Laurie’s heart pounded. They didn’t even know where Steele was and with the deadline of 10:00 P.M., they didn’t have time to find him.
“Shit, it’d take us at least four hours to get to the next location we agreed on.” Rip glanced at his watch. “There’s no way we’d make the ten o’clock deadline.”
“All we can do is start in the direction of the sheriff’s office and hope that Steele contacts us,” Wild Card chimed in.
“You know he won’t do that until we’re plenty late showing up,” Dom said. “Which will be too late.”
Laurie trembled. They couldn’t give up on the opportunity for her to walk away from this mess, but what could they do without the necklace?
“Hey, guys,” Shock said. “You looking for this.”
Laurie’s gaze darted to Shock, who had just returned from the washroom, and hanging from his big fingers was the glittering collar of diamonds in question.
“You’ve got it!” Laurie exclaimed.
“Yeah, after you gave it to Steele that first day, he gave it to me for safekeeping.”
Raven held out her hand and took it, then admired it in the sunlight, an expression of awe on her face. “It’s so beautiful.”
She handed it back to Shock and he wrapped it in a black-and-white bandana and shoved it in his jacket pocket.
“Let’s get moving,” Shock said.
* * *
The wind raced across Laurie’s face as she clung to Rip as they sped along the dark highway. The sun had set and the road was lit by the light of the bikes’ headlights and the soft moonlight. They had been riding for four hours straight.
She held tight to Rip, finding comfort in leaning against his broad back. These men really were amazing. It seemed they would do whatever they could to help and protect her. And it had all started with Wild Card snatching her from Donovan’s clutches.
She’d never had friends like this. Friends who understood her, and would do anything to help her. In fact, this was just what she’d always wanted. She felt cared for and happy when she was with them.
She rested her head against his back and closed her eyes. She was tired. This whole thing was exhausting, but hopefully it would soon be over. She wasn’t cut out to be a fugitive.
After a while, the bike slowed and they pulled off the highway. Laurie opened her eyes and watched the road ahead. Soon they drove into an urban area. Rip drove along the built-up streets, then turned his bike into the parking lot of an all-night diner.
The other bikers pulled up beside him. Rip dismounted and so did Laurie.
“I’m going to take you over to the police station alone. Having a gang of bikers ride through town is likely to make the cops nervous. Killer suggested you go in alone, so I’m going to wait in a diner near the station while you deliver the necklace.” He glanced at her outfit and frowned, then glanced at Raven. “Rave, do you have something that looks a bit less biker babe?”
Raven pursed her lips. “Not really.”
Laurie stared up at him, her stomach tightening.
“It’s okay,” he assured her. “It’s not really a problem. We’ll just have you lose the jacket before you go in.”
“Okay.” But she didn’t feel better.
Shock handed Rip the crumpled bandana and he tucked it in his jacket.
“You can all wait here and have something to eat,” Rip said. “We shouldn’t be long.”
Laurie and Rip mounted his bike again. He started it up and she clung to him as they rode a couple of miles farther into town. Rip pulled up to the side of the road and stopped the bike in front of a coffee shop.
“Okay, I don’t want to hang around outside the police station, and this is the closest place to wait. The station is that building over there.” Rip pointed to a brown brick building down the road a bit. “That’s the back of it. You’ll have to go around the block to get to the entrance. I’ll wait right here.” He pointed to the coffee shop.
She slipped off the leather jacket and handed it to him, then he pulled the necklace from his pocket, still in the black-and-white bandana, and pressed it into her hand.
“Okay?”
She took the necklace and slipped it into her jeans pocket. “I’m nervous. I keep thinking this is some trick Donovan is pulling. That once I get in there, they’ll arrest me.”
He tipped up her chin and captured her gaze with his. His midnight blue eyes were reassuring. “You’ll be okay. Killer trusts this Officer Parker and his instincts are good. I’m just being extra cautious. No point making them nervous having you show up with a badass biker type.”
She nodded.
“Don’t identify yourself to anyone until you talk to Parker. Understand?”
She nodded again, then turned and walked along the sidewalk, her legs shaky. It was night, but the road was well lit by the streetlights. A black car drove by, then turned right at the traffic light on the corner. Once it was past, she crossed the street and continued down the street to the corner, then turned, walking out of sight of the coffee shop where Rip sat.
Her stomach fluttering, she walked along the sidewalk. This was a smaller street and no one was around, so she picked up her pace. The car she’d seen earlier was parked along the side of the road. She had an uneasy feeling. She was carrying a very expensive necklace. What if whoever was in the car intended to rob her?
But she realized no one would have any idea what she had in her pocket. And whoever had parked the car was probably already gone in the time it took her to walk the length of the previous street. Still, she hurried past the car, until she reached the next corner and turned right. She could see the entrance to the police station ahead.
She walked up the steps to the door, then drew in a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. She steeled herself and grabbed the handle, then pulled open the big, glass door and stepped inside.
She walked through the quiet lobby wondering where to go. A uniformed officer walked toward her.
“May I help you?” he asked.
“I’m here to talk to Officer Parker.”
“This way.” He led her through a door and they walked past a few doorways then he led her into a small meeting room. “Wait here.”
She sat in the room wondering if this was an interrogation room, but it looked like a simple meeting room with a table with six chairs around it. There was no big mirror on the wall like she’d come to expect from Hollywood.
“Laurie?” A good-looking uniformed man, tall with wavy blond hair, stepped into the room. He had kind, brown eyes and a reassuring smile.
“Yes.”
“I’m Officer Parker.” He sat down across from her and pulled a leather wallet from his pocket and showed her his badge identifying him as Officer Glen Parker. “From what Officer Grainger told me, you’ve been through quite an ordeal.”
She nodded. “That’s true, and I really appreciate your help.” She pulled the necklace from the inside pocket of her jacket and placed it on the table. “Here it is.”
He unwrapped the bandana and peered at the necklace, then whistled.
