“I have to know the truth, Mack. Just this once I’m asking you not to bullshit me anymore. Tell the damn truth. There’s nothing else that matters.”

I was sitting on Pete’s lap and held tight in his arms, R.J. on my left, his hand holding mine, and Bryce on my right. Miraculously he seemed to be healing entirely on his own. Bryce was breathing easier and the color was returning to his face. Shocked as I was over the events that had just taken place, I still couldn’t wrap my head around what any of this meant.

An hour ago Sherriff Daly released us from custody and asked that we remain at the clubhouse until the incident at the warehouse could be sorted. When we entered the RRMC HQ tensions were running high and we were bombarded with questions. Mack insisted on debriefing with those in charge first and then planned to call Church.

We were left alone in the meeting room, affectionately known as the V. V for vagina since these guys felt at home and closer to God when buried deep inside pussy. No, I can’t make that up. Valan and Ghost were happy to inform me of the significance but also thrilled to let me know Edge was a born-again virgin since hooking back up with me. Apparently they had doubts he was ever going to have sex again.

I was able to resist rolling my eyes. Barely.

And so it was Pete – V.P., R.J. – Treasurer, Ghost – Sergeant at Arms, Valan – Original Member, Jake – Full Patch, and me sitting with Mack, the exiled Original Member.

Silence engulfed us for a few minutes before Mack cleared his throat. Palms flat on the table he stood, his voice loud and clear as he recited the RRMC motto, one hand over his heart, “I will defend my club above all else. I will protect the members, our freedom, and our property, sacrifice all I am and have so the RRMC lives on. I will fight to the death to save and preserve the club and its members, my brothers. Anyone who threatens my brother threatens the club and is my enemy. I will live by my word, this code, and never break it until the day I die.

Ravage Riders in life, in death, and forever.”

Pete, R.J., Valan, Ghost, and Jake all repeated the oath in unison, sitting down once they were finished.

Mack leaned back in his seat and folded his arms across his massive chest, “I suppose you want to know how I met Patty.”

Bryce answered before Pete, “Yes.”

“Patty wasn’t quite human,” he let the impact of his words settle over everyone at the table and then continued, even after a few grumbles and doubting remarks filled the air. “I found her by accident one night while riding along the back roads on my hog. It was late, well after two in the morning. I liked to ride late at night and clear my head when shit with the club became too much. Ron and I often went on late night rides, but on this particular evening he was out with Sarah.”

“Go on,” Pete encouraged.

“The night was dark and full of stars, hardly any clouds in the sky. I rode toward the horizon with the wind on my back. I was relaxed, enjoying the throttle of the engine and the freedom.” He paused to rub the back of his neck with a sheepish grin, “Until I saw the lights. Like something straight out of a science fiction movie, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Bright lights in a wide spectrum of colors and a greenish tinge that reminded me of the Northern Lights.”

“What did you do?” I asked, totally sucked in by his story.

“I decided right then and there that I had to know the source of those lights. They seemed to call to me, to tug at my body like physical hands. It was fuckin’ weird,” he admitted, and Bryce smirked while Ghost shook his head.

“I guess we always knew you were a little fucked up,” Valan laughed.

“I rode toward those lights and followed for nearly an hour until I came to a clearing out in Juniper Hills. It was always peaceful up there. Quiet and calm away from the city and the stars were always so bright. Patty used to say that all the time,” he sighed and ran his hand through his cropped silver hair. “The first thing I found when I stopped my bike were the lights dimming. I thought I would miss where they came from and it made my heart hurt for some strange reason. I ran until I found a woman, beautiful and slender, a fucking knockout with blonde hair and green eyes that seemed to see into my soul.”

“Holy shit,” Jake replied the same moment Valan smirked. “Wish I would have found one like that.”

“Love at first sight?” I asked dreamily, leaning my head on Pete’s chest.

“Oh yes, and I never would have believed it possible. Still wouldn’t believe even if you all swore but I couldn’t deny what I felt and knew. Patty was everything I ever desired, my dream girl. I never knew a love like that and haven’t since. When we had Pete, I thought life was perfect.”

Peter didn’t say anything, but I could feel how much that statement affected him. Surprised I could sense him so intensely my eyes nearly filled with tears. I squeezed him tighter as Mack continued.

“She didn’t tell me who she was for a long time. I think she wanted to make sure I loved her first and wouldn’t freak out or leave her. Patty admitted she wasn’t fully human. She’s from the future –”

“Bullshit!” Valan stood and began to pace. “How can you expect us to take this all in as gospel?”

Ghost shook his head, “Bro, I got to agree. This is insanity.”

“Not the fucking Terminator,” Jake joined in, leaning back in his seat.

Bryce stood and inhaled a deep breath, “I’d think the same as all of you if Edge and I didn’t share a similar moment.”

Three heads swiveled to look at Pete. Peter leaned forward slowly and reached toward Bryce. The moment their outstretched hands touched, a greenish glow enveloped their bodies and a crackling like static electricity filled the stagnant air. Everyone in the room gasped, and several jumped from their seats.

“You boys are half human and half . . . alien I guess. Maybe? Time traveler? A combination of both? I never learned what her species was called although I know they were some kind of humanoid with far superior technology and intellect. I don’t know the specifics. I’ve spent years researching but have come up empty for the most part.”

“So what does this mean for us, Mack?” Bryce let go of Pete and sat down.

“I don’t know. You’re part of a time traveling race that seeks the stars and protects the secrets of what she called Riders.”

