Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 346(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 346(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Those people, they’ll all go down.
I shrug nonchalantly even though my insides are screaming at me to get up and run and warn the club, like that’s going to make any difference.
“Well, I guess if they did it then they’ll pay for it,” I say, trying to keep my voice calm.
“They did it,” Steven says, his voice scarily steady, like he’s so damned sure of that fact.
Why wouldn’t he be? He doesn’t know what I do. I wonder if I should come forward, tell them what I know. I could help the club, I could stop any investigation, but I’d lose everything in the process.
I take a deep breath, calming myself down.
I’ll talk to Alarick tomorrow, I’ll sort it out.
Everything is going to be fine.
Right?
8
ZARIAH
The rumbling of motorcycles has me fidgeting on my front porch. I’m wearing jeans, a jacket, and boots, but I’m still not loving the idea of getting on the back of one of these bikes, especially not with a man who can’t stand me. I’ve never been on a motorcycle; you could say I’ve seen far too many accidents involving them and I’m not really all that keen on risking my life. I also know I’m not going to get a choice because Alarick wants me there, and I can’t say no to anything right now, not if I want to keep the club safe.
The large group of bikes rumble to a stop outside my house, and I stare over at them, shocked by how powerful they look in a group like this. They’re scary and they’re dominant, like a pack of wild wolves that you would never dare mess with. I’ve seen them together before, but never like this. Their jackets are like a sea of leather, a warning to anyone who dares mess with them.
I rub my arms and see Briella wave to me from the back of Alarick’s bike, then I see Merleigh riding with Bohdi. I raise my hand, nervously, and then watch as Kendric pulls up, throws his leg over the bike, and strides toward me with a purpose that makes me uneasy. He stops in front of me, intense eyes locking with mine. “Let’s go.”
“I don’t ... I don’t know about this. I’ve never been on a bike before.”
“Get on the bike, Zariah.”
Bossy. As. Fuck.
“Look, maybe I can just follow you in my car. Yeah, I’ll do that. I’m not comfortable with this. I’ve seen what happens on those things.”
Kendric leans down, so his face is close to mine. “Get on the fuckin’ bike.”
Oh, no. Hell no.
“Excuse me?” I snap, crossing my arms. “You want me to get on the bike with you when we both know you can’t stand me. For all I know you’re going to do something to hurt me.”
“I’m not a fuckin’ monster,” Kendric growls. “I don’t hurt people for no reason. I’m not your fuckin’ boyfriend. Now, get on the fuckin’ bike before I put you on it myself. You don’t want to look stupid in front of everyone, do you?”
My mouth drops open, but before I can say anything else, he shoves a helmet down onto my head. I gasp and my hands fly up to slap his away so I can do it myself. He turns on his heel and walks toward the bike, climbing on and starting it up. The loud rumble is barely heard beneath all the other bikes. I walk over, legs wobbly, and when I reach the bike, I stare at him. I can’t see his eyes anymore through his dark glasses.
“Get on,” he yells over the sound.
I swallow, glance at Briella who gives me a thumbs up, and then I throw my leg over the bike and position myself behind Kendric. I didn’t realize until this moment just how close I was going to be to him. My body is pressed against his, and I can feel every inch of his hard back. My fingers tremble and I wave my hands around aimlessly for a few seconds, not really sure where to put them. Kendric reaches around, grabs my hand and jerks it around his waist.
Oh, god.
I put my other arm around and link my fingers in front of him. My heart is racing and I’m so nervous I could vomit. Everything is alive inside my body right now, I don’t know what to feel, I don’t know if I’m nervous or excited. I do know that I’m wrapped around a biker who, right now, can’t stand me. Yet, I feel strangely good. I like the feeling it’s giving me deep inside my chest. We won’t get started on my vajayjay, because that’s betraying me in all kinds of ways now.
Damn thing doesn’t know what’s good for it.
The bikes take off with a loud roar, and I squeal into my helmet and tighten my arms around Kendric’s waist as we pick up speed. Then, oh then, I feel the freedom in my bones. I’ve never felt something so exhilarating in my life. All at once, I understand why they do this, why they risk their lives, why they ride these loud machines. It’s for this feeling, the one I’m getting right now. It’s attacking my whole body. Joy and excitement, a rush I’ve never experienced.