“Nice.” He glanced at the clock on the wall.
She peered at it, too. There was barely a half hour left on the deadline.
“Okay. Let’s get this done right now,” he said.
He laid his badge on the table and placed the necklace in a glittering band below it, then pulled a cell phone from his pocket and took a picture. He tapped on the screen, then she heard the telltale whoosh of the message being sent.
“Good, now that’s taken care of. Feel better now?”
“I don’t know. None of this seems real,” she said. “I swear he gave me the necklace. I can’t believe he reported it stolen.”
“Well, it’s all water under the bridge now. You’re free to go.” He smiled. “Would I say that if I didn’t know the charges are dropped?”
She drew in a deep breath and released it. Donovan had put her through hell, and all to have the last word in their relationship, to show her who was in control. Well, he’d gotten his petty revenge, and she was happy to wash her hands of him.
“Thank you so much.” She offered her hand and he shook it.
“My pleasure to help.” He stood up and she followed him back to the lobby. “Are you okay getting back to your friends?”
“Yes, thank you. Someone is waiting for me in the coffee shop around the corner.”
He smiled. “Good. I’ll let Officer Grainger know that everything’s taken care of.”
She stepped into the warm night air, feeling as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Surely Donovan was done with her now and she could return home and resume her normal life. She trotted down the stairs and turned left.
Not that life could ever be totally normal again after these experiences. She was glad to put Donovan behind her, but what about Steele? He had become jealous and possessive this morning, and had taken off. They clearly had some issues to work out.
She turned the corner onto the quiet street, walking with a lilt to her steps, despite the concerns washing through her about Steele.
Vaguely she was aware of the same black car parked along the road that she’d seen earlier. As she got close to it, anxious to get back to Rip and get on with finding Steele, she cautiously stayed a couple of yards from it. Suddenly, she noticed a quick movement in the shadows between the buildings and a big hand covered her mouth and pulled her against a strong body. She struggled for air with the big palm clamped tightly over her, partially covering her nose. She tried desperately to scream, but couldn’t. She was shoved forward and the back door of the vehicle opened, then she was forced inside. She was feeling weak from lack of air, and her heart pounded wildly with the adrenaline surging through her.
The door slammed and the car lurched forward.
* * *
Steele paced back and forth at the isolated place where they were to camp that night. He was still burning with guilt at having hit Wild Card. That should never have happened. Wild Card was a trusted friend. He was one of Steele’s crew.
Fuck, he and Wild Card shared women all the time. It was just sex. It didn’t mean anything.
Steele had crossed a line.
Fuck, even if Wild Card and Laurie had had sex right there on the rock, he shouldn’t care.
His fists clenched. But he fucking did!
He still couldn’t get that soft, vulnerable look on Laurie’s face out of his mind. The way she’d gazed at Wild Card. The way she obviously trusted him. Had probably confided in him.
They’d just seemed so … close. And it was tearing him up inside. Especially since he felt her holding back from him.
Right now, though, with the crew over two hours later than he’d expected, he had other things to worry about. What had happened to them?
He grabbed the blanket from the ground and bundled it away, then mounted his bike and drove down the road. Twenty minutes later, he pulled into a parking lot in the local town where he’d seen a pay phone. He dialed Rip’s cell.
“Yeah?” Rip said on the other end of the line.
“Where the hell are you?” Steele demanded.
“Steele, fuck. You have no idea what’s been going on. I’m in a place called Whitehall, about three hours from where we were supposed to meet you, and Laurie is in the police station.”
Steele’s chest compressed. “She’s been arrested?”
“No, Killer contacted us to say Donovan would drop the charges if she brought the necklace in.”
Steele listened with clenched fists as Rip explained about the deadline and the location to bring in the necklace.
“I don’t like it. It seems like some kind of trap.”
“Killer wouldn’t set us up like that. He’s a loyal friend.”
“I trust Killer,” Steele said. “It’s Donovan I don’t trust.”
“Relax. Killer suggested Whitehall because he has someone there he knows and trusts.”
“I won’t relax until Laurie is back with us. You said she’s in there now? How long?”
“About forty-five minutes.”
“Shit. That’s a long time to just drop off a fucking necklace.” Steele’s heart was pounding. “You gonna go in there and find out what the hell is going on?”
“Steele, it could easily take that long. They need to file their report, and it takes time to ensure that gets handled and everything is in order.”
“Which means the guy could have changed his mind and she could be sitting in jail right now.”
“I don’t believe that,” Rip said firmly. “Killer wouldn’t have offered this deal if he didn’t think he could pull it off.”
Anger and frustration rumbled through Steele. He felt helpless and that’s not a feeling he embraced.
“I’m getting on the road right now. If she isn’t out of there in ten minutes, then take the crew and get in there. Take down the walls if you have to but fucking get her out. I do not want that sadistic son of a bitch to get his hands on her again.”
“Steele,” Rip said in a calm, steady voice, “we are not going to break her out of a police station. If she is in jail, which I’m sure she’s not, then we’ll find another way to get her out. In the meantime, I’ll get on the phone to Killer and find out what’s going on. I promise you, I’ll make sure she’s safe.”
“You had fucking better,” Steele snarled, then hung up.
* * *
Rip dialed Killer’s number.
“Grainger.”
“Killer, it’s Rip.”
“Hey, calling to thank me, are you? I bet you’re glad that’s over with.”
“Yeah, I will be as soon as Laurie gets back here. That’s why I’m calling.”
“What the hell do you mean when she gets back there? Isn’t she with you now?”
“No, and she’s been in there for close to an hour. I was wondering if you knew—”
“Rip, Officer Parker contacted me over half an hour ago to tell me everything was set. She’d already left.”
Rip tightened his grip on the phone, his gut clenching. “Oh, shit.”
Steele was going to kill him. But worse, if anything happened to Laurie, especially after she’d put her trust in him, he’d never forgive himself.
