door and headed toward the counter. She imagined the clerk had called, being nervous by the way she hung around so long.

Relieved in seeing help, she rushed over to Hector. As soon as he spotted her, he opened his arms. She hugged his barrel chest and squeezed.

“Thank you. I want to go home.”

“What is going on, little one?”

“I’ll explain after we get home. I’m tired.”

“Very well.” He placed his arm around her shoulders. “After you rest, we’ll talk. As I mentioned over the phone, we had a little trouble last night. We have a new front door and the boys are repairing some of the sheetrock.”

She didn’t want to admit she knew the reason. Too many questions to answer when she was too tired to talk about Wolf. As crazy as it appeared and despite handcuffing her and forcing her to go to her cousin’s worst enemies’ clubhouse, she wanted to protect him.

Resting against Hector’s side, she stepped outside and raised her hand to block the glare. Then the thunder of motorcycles shook the ground beneath her feet. Billows of dust swirled in the air. The smell of gasoline and dirt surrounded them.

Hector’s guards reached beneath their jackets for their guns, but he shouted to stand down.

Sofia’s heart clenched. Wolf stopped his motorcycle only a few feet away, spreading his legs to steady the bike. The blond man he’d pointed out as his president, Easy, pulled up beside him.

Her cousin let her go, pushing her a little behind him.

Easy spoke first. “Toro, what are you doing in Brothers of Mayhem territory?”

“Just picking up my cousin. We’re leaving.” Hector’s arms remained relaxed down by his sides.

Wolf pushed down the kickstand and swung a long leg over the bike, standing next to it. Her heart pounded faster at the sight. Worry etched his handsome face.

“Sofia, come here.” His voice was calm but firm.

Deep inside she wanted to follow his command, but she held her ground. Who knew what would happen if she moved? She didn’t want anyone hurt. Feet frozen to the cement, she rubbed her sweaty palms against her jeans.

Hector glanced behind him. She hated the disappointed look on his face. She’d been doing that a lot lately. Disappointing him.

“What’s my cousin to you, asshole?” Toro stood rigid with anger.

A couple of the Mayhem Brothers hollered and revved their engines in protest to Hector’s tone.

“She’s Wolf’s property,” Easy said.

“You’re fucking insane.” Hector laughed.

Confused, she looked at Wolf. His hot gaze sent a delicious shiver down her body.

Hector carefully raised his arms until they crossed over his chest. “She’s no one’s property, and certainly no lowlife cock-sucking biker’s,” he shouted.

The motorcycles became louder, a couple even burned rubber, smoke billowed, making it look and smell like hell. The president held up his hand, holding back his men from attacking.

Horrified at the thought of bloodshed on her hands, she stepped in front of Hector. His hands reached out for her, but she jerked away. She heard Wolf’s cursing over the thundering engines.

“Go away, Wolf. I’m okay. Hector will keep me safe.”

Before anyone could call out another threat, two deputy cars drove up, red and blue lights flashing. The deputy inside the truck stop had called in backup. He probably had peed in his pants on seeing the Thirty-Second and Brothers of Mayhem meeting up in the parking lot.

“We don’t have time for this.” The president twirled a finger in the air, indicating to pull together and move out. “Later asshole,” he said to Hector before gassing his bike and leaving.

Wolf stared at her for a few seconds and then remounted his bike. The president saluted the deputies as they sped by, flowing around the patrol cars, causing the deputies to press up against the sides to keep from being knocked down.

Relief almost had her sinking to her knees.

While her cousin handled the deputies, she crawled into his sedan and stretched out in the back seat. She was cold and hungry, but the need for rest from her ordeal won out. She hadn’t expected to sleep, but she didn’t even remember closing her eyes until her cousin shook her awake in front their house.

“You and I need to talk.” Hector followed her to the front door, brushing by the constant guard outside.

“I’m tired and want to go to bed.”

“Did he hurt you? I’ll make him pay.”

She stopped and turned to her cousin. He stood a few inches above her, but that didn’t say much as she was barely five-three. The anxiousness in his eyes held back her words of where was he when his best friend slapped her around?

Instead, she shook her head. “He didn’t hurt me.” When he continued to watch her, she added, “And he didn’t touch me in that way.”

