Every inch of my body was throbbing in pain, especially my head, and I was still trying to break free from the fog that was weighing down on me as I looked around the room. I started to get nervous when I realized it looked less like an actual hospital and more like a room at a veterinarian’s office with all the odd cabinets that lined the walls and the peculiar smell that filled the room. It had a strange assortment of medical gear and supplies, and they were far from modern, making the entire room look like something out of the past. I was still trying to become accustomed to my surroundings when they walked into the room. That’s when I really started to panic. They were big and fierce with various tattoos marking their skin, and they were each wearing leather vests with skulls and embroidery on the sides and back. As they towered over me and prodded me with questions, it was impossible not to feel intimidated, especially by the man who was standing off to the side. He was tall and muscular with dark hair and a beard, and the way he stared at me with those dark, penetrating eyes chilled me to the bone. I would’ve been completely freaked out if it hadn’t been for him—the man who called himself Diesel. The way he spoke to me in that deep, calming voice, and how he looked at me with those kind, green eyes, made me feel less threatened—like I was safe in this crazy place I’d found myself in.

An older man with salt-and-pepper hair and a goatee hovered over me as he asked, “What exactly do you remember?”

My mind was still trying to fight the fog I was under, and every memory seemed so far away, unable to be reached. I wanted to answer his question, but I didn’t know how, and that terrified me even more. “I don’t know. I can’t explain it. I don’t remember anything. I don’t know how I got here. I don’t know how I was hurt. I don’t even know my name. How can this be happening?”

Doc came over to me with compassion in his eyes as he said, “She’s just now coming around. We need to give her some time, Cotton.”

“I’ll give you some time,” he told me as he glared at me with suspicion. “But if you’re hiding something, it’s only going to make it worse. If there is something going on, I need to know about it. I don’t like surprises.”

“I wish I could tell you … but I can’t remember anything.”

“Well, if that changes, I want to be the first know,” he demanded.

Doc looked over to him and nodded. As they started to file out of the room, Cotton stopped and looked back over to me. In a deep, authoritative voice, he commanded, “I want someone with her at all times. She isn’t to be left alone … Understood?”

Diesel answered, “With the weather the way it is, things are slow at the construction site and in the garage, so if it’s good with you, I can stay with her. Doc and I will let you know if there’s any change.”

“Sounds good to me.”

Relief washed over me as I watched them walk out of the room. Doc and Diesel talked quietly between themselves for a moment, and for the first time, I finally got a good look at Diesel. He was wearing loose fit jeans that were frayed at the hem and a long-sleeve, black t-shirt, which brought out the olive tone in his skin. Although he wasn’t as big as the others, he was still very muscular and tall. While I was checking him out, Doc came over to me and asked, “Are you up for eating something?”

I was caught off guard by the question, so it took me a minute to answer. “Umm … No. Not really.”

“We’ve got to get something in your system, darlin’. Even if it’s just a piece of toast or something.”

The thought of eating just didn’t appeal to me, but I knew he was right. “Okay. Maybe some toast?”

“You got it. I’ll be back in a few minutes. Diesel is going to stay with you. If you need anything, just let him know.”

“Um … Before you go … I really need to go to the bathroom,” I whispered.

“I can help with that.” He walked over to Diesel and motioned for him to step outside. Once he was gone, he pulled my blankets back, and I was surprised to see that I was only wearing my bra and panties. When he noticed my expression, he said, “Your clothes were wet and covered in blood. We’ll get you something to wear in just a bit.”

“Oh.”

He helped me to my feet, and as soon as I tried to stand, I found that my legs were like noodles, and I stumbled forward. Before I dropped to the floor, he reached for me, pulling me to his side as he helped me walk towards the bathroom. Once I was on the inside, I eased the door closed and stepped over to the mirror. I gasped with horror when I saw my reflection. I looked like I had been in some kind of battle, and I’d lost miserably. As I held onto the sink for balance, I stared at my reflection for several moments, trying to force myself to remember what had happened to me, but no memories came. When my legs started to tremble, I finally gave up, went to the bathroom, and walked back out to Doc. As he helped me back over to the bed, I told him, “I don’t know why you did it, but thank you for saving my life.”

“No need to thank me. Just trying to do what’s right.” He patted me on the leg. “Now, get some rest. I’ll grab you something to eat and some clothes. Are you going to be alright here with Diesel?”