“Riders? Like this club?” I asked, frowning at his description.

“Precisely. This club was founded to protect the line of those who travel, who jump – I guess you could say – in time. The founders were members of her race who crashed on Earth when their ship had several malfunctions. Humans weren’t ready to accept alien intervention in their lives. So they stayed hidden and established this club, having children with humans and establishing relationships in order to build for the future.”

“So are they aliens or part human or what?” R.J. frowned.

“They’re just like you and me – the same looks and anatomy – but with far superior strength, intellect, and enhanced senses.”

“Enhanced senses,” Jake repeated. “Shit.”

Ghost whistled. “Is that why Jake, R.J., and Pete are so close?”

Mack nodded.

“Ravage Riders? So I get the Riders part. What about the Ravage?” my curiosity seemed to grow the longer we sat here.

“Ravage because Riders can access ripples in time or any part of the timeline. They ravage or repair tears in the continuum and can jump through black holes. Their power is astounding.”

Silence greeted his words for several minutes.

“Is it only me and Bryce?” Peter’s question made Mack smile.

“No, I believe every member of this club has an affiliation of some kind.”

Valan slumped into a chair, “No shit?”

Ghost started to laugh, hard, “I always knew I was a bad motherfucker.”

Jake glanced at Pete and R.J., “We always have been a bit different huh?”

“Yeah,” R.J. agreed. His gaze turned to me, “What about Rae?”

“Ron’s parents were founding members of the RRMC. She’s one of us. In fact, Rae is a pureblood.”

Wow, both my parents? “My mother and father were Riders? Maybe that’s why Peter and I have always had such a pull toward one another.”

Pete held me tighter and kissed my lips softly, his voice relieved, “I think so which makes me feel less anxious.”

“Me too,” R.J. whispered.

“Patty was sent here to retrieve the others who first crashed. The night I met her was the night she landed on Earth to find the others and bring them home, only her ship was badly damaged. A beacon led Ron and Sarah right to her. For months, years she tried to repair it but didn’t have the technology here to enable the repairs.”

“So she stayed and fell in love, twice,” I observed.

“Yes, but she was torn. She wanted to leave, her planet was in danger, but she had her life here. I never learned what was happening. She kept a lot of secrets, I didn’t want to lose her so I never demanded answers. I’m a hardass, but with her I couldn’t raise my voice. She cast a spell over me, much the way you have over my son Rae.”

Huh. Interesting.

“What about Rafe? He must have been one too?” Valan’s observation silenced the room.

“Yes, but that doesn’t matter. He got what he deserved. His plans to kill Pete and I were his mistake, and he paid for it. If none of you have any more questions I suggest we include the rest of the club. It’s time we reelect officers and heal the rift among members that Rafe caused.”

I think there were plenty of questions but the rest needed to be answered in Church.

I spent the remainder of the afternoon and early evening with Hayley, spilling my guts about who we were and how it impacted the future. She was stunned, but my bestie took it all in her stride. I knew I could trust her and she loved Jake. Including her was a necessity and I didn’t care who disagreed.

She wasn’t one of us, not that I knew but we could figure that out later.

Peter was one of the first to leave the V and headed right toward me, his face worn with fatigue but happy. I met him halfway and jumped into his arms, hugging tight.

He let go of me and placed his palms flat against my cheeks, his warm hazel irises captivating my attention as they always did, “I know you don’t want to be a part of this life, Rae –”

I silenced him with a kiss, knowing I would take Pete any way I could have him, even if he was some weirdly powerful half alien guy. Hell, I was a weirdo too. Damn, this was going to take some getting used to, but I loved Peter enough to make this work.

“Come with me Edge,” I took his hand and walked down the hall toward the bedroom.

He arched a brow in surprise. I’ve never called him Edge until now, but his slow wide grin told me he liked the way I said it.

“I thought you didn’t like my nickname.”

“I love you Peter but . . . I think I prefer Edge in the bedroom.”

His answering growl was low and seductive. Tossing me carefully over his shoulder and giving my ass a light smack Pete headed straight for his room and our king-sized bed. Laying me back against the cool sheets his eyes pierced mine with such intensity they nearly stole my breath, “Tell me? Do you really want to marry me?”

“Oh yes,” I answered as I pulled him closer. “We share the same soul Pet,” I whispered and let his nickname roll seductively off my tongue. “Without you, I would be lost.”

He lowered his lips to mine, crushing them in his hunger as his arms wound tight around my waist. Our clothes were flung in all directions and hit the floor in a discarded heap. Heated flesh, pounding hearts, and gasping breaths – we joined our bodies as he plunged inside me. Clasping our hands together Pete held them tight, his tongue dueling with mine as his hips moved with that delicious friction that owned my body as well as my heart.

“Faster,” I begged, knowing he would take me to the edge but not over, teasing and slowly increasing my pleasure until I couldn’t stand it any longer.

“Rae, I love you.”

“I love you too Edge, but now I want you to fuck me and make me yours, forever.”

His answering moan was half growl and half surrendering grunt, “Baby when you talk dirty like that I lose all control.”

“Peter!” I yelled, feeling the approaching climax building in my body with every thrust of his hips. When I released, the pressure and pleasure were too much, and I screamed his name as his own roar of satisfaction echoed loudly in the room the same moment a smile graced my tired lips.

“Forever Rae,” he repeated, pulling me into his arms. “That’s all there is.”

And I couldn’t agree more.