“Get. On. The. Bike.”

To look at Vice President of the Iron Fury Motorcycle Club, Koda, would make any girl stop in her tracks and just stare in awe. He has the kind of face you dream about. The kind of body that makes yours come to life. He’s goddamned candy wrapped in leather, and he knows it. I don’t know if it’s the honey-colored eyes or the messy dark blond hair that sometimes falls over his forehead. Or if it’s that silky olive skin covered in tattoos.

Hell, it could be just the fact that his body is bigger, and musclier, and firmer than any man I’ve ever laid eyes on. He has biceps that would make the best of us squirm, and a chest that’s wide, broad, and strong. All the same, Koda is every females’ wet dream.

Until he opens his mouth.

He’s filled to the brim with arrogance, and he’s not shy to show it.

Yes, Koda might be worthy of being top of the list in my spank bank, but I can’t stand him. In fact, I despise him. And he knows it.

They all know it.

And that’s why they’re sending me to a cabin in the mountains, alone, with him, for my own protection.

And they want me to get on his bike.

On his fucking bike.

With him.

“I’d rather not,” I finally say, crossing my arms over my chest and staring at the tight-jawed biker already nestled on his rumbling Harley Davidson, ready to go.

“You either get on,” he begins, his voice a whip, “or ...”

“Koda,” Malakai says, his voice smooth, but firm. “Haven’t even left yet and you’re already throwin’ in the threats. Cool it, brother. Charlie—” He turns to me, and I stare at him. I like Malakai, only I’ll never tell him that. He helped me when I needed it, and he’s helping me again now. I’m grateful for that, truly I am. But did he really have to send me with Koda? “Do as you’re told.”

“I don’t like him,” I point out, my voice smooth. “And don’t think I don’t know you’re sending me with him because you know I don’t like him.”

“I’m sendin’ you with him because he’s the fuckin’ best. Don’t care if you believe that or you don’t, it’s how it is. You don’t have many options. You either stay down here and risk gettin’ a bullet to the skull when someone finds you and cashes in that hit, or you get on that bike and let Koda protect you.”

“How can I be sure he won’t be the one to put a bullet in my skull? We all know he likes me about as much as I like him. Which, in case you haven’t noticed, is a big fat zero.”

“Because I trust him, and that’s all there is to it. Call is yours. You trust us, or you go out there and try and hide on your own. Promise you, though, darlin’, that they’ll find you before you’re two towns down the road.”

My heart pounds against my chest at that thought. I know who called the hit. And I know he’ll stop at nothing to end me. Nearly ten years in jail and he managed to squirm his way out. That’s the thing about having people in high places—you can twist the system to your will. He’s been out for a little bit, and I’ve been running since.

But then I got involved with the club, hoping for their protection.

In doing that, he figured out I’m still around. And I’m still alive. And he wants revenge.

Only, he isn’t going to do the job himself. No.

He put a hit out. A million dollars.

One way or another, he’ll try to finally rid himself of me.

And seek the revenge he’s been plotting for all those years in prison.

I exhale, and glance over at Amalie and Scarlett. Both of them are watching me with wide eyes. I like them. A good deal. I rarely have friends. I rarely speak to other people. But these two girls, they’re the good kind.

“We’ll come visit often,” Amalie tells me, smiling.

Her striking beauty still catches me at a loss. She’s incredibly beautiful. The kind you rarely see. Pure, innocent, and soft. And she chose a biker.

Go figure.

“We’ll bring alcohol,” Scarlett tells me. “Parties. It’ll be great.”

“Club will be up every three or four days,” Malakai assures me. “Won’t be alone for long periods. Make your choice, Charlie.”

I glance at Koda, and he shoots me a shit-eating grin. He knows he’s got me backed against a wall, and he knows there’s absolutely nothing I can do about it. Because he knows, like anyone, that I value my life. So, I exhale, and walk over to the bike, glaring at him. “You don’t scare me, biker. If you try anything, I will drop you.”

His grin gets bigger. “Challenge accepted. Get on the bike.”

I glance at the bikers and their girls watching me once more, and then I get on the bike. I try to scoot back as far as I can so I’m not wrapped around the big biker in front of me, but it’s nearly impossible. Especially when he leans back and grabs my knee, sliding me forward with little to no effort.

“You want to die before we get there, stay back on the side. You want to live, stop bein’ a fuckin’ baby and scoot closer.”

I make a growling sound and scoot closer. Now my legs are spread right around him, and my intimate parts are pressed against him. God. My cheeks burn with frustration and a little shame. Fucking bikers.

Koda slaps my knee, no doubt in a victorious kind of way.

“Touch me again,” I growl, “and I’ll chop your fingers off.”

Maverick, who is standing next to the bike, lets out a booming laugh. “Should have a fantastic time then, Dakoda.”

Koda shoots him a look so icy it makes me shuffle back just a smidge. Maverick is unfazed by it.

Koda hates his name.

I make a note to call him by it at least ten times daily.

“Cabin is stocked, everythin’ you need is there, includin’ weapons and your laptop. Need anythin’, call,” Malakai tells Koda. “You good, brother?”

Koda nods. “Got this.”

“Don’t kill the girl, yeah?” he grins.

Koda grunts. “Can’t promise that.”

“Jerk,” I mutter under my breath, and then pull on the helmet Scarlett hands me.

Then we’re off.

Things are about to get interesting.