“Yes, I think so.”

He walked over to the door and once he opened it, he motioned for Diesel to come back inside. They spoke for a moment, then Doc walked out into the hall, leaving us alone. Diesel came over and asked, “You doing okay?”

“I would be doing better if you would tell me where I am and who those men were.”

“You’re at the Satan’s Fury clubhouse.”

“Satan’s Fury? What are you talking about?”

“Satan’s Fury is a motorcycle club. Have you heard of ‘em?” he asked.

“I’ve heard of motorcycle clubs before, but I’ve never heard of Satan’s Fury. Should I be worried about these guys?”

“I’m one of ‘these guys,’ and you’re alive, aren’t ya? You’ve gotta remember … these are the people who are trying to help you. They gave you a roof over your head with a warm bed, medical attention, and whatever else you may need. I’d say you already have the answer to that question.”

“You’re right, and I really do appreciate it. But there’s just so much that I don’t know … like … how did I end up here?”

“That’s just the thing.” He shrugged. “None of us know. The clubhouse is miles away from town. Got nothing out here but trees and mountains. It’s like you showed up in the middle of thin air. And on top of that, when Maverick found you out there in the snow, you had no car, no identification, and you were just about dead when they brought you in here. You’d lost a lot of blood … had a pretty nasty bump on your head, severely bruised ribs, and scratches and cuts all over. It’s a miracle Doc was able to bring you back.”

“How is that possible? I had to come from somewhere.”

“You’re right about that, and in time, we’ll figure it out.” Even with a storm of confusion raging inside me, there was something about the way he spoke that set me at ease. I couldn’t explain it, but I knew I could trust him. “For now, you just need to get some rest and try to get better.”

Moments later, Doc returned. “I got you some things to wear and a bite to eat as well.”

“Thanks, Doc,” I told him as I took the folded clothes from his hands.

As Diesel started towards the door, he said, “I’ll step outside while Doc helps you get dressed.”

I was able to put on the black knit leggings without any trouble, but the long-sleeved t-shirt was a different matter. With my aching ribs, I couldn’t manage it on my own. Seeing my struggle, Doc came over to me and took the shirt from my hand, careful not to hurt my wound as he eased it over my head and helped me slip my arm through each of the sleeves. Once that was done, he checked my bandages and gave me some medicine for the pain. Even though I wasn’t hungry, I managed to eat a few bites of toast and drank a little tea, which seemed to satisfy Doc, at least for the time being. “I’ve gotta run home and check on a few things. When I get back, we’ll see about getting you moved to a more comfortable room.”

“That’s okay. I’m fine here.”

“No. A room like this isn’t suitable for a young lady like yourself.” He reached for his coat and as he put it on, he added, “You need anything, just let Diesel know and he’ll take care of it.”

“I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

He gave me a quick nod, and then started for the door. Once he stepped outside, Diesel walked back in. As he came over and sat down next to me, he asked, “You feeling better?”

“Yes, but I’d be feeling even better if I could remember something … anything. I just don’t understand it.” Something occurred to me as I thought about everything that had happened. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“If I was in such bad shape, why didn’t you just take me to the hospital?”

He shrugged. “They were going to, but just before you passed out, you begged them not to. Cotton figured there had to be a reason why, so he got Doc to fix you up.”

“Why wouldn’t I want to go to the hospital?”

“I don’t know, but there had to be a good reason. Probably had something to do with why you were out in the middle of snow storm.” His eyes dropped to the floor like he was thinking about something. After several seconds, he looked back to me and asked, “I know you can’t remember your name or what happened, but is there anything you can remember?”

I closed my eyes for a moment, and as I tried to think back, I was bombarded with images of people’s faces, a house with a front porch, a kitchen, an apartment, and all the sounds of voices, but they were all jumbled up. I couldn’t make sense out of any of it. “It’s like all these memories are right there … I can almost reach them, but they’re just too far away. Does that make any sense?”

“It does, and they will come to you when you’re ready. It’s just going to take some time.”

My voice trembled as I asked, “Are you sure? What if my memory never comes back?”

“You’ve got to take this thing one step at a time, angel. It’ll all sort itself out. Just give it a little time and don’t push yourself. You’ll see.”

