Page 19 of Motorycle Daddies

Instead, I watch the door as it opens, two women shoving Meredith out to us. She has clothes on, but barely. A dress—a sparkling, purple one that barely covers anything. I’d be willing to bet that underneath she’s still wearing that sweet little outfit they had her wearing on the stage. Her hair is a little more wild than before, possibly from how quickly they had to get her ready.

She looks at us like a deer in headlights as those who brought her out walk away. It takes her a moment to realize who’s got her.

She walks up to me and clings to me. I take my cut off and wrap it around her. “Here, sweetheart. It’s the best I’ve got to keep you warm.”

Grizzly gives me a death glare, so I step back to get her off of me quickly.

“I knew. I had to believe it. When I saw you in the audience, I just thought…” She can’t seem to finish a sentence at all. She’s babbling, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she goes into shock at some point.

“Let’s get out of here, darlin’,” Grizzly says, suddenly the poster child for calm and collected. In fact, I see the side of his mouth twitch in almost a smile. I don’t think I’ve seen him even close to that in years.

How can I deny him something like this?

We lead her back to the bikes, hoping that nobody stops us. I don’t think any of us can handle talking to a member of the Bratva right now and keep our cover. We’d probably slit their throat.

I watch her climb onto Grizzly’s bike and cling to him as we reach our own bikes.

“Don’t worry,” I tell her. “We’ll take you to the clubhouse. It’ll be okay. It’s just a bit of a ride.”

“I don’t mind,” she says softly. Anything to get my mind off of…” She trails off.

I hope they haven’t touched her. I hope they haven’t done anything to her that’s going to make them regret being alive. It’s too much right now to get into a war with the Bratva before we’re prepared.

“Send a message to the informant. We need more information. See if he knows how the hell she ended up here.” Grizzly gives me a hard look, and before I start my bike, I do what he says.

“We’re going to get to the bottom of this, Meredith,” Trap says, speaking to her for the first time.

She looks around at us, clearly thinking we’re the saviors of her dreams. But all I can think about is the way her hands are sliding over Grizzly’s body and how he said that she belongs to him tonight.

I say nothing, and we all take off. I can tell that Grizzly’s taking the long way, possibly to make her feel better.

I guess I can’t blame him, because tonight I realized I’d do anything to make her feel better too.

10

MEREDITH

The bidding went by so fast, and now I’m being shoved around, taken out of the clump of other scared girls and women being sold for who knows what.

A dress is thrown at me, little more fabric than what I’m wearing now, but I take it. I take it, and I hope that what I saw and heard was real.

I tried to follow Dart with my eyes as I saw him moving through the crowd. Even through the bright lights above me, as I shifted, I could make out the large frame belonging to Grizzly.

Grizzly knows me. He’s known me for a long time through Harlow. Surely, he recognized me and he’s going to get me out of here. He got into a bidding war, but my fast-beating heart is certain he won. I’m going to get to go home.

But what about my father and the debt? If I’m simply safe and sound, my virginity intact, will the Bratva still consider this enough payment?

I can’t think about that right now.

My arm is grabbed, and I’m practically dragged around, down a corridor I’ve never seen. No one else is around except for me and two women who aren’t saying anything. None of the other girls have been led away like this. In fact, we were all told we’d wait until the end and each be claimed by our new masters.

What disgusting language too…

But they must have said something or paid extra, Grizzly and his men. They aren’t going to let me rot here, just like they saved Harlow not too long ago.

As we approach a rusty old door at the end of this long corridor, I think about one thing. One thing I swear I saw—the glint in Grizzly’s dark brown eyes, like I was more to him than Harlow’s best friend, just for a moment. Like I might be his prize too.

A shiver runs through me as I think about the idea. It could never happen, of course, not with him. I don’t even know if I would want that right now. My brain is so scrambled. Grizzly’s a sexy man for his age, but I’ve only ever paid attention to Dart.

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