* * *
Laurie stared at the back of the driver’s head as the car she was in sped through the night. Neither the driver nor the big man beside her, wearing jeans and a black knit cap, had said anything to her since they’d pulled her into the car. The man in the hat had held her mouth covered for ten minutes or more, his thick arm around her waist holding her pinned to his wiry, but strong body. Any movement she’d made had triggered him to tighten his hold, and she’d had to fight off unconsciousness, until finally she’d just rested against him. Clearly, he hadn’t wanted her screaming while they drove through the town.
Once they’d reached the highway, he’d finally released her and she’d scooted as far away from him as she could get in the limits of the backseat. Now she sat there, sucking in air while they drove.
She didn’t know how much time had passed and she wondered where they were taking her.
“Pull over,” the man beside her said to the driver.
“Why?”
“Don’t argue with me. Just do it.”
A few minutes later, the car slowed down and pulled off the highway at a rest stop. She didn’t know why they were stopping, but maybe she could get out of the car. It was late and there wasn’t a lot of traffic, but if she could make her way back to the road maybe she could flag someone down. Or slip into the bushes and hide.
The car stopped in the parking area, away from the lights. There were no other cars to be seen.
In a sudden movement, the man beside her grabbed her by the hips and slid her toward him, then shoved her back on the seat. She panicked as she saw him unfasten his jeans.
“What the fuck are you doing?” the driver asked.
“What the fuck do you think I’m doing? He said he didn’t care what shape she was in when we brought her there. If he doesn’t mind us roughing her up, then I see no reason we can’t fuck her.”
Laurie trembled, her heart racing. She tried to scramble across the seat, but he grabbed her shirt and a handful of her hair and pulled her back, then jammed his forearm across her chest, pressing down so hard she could hardly breathe.
“If you don’t want to get hurt,” he said with a snarl, “then fucking lie still.”
He climbed over her, pinning her between his knees and pressing one hand flat on her chest, holding her tight to the seat while he groped her breast with the other. She panicked, flailing and arching wildly, trying to throw him off, but he was too strong. He struck her hard across the face. Pain washed through her as she stared at him in a daze. Then he grabbed her shirt and shoved it up.
“Fuck, man. We got trouble,” the driver said.
The man on top of her glanced out the window. “What are those fucking bikers doing here?”
“Maybe they know we’ve got her.”
Hope flashed through her. Had Rip figured out the people in the black car had kidnapped her and he’d pursued them?
“Or it’s just a coincidence and they’re taking a break. This is the only rest stop for the next thirty miles.”
“Well, I’m not fucking taking a chance.” The driver started the car and backed up, then pulled onto the road.
One of Laurie’s arms was pinned between her body and the man’s knee, but she flung the other arm up, trying to reach the door handle, hoping to swing it open. Her captor grabbed her arm, squeezing it painfully.
He glared at her, his cold eyes pure evil. “Lie still or I will beat the crap out of you.”
She sucked in a breath and laid there, suffering knowing Rip and the others were only yards away, but they couldn’t help her. Because they didn’t even know she was here.
“I’m not stopping again,” the driver said. “I don’t want trouble with those motherfuckers, so just keep it in your pants, and let’s get rid of her as soon as possible.”
“Fuck, whatever.” He released her, and sneered as she sat up. “And, bitch, we’re not that stupid. The safety lock is on. You wouldn’t’ve been able to get their attention back there.”
She sat up and leaned against the door, as far from him as she could get. She didn’t even fasten her seat belt. That small safety measure would force her closer to him. She’d rather die horribly in a car accident than be an inch closer to him than she had to be.
They drove for what seemed like forever. Finally, they pulled off the highway and soon traveled along a long, winding road. Eventually, they pulled up to a big cedar house.
Her eyes widened when she saw it illuminated in the moonlight.
She recognized this house from the pictures she’d seen of Donovan’s several county houses he’d shown her one time.
Oh, God. Donovan was probably in there waiting for her.
* * *
The man in the hat opened the car door, grabbed her arm, and dragged her from the car, then shoved her toward the house.
The driver stepped beside her and both men took an arm and hurried her along the stone path to the front steps, then to the entrance. They knocked on the door. A moment later it opened, and she found herself staring at a leering Donovan.
He stepped aside while the two men dragged her into the house. He closed the door and followed. Past the spacious foyer was a large living area with sleek, minimalistic furniture, expensive-looking and somewhat at odds with the idea of a rustic country home. But her gaze locked on the large cage in the center of the room.
Large was relative. It was about six feet tall, but was only big enough to allow one person the barest amount of space. She glanced at Donovan and the dark gleam in his eye confirmed exactly what she feared. Her gaze returned to the cage, eyeing the stainless steel bars. He intended to put her in there. Before or after he beat her … or worse … she didn’t know.
“Do you have the necklace?” he asked calmly.
Her gaze darted back to him. “I gave it to Officer Parker.”
“Yes, of course.” He walked toward her.
The other two men each still had firm grips on her upper arms so she couldn’t move away from him as he glided an unwelcome finger along her cheek. She suppressed her urge to flinch, not wanting to give him the satisfaction.
“A shame. It was such a pretty collar.” He walked to a table along the wall and opened a drawer. “Now you’ll just have to settle for this.”
He stepped toward her with a thick, black leather collar in his hand. It had a sturdy, round, steel ring on the front and two D rings on each side. She tried to pull her arms free from his henchmen’s grips, but they squeezed tighter until she was sure they’d left her bruised. She winced as their fingers dug into the flesh of her arms.
“You know you never should have walked away from me.” Donovan pushed her hair to one side and wrapped the thick, stiff collar around her neck, pulling it uncomfortably tight, then fastened the buckle at the back.
The coarse leather abraded her skin, and she felt a little panicky with it so tight, as if she would choke, but she knew better than to complain. If she did, he would probably tighten it even more.
“Did you enjoy your time as a biker slut?” He picked up a strand of her hair and toyed with it. “Did you service all of them?”