“Why are you being so nice to me? You don’t even know me. I could be a horrible person. I could’ve done something terrible. What if that’s the reason I’m here.”

“Maybe you did do something bad. Hell, if I know, but somehow, I doubt it. I’ve always been pretty good at reading people, and you don’t seem like the kind of person who could’ve done something all that bad. So, the way I see it, we just have to wait and see how the cards fall.”

“Can I ask you how you got the name Diesel? Is that really your name, or is it a nickname or something?”

“My real name is Scotty. Diesel is my road name. I acquired it after I had a little mishap with some fuel and starting a fire. Over time it just stuck, and the brothers have been calling me Diesel ever since.”

“What do you mean … brothers?”

“It might be hard for you to understand, but we’re all family here. The guys here are my brothers, and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for them … nothing.”

“But they’re not really your family, right?”

“Not by blood. They’re my family by choice.”

“I think I understand … Well, maybe I do.” I smiled. “I always thought clubs like these were just an excuse for guys to get together and drink, and when the weather’s nice, they’d ride their bikes.”

“That’s how it is for some, but we tend to take things a little more seriously around here,” he explained.

“I can tell,” I scoffed. “I thought that Cotton guy was going to blow a gasket when I told him I couldn’t remember who I was.”

His friendly tone quickly changed as he said, “Cotton’s our president. It’s his job to keep things running around here, and for all any of us know, you could be something other than what you say you are.”

“Considering how I got here, who else could I be?”

“Considering how you just showed up … out of the fucking blue, with no car and no ID … you could be anyone.”

“And that’s why that Cotton guy doesn’t want me to be left alone?”

“Exactly.”

“Diesel, I’m not here about your club. You have to believe me.”

His eyes locked on mine as he replied, “I want to believe you, and in my gut, I think you’re telling the truth.”

“Good.” The conversation had grown heavy, and it was starting to wear on me. Hoping to change the subject, I said, “Since your memory is still intact, why don’t you tell me something about yourself.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Anything. Everything. Where do you live? What do you do for a living? Are you married? Things like that.”

“I live here in Port Angeles, and I …”

“Wait. We’re in Port Angeles, Washington?”

“Yeah. Do you remember being here?”

While the name seemed familiar, I couldn’t actually remember ever being here before. I tried to think where I might’ve heard it, but nothing came to me. “I don’t think so.”

“Well, you’re here now.”

“Good to know,” I mumbled. “Just keep going. I’m sorry I interrupted.”

“Okay. Let’s see.” His eyes skirted up to the ceiling as he thought about how to continue, then he said, “I work with the brothers down at the construction company, and I help out at the garage when I can. And I’m not married … not even close.”

A peculiar sense of relief trickled over me when he mentioned that he wasn’t married. I tried to convince myself that the feeling was just a side effect of the medication Doc had given me and not the fact that he was so good-looking. A twinge of guilt tugged at me when I realized I had no idea if there was anyone special in my life. I lifted my left hand, checking for a ring, and even though there wasn’t one, I felt an odd sensation when I ran my thumb across the bottom of my index finger. For all I knew, I was happily married, and on top of that, I could’ve had children. The last thing I needed to do was sit there ogling some sexy biker while my family could be home waiting for me. The thought saddened me. How could I have forgotten something so important. I laid my head back on the pillow and sighed.

“Why don’t you get some rest? It might do you some good.”

I wasn’t sure I could sleep, especially knowing that Cotton and the others were just outside that door, so I looked at him and asked, “You’re staying here, right?”

“Yes, angel. I’m not going anywhere. Now, get some sleep.”

I closed my eyes, and with Diesel sitting beside me, I was able to relax enough to drift off. I don’t know how long I’d been sleeping, when I heard a something calling out to me from the darkness. I couldn’t make out his face, but I could hear a man pleading, “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I’m so, so sorry. You know I didn’t mean it. I’ll never hurt you again. I promise. You have to forgive me.”

There was something familiar about his voice, something that made me feel anxious, and I wanted to get away from him. That feeling only got worse when his tone suddenly changed. My heart started to race as he growled, “Where you going to go? Huh? That’s right. You’ve got no place to go now, do ya? I’m all you got, so just stop all this bullshit and come home. It’s not like you have a fucking choice.”