Page 65 of Biker's Collar: Property of Scrap

“I should a bullet in your fucking head,” Vickie says. But then I hear her gun fall to the ground and I know Magnum is doing what I ask. She screams, pretty much confirming it. I can’t hide from her much longer, can I?

I rise from the table and turn around to watch all fucking hell breaking loose. Magnum has Vickie subdued and Hakeem walks up to her inspecting her with glee written all over his face.

“Bring her out to my car,” he says. “I can’t wait to take this bitch to the middle of the desert and pee in her mouth.”

I try to make eye contact with Vickie to give her a reassuring look. I can tell Magnum is holding her so he won’t hurt her but… will she survive the next hour or so in Hakeem’s custody? When Vickie’s eyes finally meet mine – reluctantly and only because she’s fighting back hard against Magnum – all I see is pure loathing. Hatred.

I try to mouth to her, “Trust me.”

But she mouths back. “Fuck you, Owen.”

It’s like a knife to my heart.

“I love you,” I whisper to Vickie. I have to say it out loud. Even if she hates me. The pain, the twisting in her gut she feels right now will be over soon. I made her a promise. I asked her to trust me.

I’m sorry shit didn’t go according to plan.

Hakeem laughs, his voice taking on an unusual Kat Williams pitch he’s so damn pleased with himself.

“You love her?” he says. “You stupid motherfucker. You should have never told me.”

Eager to get this shit over with, Magnum grunts. “Where do you want her?”

“Hold on,” Hakeem says. “I need to message my people.”

“Walk and talk,” Magnum growls. “The boss needs to get his shit together.”

Hakeem doesn’t catch the look Magnum flashes at me at the last second that tells me he’s playing up the tension between us to make this whole deal more believable. No fucking way Hakeem survives the night. Vickie screeches when Magnum makes a real move to drag her towards the door. I wish I could hold her and calm her down.

But I can’t…

Not yet.

Twenty-Nine

Vickie

Idon’t know what the hell just happened, but I know Owen Shaw has never met a game he could resist. Putting my ass on the line definitely pushes me into extreme doubt over this man’s claims that he loves me. Do you gamble away the life of someone you love? His efforts to make affectionate eye contact with me as he gives my ass away to the man who traumatized me doesn’t make me feel any better.

Trust me.

Fuck you.I mean it. Magnum takes my gun and he makes it clear that he’s willing to rough my ass up as he drags me to Hakeem’s white Lexus. Hakeem taunts me as Magnum ties me up. He takes the opportunity to lean in and whisper, “Barbarians look after their old ladies.”

I don’t respond. Not even with eye contact. Leaving me in Hakeem’s custody for longer than a minute is plenty of time for this man to fire a bullet. Considering what I told him, how the hell can I forgive Owen for this?

This time, there’s no way out. No weapon, no baggie of drugs. They tie me up and throw me in the trunk of the white Lexus. Hakeem gets into the front seat. I can’t hear most of his conversation. I hear the last bit before Hakeem rolls up the window, ready to drive me off to the desert so he can pee on me – if I’m meant to believe his threat.

“My idiot boss lost our spot. We won’t be a problem anymore.”

“Good,” Hakeem says. “Good. I’ll help y’all against those Nazis but… don’t get big ideas about Vegas. It won’t work… You white boys aren’t mean enough.”

I don’t hear what Magnum says in response but shit… Maybe Hakeem was right.

I make an active effort not to think from my position in the back. I am hog-tied like a Thanksgiving turkey and I feel just about as graceful. Owen…

I want to kill Owen…

I don’t know how to make this easier on myself. I want to kill him, but I can’t because I have to first figure out what Hakeem wants to do with me… and get away. He speeds up and I can feel the nausea building up in my stomach. I never had much tolerance for tummy issues.

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