Her cheeks heated as she realized she couldn’t even deny his insinuation, not that it would matter if she had.
The other two men stared at her, almost drooling. Would Donovan give her to them and watch, just as he had tried to give her to Wild Card in the parking garage? Anxiety quivered through her.
Donovan stepped in front of her then nodded to the two men, who released her.
“Take off your clothes,” he commanded.
She drew in a deep breath, frozen to the spot.
She wasn’t just going to strip in front of him and his two men. Even though she knew he wouldn’t stand for her disobeying him. She stared at him, immobile, her heart pounding.
He stepped toward her and she tried to step back, then the men grabbed her arms.
He pulled something from his pocket and flicked it and she realized it was a pocketknife. He grabbed the hem of her shirt and cut through the fabric, then he ripped open the front of the shirt, exposing her heaving breasts, covered only by the black lace cups of her bra.
One of the men pulled the torn shirt down her forearms and twisted the dangling garment behind her, binding her arms as she struggled. With the two men restraining her, Donovan unfastened her jeans, then tugged them down, despite her kicking and twisting. She fell off balance and they let her fall to the floor, dropping down beside her. She’d worked her arms free from the torn shirt, but they grabbed them now and held them immobile. Donovan pulled her jeans off and tossed them aside. He knelt over her, a knee on either side of her thighs, and stared down at her, an evil smile on his face.
“You should have stripped when I told you to,” he said, then he flicked open his knife again.
He tucked one of his fingers under her bra strap, his touch sending anxious tremors through her, then he flicked the blade. She winced at the cutting pain as he nicked her skin with the tip while slicing the strap.
“How unfortunate.” His eyes glittered as he dragged his finger over her cut, then raised it, blood beading on the tip. “I seem to have cut you.” He licked the drops from his finger, then stared at her again.
In a quick motion, he slashed her other strap, maliciously cutting her again. She lay there staring up at him, sucking in breaths of air, willing herself not to move. His fingers slid under the band of her bra at the side, then a sick feeling quivered through her at the sharp sensation of another nick.
He wouldn’t hold back this time. He would do whatever he wanted with her, probably even kill her, then just dump her body somewhere and nobody would be the wiser.
Because she knew that no one knew he had her. Steele would not be able to find her here.
Oh, God, she might never see Steele again. Right at this moment, all she could think about was seeing his face again. Feeling his strong, protective arms around her. All her doubts about leaving her home to ride with Steele evaporated. At this moment of clarity, she knew that all she really wanted was to be with Steele. Forever.
But now that seemed impossible. She really didn’t think she’d survive this night.
Donovan tossed aside her bra and leered down at her. The other men’s gazes also locked on her bare breasts. She felt sick inside.
Donovan roughly fondled one breast.
“Now let’s see that juicy little cunt of yours.” Then before she could catch a breath, he slashed both sides of her panties, nicking her twice more.
He leaned forward and grasped her wrists. His two henchmen released their hold on her as Donovan pinned her hands over her head, his gaze locking on hers.
“There’s a black shoebox on the couch,” he said to one of the men, still staring into her eyes, looking smug at the fear he must have seen there. “Get it and put the shoes on her.”
The men moved away and within moments she felt one grasp her ankle and force her foot into a tight-fitting, very high-heeled shoe.
“I know how you like your stilettos.” His lips turned up in a malicious smile. In fact, he knew she hated them.
She felt hands fastening them around her ankles. She wanted to kick and wound with them, but the strong hands prevented her from doing that. Donovan strapped leather bands around her wrists, then stood up and the other men grabbed her arms and lifted her to her feet. She steadied herself on the extremely high, narrow heels, almost tumbling to the floor again. She glanced down to look at the shoes, which had to be seven-inch heels, with an inch-high platform under the sole.
‘Well, don’t you look like the perfect, sexy slut.” Donovan’s hand cupped her bare bottom.
She couldn’t help herself. She lifted her foot and jabbed the sharp end of the heel into his shoe-covered foot.
“Fuck!” He lurched back, knocking her off balance, but his henchmen stopped her from falling. Sparks flared from Donovan’s cold, gray eyes. He grabbed her arm and tugged her toward him, then smacked her hard across her face. She fell to the ground in a daze, her jaw aching.
“Bitch! You’ll regret that.” His blazing glare shifted to the men. “Put her in the cage.”
They pulled her to her feet and marched her to the tall narrow cell. One rough hand brushed over her breast, squeezing it, and she stifled a cry. Donovan would probably just encourage the man if she made any protest. They reached the cage and the wiry man ran his hand over her ass as the driver opened the door.
“Before we put her in…” the wiry one said, “uh … you said you didn’t care if we touched her.”
“You want to fuck her?” Donovan raised an eyebrow, watching the rising fear in her eyes. “Right here in front of me?”
“I don’t give a shit where.” The wiry man gave her breast a rough squeeze. “I just want to hear the bitch scream.”
“Oh, she’ll be screaming all right, but not from your rough handling.” Donovan’s gaze locked on her face, taking in her flaming cheeks and rapid, anxious breathing. “I wouldn’t mind watching you and your friend fucking her at the same time while she screams in protest.” He grinned evilly. “Or in pleasure, the slut she is.”
The wiry man stared at her with cruel, heated eyes and started to unfasten his pants.
“But not tonight.” Donovan walked toward the cage. “I don’t feel like sampling another man’s—I should say men’s—sloppy seconds. Put her in the cage.”
The wiry man scowled and pushed her inside.
“Fasten her wrists.” Donovan watched while the wiry man grabbed her left wrist and held it to her side, then the driver used a metal clip to fasten the ring on the wrist strap to the cage. She tried to fight them while they grabbed her other wrist and attached it at her other side, but all she accomplished was bruising herself as her struggles battered her against the cold metal bars.
Now she stood precariously balanced on these ridiculous shoes, her arms restrained at her sides.
