Chapter Twenty
Harley
Sneaking out of Scott's bed was the hardest thing I'd ever done. Well, at least it was the hardest thing that I remembered doing, if I was going to be specific. Seriously, there was a knot of anxiety in my gut that seemed to grow as I stared down at his sleeping face for the second time that day.
"I'm sorry," I whispered so quietly that I wasn't even sure I'd made a sound. Leaning over him, I kissed his cheek and then backed into the front of the van and, when I was sure I hadn't given myself away, slipped out the passenger door and carefully closed it behind me.
The bright afternoon light made me wince and I wondered for the hundredth time if whatever I had gone through was the reason that my eyes seemed to prefer the dark of night to sunlight. I picked my way through the quiet village to the main street that led to the nearest town.
I was walking along the dusty road when an old beat-up truck rattled to a stop beside me.
"Need a lift, kid?" The old man behind the steering wheel wheezed out a laugh.
"Actually, that would be great," I said before thinking better of it.
"Hop on in," he rasped out, reaching over to open the passenger side door from the interior.
"Thanks." I climbed up inside and reached over my shoulder for the safety belt, but there wasn't one there. I shrugged inwardly. It wasn't like he was going to be driving very fast down the rutted country road.
"Where ya headed?"
Even though the man seemed harmless, telling him I was going to a gentleman's club didn't exactly seem like a wise idea, so, instead, I pictured the map off the website and picked the building just across the street from my actual destination. "Wolfsrudel Community bank, sir."
"You got some money, have you?" He narrowed his eyes at me, making me worry that I'd misjudged him. He may have been quite a bit older than me, but he was also quite a bit larger
"No," I rushed to assure him that I wasn't worth robbing. "I heard they were hiring and I wanted to put an application in. I, uh, have an appointment."
That seemed to satisfy the old man, because he merely grunted and chewed the toothpick sticking out the corner of his mouth. The truck groaned to a stop on the street in front of the bank and I turned to thank him for the ride, but he lunged for me, his hands grabbing at my shoulders as his flappy lips tried to find my mouth.
I clawed for the door handle, managing to wrench my arm free and scramble from the cab as it swung open.
"I jest wanted a little kiss fer my troubles," he cackled after me as I bolted for the club across the street.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid!" I chanted to myself. "You totally know better than to get into a car with a stranger, no matter how old they are." I shuddered at the thought of what the old man might have been capable.
"You okay, son?" Another strange voice was calling out to me, but this one was oddly comforting.
"Yeah, I think so," I said quietly, trying to stop my body from shaking. "I..I accepted a ride from someone and he, well, scared me. That's all."
"Just scared you? He didn't touch you or hurt you?" The low, smooth voice deepened with concern.
"No. He tried to kiss me, but I got away." I managed a smile for the man. "Thank you."
"I'm Lachlan," he said calmly. "This isn't really a safe area for you to be out alone. Are you expecting someone?"
I nodded. "Sort of, anyway. I'm actually supposed to be going to a mixer here." I tipped my head toward the club.
"Tell you what," he suggested, offering me his arm. "Why don't I escort you to the door? That way, we know you won't be accosted again before you make it inside."
The club was busier than I expected, and I was surrounded by an overwhelming number of large, muscular men almost immediately. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and cologne mixed with something else that I couldn't quite put my finger on. It was an intoxicating scent that made my blood hum in my veins.
"Excuse me," I tried to say, groaning inwardly as it came out more of a squeak. "I was trying to find…" I swallowed the rest of my words on a gasp when I was grabbed by the wrist. The arousal building in my gut was quickly replaced by terror when I dragged through the crowd and shoved against the wall, pinned in place by a hard body in low slung jeans and a sweat-slick bare chest.
Sharp teeth scraped my neck, making me scream, but the sound was drowned out by the yelling around me. I couldn't make out the words, but it seemed as if the men were fighting amongst themselves. Fear dripped down my spine as I realized that I was the prize.
The crowd behind my captor shifted abruptly, forcing his body harder into me. He ignored the jostling and shoved his crotch against mine with a dirty laugh.
"Well, now," his rough voice growled in my ear. "Sure looks like I found myself a snack."