She didn’t know how long she’d been in there. All notion of time passing had stopped the moment Elle had stepped foot into the Nomad’s warehouse, their home base. She’d been outnumbered and even still there were men hovering, watching her with a hint of suspicion but somehow, she seemed to be pulling it off.
It had taken every single ounce of courage that she possessed to pull open the big rusted gate like door and when she’d stepped inside everything had stopped, all eyes had turned towards her. Then, she’d had to pull on that strength again not to just turn around and bolt back the way she’d come.
At first one leather clad biker had started towards her, and then the next, and then suddenly a whole group had been standing around her and she had wished desperately that she had just listened to Honey and kept her nose out of it. It wasn’t really any of her business anyway, right? What business did she have pretending to be part of a motorcycle gang? She must have finally lost her marbles. Yes, that’s it. She just finally went around the bend. That was the only explanation her frightened mind could conjure just then.
“State your business.” One of the larger brutes had demanded and for a second she forgot everything that Hot Wheels had told, but then it came rushing back in along with a surge of adrenaline that had her throwing her shoulders back, stalking forward making sure to put an extra swing in her hip and pointing her finger straight into the man’s bearded face.
“My business is exactly that, mine,” She’d sneered, inwardly shocked at her own brazenness. “I’m here to see Damaris.”
“Well, he doesn’t like uninvited guests.” The giant leather clad man had said. Then Elle had leaned forward until she could smell the stale beer on his breath.
“Do I look like an uninvited guest to you?” She’d whispered the question in a way that she didn’t even know that she knew how to do and the man took a quick step back.
“Uh, well. Um, now that you mention it, no, uh not really. But you’re not on my list. Wait a minute, I don’t even know your name.” He’d growled suspiciously.
“It’s Ell–.” Elle had started to answer his unasked question before she’d even realized it. They may not know what she looked like but they might know her real name, “It’s Electra.” A second later she was mentally cursing herself. She was pretty sure that was a comic book character or something but it was too late now. And besides, none of these guys looked like they read much, even if there were pictures.
“Electra? I ain’t never heard of you. You in the Cruisers?” He asked, looked her over suspiciously.
“Obviously,” She snorted, pointing to her jacket, hoping that her bravado would outlast the nerves that she could feel threatening to rattle her apart.
“You with Viper?”
“Yeah. I’m new to the club, Viper brought me in.” Elle shoved her chin in the air as far as it would go, just daring him to question her answer but instead he gave her an abashed look.
“No, I mean…are you with Viper. Are you his girl?”
“His girl?” Elle almost choked. The last thing she expected to be questioned on was her relationship status, but she realized that for the moment it might be best to let them going on thinking that her and Viper were an item. As deplorable as that thought was. She gave him a coy look, at least she hoped it was coy and didn’t just look like she had something stuck in her eye.
“Look, Damaris doesn’t like to be kept waiting. You know what happens to people who make him wait, don’t you?” Elle said, still shaken by the question but now that she was there, there was nowhere to go but forward.
As shocked as she was that they seemed to accept her as a member of the Cruisers she was even more shocked when the big man shrugged, and a path opened up in the crowd that had gathered around her. She huffed out a sigh a relief as he turned, gesturing her to follow him but that relief was short lived as they walked into the main room of the warehouse and she realized there were a lot more members in the Nomads than she thought. And it looked like every single one of them was there.
Not Scorpion, she thought to herself, and relaxed a minute amount at the comforting thought. It was obvious that none of the other bikers saw beyond the clothes and makeup. The big man took her up towards the front of the room and she swore she could hear Hot Wheels voice in her head. Shoulders back, chin up, look straight ahead as if nothing and no one is in your way. It’s just you, and the thing you want most in the world.
Granted, the thing she wanted most in the world was to not be there anymore, but Damaris was her ticket. She just had to convince him, and then she could go. She was surprised when her pseudo guide introduced the man sitting on a throne like chair on a small raised dais as his leader. He wasn’t what she was expecting.
He was actually…small, at least in comparison to the other men. Slight of stature with plain features but it was his eyes that caught and held her gaze. Those eyes saw all the way through, stripped all her secrets bare, and judged her lacking. Elle shuddered, forcing her chin up even higher. She prayed that last part was just her imagination getting away with her.
“My, my. Aren’t you…succulent.”