“Use this to secure her legs.” Donovan handed the driver two black cords. “You can attach it around the heels.”
The wiry man grabbed one of her ankles and pulled it to the side, and the driver tied the heel of her shoe to the bar. When he grabbed her other ankle and pushed her legs as wide as the narrow cage would allow, she lost her balance and her ankle twisted painfully. She cried out in pain. The wiry man grabbed her hips, then stood up and pushed her against the cage, his body holding her firm. The feel of him against her sent her skin crawling. His hands roamed over her body.
Donovan simply watched for a few seconds, then finally said, “Get on with it. Tie her ankle.”
The wiry man sank back down and pressed her foot back so that the driver could tie the shoe to the cage. He stood up, his fingers trailing up her thigh. Revulsion jolted through her at his rough touch.
Then he left the cage and the driver closed the door, both men leering at her naked body.
Donovan strolled toward the cage, another thick black cord in his hand. He stepped behind her and tugged her hair to one side, then pushed his fingers through the bars and threaded the cord through the ring on the side of her collar. She pushed aside the panicky impulse to fight him. It wouldn’t get her anywhere. He pulled the cord around the bars, then threaded it though the ring on the other side of her collar.
He pulled the cord snug, tugging her head tight against the bars, making her gasp. Then he tied it.
“You two, get lost. I’ll contact you if I need you.”
The wiry man scowled, then ran his gaze over her naked body one more time before following the driver to the door. When the door closed, Donovan stepped closer behind her. She could feel his breath on the back of her neck.
“So, now we have a little alone time.” His fingers slipped through the bars and he coiled her hair around his fingers. “Have you missed me?”
She refused to play these games.
“What do you want, Donovan?”
He laughed. “What do you think I want?”
Her stomach turned as she felt his hand touch her ribs, then stroke along the side of her breast. It slid downward, then curved over her hip. He pulled her tight to the cage while his fingers slid toward her sex.
She couldn’t bear the thought of him touching her there so she did the only thing she could think of. Slammed her head back against the bars, startling him.
He growled and tugged her hair, pulling her head hard against the cage, then tightened his hand around her throat and squeezed until she started to black out.
Finally, he released her and she gasped for breath.
“If you do something like that again, I’ll punish you by fucking you hard in the ass. Thrusting deep into you. All while you are in that cage. Helpless.”
She said nothing. Just tried to quell the revulsion filling her.
All she wanted was to get out of this cage. Her legs were aching balancing on these crazy shoes, especially with her favoring her sore ankle. Having to angle her back so she kept her neck tight against the cage made it all the worse.
With the collar bound tight to the bars, she felt like she was choking.
Donovan walked to the front of the cage and stared at her, his gaze traveling the length of her body.
“But it’s late now. I don’t feel like putting that much effort into it.” He sat down on an easy chair and pulled out his hard cock, then stroked it. He stared at her widened thighs, his gaze locked on her intimate parts. She felt so vulnerable.
His hand moved up and down his erect shaft, his hard gaze on her.
“Are you frightened, slut?”
She refused to answer him.
“Don’t worry, I can see it in your eyes.” He stroked faster. “I can do anything I want to you.” He laughed. “I can beat you. I can make you scream.” He groaned. “I can make you beg me to fuck you.” He stiffened, then his cock erupted with a stream of white fluid.
He leaned back in the chair, an unsettling smile on his face. Then he stood up.
“I’m tired. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Disgusted and horrified, she watched him walk across the room. When he reached the hallway, he turned out the light, leaving her in complete darkness.
Oh, God, he was going to leave her standing here in the cage all night?
Her legs were aching already, especially with most of her weight on her right leg because of her twisted ankle. She wished she could sink to the floor and just curl up on the bottom of the cage, but with the tight collar around her neck, she could barely move. If her legs gave out on her … Oh, God, she had to fight back tears.
* * *
“What do you mean you don’t fucking know where she is?” Steele demanded.
Steele had called Rip a half hour after the previous call for an update.
“I’ve got Killer looking into it, and he’s calling her brother to see if he might have any ideas.”
“That bastard. Donovan must have got his hands on her.”
“Why don’t you stay where you are and call me back in twenty? I might have found out something by then.”
Steele grumbled his agreement.
“We’ll find her,” Rip said.
“We had fucking better.” Steele slammed down the phone.
He grabbed a coffee at an all-night diner. After twenty minutes, he put a coin in the pay phone and dialed Rip’s cell.
“Good news,” Rip said. “It looks like we have a lead. We called his secretary and claimed to have urgent news about a sick relative. She said that he was at a country home for the weekend, though she wasn’t sure which one. The closest one is about two hours from here. Odds are, he took her to that one.”
Steele’s heart raced. “Okay, that’s where we’ll start. Let’s get moving. I’ll meet you there.”
It was the longest couple of hours of Steele’s life as he drove, his gut clenched tight, to meet his crew. He couldn’t stop imagining that asshole Donovan Blake with Laurie. Mauling her. Hurting her. Fucking her.
God damn it. He drove faster than he should and took chances he shouldn’t that night as he raced through the darkness, knowing somehow he would find his woman and save her.
And probably kill the bastard who had hurt her.
* * *
The fingers around her neck tightened … and tightened … squeezing the life from her.
Laurie awoke with a start, the collar so tight around her neck she could barely breathe. She pushed herself straight on aching legs and leaned her head back against the bars again.
“I was wondering if you would wake up this time.”
Her gaze darted to the armchair in front of the cage at Donovan’s voice. He sat there, quite relaxed, gazing at her. The sky outside the windows was lightening with the rising sun. She had been in this cage for hours now.
“Please let me out of here.” Her voice was hoarse. She didn’t want to ask him for anything, an admission she was at his mercy, but she didn’t know how much longer she could take this.
“And what will you do for me if I free you?”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Well, for starters, call me Mr. Blake.”
“Yes, Mr. Blake.”
