Page 83 of Charger

I’m out on my bike and driving away within minutes.

I head inside their shitty-ass club at the same time Tank walks down from the top floor. “Find anything?”

“Only boxes of condoms and really nasty sex toys. Remind me never to use handcuffs again. A vision I can never unsee.” He pretends to shiver as Hush walks over to meet us.

“Nothing.” His voice is low, faint.

A thump sounds from directly above us and we exchange glances. Then I bolt it upstairs. If there was any hope left, I feel like whoever is hiding up here may be it.

I kick open every door until I find him. “Well, hello, prospect. We’re gonna have a little chat.” I pick him up from his huddled position in the closet. Fucking pussy, hiding like a bitch. I grip his shirt and toss him to the wall. He holds his hands up, shaking and looking like he’s about to piss himself.

“This fucker wasn’t in here before.” Tank folds his arms over his chest.

“P-please, please don’t kill me.” He starts sobbing frantically. All cowards cry. Joe cried.

“What kind of prospect are you, huh?” I grip the front of his shirt and pull him to my face. My bicep muscles burn. “Where are they?”

He shakes his head. “They’ll kill me if I tell you.”

“Oh yeah? I think my friend here will kill you if you don’t,” Tank tells the kid, and then snickers from beside me. The prospect’s eyes dart nervously back and forth between mine.

“T-they said they were bringing her to some cabin-looking place on the outskirts. Off route ten. I swear that’s all I know and I don’t know an address.”

I toss him to the floor and Tank already has Bullet on speakerphone. “Aw, man, fucker stole my spotlight.” I can hear him typing. “Ahh, yes got it. I’m sending you guys the address. Chain and I will meet you there.”

Tank picks up the prospect (who barely looks legal) by his shirt and drags him outside. “Listen to me, kid. We’re giving you this one and only chance to get the fuck out while you can. You leave and you never come back. If we see you, then you’ll give us no other option but to chop your balls off, kill you, and feed you to the Ohio River. Got it?” The kid sniffles, nods his head, and scurries away.

We don’t waste any time. Tank, Hush, and I run to our bikes. I answer the call from Chain before we take off. “You guys wait. If you get there first, you fucking wait. That’s an order, Charger.” I hear him. I’m listening, but asking me to wait… to give them more time with her. More time for them to hurt her. It’s just not possible. “Throttle is staying here with the girls. Bullet and I are already on the way.” I hang up. It should take us maybe an hour to get there. Fuck, that’s way too much time. We start up our bikes and take off for the address. Hang on, pretty girl. I’m coming for you.

THIRTY-SIX

Jules

I clench the towel to my body as I sit on the edge of the tub. The heat from the shower is still lingering in the air.

The red lace-up dress they want me to wear is tiny. I stare at it, wishing desperately that by some chance, a miracle will happen and I won’t have to put it on. The tears leave me and my body shakes.

I don’t know if I can be strong anymore. Burying my face into my hands, I think how this doesn’t seem real, doesn’t seem possible.

I practically jump out of my skin at the sound of a bang on the other end of the door. “You’ve got five more minutes or I’m coming in there.” Venom’s growl has me wanting to shoot daggers through my eyes. I hate him and all the Skulls—even if he did save me from Scorpion earlier, if saving is what you would even call it.

I take in a deep breath, letting the towel hit the floor. Then I shimmy into the lace dress and run my fingers through my hair. I zip the side of it with my unsteady hands. Looking in the mirror, I see that my eyes are red and swollen from crying. I swipe the still flowing tears with my forefingers.

Venom walks in, staring at me. His eyes move slowly. “Let’s go.” He yanks me out of the bathroom and into a room full of Skulls members, where I feel utterly exposed. I tug down the bottom of my dress and hug my middle. They’re all undressing me with their eyes and I want to throw up.

“Doesn’t someone look mighty tasty?” Scorpion sneers and subconsciously I move closer to Venom, like he’s going to protect me. What a joke. Scorpion stands in front of me, scraping his tongue across his bottom lip and making me wince in disgust. “I see you’re a natural beauty. Mr. Galiente is going to appreciate that.” His rough, cold thumb rakes across my cheek. I jerk my head away, but really all I want to do is throw a punch right into his ugly face.

Venom guides me over then pushes me down to the seat in the middle of the gathering room. I get a good look at the place for the first time. It’s some sort of cabin, or cottage. So, they took me to some place buried in the woods. Great.

I focus on my breathing, keeping it slow and steady. I can’t lose my shit. I need to stay calm. When I look up, all the Skulls are staring at me. It’s like being on display. I feel completely vulnerable. A shiver runs through me.

The sound of gravel and tires outside breaks the uncomfortable silence. It’s not the sound of motorcycles so my excitement dies down immediately. I’m still holding onto the hope that Zach and his club are going to come save me.

“All right, everyone, scatter. I want men on the back doors, side and front. Now.” They all scatter like ants and my hands fidget in my lap.

“Please, please, don’t do this. I beg you.” The fear inside me is enough to urge me to beg and plead. But Scorpion just sneers at me, not giving two shits about what’s going to happen.

Three men walk inside; they’re wearing suits and two of them look like security for the one in the middle. He’s tall, well built, and if he wasn’t here looking to buy me for sex, then I would even say he’s somewhat attractive. He’s dressed like a business man—maybe even involved with the mafia in some way. He takes his sunglasses off and stares right at me. I tense and a trickle of a tear falls down my left cheek.

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