“I’m not a pig.” Elle snorted, and then was so shocked that she’d spoken at all, let alone a sarcastic remark that she froze. Luckily, the man at her side spoke up in her stead.
“She’s from the Cruisers. She says she’s with Viper.”
“Well, a friend of Viper’s is a friend of mine.” Damaris said with a smile about as warm as a snake and Elle had to force herself to move forward as he gestured to a small table set off to the side. “Why don’t we sit here and talk.”
“Oh, okay.” Elle followed him reluctantly. She couldn’t put her finger on it but there was something about this man was off, and after nearly an hour of talking as near as she could tell, that impression remained the same.
She still couldn’t tell what was going on behind those eyes of his, but he did seem to be buying her act. She’d told him everything that she’d been supposed to, about Viper backing out of the deal, wanting another. Getting greedy.
As she’d told him she’d seen the anger flare hot and deadly in his eyes and she worried for the first time about being the messenger but he got control of his emotions almost unnaturally fast. She would have been gone as soon after telling him as she could but he’d kept her there, drawing out their conversation.
She’d accidentally let slip that she played piano, and music was a fascination of his. He’d questioned her for almost a half an hour on different composers, what she liked, what she didn’t like. It was unnerving, the way his unblinking eyes had tracked her movements. Finally, her nerves had reached their breaking point. She knew she had to get out of there, now.
“I really have to go. The crew is waiting for me.” Elle said quickly, rising to her feet.
“Wait,” Damaris said, freezing her with the command in his tone before she could take more than a step, “What’s your price.”
“Excuse me?” She shot back at him, baffled.
“It’s been a pleasure speaking with you,” He looked genuinely surprised by his own words, “I know you’re with Viper. I want to buy you from him. Name your price. Whatever you want, it’s yours.”
Elle just barely managed to choke out a scandalized laugh before anger set in, her temper and the adrenaline already spiking through her was a potent mix that had her stepping forward, hands planted on her hips as she faced the leader of the Nomads head on.
“Just listen here, bub. I am not for sale. I don’t have a price. Because I am not an object to be bought and sold like a…like a…toaster! Of all the gall! Of all the unmitigated–.” Elle bit off her words as she turned on her heel, “This conversation is over. I’m leaving.”
“Wait, please.” Damaris said as she walked away, “Can we meet again? You’re right, that was terribly uncouth of me. Let me make it up to you!”
Elle paused at his words, pausing for a moment of drama as she tossed back the words. “We’ll see.”
She almost giggled out loud. Was that really her? Did those words really just come out of her mouth? Elle almost didn’t believe it but her chest swelled with a sense of victory as she neared the door. No one stood in her way. No one else tried to stop her. She was almost free and clear. Mission accomplishe–.
She slowed as the front door of the warehouse began to open and that bubble of victory that had been growing inside her? It popped, deflating like a balloon until she felt completely drained because the last person she ever wanted to see had just walked through the door. Scorpion.
He froze mid step just as she did as they nearly collided with one another and then he stepped back. She had forgotten just how big he was, just how much he towered over her. How small and weak and pathetic he’d made her feel. As helpless as a baby kitten.
Elle held her breath as he stared at her with a blank look and a spark of hope ignited inside her. Maybe with the different clothes and makeup he wouldn’t recognize her. She prayed he wouldn’t recognize her but those hopes were dashed as his expression changed. Confusion was first, but then his eyes widened on her.
“Pretty lady?” He whispered almost reverently, “What…What are you doing here?”
Elle’s breath rushed out, and along with it went the only smidgen of hope she’d had left. Fear replaced. Cold, ruthless, immobilizing fear. She could hear Damaris in the background but it sounded far, far away as he demanded to know what Scorpion was talking about. And then Scorpion began to answer and her time was up.
Her instincts roared at her. If she didn’t get out of there right that minute, she would never leave that place. Not alive anyways. She had to leave. Now. But how? Scorpion’s massive body was blocking the only door in or out that she could see and at her back were fifty or so hardened bikers.
Elle swallowed against the sudden dryness of her mouth glancing quickly to her side. She did have speed to her advantage. If only she could surprise him. Before she’d even realized it, she was moving, shoving her entire body weight into an old barrel that stood by the door. Luckily, it toppled at the exact same time that Scorpion leapt for her and it caught him hard in the shins. He went down in a storm of curses and Elle took off.
As fast as she could, she ran.