“Now tell me how sorry you are for being such an ungrateful bitch and running off on me. And how much you would like me to punish you to make amends.”
Her legs ached, her muscles straining to balance her. Her ankle throbbed and the choking band around her throat sent waves of panic through her.
“Mr. Blake, please forgive me for being so ungrateful. I should not have run off on you…” It crushed her to utter the words, but it seemed like the only way to change her circumstances. “Please punish me as you see fit.”
“Do you want me to punish you?”
She responded only by meeting his glare with a hateful one of her own.
“I said, do you want me to punish you? Answer now or I’ll leave you here for the next twenty-four hours.”
At least if he bent her over a punishment bench, she wasn’t in danger of choking to death.
“Yes,” she ground out. “Please punish me, Mr. Blake.”
He stood up and walked behind her. She could hear his footsteps as he walked across the room, then returned.
“Although you are an unworthy slut, I am willing to rehabilitate you.”
She felt the bars move away from her ass as he opened a door positioned—she was sure not accidentally—right over her behind.
She jumped as his fingers stroked over her round flesh, then his hand connected with her ass in a sharp slap, the sound filling the room.
“Do you like that?”
“Yes, Mr. Blake,” she lied. To do otherwise would trigger his wrath.
“Good. If you like that, then you’ll love the riding crop.”
Then he stepped back and she felt a sharp stinging across her ass. She yelped at the pain. Then he slashed it against her again. She arched forward, regretting it instantly as the collar tightened. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her back hard against the cage, then he whacked her again. And again.
She sucked in air, trying to ignore the burning pain.
“Your ass looks quite appealing bright red like that.” He stroked one cheek, then smacked it with his hand.
She had to force herself not to pull away from his repulsive touch.
She was rewarded when he released the fastener holding her wrist attached to the bars. Then the other one. She lifted her arms, which were stiff and numb. She squeezed and flexed her fingers, and moved her arms to get the circulation moving.
But instead of untying the cords holding her neck and feet immobile, Donovan sat down in the chair in front of her.
“Touch yourself.”
“What?”
His passive expression tightened in annoyance. “I said touch yourself.”
She glared at him. “Fuck you!”
Fury flashed in his eyes and she instantly regretted her rebelliousness. He stood up. Her chest constricted as he strode toward her. What would he do to her?
But as he got closer, he schooled his features and appeared very calm.
He walked behind the cage and wrapped his hand around her throat, his fingers gliding back and forth along the edge of the collar.
“I’m going to fuck you,” he murmured near her ear. “So hard you won’t be able to stand for a week.” His fingers tightened on her neck. “Then I’m going to do it again. And again.”
Blind panic gripped her and she sucked in a breath.
Suddenly, the front door burst open.
“Get away from her right now or you’re a dead man.”
Steele!
She couldn’t see him, since the door was behind her, but relief surged through her, knowing he was here to save her.
Donovan tightened his hold around her neck, and she feared he was going to thrust into her despite Steele’s presence, but then someone pulled him back.
In her relief, her muscles sagged and the collar tightened painfully as her body sank. Panic rushed through her, but it was as if her body had given up now that help was here.
Wild Card dodged in front of her. “Fuck, she’s choking. Someone get over here and help me.”
There were shouts and the sound of a struggle behind her.
Big hands wrapped around her hips through the bars behind her and lifted her slouching body, loosening the collar a little, as Wild Card fumbled with the door in front. She sucked in a breath.
“Hold her while I get this collar undone,” Shock said behind her.
Wild Card wrapped his arm around her waist and held her tight to him and lifted her, taking her weight. The pressure on her throat loosened and she fell forward against Wild Card’s solid shoulder.
“Wait, now I need to get these shoes off her. Fuck, give me your knife.”
Wild Card continued to hold her as he reached in his pocket, then handed the pocket knife to Shock. She tensed as she felt the back of the blade glide along her ankle, under the strap of the shoe, but he jerked it away from her, cutting the leather and not her. A second later, he freed her from the other strap, too.
“One of her ankles is swollen badly. Be careful.”
Wild Card helped her step forward out of the shoes, supporting her body. He drew her from the cage with infinite care, then lifted her in his arms and carried her to the armchair. He gently set her down, then pulled off his leather jacket and covered her with it.
She clutched the soft leather and pulled it around her.
She saw the others now. Dom and Magic gripped Donovan’s arms tightly. Steele strode to her and sank to his knees in front of her. His fingers stroked lightly against her cheek.
“Are you all right, baby?” he asked in a hoarse whisper.
She nodded, tears prickling at her eyes. “Now that you’re here.”
Shock handed Steele a blanket and he tucked it around her gently. She clung to it, just wanting to get out of here, but at the same time needing to get her bearings.
He slid his hands behind her neck and carefully unbuckled the thick collar. As soon as it loosened, she sucked in a big gulp of air. He ran his fingers gently over her tender throat.
“What did that bastard do to you?” he muttered under his breath. Then he turned and glared at Donovan.
In a flash, he lurched to his feet and stormed toward Donovan. His fist connected with the man’s jaw. Dom and Magic let him go and stepped out of Steele’s way. In shock, she watched as Steele pulled the man to his feet and hit him again then, when he was down, Steele kept on pounding his fist into Donovan’s face.
“No, Steele. Please stop,” she cried. “You’ll kill him.”
“He deserves it for what he did to you,” Wild Card said.
She glanced to Shock. “Please don’t let him do this,” she begged.
Shock nodded and stood up.
“Steele,” he said as he strode toward him. “That’s enough.”
He nodded his head to Dom and Magic. They grabbed Steele and pulled him off the bleeding man. He struggled against them. “Fuck, let me go.”
“Steele. He’s not worth it,” Laurie implored.
He glared at the man on the ground, his fists clenched at his sides. “But you are,” he answered with gritted teeth.
“Please, Steele. For me. Just let it go.”
* * *
Steele’s heart pounded as he stared at the man lying on the floor. He wanted to pummel the life out of the asshole. He wanted to wrap his hands around his throat and squeeze out his last breath.