She rubbed her eyes and immediately realized her mistake.

“What the fuck!” He grabbed a wrist. “He didn’t hurt you? What? Are you getting into pain? What are these?” Holding up her wrist, he pointed at the bruising.

“They’re from handcuffs. I caused the bruises by struggling, but that’s all.” She pulled away from her cousin and cupped his face. “I’m going to bed. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“Fuck, yes, we’ll talk more tomorrow. I want to know why he thinks you’re his property and why he’s cuffing you.” Hector’s distress in his voice almost caused her to cry.

She kissed his cheek. He had his faults, but he tried to be a good man. After her separation and divorce, and she’d moved back into Hector’s home, he’d been kindness personified.

The few steps to her bedroom felt like miles away. She noticed throughout the house several small pieces of furniture missing and others with scratches. A whole wall had new sheetrock not yet painted. Wood covered a couple of the windows. Her body chilled at the thought of her being there when it was attacked. What would Wolf’s MC have done to her? She shook her head, pushing out the terrifying images.

She didn’t bother with stripping. Falling on the bed, she toed off her shoes, hearing them clunk one at a time on the floor. The late afternoon light didn’t even bother her as she fell asleep.

When she awoke, it was dark in her room. The red numbers on the clock sitting at the edge of her nightstand provided the only light. Even outside, the moon had hidden behind clouds, casting everything into patches of gray and black. One thing about fall in Alabama, it was more cloudy and rainy than anything.

A cold breeze stirred her hair.

She looked over to the window. It was open about an inch. Before her brain could register the significance, a rough hand covered her mouth. Eyes wide, she looked up, seeing a large shadow hovering over her.

––––––––

Wolf clasped the back of her head and covered her mouth, his thumb pressed beneath her chin to prevent her from biting his hand. She struggled, but he held tight, placing his body over hers.

“Shh. It’s me. You know I won’t hurt you.” He hoped she’d stop fighting at least long enough to explain. “Don’t scream. Nod your head and I’ll let you go. I need to talk with you.”

She moved her head slowly up and down.

“Good.” He carefully let her go.

She inhaled deeply. Wolf’s hands raised, ready to cover her mouth again. Was she about to scream? Instead she’d balled her fist and thumped his chest.

“You scared me,” she hissed. Her fingers then dug into his shoulders. “You need to leave before Hector or one of his men realize you’re in the house.”

“I had to talk with you, to see if you’re all right.” He clicked on his cell phone’s flashlight icon. Muting the light by pointing it down into the sheets near her, his breath was taken away by how beautiful she looked. Her long dark hair spread over the pillow and eyes heavy with sleep. Would she look like that after he made love to her?

Would he ever get her in his bed? Most of it was his fault. He’d wanted to take it slow, but maybe if he had done it sooner, she wouldn’t want to leave him. Of course, keeping her handcuffed hadn’t helped. He reached down to her wrists and lifted them to his mouth. Kissing each bruise, he whispered, “I’m sorry.”

She eased out of his hold and tugged on the sheet, raising it to her chin. He grinned. She had on clothes from the day before, but in her drowsiness, she acted as if she wore a see-through nightie.

Damn. Growing hard was not going to help his concentration on what he needed to say.

“I’m sorry that I treated you like that. I was desperate to protect you and keep you close.”

She looked at him, lifting one dark eyebrow.

Frustrated by her silence, he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Please come with me, Sofia. I’ll protect you.”

“I don’t need protection.”

“Yes, you do.”

“Hector will keep me safe.”

“He didn’t before. He won’t now.”

“If you’ll stay away from me, he can.”

“You know you don’t want me to stay away.” He wanted to stop touching her, but he couldn’t resist. He leaned over and brushed his lips across hers. Had she realized she’d lifted up to meet his kiss? “I'm not the one you need to worry about.”

“You and your club I do,” she whispered with a touch of impatience.

“You don’t know.” He lifted his chin. Why would her cousin keep the news away from her?

“Know what?” Suspicion filled her eyes.

“Your ex is out of prison.”

She scooted up. “What?” The word came out in a panicked whisper.

“Yesterday. He was released. He’s at your house on Payne Street.”