When he’d seen him standing behind Laurie, all his fears brought to life as he saw the man about to rape her, a murderous rage had built inside him. He’d held it at bay still hoping that Laurie was all right, then when he saw the truth, it had consumed him.
If Laurie hadn’t stopped him, he would have kept on hitting the man until he was a bloody, lifeless husk. But Laurie wanted him to stop and the saner part of him knew that if he killed the man, he’d wind up in prison, no matter what the other man’s crimes had been. And if he was in prison, he couldn’t be with Laurie. And that was all that mattered to him now.
He took a step back, then turned and walked toward her. He knelt in front of her again, his gaze falling to the redness on her throat where her weight had pressed against the too-tight collar when her body had sagged. The sadistic son of a bitch had probably kept her in that cage all night.
He stroked her hair from her face. “It’s all right now.”
He glanced over his shoulder to Dom. “Put the collar on the asshole and put him in the cage.”
He turned back to face her and stroked her cheek. “Sweetheart, let me get those straps off your wrists.”
She brought one hand out from under the blanket and he unfastened the strap. As his fingers worked on the buckle, he caught a glimpse of blood on her skin, below the shoulder, and his gut clenched. She offered the other wrist and once he had them both off, he tossed them to Magic.
He stroked his finger over the small cut. “What happened here?”
She just shook her head, clearly not ready to talk about it yet.
Wild Card set her jeans on the arm of the chair. “These aren’t usable anymore,” he said as he held up her bra and panties.
Steele’s stomach tightened as he saw they’d been sliced by a knife. That probably explained the cut. And as evil as this bastard was, there were probably more. Wild Card tossed them on the table beside the chair, then he handed Steele a shredded T-shirt.
“I suppose she could wear this backward and tie it somehow,” Wild Card suggested.
“No need.” Raven walked toward them and pulled off her jacket. She tugged her shirt over her head, revealing a black push-up bra beneath. She tossed the shirt to Steele, then pulled on her jacket and zipped it up.
“She doesn’t look in very good shape to be riding on the back of a bike,” Raven pointed out.
“We have no choice,” Steele answered.
“I’ll be okay,” Laurie said as she pulled Wild Card’s jacket from under the blanket and handed it to him.
She took Raven’s shirt and pulled it on, then she slid on the jeans under the blanket, feeling painfully vulnerable after the attack. She pushed aside the blanket, then tried to stand up, but immediately winced and dropped back in the chair. Steele saw her swollen ankle.
“You’re not walking anywhere on that.”
Magic handed Steele the comfortable, black, tie-up shoes Laurie had been traveling in. He slipped each one on her, being careful of her sore ankle, and tied them loosely, then he lifted her from the chair.
“What about him?” Rip asked, nudging his head to Donovan, who was now in the cage, his neck and wrists fastened to the bars.
“Don’t worry. We’ll alert the police to his situation. In a few hours.”
“You’re going to regret this,” Donovan shouted from the cage. “That slut is going to bring you more trouble than you ever bargained for.”
Steele carried her outside and the door slammed on Donovan’s empty threats. Steele set her on the front of his bike, then fastened a helmet beneath her chin. He stroked her cheek. “I’m never going to let you out of my sight again. I promise you that.”
He smiled and kissed her gently, then he mounted behind her and started up his bike, relief surging through him that she was finally in his protective keep again.
* * *
Steele and the others hadn’t ridden very far before he felt Laurie drooping. If the asshole had kept her in that cage all night, she wouldn’t have gotten any real sleep. She had to be exhausted.
A road sign indicated a town about ten miles ahead. As they got closer, he saw a motel along the side of the road. He signaled for the others to pull over and they all turned into the parking lot.
He pulled off his helmet as the others parked in a row beside him.
“It’s been a long night. We’re all pretty tired. Let’s get some rooms and relax.”
“I’m all for that,” Shock said. “I’ll go in and get us set up.”
Laurie still leaned back against him. He handed his helmet to Wild Card, then unfastened her helmet and pulled it off. Wild Card stowed both away.
Steele stroked her hair from her face. “You doing okay?”
She tipped her head back and gazed up at him. “I am now that I’m with you.”
At her words, and the soft glow in her eyes, warmth filled him. He loved this woman. He would do anything to protect her. And to make her happy.
Shock returned and handed Steele a key, then tossed keys to the others. Steele dismounted and scooped Laurie up, then carried her to room nineteen and opened the door. Carrying her over the threshold like this made him think of white lace and promises of a lifetime together.
That was something he’d never thought he wanted before, but now he craved it … with her.
He pushed the door closed behind him and carried her to the bed, then set her down. He turned around to see the curtains fully open and the crew smiling in at him. He strode to the window, a grin on his face, and pulled the curtains closed, blocking out their friendly faces.
This would actually be his first time alone with Laurie in a bed, since they’d become intimate, and he would take every advantage of it. Not that he expected anything from her. He just wanted to hold her close. Feel her body against his, and know she was safe in his arms.
He just wanted to cherish her.
He pulled back the covers. He knelt in front of her and untied her shoes, then pulled them off. He suppressed the urges that threatened to rise in him. She’d been through a horrible ordeal. He was not going to do anything to make her uncomfortable.
“I’ll go grab my stuff from the bike and get you a nice, clean shirt to sleep in.”
She nodded as he slipped outside. When he returned, she was in bed, the covers pulled up to her neck. He riffled through his bag and grabbed a T-shirt. He placed it on the bed beside her, then turned back to grab a change of clothes from his bag, giving her privacy.
When he turned back, she was gazing at him.
The room had two double beds and as much as he wanted to climb into bed with her, to hold her tight in his arms, he realized he needed to give her time after her ordeal. He kicked off his shoes, then sat down on the other bed, but she pushed back the covers on her bed.
“Don’t you want to be with me?” she asked, looking uncertain and a little vulnerable.