From the information he’d gathered, Hector was handling the sale of the house that Ramon and Sofia had lived in.

“Hector told me he wouldn’t . . .” Her words drifted off as if she replayed a memory. “It doesn’t matter as long as he stays away from me.”

“I read the court documents.” It paid to have an informant in the sheriff’s department. Every time he thought of it, he wanted to kill the bastard for hitting her. Damn, besides slapping her around, he’d taken a belt and beaten her.

A flare of anger crossed her face. “Why do you care? Who my cousin is hasn’t changed. You pushed me away when you found out.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

Fuck, he liked the way she looked when angry. Such fire in her eyes, a flush to her cheeks, and lips so pouty. His dick was so hard he wanted to sink into her at that moment. Damn, he wanted her even while in that bastard Toro’s house.

“I was wrong. At the time, I thought you would be safer away from me, but I see where I fucked up.” With each word he scooted closer to her on the bed until she was stretched out beneath him, his groin pressed to hers, his arms straight on each side with his chest hovering inches above hers.

Then she trembled and licked her bottom lip.

Unable to stop, he covered her mouth. Every taste heady as his tongue stroked hers. His palms cupped her breasts. He was disappointed to feel a bra, but it didn’t stop him from feeling the hard nipples beneath. Fuck, he wanted nearer. He wanted in her, but it wasn’t the time or place to strip her naked.

Thrusting his hips against hers, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her hard against his body. Each dry hump only tortured him further. He slipped a hand beneath her shirt and unsnapped the bra. A little talent he improved on over the years. She groaned with him when it parted.

His hips kept up a rhythm as he shoved her shirt up until his mouth covered a stiff tip.

Oh, fuck. Nothing felt so soft and wonderful against his tongue. Hunched over her as he continued to rock against her and suck, his dick wanted to explode.

Lights shone on them from the hallway at the same time someone shouted, “What the fuck!” Then overhead lights lit up the room.

Wolf’s first instinct was to hold Sofia tight and cover her from someone seeing her breasts. Cruel hands grabbed his arms and legs, wrenching him away from Sofia.

“Get your fucking biker hands off Sofia!” Toro stood above them, shaking in fury as he watched his men pull Wolf away.

“Wait! Let her cover herself.” A little surprised that they listened to him, he helped her pull down her blouse and toss a corner of the sheet over her shoulder. Her eyes were wide in her pale face. He hated that he’d forgotten where he was, and she was so frightened.

On seeing her covered, the men pulled him away. Then the punching started. He got in a couple of good hits before they ganged up on him, and he went down. He curled into a ball to protect his stomach and groin. No surprise that having the shit kicked out of him would quickly deflate his dick.

“Stop! Hector, stop them!” Sofia’s screaming muffled whatever Toro shouted in unison.

Fuck. Sneaking into her room hadn’t been the brightest idea of his, but staying and making out with her hadn’t been none too smart either. He should’ve done what he’d planned. Take her and then explain after they were somewhere safe.

When the kicking eased up, they hauled him to his feet. He tasted blood and warmth trailed down his temple. His ribs hurt, but not like they were broken.

“Shut the fuck up, Sofia!” Toro glared at her.

“Don’t talk to her like that,” Wolf growled. One of Toro’s guards punched Wolf in the gut.

“Leave him alone. He came to see me.”

Wolf wished she would keep her mouth shut. He had no way of knowing if her cousin would turn on her, and he wasn’t exactly in a spot to protect her. Four to one weren’t good odds.

“You let MC trash in my home?”

That was where she could sign his death warrant by saying he sneaked in and she wanted him gone.

“I've been seeing him. I didn’t know he was a Mayhem Brother until recently.”

“What the fuck? Was Ramon right? You were cheating on him.”

“What? Me? Cheating on him? We were legally separated, waiting for the divorce to be final when I met Wolf.”

“So you were?”

“No. You’re not listening. Anyway, you know me better than that.”

Toro glared at Wolf.

“I thought I did until I found a mother-fucking biker dry humping my cousin in my fucking house.” As if his rage couldn’t be restrained any longer, he pulled back his fist and let it fly.

A bright light burst behind Wolf’s eyes. Then he heard shrieking, but it slowly faded as he fought the darkness.