“Of course, I just … I mean, after what you’ve been through I just thought you might need space.”
“What I need is you. I want to feel you close. I want you to hold me.”
He shifted to her bed and slid in beside her, then wrapped his arms around her and drew her close. He kissed her temple. “It’s okay, baby. I’m never going to leave you alone again.”
Soon she was asleep in his arms. He reveled in the feel of her so close to him, her soft hair pressed against his cheek. Finally, his own exhaustion overtook him.
* * *
Laurie’s eyelids popped open and she glanced around. Where was she? The last she remembered she was … oh, God, Donovan had grabbed her and stuck her in that cage. But then Steele showed up and saved her.
Panic welled up. Where was he now?
“Steele?” She bolted to a sitting position.
“What is it, sweetheart?” Steele glanced up from a magazine he was reading. He sat in an armchair in the motel room he’d brought her to. He put the magazine down and walked toward her, his features etched with concern. “Nightmare?”
“I just … I wasn’t sure where you were.”
He sat down on the bed beside her and stroked back her hair with a sweet tenderness that touched her heart. “I told you, I’ll never leave you alone again.”
His words, and his gentle touch, made her want him with a desperation that dug deep into her soul. She grasped his hand and kissed his palm, wanting to let the covers fall from her body and expose her naked breasts to him. Wanting to draw his hand to her breast and press it over her. But something stopped her.
Then he frowned and his fingers stroked over her skin, just below her shoulder. “That son of a bitch cut you.”
She glanced down and saw his fingertip stroke over the small cut where Donovan had nicked her with his knife when he’d cut away her bra strap. Steele’s gaze took in the cuts on both sides. The dried blood caked over them made them seem worse than they really were.
The concern in his eyes tore at her heart and she was glad he couldn’t see the others right now.
“Thank you for coming for me.” She didn’t want to imagine what would have happened if Steele hadn’t burst in when he had. She wanted to thank him more sincerely. Wanted to somehow make him understand how much it meant to her.
He stroked her cheek, his granite eyes warm and caring. “I wish I’d gotten there sooner.”
He leaned toward her and brushed his lips to hers. His arms swept around her and she lost herself in his kiss, her heart aching with a need to be closer.
“Steele, I want…” She gazed into his eyes, but she didn’t know what to say. She wanted to be close to him. To be intimate. But the thought sent her stomach churning.
“What is it?” He gazed at her with such concern.
“I want to be close to you. To…” She blinked back tears, fighting the fear inside her.
“Sweetheart, after what you’ve been through, you need time.” He cupped her face in his hands. “We don’t have to rush anything.”
She nodded. Thankful for his understanding, yet still yearning for that closeness.
He drew her into his arms and held her close. “Let’s just get some more sleep.”
He lay down, keeping her snug against his warm, solid body. Holding her. Protecting her. And soon she felt herself drifting off to sleep again.
* * *
Steele dragged himself from Laurie’s warm, soft body and pushed himself from the bed. He didn’t want to leave her side, but he knew she’d be hungry and he wanted to go out and get something for her to eat. After that, they’d be on their way. He knew she’d be anxious to get home. And her brother would be anxious to see her and know firsthand that she was okay.
He went outside, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows on the ground. He mounted his bike and headed to the small town only a few miles farther along the highway.
He went to a drugstore and bought a bandage for Laurie’s ankle, then he pulled into a small diner and ordered some burgers to take out. As the cook flipped the patties on the grill, Steele paid.
“I take it you’re traveling with friends,” the man behind the counter asked.
Steele eyed the man. He wore a blue-and-white bandana around his head and his long, gray hair was tied back in a ponytail. And his arms were inked.
“Why you asking?”
“Just a friendly heads-up. Some cops come in here asking if we seen a crew of bikers in the area. Said there been some kinda trouble up at some bigwig’s country house nearby.”
The cook handed the bag of burgers to Steele.
“Just figured I’d let you know.”
Steele nodded. “Thanks.”
Steele went outside and stowed the burgers in his hard carrier, then mounted the bike. The cops must have found Donovan and now he’d set them on their trail.
No matter. This was a complication he did not want, but he’d handle it. First things first. Go back and warn the crew.
He started up the bike, then sped back to the motel.
When he arrived, Magic, Dom, Wild Card, and Shock were sitting on chairs outside the rooms drinking beer. Rip and Raven were nowhere to be seen.
He saw the curtain pull back on his room and Laurie peer out. As he stopped his bike, she hurried out of the room. She was still limping and he wanted to get her to a doctor to have her ankle checked out.
“Where’s Rip?” Steele asked.
Shock pointed at Rip’s room door. Steele walked over and knocked. A moment later, Rip opened the door and peered out.
“We have trouble,” Steele said. “The police have been asking around town about us. They’re sure to be checking the motels nearby.”
Rip grabbed his cell as he stepped outside, then dialed.
“Killer, it’s Rip.” Rip paced back and forth as he listened.
“Is everything okay?” Laurie asked, concern in her eyes. “Do you think they found Donovan and he’s convinced them to come after us?”
Steele placed his hands on her shoulders and locked gazes with her. “He hurt you, remember? You have nothing to be afraid of.”
She shook her head. “No. If he wants to make trouble, he’ll do it. If he wants to get back at me … or you … he’ll do it. He’ll buy people off if he has to.”
Steele glanced toward Rip, who had paced several yards away and was speaking intently on the phone.
“He won’t buy off Killer. He’s a true friend.”
Rip slipped his phone into his pocket and walked toward Steele, his expression grim. Laurie reached for Steele’s hand and he enveloped it in his.
“Well?” Steel prompted.
Rip glanced at Laurie, then back to Steele. “They found Donovan a few hours ago at his house. He was dead.”
Laurie sucked in a breath and Steele squeezed her hand.
Rip gazed at Laurie again. “And the police are looking for you.” His lips compressed in a tight line. “You’re wanted for questioning.”